Chapter 1My husband's so allergic to women we had to do IVF just to have a kid—zero physical contact.
When I finally got pregnant, I received a video that same day.
In the video, my husband and some woman were naked in bed together.
Kissing, sex, oral—the whole thing.
And his skin? Totally fine. Not a single hive.
I looked up—there he was, peeling an apple for me.
Mask on. Jacket buttoned up. Gloves. Full hazmat mode.
My hand shook as I reached out.
The second I touched his sleeve, he smacked my hand away. Hard.
"Don't touch me! Are you trying to KILL ME?!"
He looked at me like I was the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen.
That's when it finally hit me:
He's not allergic to women. He's just allergic to ME.
While he went to change, I called a number I'd blocked five years ago.
He answered instantly.
"Send me your location. I'm coming now!"
...
When Greyson came back out, he threw the jacket straight in the trash.
I tried to stop him.
"That was my birthday present to you. You've barely worn it."
Greyson said flatly.
"You touched it. I can't wash your smell off. I don't want it anymore."
Seeing I was upset, he softened a bit.
"Ivy, you know I can't touch women."
"And you just got pregnant—don't stress yourself out. It's bad for the baby."
Like he was trying to make me feel better.
He put fuzzy mittens over his medical gloves and patted my head a couple times.
But that just made it worse.
I pushed his hand off.
My throat hurt.
"Greyson, do you think I'm... dirty?"
He froze. Then frowned.
"Ivy, I'm dealing with your pregnancy hormones here. You need to cut me some slack too."
"I'm working my ass off. Don't start drama."
Greyson runs a huge company.
He's always busy.
Yesterday when I was in surgery, he showed up two hours late because of some "meeting."
But now I know what that MEETING really was.
He was fucking someone else.
I laughed. It sounded bitter.
"What were you doing yesterday during my surgery?"
He looked guilty for a second.
Before he could answer, someone walked into the hospital room.
Sloane, his childhood best friend.
"Hey Grey, how's Ivy doing?"
Sloane came in holding a huge bouquet. Perfect makeup, big smile.
Walked right up to Greyson and pressed her palm against his forehead.
"You've been working nonstop! You're gonna get sick!"
And he just... let her.
He even leaned down so she could reach.
Then he took the bouquet from her, their fingers brushing like it was nothing.
His forehead, his hands—totally clear. Not a single mark.
I suddenly felt sick.
Kept thinking about that video.
Is he not allergic to other women? Or just ME?
Or maybe... the woman in the video WAS Sloane.
Sloane noticed me staring. She grinned.
"Ivy, don't be mad at Grey."
"I hurt my hand yesterday and he had to take me to the hospital."
"That's why he was late."
"But I came RIGHT WAY to apologize. You're not mad, right?"
She held up her hand.
It was wrapped in gauze with blood seeping through.
My heart sunk.
Yesterday's video, the woman hid her face.
But I knew those hands.
When they were fucking, she hit the nightstand and cut herself...
Chapter 2
Greyson came over to my bed. Looked panicked.
"Ivy, I REALLY had work stuff yesterday."
"Taking Sloane to the hospital was just—it was an emergency. Don't read into it."
"Plus, it's just a small procedure to you."
"You've done it three times now. Should be able to handle it alone by now."
"Stop making this a big deal."
"Once work calms down, I'll take time off and stay home with you."
Sloane picked an apple, cut it, handed half to Greyson.
He bit into it, his lips brushing her hand. She giggled and swatted his arm.
Then she turned to me, held the other half of the apple to my mouth.
Like we were friends or something.
"Come on! Ivy, Grey and I go way back."
"I'll keep an eye on him for you. He's NOT gonna cheat. I promise!"
She smelled like men's cologne.
Overwhelming.
I pushed her hand away and started gagging.
She winced and dropped the apple.
When I finally looked up, Greyson was fussing over Sloane's hand.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Need to rebandage that before it gets infected."
Sloane shrugged it off, totally unfazed.
"Dude, it's just a scratch."
"You know I don't do drama."
"Making a scene over every little thing is so embarrassing!"
She glanced at me when she said it.
I just stood there frozen.
When I finally spoke, I couldn't stop my voice from shaking.
"Greyson..."
