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"I told you, it’s a mistake," Adam muttered, rubbing his forehead. His eyes lifted to meet Patty’s. "I’ll take care of this. I promise. I won’t let them hurt you."
"Am I worried about myself?!" Patty shouted, her face streaked with tears. "I’m worried about you! You got sucked into something that you had no part in. You’re always like this—trying to help others without thinking about your own family. Don’t you understand that you can’t build other people’s homes by tearing down your own?"
Christian pulled out his phone, tapping it a few times before pressing it to his ear.
“Samuel, arrange for a new home in a nice neighborhood with good security and all facilities. Get it ready in an hour,” he said firmly before hanging up.
He ended the call and turned to Adam. “Mr. Watson, let’s pack up everything here. I’ll help you move. I’ll have Samuel send some men to assist as well.”
Patty wiped her tears as Christian looked at her and then at Adam. "About the money, I’ll pay off the debt. Don’t worry."
“No,” Adam and Patty said at the same time, their eyes meeting. Patty immediately shook her head.
Patty immediately shook her head, her voice full of concern. "We can't let you do that, Christian. We can't owe you this much money. It’s mine and Adam’s issue. Don't worry, we won’t let Ivy get caught up in this mess."
"Mom," Ivy interjected at once with a scowl. "How can you say that? I'm your daughter. Of course, it's my business."
"We can't let you pay such a huge amount for us," Adam said with a sigh, standing up resolutely. "I will handle it."
"Mr. Watson," Christian said calmly, his voice reassuring. "I will take care of this debt for you. Then we can work together to rebuild your business. When you start earning a profit, you can pay me ten percent of your monthly earnings until the debt is cleared. What do you think?"
Adam didn’t look convinced. His worry only deepened. He was torn, conflicted between pride and the weight of their circumstances.
"Mr. Watson," Christian continued, his tone softer now. "I’m your family too. Your daughter is my family, so you are my family. Think about Ivy and Mrs. Watson. This is just a small amount to me. How could I stand by and watch you suffer when I can solve this in a second?"
Adam glanced at Ivy. After a brief pause, Ivy nodded, encouraging her father to accept Christian’s offer. She was already terrified that they had ruined their home. It was verypossible that now that the house was broken, they would target her parents next to get the money.
Christian's reassuring smile made Adam pause, and finally, he nodded in agreement. Ivy let out a sigh of relief, the tension in her chest easing for the first time that day.
Soon after, the house was packed up, and Adam and Patty were sent to their new home. Christian instructed Samuel to handle the rest, and he and Ivy walked toward his car. As Samuel drove off with Adam and Patty, Ivy turned to Christian, her eyes soft with gratitude.
"Thank you. For everything," she said softly.
Christian’s gaze lingered on her face as his fingers gently brushed her forehead, smoothing out the lines of worry that had creased it. "I don't like seeing you worried," he murmured, his voice low and tender. "Just tell me whenever something’s troubling you, and I’ll always take care of you. Alright?"
Ivy’s heart raced, a flutter of warmth spreading through her chest. Seeing this man, feeling the intensity of his love, made her breathless. The emotions she had locked away for five years were slipping through the cracks, breaking free before she even realized it. The cold mask she had worn for so long was gone, dissolving even as she tried to hold on to it.
Her hands reached up, gently cupping his face. His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise and something deeper flashing through them.
Slowly, she rose onto her toes, tugging him down, and he bent to meet her. Her lips brushed against his—soft and tentative at first. His breath hitched, his body freezing for a brief second before his hands slid to her waist, steadying her.
Ivy’s lips pressed more firmly against his. Christian’s control snapped. His hand slid into her hair, angling her head as his mouth moved over hers with aching softness. His lips teased hers apart, his tongue slipping inside, coaxing her into a slow, deep kiss that made her knees weaken.
A quiet sound escaped her throat, and Christian’s grip tightened at her waist, his other hand cradling the back of her head. His lips were warm, steady, and possessive—lingering as if he never wanted to let her go.
The cold man who was always indifferent to everyone but Ivy—how could he not melt when the woman he loved most had finally kissed him of her own volition for the first time?
Christian was consumed with happiness. She could feel his chest beating rapidly against hers.
After a moment, his arms swept her off her feet, his hands gripping her waist as he lifted her effortlessly. His lips crushed against hers in a mad, breathless kiss, raw with desperation.
Turning swiftly, he pressed her back against the car, his hand sliding to her waist, holding her firmly in place. His other hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek as his mouth claimed hers. His tongue teased the seam of her lips before slipping inside, tasting her, devouring her.
His hand slid into her hair, threading through the strands as he traced the delicate line of her jaw. The kiss deepened, his mouth moving over hers with fierce, unrestrained hunger—a hunger that had been buried too long. His breath hitched as her scent wrapped around him, pulling him under.
Christian kissed her harder, his grip tightening as if afraid she’d slip away. Ivy’s hand pressed against his chest, her breath ragged as she tried to steady herself.
"Christian," she whispered, her voice strained, her chest heaving. "We’re in the middle of the road."