Chapter 25

Lucas had been secretly helping Ivy the whole time. Even the kind hotel supervisor who offered her a job had only done so because Lucas had arranged it behind the scenes. He knew Ivy was proud and independent; she would never accept money without reason. Thus, he made sure she could work at the hotel to support herself and live comfortably. Lucas had intended to wait until he had secured his place in the Chaplin family before looking for Ivy. However, he didn't expect Julian to appear in her life and disrupt his plan just as he was about to succeed. At times, Lucas would secretly watch Ivy from a distance. Seeing her smile, he told himself that her happiness was enough—even if it meant he couldn't be a part of her life. He held himself back, unwilling to interfere or check on her. He convinced himself she was happy with Julian and no longer needed him. As a result, Lucas never appeared before Ivy. However, he didn't expect Julian to betray Ivy and cause her so much pain. He wa