"You said you were allergic to all women.... Why can you touch HER?"
Greyson dropped Sloane's hand fast.
"I... We grew up together. Yeah—I guess I just see her as a guy, so my body doesn't react."
A GUY?
So yesterday while I was in surgery, he fucked a GUY?
Ha.
What a pathetic excuse.
Three years married. I thought today would be happy—our first baby.
But instead, this is the day I realize it's over.
I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer:
"Send me divorce papers."
Meanwhile, Sloane looked at her hand bleeding again.
"I'm gonna use the bathroom. Grey, you talk to Ivy."
Greyson frowned and grabbed her hand.
"You're not gonna try to change your own bandage again, are you?"
"You still have a scar from last time!"
"Wait here. I'll get a doctor."
He pushed her down on the couch and walked out.
Usually so cold and controlled.
But right then? He was practically running.
Sloane plopped down on the couch, all casual.
Grabbed the magazine Greyson had been reading and started flipping through it.
Noticed me staring, she looked up with this pitying look on her face.
"Sorry, Ivy, I had NO idea he was allergic to other women."
"Like... we've been doing this for years. Whatever I touch, he's totally fine with."
"But—three years married and he won't let you touch ANYTHING?"
"Wow. That's... that's really really sad."
Then she held up the magazine.:
"Oh, and this magazine?"
"His secretary dropped it off."
"Didn't see him break out in hives from that."
"And at work? He's around female executives all the time—totally fine."
"Wait... is Grey only allergic to YOU?"
"That's kind of crazy, don't you think?"
"It's like he thinks you're dirty or something."
"I'll definitely TALK to him about this later! I mean, how can he treat a girl like that..."
Chapter 3
My head was pounding.
My chest hurt so bad.
I tried not to think about the past, but I couldn't stop the memories.
Greyson.
Does he only treat me like this?
He's always thought I was... dirty?
By the time Greyson came back, my lawyer had already dropped off the contract.
I uncapped the pen and held it out. "Sign this."
Greyson reached for it automatically. Then he saw my hand on the pen and jerked back.
"What is it?"
"Just a contract."
He nodded. "Oh, the Mercer deal you set up? Just leave it. I'll sign later."
I stared at him. "SIGN IT NOW."
"Why won't you sign it, Greyson? Because I touched this pen? You don't want to use it?"
"Ivy, stop."
He signed:
"I react to you because I see you as a woman. That's how much I LOVE YOU."
"Stop being jealous."
He wouldn't look at me.
Sat down where Sloane had been sitting and nodded at her.
"Sloane, you're my assistant. Sign this for me."
"Ivy set up the deal—I trust her. Just sign it."
Sloane winked. "Sure thing, boss!"
She took the pen from me, flipped to the last page, and signed his name.
But when she stamped it with his seal, she paused.
She'd noticed it was divorce papers.
Looked at me but didn't say anything.
"All done, Grey. I put it in your bag."
Greyson nodded at her and put his phone down.
"Ivy, stop being mad."
"I just booked us a table at that place with the spicy wings you like. Let's go tonight."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Greyson, do you remember I just had IVF?"
"Did you even listen when the doctor said I CAN'T eat spicy food?"
His face went red. Then he just looked pissed.
"Can you stop being so dramatic?!"
"I'm allergic—I can't have sex with you. You knew we'd have to do IVF."
"And your body was never strong enough for this in the first place, but you insisted on having a kid."
"You're suffering now because of YOUR OWN CHOICES."
"Why are you blaming me?"
He stood up and put his jacket on.
"I'll just go with Sloane and my coworkers. You rest."
Sloane grabbed his arm and whined:
"Yes! We haven't gone out forever. Let's get wasted!"
Watching them, I got dizzy.
My stomach also cramped hard.
I grabbed his sleeve. "Grey, the baby—"
Greyson's face instantly went white with terror.
Like I was some kind of plague, he jumped back and shoved me hard. I hit the floor.
"I said DON'T TOUCH ME! I'll break out! I could die!"
He ripped his jacket off.
Where I'd touched was already swollen and red.
I hit the wall corner hard.
It knocked the wind out of me.
When I opened my eyes, there was blood and fluid under me.
I grabbed his arm. Begging.
"Please save the baby... My baby..."
