Ivy beamed at her. “Thank you.” She spread her fingers and stared at the brilliant Asscher cut diamond. Daniella’s had the same cut, except hers was a huge yellow diamond. “I can’t believe I’m getting married. Well, married again.” Ivy was a widow.
Daniella had always gotten along with her. They’d become friends after she married Cyrus, and after they split, Ivy had told her, “Don’t be a stranger. You and I can still be friends even if you’re no longer married to my brother.”
But Daniella hadn’t felt right about it, and she’d cut off all contact. The last time she’d seen Ivy was at the same restaurant opening for a friend where she’d seen Cyrus. They’d spoken briefly and she’d promised to call Ivy to do lunch, but she’d never called and neither had Ivy.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Ivy said with sincerity. “I hope the two of you can work it out this time. Goodness knows Cyrus needs someone to keep him in line.”
“I don’t think anyone can keep him in line.”
Ivy’s eyes filled with amusement. “True, he can be difficult, but he slowed down some after the two of you got married. We were all glad because, well…you know, after the health scare he had.”
After Ivy dropped that bombshell, she hugged a family member who had approached. Daniella waited impatiently as they chatted before the woman walked away. “I didn’t know Cyrus had a health scare,” she said.
“You didn’t? My goodness, he was in the hospital for two days. His body shut down from extreme exhaustion. We were all frantic and scared to death, of course.”
Daniella’s stomach lurched sickeningly. Cyrus, who was so energetic, and who she often thought of as invincible, had been laid up in a hospital bed for days. “When did this happen?”
Ivy screwed up her face in deep thought. “Um…about a year or two before he met you, I think. Yes, that’s right. When you consider that he’s always been an overachiever—I mean, he got his MBA from Wharton at twenty years old and started working with my father right after—I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. After he left the hospital, he became obsessive about everything. You know how he is. He’s adamant about order and maintaining control in every aspect of his life, and not long after he fell ill, he bought a house and told my mother he wanted to get married and have kids. He kicked up his exercise regimen, and he started eating better. Proper eating habits was one of the things the doctor stressed. No more skipping meals and plenty of water.”
Daniella glanced across the lawn to where Cyrus stood talking to Lucas and a family member. He looked so vibrant and strong, but now she understood his almost fanatical eating and exercise habits. “He never told me.”
“You know how my brother is. He’s too busy taking care of everyone else, and God forbid anyone know he’s actually human—made of flesh and blood like the rest of us.”
Daniella had always thought of him as godlike, but knowing his health had suffered in such an extreme way made him seem… She shook her head at the silly notion he needed caring for. The danger had long passed, and Cyrus was not vulnerable.