CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14: IVY, THE CHILD MUST RETURN TO THE LANCASTER FAMILY

"Auntie Kennedy." Ivy Summers nodded politely.

"It’s really you!" Seraphina Kennedy quickly walked up to Ivy Summers, her eyes filled with anger, "You actually dared to come back? Tell me, where is my grandson? Where did you take him?"

Back then, when Seraphina Kennedy heard that her beloved little grandson was gone, she was so furious that she fainted on the spot.

For these five years, Seraphina Kennedy has been utterly hating Ivy Summers.

At this moment, seeing her, the anger that had accumulated over five years erupted uncontrollably.

Seraphina Kennedy reached out and grabbed Ivy Summers, "Ivy Summers, where’s the child from back then? You didn’t abort the child back then, you lied to us, didn’t you?"

Seraphina Kennedy was emotionally agitated, although everyone said Ivy Summers had aborted the child.

But she never believed that a mother could be so cruel as to abort her seven-month-old child.

"Mom!" Damien Lancaster spoke, "Grandfather wants to see her, let her see Grandfather first."

"See Old Master Lancaster? Does she have the face to see him? Back then, Old Master Lancaster was so fond of her, and what did she do? She left without a word, and Old Master Lancaster fell seriously ill because of her."

Rachel Shaw stood by watching this scene, her lips curled slightly.

She had expected that Ivy Summers’ return would result in such an outcome.

Aborting the child was a capital offense to Seraphina Kennedy.

"Seraphina."

A robust voice sounded.

Everyone looked up to see Old Master Lancaster standing on the second floor with a cane.

Old Master Lancaster’s gaze landed on Ivy Summers, and he spoke, "Ivy, come up."

Upon seeing Old Master Lancaster, Ivy Summers felt a pang of guilt. She nodded, tightened her lips, and walked upstairs.

"Dad! You still defend her? You know how ruthless she was back then."

Old Master Lancaster’s eyes were deep, and his usually emotionless face was full of authority.

He glanced at Seraphina Kennedy, and though she was furious, she could only keep her mouth shut, not daring to question Old Master Lancaster too much.

"Aunt, please calm down." Rachel Shaw gently patted Seraphina Kennedy’s back, "It’s not worth getting angry over someone like this; be careful not to harm yourself."

Seraphina Kennedy took a deep breath, acknowledging Rachel Shaw’s sensibility, and her gaze towards Rachel became a bit softer, "Rachel, you sit for a moment, I have something to ask Damien."

Rachel Shaw nodded obediently, "Okay."

"Damien, come with me." Seraphina Kennedy called Damien Lancaster upstairs.

Upstairs, in Old Master’s study.

Ivy Summers paused at the door for two seconds before walking in.

The old butler stood properly to the side. Upon seeing Ivy Summers, he greeted her politely, "Young Madam, you’re back."

"Yes." Facing Old Master Lancaster, Ivy Summers called out, "Grandfather."

Old Master Lancaster gazed at her calmly, "Back."

"Yes."

The Old Master looked older than he did back then, but his presence was undiminished, a single look enough to make one reflect repeatedly on every step they just took for mistakes or omissions.

The legendary figure in the business world back then certainly wasn’t a mere fame.

"Grandfather, I’m sorry, back then I..."

Old Master Lancaster lowered his eyelids, shook his head, "Ivy, you don’t have to apologize to me. I know it was Damien who did wrong back then. He was the one who wronged you first."

"Grandfather saw what he did and has already reprimanded him, but he didn’t sign the divorce agreement you left behind."

As he spoke, Old Master Lancaster gestured, and the butler handed over the divorce agreement from five years ago, placing it before Ivy Summers.

Ivy Summers furrowed her brow, not expecting that Damien Lancaster hadn’t really signed the divorce agreement.

Why?

He liked Rachel Shaw so much, he should be eager to divorce and marry her.

"Ivy, you left in a hurry back then, now Grandfather wants to know, is there still a chance between you and Damien?"

Hearing this, Ivy Summers shook her head, "Grandfather, back then you let me marry Damien Lancaster to repay my father’s kindness, providing me a lifetime of support. But Damien doesn’t love me, and continuing this marriage is torment for both of us. I don’t want to stay with a man who doesn’t love me, so I’m sorry, Grandfather, but I can’t continue this marriage."

