The Billionaire Ex Who Left Me Now Begs Free Preview

"Katherine, the funeral's about to start. Is Lucas still not coming?"

Katherine Pearce stood before her mother's memorial altar in mourning black, candlelight flickering across her pale, colorless face as the flames danced and cast shifting shadows around her.

She lowered her head and glanced at her phone, the battery nearly dead. Lucas Grant still wasn't picking up.

Her mother was gone. Katherine, seven months pregnant, had kept vigil for seven straight days, yet her husband of three years never showed up once.

Lucas was busy with work, and Katherine had always understood that.

She kept telling herself that Lucas was probably tied up with work.

"He's probably busy. He won't make it."

Tears still clung to her lashes as Katherine extinguished the last candle. She braced herself against her own heavy body, struggling to stand. When she spoke, her voice was already hoarse and broken. "It's time to lay her to rest."

Her aunt, Helen Pearce, spoke with thinly veiled sarcasm. "Katherine, how busy can Lucas really be? Seven days without showing his face—he's really got no respect for your mom."

Her cousin, Chloe Pearce, let out a snort. "Mom, you got it wrong. It's not that Mr. Grant doesn't take Aunt Melissa seriously. He just doesn't take Katherine seriously. Oh, and the babies in her belly either."

Their mocking voices cut especially deep. Katherine's chest tightened with bitterness, yet she still told herself that since their marriage, Lucas had always been a proper husband. He wouldn't skip on purpose. He had to be held up by work.

She had barely managed to convince herself when reality slapped her hard across the face.

Chloe stared at her phone and suddenly cried out, "Isn't this Mr. Grant? He's trending right now."

Chloe deliberately shoved the phone in front of Katherine.

Katherine lowered her gaze to the screen. It was a trending video, posted that morning, filmed the night before.

The headline read, "Grant Enterprise CEO Books Entire Venue to Celebrate Birthday of His True Love, Rachel Hart."

In the video, fireworks exploded brilliantly across the night sky. The man sat elegantly and confidently in a nearby chair, his deep eyes calmly fixed on the girl beside him. The girl pointed excitedly at the fireworks, her smile seeming even brighter than the lights overhead.

The fireworks were dazzling, but Katherine's eyes stayed locked on the man's back.

She knew it too well. One glance was enough to recognize that the man in the video was her husband, Lucas.

So last night, he was out celebrating another woman's birthday with fireworks?

Katherine's mind went blank for several seconds, her body so stiff that she couldn't move.

The sound of fireworks bursting blended with Chloe's mocking voice. "Katherine, didn't you say Lucas was busy? He really is busy—busy booking out a whole venue to celebrate another woman's birthday."

Katherine clenched her fists, her head filled with images of Lucas lighting fireworks for another woman.

She thought he was busy.

Even when her mother died, something so huge, she carried everything alone, afraid of bothering him.

Seven days. No time to answer a single call from her. No time to come light a candle for her mother. Yet he had time to book out an entire venue and put on a fireworks show for another woman.

How ridiculous.

The woman in the video was Lucas's first love, the woman he truly loved.

And Katherine was only the wife Lucas's grandfather, Elijah Grant, arranged for him to have, to repay her father's life-saving kindness, hoping to give her lifelong security by having Lucas marry her.

For three years, Katherine knew he didn't love her, so she never dared trouble Lucas with her own matters, never dared hope for anything more.

Lucas was a cold man who didn't understand romance. He skipped every holiday. His life revolved around work.

Only now did she realize that Lucas wasn't incapable of romance. He just didn't want to be romantic with her.

One grand, brilliant fireworks display turned Katherine into the biggest joke of all.

She clenched her teeth, forced down the pain in her chest, and pulled her gaze away from the phone, trying not to look so pitiful.

She still needed to see through Melissa Pearce's funeral. She had to hold on.

Katherine bent down with effort, lifted Melissa's framed photograph into her arms, and walked out, ignoring the mocking stares around her.

She still remembered that Melissa, before passing, wanted to see Lucas one last time.

Back then, Katherine had called Lucas over and over too. He never answered. Maybe he was with Rachel even then.

Melissa wished for her and Lucas to be happy together forever.

But maybe that was no longer possible.

