Chapter 45 Pieces of her Past

Chapter 45 Pieces of her Past
Lucian

I couldn't just sit there after hearing Ivy's story. It hit me hard, like a punch I didn't see coming, and I knew I had to do something.

My mind raced as I held her close, her head on my chest. "Ivy, what they did to you is wrong," I said, my voice low and tight. "They used you, and they deserve to pay for it." I felt my jaw clench, the anger building inside. "Tell me more about your parents. What kind of stuff did they pull?"

She looked up at me, her eyes still sad. "They were always after money, Lucian. Dad had all these deals that fell apart, and Mom blamed everyone else." Her voice shook a bit. "Why does it matter now?"

"It matters because I can't stand seeing you hurt," I replied, sitting up and pulling her with me. "I'm going to look into them, find out what's really going on. Maybe it's connected to my dad or something bigger." I paused, thinking about Alistair's health and how he played his games. "He might know more than we think."

Ivy bit her lip. "Be careful, okay? If he finds out you're digging around, it could make things worse." She grabbed my hand. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"I promise, but I have to try," I said, squeezing her hand. "Did your dad ever talk about business? Like, who he dealt with or why things went bad?" I needed details, anything to start with. "Come on, tell me."

"He mentioned some rival company once," she said slowly. "Something about losing a big deal that cost them everything. I think it was years ago, before Zara and I were even teens." She sighed. "Dad said it ruined us, but he never said who it was."

"That sounds like a lead," I muttered, already planning my next move. "I have contacts, people who owe me favors. I'll ask around quietly." I stood up, pacing a little in the room. "You stay here and rest. I won't be long."

Ivy watched me, her face mixed up with worry. "What if someone sees you? Your dad has eyes everywhere." She sat on the edge of the bed. "Talk to me, Lucian. Why are you so mad about this?"

"Because no one should go through what you did," I shot back, turning to her. "Hearing about your folks blaming you, hitting you, it's not right. And Zara just left you there? That makes me furious." I took a deep breath. "I won't let them get away with it. What else do you remember about that rival company?"

"Not much," she answered, her voice soft. "Dad yelled about it a lot. He said some guy took everything from him. Wait, Alistair is Hale. He mentioned it."

I froze for a second, but I kept my cool. "Yeah, that's my family name. Could be a coincidence, or it could be something more." I didn't want to scare her, but inside, I was piecing things together. "I'll check it out. Did your dad ever say what happened exactly?"

"He said Hale outsmarted him in some deal," Ivy replied, her eyes wide. "Something about a corporation that crushed his plans. It led to all their money problems, and that's why they pushed Zara into this marriage." She looked down. "I guess that's why I'm here now, pretending."

"Don't think about that," I said quickly, sitting beside her again. "We're in this together. But I need to know, did your parents ever try to come check on you?" I wanted to understand the full picture, see if there was a way to protect her for good.

"Once or twice, through letters or calls, but I ignored them," she said, shaking her head. "They wanted me to fix their mess, like always. Why are you asking all this?"

"Because if they're desperate, they might still be a threat," I explained, my voice steady. "And if it's tied to my dad, I have to find out. Tell me, Ivy, do you think your dad knew about Alistair's plans?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "He just said Alistair was ruthless. But what if it's all connected? What if that's why Alistair let Zara... into the family?"

I nodded, my mind spinning. "That's what I'm going to find out. Stay put, okay? I'll be back soon." I leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I mean it, you're not facing this alone."

As I headed for the door, she called out. "Lucian, wait. What if you get caught? Your dad is sick, but he's still sharp."

"I won't get caught," I assured her, turning back. "But even if I do, it's worth it to keep you safe. Do you trust me?"

"I do," she said after a pause. "But be careful. I don't want to lose you over this."

"You won't," I replied, opening the door. "Now, let's talk more when I get back. What was the name of that rival company your dad mentioned?"

"I think it was Sterling Corp or something like that," she said, her voice fading as I stepped out. "Dad said Alistair took it down years ago."

That name rang a bell. Sterling Corp was one my dad had talked about before, back when he was healthier. I slipped down the hall, making sure no one saw me, and headed to my office. The estate was quiet, but I felt the tension in the air, like eyes were watching.

Once inside, I locked the door and pulled out my phone. I had a guy, an old friend from business school, who could dig up info fast. "Hey, it's Lucian," I whispered when he answered. "I need you to look into someone. Zara's parents, the ones with the last name... Carter." I said into the phone. "Check their financial history, failed ventures, anything tied to a company called Sterling Corp."

My friend on the other end paused. "Sterling Corp? That's ancient history, man. Alistair Hale crushed them back in the day. Why do you care?"

"Just do it," I snapped. "And keep it quiet. What's the connection?"

"From what I recall, Carter was the CEO of Sterling," he said. "He tried to undercut Hale Enterprises in a big merger, but Alistair played dirty and won. Carter lost everything. Is this about that old feud?"

My heart sank. "Yeah, maybe. Send me the details fast." I hung up and paced the room. If Alistair had a hand in ruining Ivy's family, that meant he knew more than he let on. Was this all part of his game?

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with files. I scanned them quickly... Carter's failed deals, bankruptcies, all linked back to my dad's moves. It wasn't just bad luck... it was personal. Alistair had exploited their weakness to set up this marriage, and now Ivy was caught in it.

I felt the rage boil up again. "They used you, Ivy, and my dad let it happen," I muttered to myself. But I couldn't tell her yet... it would only scare her more.

I headed back to her, my mind set on protecting her no matter what. When I walked in, she was waiting, looking scared and hopeful. "I found something," I said, sitting down. "It's bad, but we'll handle it."

Ivy watched me go, wait no, that's the end... as I left again to think, I knew she was watching, a mix of fear and relief in her eyes. My protectiveness was helping, but it was also dragging us deeper into danger.