CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183: IS IVY SUMMERS THE STERLING FAMILY HEIRESS?

Ivy took the phone, examining it closely.

The girl in the photo was very young, very pretty, with a bright smile, looking no more than twenty years old.

Is this girl the daughter of Old Master Sterling?

Kyle said, "This is my aunt. No matter how many times my grandfather changes his phone, he keeps this photo, hoping that one day he could find her."

"Does your mother look like this?" Old Master Sterling unconsciously stepped forward, his aged eyes filled with so much hope.

Ivy shook her head, "No."

The old man urged, "Look again, take a closer look, as time goes by, a person’s appearance might change."

Ivy still shook her head.

Her mother passed away five years ago, and her appearance was still clear in her mind. She was certain she didn’t look like this.

People age over time, but their facial features don’t change.

The facial features of the woman in the photo differed too much from her mother’s, she was certain it wasn’t her mother.

"Old Mr. Sterling, my mother really doesn’t look like this."

Kyle asked again, "Do you have a photo of your mother?"

"I don’t have any on my phone."

Ever since Ivy could remember, her mother was always resistant to taking photos and left very few behind in her lifetime.

Ivy handed the phone back to the old man in front of her, and saw the light in his eyes dim bit by bit.

"Not..." Old Master Sterling murmured.

How could it not be?

The same surname Sterling, the same birthmark.

But it just wasn’t so.

"Grandfather!" Kyle reached out to support the old man’s frail body.

The immense disappointment washed over him, making Old Master Sterling appear utterly devastated.

"I’ll take my grandfather back first. Sophie, remember to call your brother if anything happens."

Sophie nodded, "Okay."

Ivy watched the back of Old Master Sterling leaving, with a complicated emotion that was hard to express.

Ella Morgan looked amazed, "Ivy, was Old Master Sterling implying that he suspected your mother might be his daughter?"

Ivy pressed her lips tightly and nodded.

"Did you get a good look? Are you sure? You better not be mistaken, this is an opportunity to recognize your ancestry, you might be the daughter of the Sterling Family."

Ivy was sure she hadn’t misjudged, even twenty years ago her mother didn’t look like the one in the photo.

"I saw clearly, it’s Old Master Sterling who got it wrong."

Ella sighed, seeing Old Master Sterling’s upset expression earlier made her feel sad too.

"Could your mother have had plastic surgery?" At the side, Damien suddenly raised a key question.

Because he also heard Seraphina mentioning that Sophie, Ivy, and Ivy’s mother all had the same birthmark.

It was evident that Old Master Sterling also asked because of the birthmark earlier.

Ivy looked up at Damien, "My mother was not someone who liked to dress up."

How could someone who didn’t like to dress up go for plastic surgery?

Ivy had never heard her parents talk about plastic surgery either.

In her memory, her mother always wore a plain long white dress, her long hair naturally cascading downwards as she sat by the window gazing at something.

In her mother’s diary, she also mentioned her parents died early, losing their relatives long ago, and that her father Warren Summers and she were her mother’s entire world.

Damien said, "Then Old Master Sterling was mistaken, don’t think too much about it."

Ivy collected her thoughts and took the three children back to the ward.

...

Old Master Sterling was quite unwilling, the same birthmark made it hard for him to let go.

"Ask Tristan to investigate the Summers Family, I want all the information on Ivy’s parents."

"Grandfather, don’t you believe what Ivy said?"

Old Master Sterling shook his head.

He believed it.

But he didn’t want to give up on this clue.

After so many years, he finally had such a clue, he had to get to the bottom of it.

"Wouldn’t a DNA test be simpler?" Kyle casually drove the car.

He was quite nonchalant, thinking it was just a coincidence, only the old man turned nostalgia into an obsession, amplifying the coincidence indefinitely.

"You’re right, just do a DNA test..." Old Master Sterling paused, "Isn’t it true that Ivy’s mother passed away?"

"Yeah, she died five years ago, I heard."

A heavy feeling overtook Old Master Sterling’s heart, as if a force was suddenly pulling it down.

It was heavy and weighty...

In that moment, he hoped he was mistaken.

So his daughter would still be alive in this world.

"Grandfather, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing."

"Grandfather, if Ivy’s mother really was my aunt, then wouldn’t Ivy be my cousin? Wouldn’t I be Sophie’s uncle?

Wow! If that was true, such a coincidence would be truly amazing."

Kyle suddenly thought far, far away, not noticing the devastated look on the old man’s face behind him.