After handling everything on her own, after the relatives and friends had finished eating and left, Katherine sat alone on a chair in the dining hall.

Lucas arrived late. He wore a black dress shirt, his handsome face mostly expressionless. His gaze fell on Katherine, and taking in the scene, his usually unreadable face finally showed a hint of apology.

Katherine supported her belly and looked up at him, the restrained grievance she'd held back surging up all at once.

She took a deep breath and swallowed it down hard, her face calm and unreadable. "Just finished being busy?"

Lucas didn't notice the fragility in her voice.

"I had a meeting during the day."

"And last night?" she asked. "Did you enjoy the birthday?"

Lucas frowned slightly. Before he could answer, a woman in a red dress walked in behind him, Lucas's jacket draped over her shoulders.

Katherine's expression darkened further.

"Katherine, I'm sorry," Rachel said. "Lucas was with me last night. My mom was sick a few days ago, and Lucas was worried I'd be overwhelmed on my own, so he helped take care of her. That's why he didn't see your messages. It's my fault. I shouldn't have bothered him."

Listening to Rachel's words, the sourness in Katherine's chest surged even stronger.

"Was your mother seriously ill?" Katherine asked.

"No, just a minor cold and some fever. She's almost fully recovered now."

It felt like someone slammed a fist straight into Katherine's heart. She struggled to control her emotions, but her reddened eyes and trembling lips betrayed her anyway.

Lucas's brows knitted tighter. He knew that when Melissa passed away, he had been in a meeting. He'd planned to come afterward, but then something happened on Rachel's side. With too many things piling up, he simply forgot about Katherine.

No matter what, he felt sorry.

Lucas stepped forward, intending to light a candle for Katherine's mother, but Katherine raised her hand to stop him. "No need. Her mother is more important. Go be with her and her mother."

Lucas halted mid-step.

Katherine didn't want to stay here anymore. She stood up and turned to leave.

She didn't cry. Katherine refused to shed tears for someone who wasn't worth it.

Lucas watched her seven-month-pregnant body, the way walking itself was already difficult for her, and a sudden pang of tenderness hit him.

Rachel had panicked and cried just because her mother was sick, calling him in tears. Katherine's mother had died, and she endured it all alone.

"Where are you going? You're pregnant. Don't wander around," Lucas called after her.

Katherine let out a bitter smile.

So he does remember that I'm pregnant.

He abandoned his pregnant wife to take care of another woman's mother. It's obvious he doesn't care about the babies or me at all.

Children who aren't wanted or cherished won't be happy even if they're born.

Katherine lowered her gaze to her belly. In the pain, it was as if she made a decision. She walked faster and stepped straight into the elevator.

Lucas felt a tightness in his chest and hurried after her. Rachel grabbed his arm. "Lucas, Katherine just lost her mother. She's really upset. Maybe let her calm down on her own."

Lucas shot Rachel a sharp look, brushed her hand away, and said coldly, "She's emotionally unstable right now. Something could happen. Go back on your own."

By the time Lucas rushed outside, Katherine was already gone.

Watching the traffic streaming past, Lucas pulled out his phone and made a call. "Track Katherine's phone. Find her immediately."

Unease showed on his handsome face.

One hour later.

The assistant called Lucas. "Mr. Grant, Mrs. Grant is at the hospital."

"What is she doing there?"

"She's ... getting an abortion. And Mrs. Grant asked a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. She's already signed it."

A loud buzzing filled his ears.

Shock flooded Lucas's dark eyes.

Five years later, at Yarbrough's top-tier auction house.

The spacious hall buzzed with high society.

On the auction floor, the auctioneer wore a white gown, her dark hair pinned up, and a sheer veil covering her face so her features couldn't be seen, yet every movement was strikingly beautiful.

In fluent, polished Eldryn, she confidently finished introducing the item on display, and the bidding below immediately erupted.

A pair of clear, bright eyes swept across the room as she held the gavel, firmly in control of the scene.

On the second floor, Lucas sat back and glanced sideways. "This is the woman Grandpa insisted on meeting?"

The assistant beside him handed over a file. "Yes. Her name is Cath. She joined this auction house five years ago. Her very first auction sold a landscape painting with a starting price of one million for sixty million. Sixty times the estimate. She became famous with a single strike of the gavel."

Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly. "She always shows up with a veil?"

The assistant thought for a moment. "Yes. I heard someone once offered ten million just to see her face, and she turned it down. People say she must be shockingly ugly—that's why she won't remove the veil."

Lucas stubbed out the cigarette between his fingers and looked on quietly. "Her eyes are beautiful."

With eyes like that, how could she be shockingly ugly?

And those eyes reminded Lucas of someone.

They looked like ... Katherine's.

The woman who, five years ago, left behind a divorce agreement, silently aborted his children, and disappeared without a trace.

"Bring her to see me."

Lucas stood up, took two steps, and then stopped.

"It's been five years. Still no news about Katherine?"

The assistant grew visibly nervous.

People said no one could just vanish into thin air.

Yet Katherine had done exactly that. Five years, not a single lead.

Lucas pressed his temples. "Keep looking."

That woman is ruthless. Divorce, abortion, blocking and blocking me on everything.

No one knew that the powerful CEO of Grant Enterprise had been the one abandoned by a single divorce agreement. No one knew Lucas had spent five years searching for the woman who left him.

Lucas had to find her. He needed to ask her exactly what unforgivable crime he'd committed for her to be so merciless.

Lucas left.

The assistant, Fred Weaver, stood frozen in place, cold sweat pouring down his back. He'd searched everywhere he could, without finding a single clue.

Five years with zero leads. Telling him to keep going was like telling him to find a needle in the ocean.

Fred muttered miserably to himself, "Mrs. Grant, where on earth are you?"

The auction ended. Cath inclined her head gracefully, turned, and left the floor.

Five years ago, Katherine came to Yarbrough and joined an auction house, changing her name to Cath. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she always wore a veil while working.

She returned to her office.

A soft, chubby little pink bundle toddled over on short legs, spread her tiny arms, hugged Katherine's leg, and called out clearly, "Mommy."

Katherine removed her veil, revealing a delicate, stunning face. She bent down, lifted her daughter into her arms, and kissed her soft cheek. "Have you been waiting long? Where are your brothers?"

The little girl puffed out her cheeks and tilted her head up. "Hmph, they went out to play."

"They didn't take you with them?"

"They said they're playing boys' games and can't bring me."

Katherine was speechless.

If those two wanted to ditch Ivy, they could've just said so.

Back then, heartbroken, Katherine had planned to abort the babies. But when she actually reached the operating room, she couldn't bring herself to do it and finally gave up.

Two months after arriving at Yarbrough, she gave birth to three babies, two boys and one girl.

The eldest was Julian Pearce, the second Ethan Pearce, and the youngest Ivy Pearce.

Julian was sensible, Ethan was mischievous, and Ivy was the cutest.

Looking at the soft, doll-like little girl in her arms, Katherine felt deeply grateful for the choice she'd made back then.

"Oh, right," Ivy suddenly said. "Mommy, guess who we saw today."

"Who?"

"We saw bad Daddy."

Ivy said it loudly, but Katherine didn't quite catch it.

"Who did you say you saw?"

"The three of us saw bad Daddy, the one who shows up on TV, called ... called ... Lucas. Bad Daddy. The really scary one."

As Ivy spoke, she lifted her little hand and gestured seriously.

Katherine's chest tightened.

These past few years, she rarely heard Lucas's name.

At times, she'd almost forgotten he existed.

But hearing his name come from Ivy's mouth made old memories surge back, and her heart still ached.

But how could Lucas be here?

The kids only know their father's name is Lucas and have seen him on TV a few times. They probably mistook someone else.

"You must've gotten the wrong guy. He wouldn't come here."

"But—"

Knock, knock.

Two knocks interrupted Ivy mid-sentence.

"Who is it?"

"Cath, are you busy? Mr. Neel wants you right away. A very important guest specifically asked for you. He said you need to come quickly."

An important guest?

The auction house had many VIPs, but it was rare for someone to make the manager, Leland Neel, feel this anxious.

Katherine felt a flicker of curiosity about just how important this guest was.

"I'm free. I'll be right there."

"But I really saw bad Daddy," Ivy said softly, her little brows knit together. Katherine looked at her, and Ivy blinked her watery eyes, asking with a hint of disappointment, "Mommy, are you going back to work again?"

