Substitute Luna, Runaway With His Quadruplets

17. Divorce

Ivy’s POV

I’m finished with all of this. I need a break, I need to be with a friend and I want to talk to Nicole. She knows the truth now and I want to hear what she thinks about everything.

Ryder and I leave the stage and I look for Nicole in the crowd.

“There she is,” Ryder says pointing toward the door.

I rush to her. There’s a look on her face that concerns me, is she disappointed in me? I hope not.

“Nicole, can we talk?” I ask.

“Okay but I need to get out of here. This hall is making me sick,” she says.

We walk outside around to the back of the hall where there’s a well organised rose garden with a brick path and benches strategically placed. We sit down on one of them. It’s nice to be in the fresh night air. I didn’t realise how stifling it was in that hall until I sat down on the bench under the stars.

Ryder takes a position to keep his eyes on every direction where danger might appear. I know I’ve upset many in Silver Claw, he knows it too. He stands ready for action.

“You heard everything back there I guess,” I ask her.

“I did, I saw everything too. Ivy, you’ve changed. I know that the Sterlings were cruel to you. But that was hard to watch. I feel like you were abusing them with your new position,” Nicole says.

She’s right. I was. “I felt like I had no options. It’s hard to be the leader. You need to ensure that everyone keeps to their place.”

“Perhaps I went overboard, I’m sorry if I did. But you of everyone knows what they did to me. It’s not like they don’t deserve what they got. Tiffany spat on me!”

“I know. I’ve wanted to kill them myself, many times. The thing is you’re now the princess of the most powerful pack in the country. Yes, you must insist on allegiance. Also you have unlimited power and you must use it strategically. Abusing the power you have will weaken you eventually.”

“You’re right. Thank you for your wisdom.” I hug her. Goddess! How have I lived without this woman in my life?

“Honestly, though, I think I always knew you were someone important. There was just something about you,” Nicole says. “I wasn’t even surprised to hear that you may soon be the alpha of Ice Moon. It seems like a natural progression to where you’re supposed to be.”

I laugh. “You should have let me in on that secret. I could have used some good news back then!”

“I think it’s great that you finally found your true home, your real family. I’m sad that you’ll go back to them, though. I’ll miss you.”

“Why don’t you come with me? What do you have here? I could appoint you to my court. You could be the doctor for all of Ice Moon.” I’d been thinking about this ever since I saw her earlier.

“Maybe. That’s a big thing. Let me think about it. If nothing else, at least now I know where you are. I can visit you.” Nicole smiles. “It’s been hard these last five years.”

“It has been hard. Yes, you should visit... any time.” I hesitate and Nicole notices.

“What? Do you have some other big secret you’re hiding? At home are you married again?” Nicole asks.

“No I’m not married. I still haven’t divorced Theodore. That’s something I need to take care of soon though. If this whole night taught me nothing, it taught me that me and Theodore are finished.”

Nicole sits quietly for a bit. “Theodore is weak in some ways, that’s true. And he’s been confused and manipulated by Tiffany and her family. Somehow in my heart, though, I still hoped that you two would find your way back to each other.”

“Even after all that happened tonight?”

“I know he loves you. Maybe I believe too much in romance. Do you not have any feelings for him, Ivy?”

“Somewhere between him not believing that I was pregnant and him committing me to a mental hospital, I lost my love for him. In fact, I think I hate him now. I want him out of my life forever.”

Nicole looks at me sceptically. “Then why did you come back here?”

“We needed to discuss business. I have some issues at home. I needed to strengthen my position and that needs a serious expansion of my business allies. Theodore had reached out and Ryder convinced me I should give him a listen despite everything.”

Nicole looks at me. She knows me even now after all of these years. “Really?”

“Fine! Maybe a part of me wanted to see him, I won’t lie. Still he hasn’t changed at all, and he especially hasn’t changed his mind about me and who I am,” I say.

I get angry thinking about it. “He doesn’t know me. He knows what Tiffany has told him about me, all of her lies. Even when I show him that I’m telling the truth, he will not believe it. Look how he didn’t accept that I’m the Ice Moon Princess until I showed him my grandfather’s ring.”

I nearly want to tell Nicole that Theodore and I are fated, but then decide it affects nothing. I suspect she will have strong beliefs that it affects everything and I can’t hear that just now.

“I need a man in my life who has my back and that man can never be Theodore.” I wonder if I’m speaking to Nicole or trying to convince myself.

“So why were you a bit dodgy about me visiting you?” she asks. “I think there’s something you’re hiding even if it’s not a new husband.”

“There is something, and I’ll tell you. I just can’t tell you now. Trust me.”

Nicole takes my hand. “I know you always have your reasons. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. Know that I’m always here for you. I don’t want to lose you again.”

I hug her. “You won’t.”

We talk for a bit more and then Nicole has to leave. Ryder joins me on the bench.

“Do you think any business can still be discussed with Theodore tonight?” I ask.

“I don’t think so. Too many emotions in the ether for anyone to act rationally,” Ryder says. “Maybe we should go to the hotel. Head home in the morning. We’ll try this another time.”

“I think you’re right. I’m exhausted from all of it.”

I think what a wasted trip it has been. Then I wonder, has it been a waste? I don’t think so. Silver Claw knows who I am now. Theodore does too.

Now that I’m over that hump in the road, maybe now we really can cooperate in a partnership. I still have Dylan to think about so we might need to try this again.

I look up because I hear someone coming. Ryder hears it too and jumps to his feet. Theodore comes around the edge of a high bush.

“Oh there you are. I thought you left,” Theodore says coming closer to me.

“Stop where you are!” Ryder warns. “What do you want here?”

Theodore sees Ryder now standing to the side. “I want to talk to my wife, do you mind?”

“It’s okay, Ryder. I’ll call you when I want to leave,” I say.

Ryder walks down the path towards the house to give us privacy, but not too far. He doesn’t trust Theodore.

“So I think it’s clear he’s not your boyfriend. He’s what, a security guard?” Theodore asks.

“Ryder is many things to me, but yes he is not my boyfriend.”

“Why did you let me think that he was?”

“Theodore, you make assumptions about me all of the time. I get tired trying to sort out your messy incorrect thoughts about me.” That’s not the real reason, but it’s a reason that might be true.

“All of this is a lot. It’s hard to believe,” Theodore says.

“You didn’t believe it. You never believe me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you at first. I was trying to get everything sorted in my mind. First, you were back. Then I realised that we’re fated. And then you reject me. Then you’re the princess of Ice Moon! You have to admit it was a lot for one night.”

I laugh when he puts it that way. “I think we’re leaving. I don’t think we can have any sort of productive meeting tonight.”

“You’re probably right. Will you go home?”

“No, we’ll sleep this side. Maybe we can try a business meeting tomorrow.” I’d like to get home, I’m missing my family. Still, I’ll stay for one more day if he thinks it will be worth. And if the drama can get out of our way.

“I think we can organise something.” He looks over at Ryder. “I think you didn’t tell me he’s not your man because you liked me being jealous.”

He’s right in a way but I don’t let him see. “Theodore, it’s over between us. I think we should sort things out legally. I think we should get a divorce.”

“We only just found each other again! And there’s the issue that we’re fated. What’s the rush? Let’s wait a bit,” Theodore says.

“I have a boyfriend who I love. He’s at home waiting for me.” I can see Theodore is upset with this news. “Even if we’re fated, I have no intention of giving him up. Our marriage is over, Theodore. You need to accept that.”

From his face I can see that accepting the idea that our marriage is over is the last thing he’s planning to do.