...

Damien was kicked out of the ward by Ivy.

He was quite frustrated.

Just as he was about to light a cigarette, he noticed the no smoking sign and put it away.

In the ward, there was a small bed, where Ivy was coaxing the three little ones to sleep.

The small bed was arranged by Damien’s people, and he was the one who was kicked out.

Ella wanted to mock him, offering two words: Serves you right!

Ella returned to the ward and took a glance at her phone.

Timothy had sent her many messages.

Ella took a deep breath and deleted all of them.

...

The next day.

When Ivy came out of the ward, she saw the man simply leaning on the chair, asleep.

He didn’t leave all night?

The weather had turned cold, and the temperature was quite low at night.

Yet, he was dressed so lightly.

Spending a night in the cold, who did he think he would move?

Ivy ignored him and walked past. In the next second, her wrist was suddenly caught by a large hand, and with a pull, Ivy stepped back two steps and fell directly onto the man’s lap.

Startled, she looked to the side, and their eyes met.

Damien had only closed his eyes for a moment, he hadn’t actually fallen asleep.

He looked deeply into the woman’s panicked eyes, "Awake?"

Ivy’s heart pounded fast, and she tried to free her wrist, but it was held tighter.

Looking at the things in Ivy’s hand, she was probably planning to get discharged.

Damien looked up, "Where do you plan to stay after the discharge? Your house was burned down."

Ivy retorted, "None of your business where I stay."

She had plenty of money now; she could just buy another house.

"Would you like to live with the kids undisturbed?"

Ivy frowned.

Of course she wanted that, but would the Lancaster Family agree?

No, they wouldn’t!

"I have a way."

"What way?"

"You and I will live together."

A hint of coldness appeared in Ivy’s eyes, "Damien Lancaster."

"Yes."

"Do you have a fascination with making women the third wheel?"

He’s almost engaged to Rachel Shaw, yet he can still say he wants her to live with him and the child.

Damien’s expression changed slightly, "I told you, you are my only wife."

"Sorry, who are you?"

Ivy stood up from him with force.

Her gaze was very indifferent.

She turned around to handle the discharge paperwork.

Damien sighed, gesturing to someone nearby.

Julian quickly approached and bent down beside him.

Damien, "She wants to find a place to stay, I want her to live with me."

Julian was slightly taken aback.

Damien raised an eyebrow, "Do you understand?"

Julian hesitated but nodded.

It seems he understood.

Damien didn’t deny that he was being a bit devious.

But Ivy wants to live with the child, and living with him is the only way, isn’t it?

After Ivy left the hospital with the child, she went to find a house.

The result was that all the houses were not for sale, the rental properties wouldn’t lease, and even the hotels she went to had no rooms.

Ivy couldn’t believe her luck was so bad; it seemed as though all the houses were avoiding her.

Just as she was planning to change to another hotel, a car stopped in front of her.

It was Noah Scott.

The man took off his sunglasses, very swaggering, "Get in the car."

"Where to?"

"Stay at my place, the Lancaster Family can’t get in, you don’t have to worry about the child being taken." Noah got out of the car and opened the door, "Come on, get in."

"Mommy, let’s stay at Uncle Noah’s place." Leo looked up, giving his full approval.

Nathan also nodded, Sophie had no objections either.

...

Julian returned to Damien with some difficulty knowing how to start, "Sir."

"Yes, how is it?"

Julian, "Miss Summers took the two young masters and the little miss to stay with Lord Scott!"

Damien lifted his head, his brow furrowed tightly, "What?"

Julian quickly lowered his head, fearing the coldness could hurt him.

What a mess, sending the person to a rival’s house?!

Julian didn’t dare look at Damien’s expression.

Ivy planned to stay at Noah’s for a few days until she found a suitable house.

...

Because Old Master Lancaster was seriously ill, Ivy would be staying in the hospital with the children for the next few days to accompany him.

Old Master Lancaster’s illness was worsening day by day; the situation was not good.

That day, just after the doctor finished the rounds, Old Master Lancaster squinted at the window and said to Ivy, "Ivy, isn’t the sunshine nice today? Grandpa wants to go out and bask in it."

Ivy looked out the window; the weather was obviously gloomy today, with no sunshine at all.

Ivy tucked the quilt in for the old man, "Grandpa, the weather outside is not too good today, it’s a bit chilly. I’ll accompany you out when the sun comes out, okay?"

Old Master, "But... Grandpa wants to go out and see today..."

