A marriage deal with billionaire stone (Ivy and Silas)

"Sir? Are you alright?" Bud asked gently.

Silas jolted, startled by Bud's voice. He didn't know how long he had been standing in the empty lot. When he finally became aware of himself, he realized

he was trembling, and the panic still sat heavy in his chest.

"I'm... good..." he managed, though his voice betrayed him. "Let's go."

Bud gave him a suspicious look but said nothing. He led the way, followed by two more guards.

Rosie's words crept into his mind-one doubt after another. Each doubt morphed into a fact, a fact he was struggling to ignore, even though something

about them felt painfully true.

He slid into the car, his thoughts racing.

How did she know he was here? How did she know about Mateo too? It felt like he was the only one sitting in the dark.

He leaned forward. "Bud, take me to the De Royale Hotel," he said, then gave the address.

Panic surged again, and he clenched his fists trying to compose himself.

It was either he had a leak, or Rosie had done something much worse like bugging his house and his phone.

Sweat broke out on his skin at the realization.

He didn't believe Rosie, she was lying. He said the line severally like a chant, hoping that would make it true.

"Are you alright, boss?" Bud asked, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.

"No," Silas said, finally admitting. He sank deeper into the seat, wiping off the sweat with his sleeve. "I think I'm being bugged."

"Bug?" Bud's voice rose in fear.

"Yes. I want every inch of the house searched. My company, the cars, everything. As soon as possible."

"Yes sir," Bud replied, concentrating back on the road.

At the risk of sounding uneasy, he bit his lips, refusing to say anything more.

Rosie was trying to drive him crazy, and he wouldn't let her.

His thoughts drifted to Ivy, and his chest tightened. He quickly took his phone and called her. Just like earlier in the day, she didn't pick up.

With anxiety swirling in his chest, he was tempted to keep calling, but he stopped himself. She was at Aunt May's place, and he wanted to believe she was

safe.

Cole had promised.

The idea of a leak in the house crept back into his mind, but he shook it off. His phone rang, and he answered it. It was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Stone," a soft, feminine voice replied, "It's Jade."

Jade?" He searched his mind.

"Your wife's PA, sir."

"Oh," he said, then panic struck again. "What happened?"

10:52 Mon, 16 Jun G

"She told me to send you a surveillance footage, sir."

"Ah." Relief poured through him. Ivy had texted him about it, and he had completely forgotten. "I'll send you my email. Send it there."

"Alright, sir."

"Is that all?"

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"Yes, sir," Jade replied gently. "Bye, sir."

He saved the number and sent his email. Moments later, he received the clip and opened it immediately.

The stranger in the video hadn't even bothered to cover his face.

Was this all part of Rosie's sick game to break Ivy?

He swallowed as he watched it again.

Then he remembered Ivy mentioning a picture of her and Mason. He wondered what that was about, but he was patient.

Ivy was the only one who could explain it, and he wouldn't let Rosie paint a narrative.

"We're here, boss," Bud said, stopping the car.

Silas looked up and realized they were at the hotel. "Thanks, Bud," he said, dialing his own P.A.

When Tyler answered, Silas spoke. "I'm going to send you a surveillance footage. It's important you guard it with everything."

"Yes, sir," Tyler said, his voice firm.

"Find out who was in that footage. I want every detail on that man."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Tyler. I'll be waiting for your response." Silas ended the call and sent

the email before stepping out of the car. "I'll be back soon," he told Bud.

Silas went straight to the reception area and asked for Thomas's room. After getting directions, he rode the elevator up, trying not to let Rosie's words echo in his head.

He wasn't here to choose Rosie over Thomas. He just wanted answers. He needed to hear it from his brother.

The elevator chimed, and he stepped onto the floor. His heart jumped slightly at

the number of guards stationed in the hallway.

If Thomas was this cautious about Rosie, why had he gone to her alone?

"Mr. Stone," one of the guards approached.

"What room is Thomas in, please?"

"The last one on the left, sir."

Silas nodded, his heart skipping as he walked down the corridor.

How was he even going to start? He had no idea even as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Thomas said from the other side,

Silas swallowed hard, before pushing the door open. His brother stood at the window, his back turned to the door, a transparent glass in his hand.

"She told me to send you a surveillance footage, sir."

"Ah." Relief poured through him, Ivy had texted him about it, and he had

completely forgotten. "I'll send you my email. Send it there."

"Alright, sir."

"is that all?"

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"Yes, sir," Jade replied gently. "Bye, sir."

He saved the number and sent his email. Moments later, he received the clip and

opened it immediately.

The stranger in the video hadn't even bothered to cover his face.noveldrama

Was this all part of Rosie's sick game to break Ivy?

He swallowed as he watched it again.

Then he remembered Ivy mentioning a picture of her and Mason. He wondered

what that was about, but he was patient.

Ivy was the only one who could explain it, and he wouldn't let Rosie paint a narrative.

"We're here, boss," Bud said, stopping the car.