"You insist on a divorce?"

"Yes." Ivy Summers replied firmly.

Old Master Lancaster nodded, understanding Ivy Summers’ character well.

Her departure back then had already been her decision.

"Ultimately, it’s Damien who wronged you."

Old Master Lancaster gestured again, and the butler placed another document before Ivy Summers.

It was another divorce agreement.

The difference was that this new one was drafted by Old Master Lancaster himself.

"Ivy, Grandfather respects you and won’t force you to continue this marriage with Damien. Have a look at this divorce agreement."

Ivy Summers picked up the divorce agreement, her eyes showing a hint of caution.

She knew that Old Master Lancaster cherished her.

But the affection of such a shrewd man was not without limits.

As expected.

Her divorce agreement back then demanded nothing but the divorce itself.

Whereas Old Master Lancaster’s divorce agreement offered her ten percent of the Lancaster Group’s shares, along with ten billion dollars, a villa, and some storefronts in the city center.

This divorce compensation was absolutely extravagant.

But as Ivy Summers read the last clause, stating that the child’s custody belonged to the man, her heart skipped a beat.

"Ivy, the terms in the agreement are the Lancaster Family’s compensation to you."

Ivy Summers’ heart pounded as she put the agreement down, "Grandfather, the child’s custody belongs to the man? What child?"

Old Master Lancaster sighed, "Ivy, the Lancaster Family owes you, and Grandfather will try to compensate you as much as possible within his power, but the Lancaster Family’s child cannot be taken away; he must return to the Lancaster Family."

The Old Master’s voice was gentle, unhurried, clearly using a tone of negotiation, yet to Ivy Summers’ ears, it left no room for negotiation.

The Old Master’s affection had its limits.

And the children of the Lancaster Family were his bottom line.

He could guiltily compensate her with a large sum of money.

But the child had to stay.

This was non-negotiable.

Ivy Summers maintained her composure, looking at Old Master Lancaster with clear eyes, "Grandfather, you must be joking, I already aborted the child back then, I have no child."

"Ivy, you can deceive Damien, but not Grandfather."

"Grandfather, believe it or not, I truly aborted the child back then; I can’t sign this divorce agreement."

Old Master Lancaster looked at Ivy Summers quietly, not angered, "Ivy, you understand Grandfather, and Grandfather understands you, take your time to consider, no need to rush your answer."

"Grandfather, there is no child, that is my answer." Ivy Summers stood firm on her stance.

Old Master Lancaster understood clearly, remained silent for a moment, then said without forcing her, "Alright then, let’s not discuss this now. You just got back today, Grandfather has prepared the dishes you like, stay and have a meal with Grandfather."

Ivy Summers nodded, "Okay, then Grandfather, I’ll head out first."

"Alright, go ahead."

Leaving Old Master’s study, Ivy Summers’ mind was restless.

Ivy Summers didn’t know whether Old Master’s purpose today was to test her or to be one hundred percent sure she had a child.

All she could do now was insist she had no child.

Walking through the corridor, passing by a room, Ivy Summers overheard a conversation.

"Damien, I still think Ivy Summers didn’t abort the child back then."

It was Seraphina Kennedy’s voice.

"Being a mother myself, I know how difficult it is for a mother to abort a seven-month-old fetus."

Damien Lancaster’s voice was low, "I investigated, she’s been living alone all these years."

"Have you thoroughly checked?"

"Yes."

Seraphina Kennedy shook her head angrily, "Then she must be very cruel."

Damien Lancaster remained silent.

Seraphina Kennedy continued, "In any case, we must keep an eye on her. If she didn’t abort the child, and the child is alive, he must be brought back to be raised in the Lancaster Family. When you and Rachel get married, I’m sure Rachel, being well-read and sensible, will help you raise the child well."

Ivy Summers felt suffocated in her chest.

They were speculating whether she had aborted the child, and if she hadn’t, they insisted on bringing the child back, even intending to have Rachel Shaw raise her child.

Ivy Summers clenched her fists.

Sophie had just finished her bath with the maid’s help and was dressed in clean clothes.

Sophie had just run out of the room when she saw Ivy Summers.

Sophie was very excited.

"Mommy..."