All Chapters of The Night He Found Me: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ivy's POV… I stood at the top of the stairs, my hands resting lightly on the railing, and watched Julian and Tracy at breakfast. The morning light spilled across the dining room, soft and warm, but it did nothing to ease the weight pressing on my chest. Tracy poked at her food, her small face scrunching in frustration, while Julian spoke gently, coaxing her to eat.I’ve been watching them for days… my eyes narrowing as I studied their interactions. Trying to see if there’s any resemblance… trying to understand what he means when he doubts himself. If he truly is her father, what exactly was going on?His words from the other day echoed in my mind: “If only I could be a good father to her…” I swallowed hard. Does he really not see? Or is it the burden of everything else he carries that blinds him to it?“Ivy!”The call startled me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I shook my head, trying to clear the swirl of emotions, and went down the stairs.“Yes, sir,” I said, forcing calm into my v

Ivy's POV…I blinked. I was caught off guard by the question. Could I sing?“Mom used to sing,” Tracy continued. “She had an angelic voice. She always sang lullabies for me,”Her fingers tightened around the edge of her blanket.“But now that she’s not here anymore… Dad just reads from my storybooks. And sometimes he plays recordings of her singing. Some of her songs were recorded. He just plays them and waits until I fall asleep,”Something about the way she said it, so normal, so accepting, broke something inside me. She had already given up on her family.I swallowed the ache in my throat and forced a small smile. “Okay,” I said gently. “Don’t worry. You know what? I can actually sing,”Her eyes widened immediately. “You can?”I nodded. “And I’m going to sing you a sweet lullaby tonight. Something warm enough to carry you into sleep”Her entire face lit up. “Wow. You can sing? That’s amazing. I've never had anyone sing for me after mom left. I'm super happy you'll sing for me”I ch

Ivy's POV…I stood rooted to the spot, my wrist still tingling from the heat of Julian’s grip. Susan. The name echoed in my mind like a rhythmic heartbeat.He loved her. He still loved her so much that he called out for her in the depths of a fever. My thoughts began to spiral, who was she truly? Why did everyone speak of her in shadows?Gently, I removed his fingers from my wrist and hurried out. I returned quickly with a basin of cool water, dabbing his forehead with a soft towel, trying to ignore the way my heart ached at his vulnerability. I looked at him and also thought of Tracy. Even though she obeyed me and went into her room, I knew she must be restless. I knew then that I wouldn't rest until I found out what had really happened to the woman who left this void in their lives.__________The doctor stepped out of Julian’s room, closing the door softly behind him. Caroline and I were waiting at the foot of the stairs, tension thick enough to cut."Doctor, how is he?" I asked,

Ivy's POV…I stared at Julian, the intensity of his gaze making the air in the room feel heavy. The question echoed in my mind: Have you ever loved someone before?The question lingered between us like something fragile.My fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the bed. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.Have I?My mind searched desperately, flipping through memories like torn pages. Faces. Moments. Almosts. What-ifs.No. Not like that.I swallowed and finally looked up at him.“If you mean romantically…” I began slowly, choosing my words carefully, “then no. I’ve never loved anyone like that before.”His eyes didn’t leave mine.“But if you mean love in general,” I continued softly, “then yes. I loved my mother. I loved my father too… before everything happened.”Julian reclined against the dark mahogany headboard, his eyes softening. "Do you mind telling me what exactly happened?"I hesitated.There are stories you tell easily. And there are stories that still hurt when yo

Third person's POV…Julian sat behind his desk, his attention fixed on the glowing screen of his laptop. Lines of financial reports filled the display as his fingers moved across the keyboard.The office was quiet except for the soft tapping of keys.Then his phone rang. Julian frowned slightly.He glanced away from the laptop and picked up the phone, checking the caller ID.Tracy.His brows furrowed immediately. Why was Tracy calling at this time?A strange feeling crept into his chest. Did something happen at home? He answered the call quickly.“Hey, baby,” he said gently. “How are you doing?”“Daddy…” Tracy’s small voice came through the phone. Something was wrong.“I’m not fine.”Julian straightened in his chair. “What happened?”“Ivy is not back yet.”Julian blinked.“What do you mean Ivy is not back yet?” he asked quickly. “She was at the house this morning.”“She went to get some items at the supermarket,” Tracy explained. “She said she was going shopping for things we needed a