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“They’ll be finished.”
A crawling sensation comes over my skin. “Why so much hatred for them, Peter? What have they ever done to you?” I’m not even angry. I’m just disappointed that someone I loved as a friend could harbor such hatred. Unwarranted hatred, might I add.
“They are the sort of people I hate. Arrogant and rich. They think the rest of us owe them something,” he sneers. For the first time, Peter looks ugly to me.
“How do they do that?” I’m genuinely interested in knowing. I can count the number of times that Peter has met Alec. I can’t for the life of me understand how he concluded that Alec thinks we owe him something. Like what for goodness’ sake?
“They ruined your life, Ivy,” he says with feeling.
“What? No, they did not!” On the contrary. They’ve enriched my life. I feel accepted into their family, and as for Alec, I think I’m in love with him. No, scratch that. I love him, and I can’t wait for us to make a life together.
Like Peter, I judged Alec and his family based on their wealth. Unlike Peter, though, I scratched the surface and discovered that they are good people. If anything, they give back to society more than the rest of us do. They’re leaving a mark in the world. Making it a better place.
“I would never do that to Alec or his family. They’ve been nothing but kind to me.” I glance down at my ring. “We’re getting married. I’m going to be his wife.”
His mouth falls open. “You can’t do that! Ivy, you’re destroying your life or what’s left of it.”
I’m boiling with sudden fury. I clench my jaw so tightly it hurts. “How dare you? Destroying my life? What the fuck are you talking about? Just because I’m not falling in love with you, you think I’m destroying my life?”
“I’m saying you are destroying your life because having a baby was not part of your plan. You wanted to write your novel and become a great writer, Ivy. Not have a baby or get married,” Peter shouts back.
“Dreams change, and I’m glad mine have changed.”
We glare at each other, both of us breathing hard. Peter is the first to speak. “Do you love him? Does he love you?”
I blink rapidly. Of course, we love each other. Just because we haven’t said it to each other doesn’t mean that we don’t.
Peter continues talking when I don’t respond. “When did he propose, Ivy? Recently I’ll bet. Was it to protect the clinic?”
“Protect the clinic from what?”
“A scandal.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
He refuses to say anything more.
“Look, I love you, and I only want what is best for you,” Peter says.
I cock my head to one side. “An interview to bring down The Anderson Clinic is acting in my best interest? What kind of idiot do you think I am?”
A desperate look comes over his features. “Okay, I admit that part of this is for me. It will give me a much-needed leg up in my career. But it’s also for you, for us. For our future.”
I’ve had enough of this conversation. I get to my feet with a lot of struggling. It’s becoming harder and harder to stand up. Peter makes a move to come and help. I stop him with a look.
“I’m so disappointed in you, Peter. I thought we were genuine friends.”
“We are, and we can be a lot more if you just open your eyes to the possibilities.”
Peter doesn’t get it. He’s too wrapped up in his selfish wants. I shake my head. Sadness weighs me down. The world has tilted, moving in slow motion. As I move toward my bedroom, I feel as if I’m in a dream world. A nightmarish world where people would betray even their friends to get ahead in life.
35
Ivy
I stay in my room until I’m sure that Peter has left. I need a bite of something. I venture out, and as I enter the kitchen, I almost jump out of my skin when I nearly bump into Peter.
“Hey, I was hoping to talk to you before I leave,” he says.