Katherine set Ivy down on the couch and said apologetically, "Wait a bit longer, sweetheart. I will be back very soon, okay?"

I really want Mommy to stay with me, but I can't delay Mommy's work.

I'm a good girl.

"Okay. I'll wait for you."

Katherine kissed Ivy's cheek again, handed her some bread, and said, "Eat a little, Ivy. Later, I'll take the three of you out for something really good, okay?"

"Okay."

Katherine smiled gently, put her veil back on, and walked out.

Ivy hugged the bread, ran to the door, and peeked outside, quietly watching.

Mommy left again. I'm bored.

Ivy put the bread down, tapped on her phone watch, and asked in a soft, babyish voice, "Julian, Ethan, where are you guys? I'm coming to find you."

Very quickly, Ivy received a reply, a location pin followed by, "In the underground parking garage."

In the parking garage, two little boys stood in front of a black Maybach.

Julian crossed his small arms and looked at Ethan beside him with a complicated expression. "Are you sure this car belongs to that trash Daddy?"

Ethan held a marker and scribbled hard across the car.

Mission accomplished.

"I'm sure of it. I saw him get out of this car."

Julian stared at the giant words that looked like they'd been scratched on by a dog and read them silently, "Deadbeat Dad."

There were errors in some of the lettering. Julian smacked his own forehead and looked at Ethan, speechless. "Mommy always tells you to read more and play on the computer less. You snuck in screen time again, didn't you? Your e's are written backwards."

"Don't sweat the small stuff." Ethan grinned, and after finishing, he even drew a very abstract-looking pig next to the words.

"Hmph. Trash dad."

Now everyone will know what a total bad guy you are.

They'd never actually met their "trash dad," but they'd heard his name plenty of times, and they'd seen him on TV, smiling happily while showing up at events with other women.

So the moment they saw Lucas here, they recognized him. No way they were wrong.

Katherine never wanted to talk about Lucas with the kids. Most of what they knew came from pestering Katherine's best friend, Megan Field, to tell them stories.

So the kids understood why Katherine was raising them alone here, because the bad Daddy hurt her. They felt Lucas didn't deserve to be Katherine's husband, and he didn't deserve to be their daddy either.

"Julian, Ethan, what are you doing?" Ivy ran over.

"Shh." Ethan immediately covered Ivy's mouth. "Ivy, be quiet. We're doing something bad."

Ivy instantly covered her own mouth and nodded hard to promise she wouldn't make a sound. Then she saw the colorful words written on the car. "Ethan, your e's are wrong."

Ethan waved his little hand awkwardly. "Don't worry about the details."

Julian took Ivy's hand and asked her, "Ivy, is Mommy still at work?"

"Yeah, she got called to the office by Mr. Neel."

At that moment, inside the manager's office.

When Katherine walked in, Leland looked up, immediately waved her over, and introduced her enthusiastically. "Cath, come here. This is Mrs. Grant. Mrs. Grant, this is the auctioneer Cath you were looking for."

Mrs. Grant?

Katherine lifted her eyes, her brows knitting slightly.

It's her!

Rachel.

The woman Lucas loved so deeply back then.

Mrs. Grant? That makes sense. Lucas loves her. After we got divorced, of course, he'd rush to marry Rachel.

Katherine never expected that after stepping aside for them and coming alone to Yarbrough, she'd still end up running into her here.

Her chest tightened, her expression cooling.

Rachel, impeccably dressed, set down her coffee and glanced at the veiled Katherine, a trace of disdain in her eyes.

Chief auctioneer?

And she's an antique appraiser too?

The one who became famous overnight with a single auction, hyped online like some kind of legend, and yet she won't even show her face.

I don't understand why Elijah insisted on meeting her.

Rachel let out a soft snort. "So you're Cath. I hear you're not just an auctioneer, but you can appraise antiques too? We want to hire you for a few days. Come back with us to Crestburg, to the Grant Estate, and take a look at some antiques. Name your price."

Rachel was confident no one could resist the words "name your price." And with the Grants' reputation, she doubted anyone would dare refuse.

She slowly lifted her coffee and took a sip, waiting for Katherine to flatter her.

A chill flashed through Katherine's heart.

She could appraise antiques.

But there was no way they were getting her.

