Lucas rushed into the hospital, his heart pounding in his chest. He spotted Mrs. Stannis in the waiting area and hurried over to her. “Mrs. Stannis, what happened? Is Ivy okay?” Lucas asked, his voice filled with concern.Mrs. Stannis's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She looked at Lucas with a mixture of anguish and accusation. “Lucas, where were you? Why wasn't she with you? Sonya was in a car accident, and it's all your fault!”Lucas was taken aback by her words. “Mrs. Stannis, I...I don't understand. What do you mean it's my fault? What happened?”Tears streamed down Mrs. Stannis's face as she spoke. “Ivy got a call from you as she prepared for the office. She quickly left her room hurriedly and rushed for her car to head to the office. That's when it happened. She was so worried after the call, and now she's lying in that hospital because of it.”Lucas felt a pang of guilt and sorrow wash over him, although confused about the call part, he chose not to say anything. "

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. I want to address the serious allegations that have been circulating. I categorically deny any involvement in the accident that Ivy was involved in. Your questions can come in now.” Lucas stood at the podium, his figure intimidating to the public.The first reporter asked, “Mr. Lucas, can you provide an alibi for the time of the accident?”“Absolutely. During the time of the accident, I was on my way to a business meeting with some dignitaries when I got a call from her mother. Mr. Rickard can vouch for my presence. I have evidence to support my claim,” Lucas replied boldly and confidently.“How do you explain the eyewitness accounts that place you at the scene?” the second reporter asked.“I understand that there may be eyewitness accounts, but I assure you that they are mistaken. I was not present at the accident scene,” he said, his voice getting deeper, showing his anger, though he kept his temper in check.“What’s your relat

The tension from the rumors having died down, Lucas and Ivy were back to working together. They were both seated in his office, Lucas having other plans to consolidate his power."Ivy, now that we've addressed the concerns and gained the shareholders' trust again, I think it's the perfect time to discuss expanding our business. We have a solid foundation, and it's time to take the next step.""Of course, Lucas! I couldn't agree more. With the renewed confidence in our company, we have a great opportunity to explore new markets and grow our customer base. But we need to carefully consider the risks and ensure we have a solid plan in place," Ivy said thoughtfully."I've been looking into potential acquisitions and partnerships that align with our long-term goals. By consolidating with complementary businesses, we can enhance our offering and reach a wider audience. I've been doing some research, and I have a few ideas on how we can go about this. I think it's important for us to start e

After a wonderful night with Lucas, Ivy arrived home to find her mother, Racheal, waiting for her in the living room. Her mother’s piercing gaze bore into Ivy as soon as she entered the room.“How much progress have you made with Lucas?” Racheal demanded, her tone sharp and unforgiving.Ivy hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She knew she couldn’t reveal the true nature of her dealings with Lucas, especially now that things weren’t going as planned. “I’m working on it, and it’s going smoothly. He has finally started trusting me,” she replied vaguely, hoping to deflect her mother’s probing questions.Racheal’s eyes narrowed with frustration. “That’s not good enough, Ivy. We need to know that Lucas is firmly under your influence before we can proceed with our plan.”Ivy could feel the tension in the room mounting. She knew her mother’s expectations were high, and failing to meet them was not an option.“I’m doing everything I can, also being careful to avoid suspicion,” Ivy insisted,

Sonya lay in bed, her eyes red and with bags beneath; she had been crying for a long time. She didn't want to lose another person close to her. Sonya's phone rang, the sound echoing through her spacious bedroom, breaking the silence. With a sense of urgency, she picked it up to find Ivy's voice on the other end, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Sonya, it's Lucas. He's awake!"Her heart leaped with joy, and she quickly dressed, the fabric of her clothes rustling as she moved. "I have to go see him. Would you follow me now, at least to see him, now he's awake?" she announced to her brothers, who were lounging in the living room.Alex and Jack exchanged a knowing glance before turning their attention to Sonya. "Why would we want to see him? What good would it do to us?” Jack sneered, a smirk playing on his lips.Her eyes narrowed in disbelief at their coldness. "He's our cousin. He needs us now, as we are his only family.” Alex chuckled mockingly. "He doesn't need us. He's got you, S