Undressed By His Arrogance-Chapter 330: We Were Drunk And Mourning

Ivy shot her a look. "When did you upgrade to billionaire? I thought you were aiming for a millionaire. And don’t you have a thing with Joey?"

Trish waved a hand dismissively. "Please. Joey was a one night stand. A very good-looking, emotionally unavailable one night stand."

"Joey?" Irene cut in, eyes narrowing with sudden interest. "Which Joey?"

"Joey Winsford," Trish said.

Irene’s mouth fell open. "That Joey?"

"The one and only," Ivy confirmed cheerfully, unable to stop the grin spreading across her face. "They had sex in the back of Joey’s car."

Trish groaned and dropped a pant into the suitcase. "We were drunk and mourning."

"Oh yeah..." Irene drawled, wiggling her brows. "The classic grief-fuck. Very therapeutic. Doctors should prescribe it."

Trish threw a pillow at her. "Okay, okay," Trish said, holding up her hands defensively, laughing now despite herself. "Look, I don’t think Joey wants a relationship. I was more like a booty call." She smirked, eyes glittering. "But the dude knows what to do with a woman’s body, if you know what I mean."

Ivy burst out laughing. "You’re crazy."

"Look who’s talking," Irene immediately snapped, pointing at Ivy. "Winn makes so many sexual slurs with you that I want to wash my ears whenever I’m around you guys."

"He’s just... expressive."

"I can get you some soap, Irene," Winn’s voice drawled from the doorway, with Joey standing just behind him wearing that easy, trouble-adjacent smile of his. "Is this what you girls do? Discuss the fucking skills of your men?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Trish looked up, completely unbothered, lips curving into a grin. "Pretty much."

Joey laughed, stepping fully into the room. He extended a hand to Ivy. "Congratulations, Ivy. If I’d known the war was over, I wouldn’t have missed the wedding."

She took his hand, squeezing it warmly. "I know. It’s alright. I still can’t believe it’s over myself." Saying it out loud still felt dangerous.

"Which is why," Trish cut in brightly, clapping once, "we are throwing a party."

Joey’s brows shot up. "Of course you are."

"Babe?" Winn called. "Can I talk to you a moment?"

She nodded immediately. "Of course."

She stepped carefully around the mountain of clothes and half-zipped suitcases and followed Winn out of the room. The door closed softly behind them, sealing off the laughter and noise. They walked side by side down the hallway and out onto the balcony, the evening air cool against Ivy’s skin.

Below them lay Sam’s pad, lights glowing.

"Is everything alright?" Ivy asked, studying Winn’s face.

"Yes," he said, then paused. "But... well, we’re a couple now. Married. We have to make decisions together."

"Okay," she said slowly, bracing herself.

"Tom’s kids," Winn began.

"No—no—no," Ivy interrupted instantly, eyes flashing. "Don’t even go there. You are not responsible for them."

"I know I’m not responsible," he said calmly. "But they’re still kids, Ivy. And right now, they’re standing in the rubble of everything their parents destroyed."

She crossed her arms, jaw tight. "And if we open that door, it will stay open."

"I know," Winn said. "But James... he helped us too. Even though he was just saving himself."

Ivy exhaled sharply and shook her head. "Winn... whatever it is you’re thinking, I disapprove." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I don’t want anything—anything—that’s connected to Tom. Not near me. Not near my family."

She paced the length of the balcony. Ivy swallowed hard. "Do anything else," she went on. "Set up a trust fund. Pay for their education anonymously. Hell, send money through a lawyer if it eases your conscience. I don’t care. Just don’t make me responsible for reminders of a man who nearly destroyed me."

Winn listened. He stepped forward and gently caught her wrist. "Okay. Okay, babe. It’s alright. I hear you."

She sagged into him the moment he pulled her closer, her forehead pressing against his chest. Winn wrapped his arms around her, one hand sliding up and down her back in slow, soothing strokes. "I love you," he murmured, his lips brushing her hair. "I love you, Mrs. Kane."

Ivy tilted her head back to look at him, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Sounds good on me, doesn’t it?"

Winn laughed softly, eyes crinkling at the corners. "When did you become this arrogant?"

She grinned. "I learned from the best."

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "You’re coming home with me today?" he asked.

Ivy nodded, the smile spreading until it warmed her whole face. "Yes. Yes, I am."

Relief flooded his features. "Alright then. We better get to it." He brushed a thumb across her cheek, lingering. "Early night. We fly out to Canada in the morning."

Her heart skipped, emotion swelling so suddenly it nearly stole her breath. She placed a hand over his chest, feeling the steady beat beneath her palm. "We bring our baby home."

Winn smiled—a wide, unrestrained smile that spoke of healing and a future finally within reach. He kissed her forehead, lingering there. "Yeah," he said quietly. "We do."

"I’ll just get a few things I need then," Ivy said. "The rest can come later."

He reached into his pocket. "I have something to give you," he said. In his hand, he held a necklace with an engagement ring dangling from the chain.

Ivy gasped. "You... you still kept it?" she whispered.

"I know you don’t need it anymore," he said, stepping closer, the heat from his body enveloping her, "but this was for the first-ever yes you said to me. It’s highly treasured." He lifted the necklace and, with careful fingers, unclasped it and draped it around her neck. The ring swung lightly. "We are finally here," he murmured.

Ivy leaned up instinctively, pressing her lips to his. "Yes," she whispered against him, pulling back slightly to look into his eyes, "yes we are. And with another kid on the way," she added with a chuckle.

Winn’s hands found her stomach, cupping her gently. "I’m a complete man," he said, "and it’s all thanks to you."