Silas looked up and realized they were at the hotel. "Thanks, Bud," he said,

dialing his own P.A.

When Tyler answered, Silas spoke. "I'm going to send you a surveillance footage.

It's important you guard it with everything."

"Yes, sir," Tyler said, his voice firm.

"Find out who was in that footage. I want every detail on that man."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Tyler. I'll be waiting for your response." Silas ended the call and sent the email before stepping out of the car. "I'll be back soon," he told Bud. Silas went straight to the reception area and asked for Thomas's room. After getting directions, he rode the elevator up, trying not to let Rosie's words

echo in his head.

He wasn't here to choose Rosie over Thomas. He just wanted answers. He needed to hear it from his brother.

The elevator chimed, and he stepped onto the floor. His heart jumped slightly at

the number of guards stationed in the hallway.

if Thomas was this cautious about Rosie, why had he gone to her alone?

"Mr. Stone," one of the guards approached.

"What room is Thomas in, please?"

"The last one on the left, sir."

Silas nodded, his heart skipping as he walked down the corridor.

How was he even going to start? He had no idea even as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Thomas said from the other side,

Silas swallowed hard, before pushing the door open. His brother stood at the window, his back turned to the door, a transparent glass in his hand,

"Hey, bro," Silas said.

Thomas turned slowly, his eyes widened. "Silas."

"When were you planning to return my calls?" Silas asked.

"Soon," Thomas said. "T... have been busy."

"That's all it ever is with you, Thomas. Busy all the time," he said carefully, trying

not to let his frustration show. "You missed dinner, that was supposed to be our time to bond."

Thomas downed his drink and set the glass on the bedside table. "I'm sorry, Si. I should have called."

That was it? No explanation. Just an apology?

Silas stepped closer. "What's going on, Thomas? You've been so distant."

"Nothing you need to worry about," Thomas chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, I'll come over for dinner tonight. Is 8 p.m. fine?"

Silas closed his eyes for a moment, controlling the anger that threatened to spill. Thomas was lying. He could tell with the way his eyes darted- everywhere but Silas's face.

"Where were you last night?"

"Out. I had things to do," Thomas said without missing a beat. Then he moved closer, directing Silas to the door. "I'll call later. We'll talk. I'll even stay overnight."

The eagerness to dismiss him, the guilt in his eyes, the slight tremor in his voice all fueled Silas's anger.

He nudged his brother's hand away, not bothering to hide the anger in his voice.

"Where were you last night?"

"I said I was busy."

"Don't fucking lie to me, Thomas!" Silas snapped. "Were you handcuffed to a

damn bed?"

Thomas's hazel eyes widened. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Fuck!" Silas shouted, his anger breaking into pain. "You went to Rosie, didn't you? You lied to me."

Thomas said nothing. He just staggered back to the bed and sank on it.

Pain pierced Silas's chest. "I can't believe you'd lie to me. I am your brother! I'm

trying to help you. All you had to do was let me in!"

Thomas stayed silent.

Silas stepped forward, shaking with rage. "Who the fuck is Mateo Castro?"

That did it.

Thomas shot up from the bed, his eyes wide. "What?"

"You never talked about the men i saw in your office. But you were

quick to call Rosie a thief. The same Rosie you... screwed."

Silas had expected remorse, or even another flat apology. Anything. But instead,

Thomas flared, his eyes burning.

"How dare you speak to Rosie behind my back?"

Silas blinked, confusion gripping him—but not for long. "You'd rather spin this

around than tell me the truth? So Rosie was right

10:53 Mon, 16 Jun

Thomas lunged at him, shoving Silas violently against the door. "Get out!"

The action should have stunned Silas, but for some weird reason he had

expected that, and it added to his rage

He snapped too, pushing his brother back.

It was Thomas who was stunned as he lost his footing and to the floor.

"Fuck you, Thomas!" Silas exploded.

"Get out! I never want to see you again!"

"And you won't!" Silas snapped. "Go to hell!"

He stormed out of the room, pain and fury mixing like poison in his veins.

He couldn't believe it.

Rosie had been telling the truth.

Fuck.

As Silas made his way out, he took his phone and dialed David Spence. The line

connected immediately.

"One more thing to add to your investigation," Silas said. "Island Nova."

10:53 Mon, 16 Jun G

Thomas lunged at him, shoving Silas violently against the door. "Get out!"

The action should have stunned Silas, but for some weird reason he had

expected that, and it added to his rage.

He snapped too, pushing his brother back.

It was Thomas who was stunned as he lost his footing and to the floor.

"Fuck you, Thomas!" Silas exploded.

"Get out! I never want to see you again!"

"And you won't!" Silas snapped. "Go to hell!"

He stormed out of the room, pain and fury mixing like poison in his veins.

He couldn't believe it.

Rosie had been telling the truth.

Fuck.

As Silas made his way out, he took his phone and dialed David Spence. The line

connected immediately.

"One more thing to add to your investigation," Silas said. "Island Nova."