Sweet Little Lies

Chapter Three

This is a triple update. Make sure to start with Chapter 1

It had only been a couple of days since Ivy had sat across from Harry for the very first time, and since then she hadn't stopped thinking about him. Soon, she would be locked into a life with him. Forever. There was no getting out of it. She had spent hours upon hours trying to figure her way around this marriage.

But she had nothing.

And the rumors had finally started.

A grainy picture in the local gossip mags showed the two of them sitting at the table. The following article made it out like they had gone to dinner together. The news of that was so explosive that her phone was constantly blowing up with new texts. Willow had sent, I was only gone for fifteen minutes. Astrid had called, but when Ivy ignored it, she texted, We need to have a girl's night stat.

Her sister and brother had two entirely different reactions. Cara's filled with panic, Does dad know? This is bad, Ivy, really bad. While Finn's was pure anger, What the actual fuck is this? Sent with a picture of the article.

Ivy was a little surprised that Finn hadn't barged into her office when the story dropped, but thankfully, he'd had a day full of meetings. It was actually Willow and Astrid that stopped by early Saturday morning, waking her from her fitful sleep. She hadn't slept well since that night.

"We brought gifts." Willow entered the apartment without a proper invitation.

Astrid followed closely behind, sending her an apologetic smile. "She insisted." She whispered to her.

With a sigh, she closed the door, and followed the smells. Their gifts were a smorgasbord of pasties and breakfast delights. Willow had already made herself at home, turning on the coffee machine and looking through the fridge. Within ten minutes, bacon was cooking in a pan and eggs were being whipped in a bowl for some omelets.

"I really don't know how you didn't tell me what happened." Willow huffed out again, "I mean, I was right there."

"I told you, I wanted to speak to my father first."

Astrid winced, "So, there's no way out of this? You're actually marrying Harry Styles?"

Astrid wasn't born into a crime family like Ivy and Willow. She wasn't even born in Queenstown. Her mother met a close friend of Ivy's dad while on vacation, and in middle school her and her mother moved to the city to marry the man. Ivy and Willow had been inseparable back then, but when they met Astrid, their duo turned into a trio. When Astrid's stepdad died at the hands of the Hayashi family, Ivy's father had extended lifelong protection to her and her mom. They were forever family to the Malone's.

Ivy picked up a donut, "Unfortunately."

"Well, it could've been worse." Willow shrugged, "It could've been some middle-aged man. Harry's not too bad to look at, at least."

Astrid gave her a look, "She's still being sold off to someone like she's cattle."

"We always knew this was an option." Willow bit back, "It's a part of our lifestyle." Then she turned back to Ivy, "You know it could be worse, Ivy."

"Could it?" She asked, "You've heard the rumors."

Willow raised an eyebrow, "Of his father, yes."

Whispers had flown around for decades about how Patrick Styles treated his wife. She was rarely seen and never heard.

"Harry's the heir to the Styles fortune." Astrid pointed out, "His father has groomed him from the start-"

"Just because our fathers are who they are doesn't mean that we're the same." Ivy cut her off and challenged, "Would you say I'm like Cillian?"