She'd left precisely so she wouldn't have to see them again. How could she possibly agree to go back to Crestburg with Rachel?

"Sorry. My profession is auctioneering. If you need appraisals, you can find someone else. I can't do it. Mr. Neel, I have something to take care of. I'll excuse myself."

Katherine turned to leave as soon as she finished speaking.

Rachel froze.

She actually said no.

"Wait. Do you even know who I am? You'd better think carefully before answering."

"I know exactly who you are. And the answer's no."

"What kind of attitude is that? I'm paying you to come back with us. Who do you think you are to say no?"

Rachel stood up and grabbed Katherine's arm.

To please Elijah, I have to bring her back no matter what.

Katherine frowned and lowered her gaze to Rachel's hand gripping her arm.

Then her pupils shrank.

Around Rachel's wrist was an emerald bracelet, each stone perfectly matched in color, flawless in translucence—a top-tier piece worth well over a hundred million. Katherine recognized it at once. It was her family heirloom.

Melissa had given it to her, telling her to guard it carefully, saying it might be of great use someday. But she'd left in a hurry back then, and the bracelet was still at the Grants' house. Now it was on Rachel's wrist.

Lucas gave it to her?

How could he gift my things to Rachel?

Katherine grabbed Rachel's wrist in return. "Is this bracelet yours?"

Rachel shot her an annoyed look. "Of course, it's mine. My husband gave it to me. Who else do you think it belongs to?"

So Lucas gave it to her.

Pain slammed into Katherine's chest. Lucas knew exactly what that bracelet was, and he still gave it to Rachel.

What kind of trash man takes his ex-wife's heirloom and gifts it to his current wife?

Doesn't he find that disgusting?

"Let go."

A cold, commanding voice cut in.

Katherine looked up. The man had appeared in the doorway without her noticing, and her eyes crashed straight into his deep, dark gaze.

He was tall and broad, standing straight, his features striking. Just standing there, he radiated the heavy pressure that comes from years of power.

Katherine's fingers tightened.

Lucas.

It really is him.

Ivy wasn't mistaken at all.

I should've known. These two are so in love; if Rachel is here, Lucas will be too.

In the five years she'd been gone, Katherine never imagined she'd run into Lucas again.

She didn't want to see him either, because she was afraid.

She had three children now. If Lucas found out, he would definitely take them away.

A family like the Grants would never allow their bloodline to live outside their control.

And those three children were Katherine's entire world now. She wouldn't allow even the slightest chance of being separated from them.

That was why she'd worn a veil all these years and stayed so cautious.

Katherine clenched her hand as Lucas's gaze settled on her, as if he were trying to see through the thin veil and make out her face.

Her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably.

Rachel flung Katherine's hand away and instantly changed her tone. "Lucas, I already explained everything to Ms. Cath, but she just refuses to come back with us. She doesn't seem to think much of us at all."

How dare she look down on the Grants!

She must have a death wish.

Rachel lifted her chin.

Lucas stared at Katherine. "Name your price."

Katherine took a deep breath.

She was afraid of being recognized and didn't want to stay any longer.

There was no way she would agree to go to Crestburg.

"I'm priceless."

After saying that, Katherine turned and walked past Lucas, heading out.

Lucas didn't stop her, but his gaze followed her the whole time.

There was a faint scent on her, not like ordinary perfume, strangely familiar, like something he'd smelled before but couldn't quite place.

And there was something about her presence, a unique air that reminded him of Katherine.

Katherine looked gentle, but there was always a toughness beneath it.

She was independent, decisive, and ruthless when it came to leaving.

Once she chose to go, she went.

No chances, no room left behind.

Lucas thought of Katherine again.

He frowned. These past five years, Katherine had been on his mind constantly. He remembered her at seven months pregnant, and he couldn't help thinking about the children. If she hadn't aborted back then, they would be five by now.

He hadn't loved Katherine deeply at the time, but he'd never planned to divorce her, and he had looked forward to the babies too.

The thought made his mood sink even further.

"Lucas, that auctioneer has quite the attitude," Rachel said. "Why don't we find someone else for your grandpa? There are plenty of people who understand antiques."

Lucas frowned. "There are plenty of experts, but Grandpa wants her. Fred, look into her. I want everything."