Ivy looked at the old butler beside her, who sighed and nodded, perhaps knowing that the old man’s days were numbered, letting him be.

They prepared a wheelchair; the old butler and Ivy helped the old man into the wheelchair, covered him with a blanket, and took Nathan, Leo, and Sophie out together.

The hospital’s back garden was sparse with people because of the bad weather today; Ivy stayed with the old master in a secluded spot, pushing his wheelchair.

Nathan, Leo, with Sophie, were playing in the open space in front. The old man watched the three children not far away, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"Ivy, thank you... thank you for giving the Lancaster Family such lovely children..."

Ivy sat on a stone bench beside, her voice gentle, "Grandpa, you’ve already thanked me many times."

"It’s not enough." The old man shook his head, "The Lancaster Family owes you too much."

Ivy said nothing.

The old man’s weak eyes looked at Ivy, "Ivy, actually Grandpa still has a lot to say to you, but when I want to speak, I don’t know where to start. I’m very grateful to your father for saving me back then. Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, Grandpa is leaving too; I won’t be able to protect you anymore."

Ivy’s nose tingled.

"Grandpa, please don’t say that. You’ll get better, you’ll get better, really..."

The old man shook his head; he had long accepted life and death.

He knew his own body better than anyone else.

"Ivy, Grandpa dreamed last night, dreamed of my mother coming to pick me up. She even asked why I was older than her and led me to play. It reminded me of when I was young; I always held my mother’s hand and loved to cling to her side. Ivy, you know? Grandpa was mischievous and wild in his younger days. Those days were beautiful, but alas, they’re gone forever..."

Ivy listened, bowing her head, covering her mouth, sobbing constantly.

"Ivy, don’t cry. Grandpa has actually lived many extra years; Grandpa is genuinely content... but Grandpa will always owe you, owe you a father..."

"Grandpa..." Ivy was in tears, shaking her head repeatedly.

"Did you sign the equity transfer agreement?"

"Not yet... That equity transfer document is simply too valuable."

"No matter how valuable it is, it’s what you deserve. Go get it, Grandpa wants to watch you sign it."

"Grandpa, I left the equity transfer document at home, let’s talk about it next time, okay?"

The old man didn’t relent this time, "Grandpa is afraid... there won’t be a next time..."

The old man turned and signaled for the butler to fetch it himself, "Go get it for Ivy."

The butler nodded, asked Ivy to take care of the old man, and then left.

"Grandpa..."

"That’s Grandpa’s gift to you; Grandpa must see you sign it with his own eyes."

Ivy was heartbroken as the old man coughed painfully a few times. Ivy quickly tucked the blanket in. "Grandpa, now it’s chilly, so we’ll only stay outside for a while and then go back."

The old man raised his head and looked at the sky, "No, Grandpa wants to stay outside a little longer today, to see the scenery again. I’ve been hospitalized for so long, they’re not letting me out; the air in the ward is colder than outside, cough, cough..."

Listening to the old man coughing, Ivy was very distressed, gently patting the old man’s back, "Grandpa, I’ll get you some hot water, will you wait for me here?"

"Okay." The old man nodded, looking at the three playing children in front of him, his tear-filled eyes smiling.

Ivy had just taken two steps.

The old man called her again, "You must sign that equity transfer document."

Ivy hesitated for half a second and nodded, "I know, Grandpa."

"And tell Damien for me, the company is in his hands now. He must not be muddle-headed; he should take good care of the company and look after you all well."

Ivy let out a sob, "Grandpa, you should tell him this yourself; I’ll call him over."

"Okay."

While Ivy was making the call, the old man said, "Ivy, sometimes Damien is a fool, but he’s not a bad man. He’s someone who can protect you and your children."

"I know, Grandpa."

Ivy seemed to guess what the old man would say next; she didn’t know how to respond to him, so she said, "Grandpa, I’ll go get some hot water for you and be right back."

"Okay... go, Grandpa will wait for you."

The old man watched the direction Ivy left for a long time, until she was out of sight, he retracted his gaze, full of reluctance.

Ivy fetched the hot water, making the call as she walked back.

Damien was in a meeting in the company, missed the first call, and the call only went through now.

When Ivy returned to the old man’s side, she found him sitting quietly in the wheelchair, eyes closed...

"Grandpa?"

Ivy’s heart skipped a beat, she slowed her steps, and her hand at her ear slowly dropped.

"Grandpa?"

"Grandpa..."

Ivy’s eyes widened, and the thermos cup in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," pouring hot water all over...