TROUBLE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 9) by Kelly Favor Page A

hope you’re being honest with me.”
    Ivy rolled her eyes.   “I got married to a man who’s being
accused of murder.   Isn’t that
enough for now?   Do we really need
to add illegal drug use to the list of my problems?”
    Her mother chuckled a little too.   “Fine, then.   No drugs.   At least we have that going for us.”
    “Mom, I really need your help.   He’s gone.   They just took him away and I don’t know
what I’m supposed to do.”
    “I’m coming there,” her mother said.   “Right now.   Where are you?”
    Ivy sat up straighter, a rush of
adrenaline flooding her.   “Coming
here?”
    “You can’t be alone right now.   First things first, we need to see about
getting you a quickie divorce.   How
long ago did you elope?”
    “Wait a minute…” Ivy said, but her mother
was on a roll.
    “It’s possible you could even get an
annulment, especially under the circumstances.”
    “I don’t want to divorce Cullen.   Didn’t you hear me say I want to spend
my life with him?”
    “This is not a game, young lady.   Clearly, this man has a hold on
you.   I imagine he’s much older than
you.   I imagine he’s got you
convinced that he’s smart and capable and you’re just some cute young thing.”
    Ivy was stunned that her mother had come
to those conclusions, and it hurt how close to the bone some of her
observations cut.   “He’s a bit older
than me, yes.   But that’s
not—“
    “And how did you meet him?   Tell me.”
    Ivy felt like she was suddenly backed
into a corner.   “At work.”
    “Is he in a position of authority?”
    “Mom, I told you I didn’t want to be
grilled right now.”
    “That’s because you’re under this man’s
spell.   I knew something like this
would happen to you, Ivy.   You’ve
always been very susceptible to strong-willed people.   Remember your friend Alana, and how you
practically worshipped the ground she walked on.   And then she turned around and savaged
you to your entire circle of girlfriends?   I always told you that Alana wasn’t a good person—“
    “Mom, knock it off,” Ivy said forcefully.
    Her mother went silent as if a plug had
been pulled.
    Ivy waited a long moment before
continuing in as calm a voice as possible.   “This isn’t about my friends from junior high.   I love Cullen.   I’m going to help him get out of this
mess.”
    “If that’s your choice, then that’s your
choice.   Clearly, you didn’t need my
help after all.”
    There was a tightness in Ivy’s chest
now.   “Maybe I didn’t need your help,”
she shot back.   “And I certainly
didn’t need you reminding me about past mistakes just so you can day I told you
so.”
    The blows were becoming more and more
painful on both sides, but Ivy didn’t know how to stop it.   It was as if years of old wounds were
being ripped open, and there was no choice in the matter.
    “Ivy, don’t expect me to tell you that
this is all okay.   I’m your mother,
I’m not just going to say it’s all fine because that’s what you want to hear
right now.   You married your boss
and want me to give it my stamp of approval?   After you tell me he’s also in trouble
for murder?”
    “Negligence,” Ivy said.
    “Whatever it is, this is completely out
of control and you need to end things with him as soon as possible.”
    “Well of course you don’t want me to stay
with him.   Because if I’m married
with a family, then what purpose would you have in life?”
    There was another long silence as Ivy’s
words hit home.
    “I have plenty of purpose, dear.   It’s unfortunate you can’t see it.   But then again, you have always had a
tendency to believe the entire world revolved around you.”
    Now it was Ivy’s turn to feel the pain in
her gut.   “Thanks, Mom.   Real helpful talk.”  
    “I don’t know what else to say.”
    “Fine,” Ivy said, getting to her
feet.   She felt so cold.   “I have to go, Mom.”
    “Good luck,”