"Lucas, why investigate her?" Rachel asked carefully. "Are you interested in her?"

After Katherine disappeared, Rachel had stayed by Lucas's side all this time, but he'd never mentioned marriage. She was anxious.

Fortunately, Lucas was cold and distant, completely uninterested in other women.

But today, the way he looked at that auctioneer made Rachel uneasy.

"I'm not interested," Lucas said calmly. "But Grandpa wants to see her. It's better to check her background."

Only then did Rachel feel relieved.

Lucas is just doing this for Elijah.

Besides, a woman who doesn't even dare show her face can't possibly catch Lucas's eye.

"Let's go back to the hotel."

Lucas turned and strode away.

Katherine clutched her pounding chest as she returned to her office.

Lucas wanted to take her back to appraise antiques. After three years of marriage, Katherine knew how forceful he could be.

He would probably come again. She had shown herself in front of him today. She didn't know if he had recognized her or if he would start investigating.

She couldn't let him find out anything about her or the kids.

Katherine picked up her phone and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and a low, lazy male voice came through. "Darling, what's up?"

"Do me a favor. Someone's probably investigating me. I can't let him find anything."

With Katherine's abilities alone, she couldn't stop Lucas from digging. But the man on the other end of the line could.

"Okay."

Just that one word, and Katherine knew he would handle it.

"Third time."

"What?"

Katherine didn't understand what he meant by that slow, casual "third time."

"This is the third time I've helped you in five years," the man said lightly. "When it hits five, how about you marry me?"

On the other end of the line, the man's tall frame lounged against the couch, his bathrobe loosely tied, revealing firm, perfect abs. A careless smile curved his lips, dangerously charming.

Katherine shivered. Marry a devil?

That would be even more terrifying than Lucas.

"Not interested. You help me, and I make you money. We're even."

"Compared to you making money for me, I'd rather you manage my money."

"With your mountains of gold and silver, find yourself a virtuous wife. I'd just take it and run."

"You're so heartless."

Katherine hung up, typed a message asking Leland for two days off, then took a deep breath and pushed open the office door. "Ivy, I'm done. Let's go... Ivy?"

She looked around the room. Ivy was gone.

At that moment, in the underground parking garage. Two little figures peeked out from behind a wall. Julian let out a sigh and silently opened his laptop, cleaning up after Ethan.

Ethan had drawn all over Lucas's car. Once the security footage was checked, they'd be done for.

Julian quickly hacked into the surveillance system and deleted the footage. Only then did he relax.

Up ahead, Ethan stood with Ivy, grinning as they waited to see Lucas's reaction to his masterpiece.

"What the... who did this?"

A group approached, and at the front was Lucas himself.

Fred stared at the giant words on the car, shocked, and instinctively read them out loud. "Deadbeat dad... M-Mr. Grant..."

Fred looked at Lucas in panic.

Who did this?

Do they have a death wish?

"Who did this?" Rachel frowned as well. "That's way too bold."

Lucas scanned the writing with a dark expression. The writing was ugly, and the e's were inverted. It was obviously done by kids.

"Mr. Grant, I'll check the security footage right away."

"Hehehe..." A faint laugh drifted over.

Lucas's hearing was sharp. He looked up, his hawk-like gaze immediately locking onto two small heads peeking out from behind the wall.

Ethan reacted fast. "We've been spotted. Ivy, run!"

"Huh? What?"

Ivy jumped in fright. When she turned around, both brothers were already far away.

"Wait for me!"

She tried to chase them, but in her panic, the hem of her cake dress caught on something. She didn't get a single step in before tumbling to the ground with a soft thud.

The footsteps behind her were getting closer. There was no escape. Ivy lay flat on the floor and covered her face with both hands.

Can't see me, can't see me, can't see me...

Lucas strode over, stood silently for a moment, then reached down and lifted the little bundle straight up.

The tiny girl kept her face covered, eyes shut tight, as if that would make her invisible.

Classic wishful thinking.

"I can see you. Put your hands down."

The Ivy who thought she was perfectly hidden opened her eyes, big and confused.

What's going on?

Every time I play hide-and-seek with Julian and Ethan, I'm always the best at hiding.

She lowered her hands. Dangling in the air, she kicked her little arms and legs and realized she couldn't get down.

