except at Laura, he ran his hands through his gra

t amused at the question. "Oh! He

ise coupled with anger. "You discussed it

back in her chair. "W

itched in surprise.

u...you know. He told me he had a solution that might help

guess I'll just talk to Ivory." He hesitated, rubbing his temples as though

. "Besides, are you sure that Ivory doesn't like him? Did you ask he

pened. " She has always been so private

her hands. "Ye

the clock for a momen

we deliberate, the sooner the board is

looked around the room, his thought

. Once there, he stood outside the do

ted on the bed with her AirPods in her ears. Her shoulders sl

e shut the door behind him. "Sweethear

m with some surpr

lk," he said.

removed her AirPods "What's that dad?" She spoke

gh for him to hold her hand . He could feel the we

cision you make, okay? I'll never force y

about? What do you even mean?" She loo

hts. "Leo has a solution to the shares.

r eyes widened again in

d her gravely.

g to absorb the news. "He wants

, it's fine. I'll understand. But... this is the only way we ca

ll be taken good care of, Ivory," she said. "Leo is so good. I know yo

ith Leo raced on her mind. She recalled the touch, the whisper

he thought to herself. "Could be kin

mind already made up.

surprised glances. "You w

ened, extremely sur

ace. "Well, it's good anyway. We move forward with the litigation, the quicker the

almost vibrating with e

n in the air could be cut with a knife. Whereby Benson and Laura, along with a

ther plain table where the imperative legal documents sat waiting

n to be your lawfully wedded husband?" th

. He gave her an encouraging nod and softened the look in hi

stared locked on her face, not appearing clear. There was something

ght. "I do," she said softly, her voice firm but almost to a

s over with? Ivory pushed the thought

illingly marry Ivory Hawthorne-in holy matrimony

e," the lawyer proclaimed, closin

s Leo and Ivory were ushered out. A proud smile on B

her, holding her close for a mom

Benson's gamble pay off, or will this union lead to