THE RETURN OF THE HIDDEN HEIR

Chapter 006: A Storm Inside the House

"Ivy Lorenzo," Ivy’s grandfather said, his voice low and shaken with disappointment, "is this the way you speak in front of an important guest? In front of a man your family is preparing to welcome?"

"Grandpa–"

"I will not hear another word!" he snapped, sharper than she expected.

Ivy flinched, clearly stunned. Her grandfather raised his voice even more.

"Do you understand," he continued, breathing heavily, "that being able to marry this man over here is an honor? Do you think opportunities like this fall into a family's hands twice?"

Ivy's face burned with humiliation and fury, but she said nothing.

“Don't just stand there, go and call your parents!”

With a glare at Derrick–one she believed he didn't deserve–she stormed off, her heels clacking with violent outrage.

This is insane, Derrick thought. What had he gotten into?

He forced an awkward smile. "Sir...it...I believe that things have indeed gone a bit beyond my expectations."

A bit? It was more than that. The woman he had supposed to break off an engagement with was the very woman he had slept with the other day. But the entire situation now looked like he had stormed there with the purpose of proposing instead.

He could only laugh bitterly within himself.

Ivy's grandfather studied his face for a little too long, and whatever he believed he saw there made his posture stiffen. His concern sharpened, swelling into a bit of anxiety.

"Mr. Morgan," he began, voice careful but urgent, "if Ivy doesn't meet your expectations, you only need to say so. I can arrange for you to meet my other granddaughters–wonderful girls, every one of them. Well-mannered, educated, and elegant. Any of them would be a fine match for a man of your standing. Truly, you can have them all–"

"No, no," Derrick quickly cut in, nearly tripping over the words, horrified at the direction this was going. "The engagement stands. Ivy is...she's perfectly alright."

He straightened a little, forcing back the subtle panic creeping up his spine.

"Absolutely alright," he repeated, firmer this time.

The old man finally eased, though only slightly. He looked as though he'd happily line up his entire bloodline if Derrick so much as flinched again.

"Most excellent. Mr. Rowan has indeed raised a remarkable and charming young man. How is your master these days? Still religious and strict?"

"Strict and surprising as ever," Derrick replied in a light hearted tone.

The old man gave a low chuckle. “Over fifty years ago, he saved my life at the border. Ever since, I’ve been dying to repay him. I spent all these years building my business, turning it into a powerhouse—but he’d already stepped down as supreme commander and disappeared into retirement. I honestly thought I’d never see my benefactor again."

He let his gaze rest on Derrick, eyes flickering with joy.

“And then you come along—his own disciple… as my son-in-law! Can you even imagine how huge an honor this is?!"

But a sharp voice shattered the moment.

"Grandfather!"

Derrick and the old man turned to see Ivy walking back towards them. But she wasn't alone this time.

Beside her, Ivy's parents hurried over nervously. In front, stepping forward with slow and dignified grace, was an imposing elderly woman.

Ivy's grandmother.

She turned to her husband–Ivy’s grandfather. "Lorenzo. I heard you were just about to give off my dear Ivy to a certain–"

"Scumbag," Ivy completed, turning to Derrick with an angry look. "That's what he is, grandma."

Ivy's grandma nodded. "I'll make this clear please. No one will marry my precious granddaughter off to an ordinary man."

She watched her husband's expression stiffen, but she continued. "Ivy is destined to marry Frederick Leonardo.”

Inside, she quickly calculated the impact of the name alone. The Leonardos stood far above their family in wealth, influence, and connections. Frederick's father was close to Dominic Santiago, and that friendship alone could open doors they had never even approached.

If Ivy married into the family, the benefits would be immediate, strategic, and transformative.

She lifted her chin slightly, her confidence unwavering. "Ivy's marriage to Frederick will elevate our standing. It's an opportunity we simply cannot afford to waste."

Just then, she took a step forward, eyes still fixed on her husband.

"A bright future is right in front of us. How could you ruin it with–" her eyes flicked disdainfully toward Derrick, "–a church rat like him?"

She curved her lips slightly, almost imperceptibly, a mixture of challenge and condescension. “Do you think blind passion or fleeting emotions can compare to strategy, influence, or the stability our family could gain? Because I assure you—they can’t.”

With that, she paused just long enough to let the words sink in, letting the silence hammer home the comparison between her perception of Derrick’s status and the world she wanted Ivy to step into.

Ivy's parents nodded frantically, visibly emboldened.

"Dad, Mum is right this time," Ivy's father said, also taking a step forward. "We can't afford mistakes here. The family's future glory rests on Ivy's shoulders."

"We simply cannot let her marry so casually," Ivy's mother added.

"Enough!"

The old man's voice shook the entire compound.

He had not wanted to air the family's desperate calculations in front of Derrick. But their apparent stupidity, greed and complete ignorance had finally pushed him well off beyond his limit.

"You fools!" he roared. "You ask for a perfect son-in-law, and he's standing just right in front of you! Mr. Morgan here, is the very man who can take this family to the next level, far beyond the Leonardo's ever could!"

Ivy and her grandmother refused to back down.

Stepping forward, Ivy’s voice trembled with anger. "Grandpa Lorenzo, he's deceiving you! He can't be whoever he claims to be! He's nothing but ordinary–just a–"

"Precisely!" her grandmother snapped, visibly heated. She turned to her husband. "You, old man, have gone totally blind with age. How could this man over here possibly lead this family anywhere? Gosh, he's not even worthy of lifting Frederick Leonardo's shoes!"

She stepped closer. “We have a chance, a real, tangible chance to secure our place at the very top. And you… you would risk it all for this… this nobody? How dare–"

The sound of a slap across her face detonated through the courtyard.

Ivy gasped, watching as her grandmother staggered after receiving it hard from Lorenzo. She clutched her cheek in utter disbelief, her eyes widening.

The old man's face was indeed a mask of fury. "Listen, you all. As long as I remain the head of this family, anyone who dares oppose my decision will be expelled from our household on the spot. And you–" he pointed a wrinkled finger at his wife, "–you better not embarrass yourself by threatening divorce at your age. I'm warning you."

Silence fell instantly. An absolute, suffocating silence.

Only then did the old man turn back to Derrick, his anger melting into a warm apology.

"Mr. Morgan," he said quietly, "forgive us. My family apparently lacks discipline, and we have made nothing but a shameful spectacle before you."

He paused, straightened, and continued in a firmer and unwavering voice.

"But be rest assured–the Lorenzo family welcomes you with the sincerest of hearts. Starting today, you may proceed to register your marriage with Ivy Lorenzo."

Derrick genuinely thought he might pass out.