Ivy stared at Lucas with wide eyes. It was her first time seeing her real dad this close. She blinked and noticed that her brothers really did look a lot like him.

Good thing I look like Mommy, not like bad Daddy, this ugly guy.

Thinking that, Ivy unconsciously lifted her chin and made a tiny face.

Lucas looked at her and could tell she was full of thoughts.

"Where are your parents?" he asked coolly. "Why did you draw on my car?"

His voice was cold, without warmth.

Ivy wasn't scared. She just pressed her lips together.

Mommy said not to talk to bad people. Daddy is a bad person. A bad person who will take me away and not let me see Mommy.

"If you don't talk, I'll hand you over to the police," Lucas said. "And they'll find your dad."

Ivy blinked.

Silly Daddy. That would be you.

Lucas thought kids this age would be afraid of the police, but this one clearly wasn't.

"When kids do bad things, their parents get punished," he continued. "In a bit, they'll arrest your dad."

Great. I'm totally on board with that.

Lucas frowned. This kid is as stubborn as a mule.

"Then we'll arrest your mom."

"Why arrest my Mommy?" Ivy panicked, planting her hands on her hips, fierce in her tiny way. "Arrest my Daddy instead. Don't arrest Mommy."

Lucas let out a short laugh.

Arresting her mom is unacceptable, but arresting her dad is fine.

This kid's father is doing a pretty terrible job.

"So your name's Ivy? Why'd you draw on my car? And who were the others with you just now?"

Ivy crossed her arms, tilted her head, and pouted. "I'm not telling you my name. I did it all by myself. There was nobody else."

Pretty loyal, and a little silly too.

"Fine. If you won't tell me your accomplices, then tell me who your mom is."

"Not telling you either."

"Then I'll have to take you with me."

The moment Ivy heard she was being taken away, her big eyes started to shimmer, like she was about to cry any second.

Lucas set her down.

Ivy instantly sucked back her tears, spun around, and bolted, pumping her short legs and swinging her arms.

She even chanted as she ran, "Run, run, run..."

Lucas raised an eyebrow and watched the little figure, not grabbing her right away.

Only when Ivy thought she'd successfully escaped did he close the distance in a few long strides and lift her up again.

Dangling in midair, Ivy kicked her legs a few times, quickly realizing it was pointless.

"Go on. Keep running," Lucas said calmly.

Ivy stuffed her hands together, puffed out her cheeks, and drooped her head like an angry little pufferfish.

Lucas curved his lips slightly. For some reason, the kid was kind of cute. He carried her back to the car and looked again at the ugly words on it. "Tell me, why did you write this?"

Deadbeat dad.

It's not something a kid her age should even understand.

Ivy clamped her mouth shut, refusing to say a word.

"Lucas, what's with this kid?" Rachel frowned.

"She admitted she did it but won't say anything else. Fred, call the police."

"Alright, Mr. Grant. But the kid..."

Lucas glanced around. There were no adults in sight. The kid looked four or five. He couldn't exactly leave her alone here.

He opened the car door and set her inside. "We'll wait for the police to contact her parents to pick her up."

In that instant, Ivy felt like the sky had collapsed.

Mommy was right. Daddy really would take me away.

I won't get to see Mommy anymore.

Tears spilled down her face, drop after drop.

When Lucas got into the car, he realized the brave little girl who'd taken all the blame by herself was now crying her eyes out.

He was bad with kids, and he hated kids crying in front of him, but looking at her pitiful little face, something hard inside him softened.

"Why are you crying? I didn't hit you."

Ivy wiped her tears with her chubby hands. "I got caught by a bad guy. I won't ever see Mommy again. I-I..."

She was crushed.

She cried so hard that she couldn't even finish.

Lucas watched quietly for a moment before saying, "When your mom contacts me, I'll let you go."

"Really?" Ivy stopped crying instantly, her watery eyes lighting up as she looked at him.

Lucas almost suspected she'd been acting.

"Yes. But you have to tell me why you drew on my car."

Ivy pressed her lips together and stared at him, clearly saying, You'll never get anything out of me.

Even Lucas, who usually dominated the business world, found himself helpless in front of a crying little girl.

Watching Ivy get taken away, the two kids who'd run off earlier panicked.

