CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 11: MAISIE COMES TO RESCUE IVY SUMMERS, ALL ARE CAPTURED

"Who is it?"

This deep voice...

Ivy Summers and the three little ones froze on the spot.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

The footsteps behind her were getting closer, each step thumping on Ivy’s heart.

Ivy’s legs were trembling.

She shut her eyes tightly.

It’s over...

The footsteps stopped behind Ivy.

"Miss, are you heading out?"

Huh?

Ivy turned around and saw it was the hotel manager, holding a flashlight, probably here to solve the power outage.

"I sincerely apologize, our power system has malfunctioned. We have dispatched a team for an emergency repair. If you’re heading out, please watch your step."

Ivy snapped back to reality, forced out an unnatural smile, and nodded, "Yes, sure."

"Sorry for the inconvenience."

Ivy’s body still trembled slightly. As soon as the manager walked away, before she could breathe a sigh of relief, several beams of light shone from the other end of the corridor.

Ivy’s heart jolted in alarm. She reacted quickly, grabbing the clothes of the three little ones, and swiftly pulled them into the room.

Damien Lancaster approached and crossed paths with the manager.

The manager respectfully greeted Damien.

"President Lancaster."

"How soon can it be restored?"

The manager quickly replied, "Don’t worry, President Lancaster. It’ll be restored soon. I’m very sorry for the inconvenience caused."

Damien found the power outage suspicious.

They said it was a hacker attack, but only this floor was suddenly without power, as if the target was specific.

He had sent people to investigate, but there were no leads for now.

Back in the presidential suite, Damien glanced at Ivy’s room, which was tightly closed. He remembered Ivy was afraid of the dark.

Inexplicably driven by curiosity, Damien walked over.

He pushed open the door.

Inside was silent. He scanned the room with the light but saw no one.

Did Ivy take advantage of the chaos to run?

Damien’s face suddenly darkened.

He stepped inside.

Seeing the scene in front of him, Damien frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Damien suddenly appeared behind Ivy, startling her into a shiver. She stayed frozen in place, forgetting to move.

She lifted her head, meeting Damien’s gaze, and with a trembling voice, asked, "Wh...when did you come in?"

"What are you doing?"

Damien looked at her posture and asked again.

Ivy was kneeling on the floor, in an extremely awkward position, leaning against the edge of the bed, her hand under the bed doing something.

Realizing she was still kneeling, Ivy hurriedly stood up, forcing a grin, "Dropped my phone, was picking it up."

Damien stared at Ivy silently, seemingly unbelieving, "You need to lie on the floor to pick up a phone? Were you sniffing it out?"

"I..." Ivy struggled for an excuse, "The power’s out, I couldn’t see, had to feel around with my hands, right?"

Damien squinted slightly.

Ivy nervously twisted her fingers, unsure if he’d believe her.

After a few moments of silence, he asked, "Did you find it?"

Ivy nodded, "Found it."

At that moment, the lights suddenly came on, illuminating the room.

Damien looked down, his gaze falling on the phone on the floor. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "This is called ’found’?"

Ivy looked at the phone on the ground and forced a smile, quickly bending down to pick it up.

Under the bed, the three little ones had already huddled into a small ball, tightly covering their mouths, afraid to make any sound.

Damien stared at Ivy for a while, aware her actions were odd, but couldn’t figure out what she was up to.

He glanced around the room but didn’t see anything unusual.

Damien withdrew his gaze, his voice cold, "I will definitely take you back. You’d better not try any tricks."

All Ivy wished for at this moment was for Damien to leave quickly. She tried to maintain a normal expression, "Your people are outside. I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to."

Indeed, she couldn’t leave.

Thinking of the three little ones hiding under the bed, Ivy felt like crying but had no tears.

What was this?

Capture one, get three free?

Damien took a few steps towards the door, and Ivy thought he was finally leaving.

Just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief, Damien only went to close the door.

Ivy’s breath caught in her throat, watching him, "You’re not leaving?"

Damien sat on the couch, raising an eyebrow, "This is my room. You want me to leave?"

"Isn’t this an empty room?" Ivy turned her head, finally noticing a few documents on the table and Damien’s clothes hanging in the closet.

Realizing she had chosen Damien’s room at random, Ivy’s face slightly flushed.

Damien’s long eyebrows rose slightly as he lit a cigarette, leisurely watching her.

It seemed he was giving her the option to either stay or leave.

But Ivy had no intention of leaving.

The three little ones were currently huddled under the bed.

She couldn’t imagine what would happen if Damien discovered them.

Meeting Damien’s gaze, Ivy took a deep breath and asked, "Could you stay in another room?"

"You want this room?"

Ivy nodded, smiling ingratiatingly.

Damien chuckled lightly, "No."

Ivy’s smile faltered slightly, "Can we negotiate?"

"No."

Damien put out his cigarette and stood up. In a low voice, he said, "I’m going to take a shower. If you don’t plan on leaving, then stay and sleep together."

As she watched Damien walk into the bathroom, Ivy ran a hand through her hair. From under the bed, Sophie poked out a little head and softly asked, "Mommy, can we come out now?"

Ivy cautiously glanced towards the bathroom, gesturing for the little one to remain quiet and signaling her to hide back.

Sophie obediently crawled back.

This room wasn’t safe anymore; Ivy needed to move the children. She quietly opened the door, aiming to check if anyone was outside, and inevitably locked eyes with Julian Jacobs.

Ivy was momentarily stunned, forcing a bitter smile, "Special Assistant Jacobs, not going to bed this late?"

Julian stood up from the couch, "I’m waiting for Mr. Lancaster."

"You’re waiting for him...to sleep together?"

Julian held his breath.

This lady certainly spoke her mind.

"I have something important to report to Mr. Lancaster."

"He’s showering; perhaps you could rest first?"

"No, this matter is of utmost importance."

Ivy looked at him, quite troubled. She knew Damien’s assistant wouldn’t be swayed by anyone else.

Ivy could only silently close the door.

Outside was Julian Jacobs, inside was Damien; Ivy rubbed her hair, feeling frustrated.

Not long after, Damien finished his shower and emerged from the bathroom. He wore a black bathrobe, partially open, revealing a set of firm abs. Undried water dripped down his hair, as he stood there seemingly relaxed yet lazy.

Realizing Ivy hadn’t left, Damien raised an eyebrow meaningfully, "Not going?"

Ivy’s gaze lingered on his abs, her cheeks reddening. She hurriedly averted her gaze.

Thinking of Julian, she pointed towards the door, "Julian’s at the door; he has something to discuss with you."

Damien looked at her, headed for the door, and opened it.

"What is it?"

"Sir, the power outage investigation has concluded, but it’s not quite what we expected."

Damien took the tablet Julian handed him and walked towards the study.

In the study.

Damien looked at a surveillance screenshot. The image clearly displayed three children.

His gaze locked on these three children, and his eyes narrowed slightly.