Se connecterEdric's stomach twisted. Roger was actually going to speak to Noelle.For years, Noelle had been desperate to win Roger's approval. Under any other circumstances, Edric would've been thrilled that his father was finally willing to take her call.But Roger clearly wasn't answering to welcome her into the family."Dad, let me get that," Edric said quickly.Roger gave him a sharp look. "I said I'll handle it."His tone left no room for argument.Edric fell silent.Roger answered the call.Noelle's soft voice came through immediately. "Edric, how's it going?"Outside, Noelle and Kate were still sitting in the back of a luxury sedan, eagerly waiting for the scene inside to play out. They were certain the photo would ruin Ivy's reputation for good.Kate leaned in excitedly. "Did Dad pick up? Put him on speaker. I hope Grandpa gets so angry that he throws Ivy out and finally lets us into the family. Then I'll be his favorite granddaughter."Noelle shot her a warning look, then pu
"Nathan, who is that woman?" Roger asked."She's the general counsel for one of our overseas business partners," Nathan replied calmly. "We were meeting to discuss a multibillion-dollar acquisition, and three other executives were sitting at the table with us. Whoever took the photo cropped them out on purpose to make it look like we were alone."The guests immediately began whispering among themselves."She's a corporate attorney?"Just then, Nathan's assistant walked in. "Mr. Lowe, I have the café's security footage.""Put it on the screen," Nathan said.The full, unedited footage soon appeared on the large screen.It clearly showed all five of them entering the café together. Throughout the meeting, Nathan and the woman kept a polite, professional distance. Nothing even remotely inappropriate happened.The so-called private date was manufactured by someone who deliberately cropped the others out of the photo to create a scandal.The ballroom erupted in shocked murmurs."So
Ivy froze, her heart skipping a beat as she looked up at the tall man standing in front of her.Nathan wore a tailored black suit, the chill from outside still clinging to his coat. He had clearly come straight from the airport after flying halfway around the world, yet even the exhaustion of a long trip on a private jet did nothing to dull his commanding presence.The moment he entered the ballroom, the noisy birthday party fell silent.The guests who had been whispering and waiting for a scene now stared openly at the two of them.Ivy and Nathan's eyes met. She looked into his steady gaze and saw her own reflection.At that moment, she was the only person in the room he seemed to notice. Her mind went blank, and for a second, she forgot how to respond.Tabitha gave her a gentle push from the side. "Go on. Go to him."Ivy slowly stepped forward. "What are you doing here?"Nathan slipped an arm around her waist.Ivy tensed at the unexpected contact. Then he leaned closer and s
Edric stiffened.Ivy turned to Roger. "Grandpa, I want to know where Dad got that photo. Who gave it to him, and who convinced him to show it at your birthday party? Half the city's elite are here tonight. Whoever planned this knew exactly what would happen. Were they trying to humiliate the Quinn family and tear down everything you've built?"The color drained from Edric's face.Roger's expression turned cold. He walked toward Edric, his eyes suddenly sharp despite his age. "Who gave you the photo?""Dad, I…""Ivy and Nathan aren't the ones who need to explain themselves," Roger cut in. "We need to find out where that photo came from. Edric, did you think at all before putting it up on that screen?""Do we really need to ask who was behind it?" Tabitha said. "That photo was meant to ruin Ivy and Mr. Lowe's reputations, embarrass you, and drag the entire Quinn family through the mud. Only two people benefit from that. Edric, it was them, wasn't it?"Edric would never betray No
Every eye in the room was on Ivy. Of course, she was nervous. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how to guide Nathan into saying something that would help her.Then Nathan let out a quiet laugh, his deep voice unexpectedly warm. "I know."He knew it was her without having to ask.Ivy's lashes fluttered, and a faint blush crept into her cheeks.No one in the room missed the intimacy in his tone, least of all Roger. He immediately smiled. "See? They are clearly doing just fine."The guests nodded in agreement."Don't get ahead of yourself, Dad," Edric said. "Keep listening.""What made you call me today?" Nathan asked.Ivy tightened her grip on the phone. "What, I'm not allowed to call you?"The smile in Nathan's voice grew. "Of course you are. You're my wife, after all."Smiles spread through the room.Anyone could hear the affection in his voice. They sounded like newlyweds still firmly in the honeymoon phase, so sweet it was almost embarrassing to listen to.Realizi
Roger turned to Ivy. "What is this?"Ivy was still reeling. She couldn't explain because she knew nothing about the woman in the photo.Edric stepped forward. "Dad, isn't it obvious? That woman is Mr. Lowe's mistress! Ivy's been fooling all of you. Mr. Lowe doesn't love her, and their marriage has been over for a long time. He couldn't even be bothered to come to your birthday party because he was too busy meeting another woman overseas!"Roger struck his cane against the floor. "Edric, that's enough!""Dad, you can shut me up, but you can't stop everyone here from seeing the truth!""Enough, Edric!" Tabitha snapped. "One photo doesn't prove a thing.""Stop making excuses for her. Mr. Lowe doesn't love Ivy."Edric turned to Ivy. "Go ahead, Ivy. Tell us I'm wrong. Your grandpa is here, and so is everyone else. Look them in the eye and tell them you and Mr. Lowe are happily married. Tell them he really loves you."Ivy's fingers curled into her palm as she frowned.Tabitha grippe
"What do you think I'm angry about?" Nathan asked."I might have an idea," Ivy answered. "I jumped to the conclusion that you were seeing some other woman, but that's not even the point. The point is that I didn't get jealous, so you think that means I don't care enough about you, right?"Nathan l
Lottie lifted her chin proudly. "That's right! I'm Mr. Lowe's woman."Madge frowned. "Mr. Lowe?"The only Mr. Lowe she knew was Nathan, which meant Ivy's husband.Surely it wasn't him.Madge crossed her arms. "There are plenty of people named Lowe. How am I supposed to know which Mr. Lowe you me
Of course, Ivy had to dodge Nathan. She was pregnant now, and during the early stages of pregnancy, she couldn't sleep with him.To be honest, she hadn't even thought about intimacy yet. Before, as long as she didn't take the initiative, Nathan wouldn't either.She hadn't expected him to suddenly
Ivy froze completely. Her mind went blank, as if her brain had crashed.Deep down, she didn't really care that much about whether Nathan had anything going on outside their relationship. What she cared about was whether something like this would affect her chances of getting pregnant.Just a momen