Ethan wanted to rush out and save Ivy, but Julian stopped him, staying calm. "We look kind of like bad Daddy. If we go out, we won't save Ivy—we'll just cause trouble for Mommy."

"Then what about Ivy?"

"Let's find Mommy first."

Ethan shuddered all over, clamped his legs together, and covered his butt. He had a bad feeling his butt was about to be in serious trouble.

The phone rang. It was Katherine.

She couldn't find any of the three kids and was nearly losing her mind.

"It's over, it's over. Mommy's calling," Ethan said, scratching his head.

"Answer it," Julian said, already picking up.

Katherine's voice came through. "Julian, Ethan, where are you? Where's Ivy? Is she with you?"

"Ivy ... Ivy..." Ethan was too anxious to get the words out.

"Mommy, Ivy was taken by Lucas," Julian explained, staying composed.

After hearing it, Katherine wondered if her ears were broken.

She stayed silent for a full ten seconds before it sank in.

The sky really had fallen.

"You ... Ivy ... I..." Katherine couldn't even form a sentence. Finally, she asked, "Did he recognize you?"

Julian said, "No."

Good.

It's not the end of the world.

Katherine took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. "You two come back first. I will figure something out."

"Okay."

The moment she hung up, an unfamiliar number called her.

A bad feeling crept over Katherine.

Her hand shook as she answered.

A cold male voice came through. "Are you the girl's mother?"

"I am."

"Your daughter's with me."

Katherine recognized Lucas's voice instantly. Her heart went cold. "What do you want?"

"Kingston Hotel. Come get her."

She heard Ivy crying on the other end and panicked. "I know what happened. We can talk this out. I'll pay whatever compensation is needed. Don't hurt my daughter."

Lucas frowned.

The woman's voice sounded familiar.

As he was thinking, the little girl beside him started crying even harder. Her emotions were all over the place, crying, stopping, then suddenly remembering something sad and crying again.

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not interested in hurting children. But you need to come explain this properly."

He didn't believe a kid understood what deadbeat dad meant. She had to have heard it from an adult.

He needed answers.

With that, Lucas hung up.

Listening to Ivy cry, Katherine felt like her heart was breaking. She immediately moved to go to the hotel Lucas named.

After two steps, she stopped.

No.

I've already run into Lucas once at the auction house. Seeing him again so soon is too risky. Too easy for him to realize who I am.

If he finds out I'm Katherine, he'll immediately know Ivy is his daughter.

No.

Absolutely not.

Katherine paced in place with her phone for two laps, then called her best friend, Megan.

Half an hour later, Katherine drove to the Kingston Hotel with Megan, Julian, and Ethan.

On the way, she explained everything to Megan.

What Katherine needed was for Megan to go in and get Ivy out.

"Katherine, are you sure this'll work?"

"I'm sure." Katherine grabbed Megan's hand. "I'm counting on you to bring Ivy back."

Seeing the worry in Katherine's eyes, Megan patted her chest. "Relax. I'll definitely bring Ivy back."

Megan got out of the car and marched into the hotel like a one-woman army.

Katherine could only wait outside with Julian and Ethan, praying everything went smoothly.

...

"Waaahhh..." Ivy sat on the couch, her little hands covering her face as she cried her heart out.

Lucas sat nearby, watching with a frown.

Fred ran around and came back with a pile of candy. "Mr. Grant."

Lucas glanced at the handful of sweets. "This is your solution?"

Fred forced a smile. "Kids love candy, Mr. Grant. Try comforting her."

"Me?"

You're the one who brought her here. If you don't comfort her, who will?

Lucas looked at the nonstop crying Ivy, sighed, stood up, and walked over, lifting her into his arms.

She was light. He could hold her easily with one arm.

Her little bottom rested on his forearm as she stared at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Didn't your parents teach you that crying doesn't solve anything?"

Ivy sobbed softly. "If I stop crying, will you let me go right now?"

"No."

Ivy pressed her lips together, tears falling again.

Looking at her pitiful face, something in Lucas softened further. He picked up a piece of candy and offered it to her. "Want one?"

Ivy glanced at it.

A lollipop.

Not interested.

If I can't see Mommy, no lollipop can fix that.

She kept crying.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Two?

"Three?

"Okay, five!"