Lucien’s parents, Henry and Evelyn Blackwood, were not ones to shy away from the spotlight, and their arrival in New York was nothing short of a spectacle. They had flown in from their estate in France, landing with an entourage of staff and luxury vehicles that made their presence impossible to ignore. For Lucien, their visit was poorly timed, but he wasn’t surprised. His parents had always been experts at inserting themselves into his life at the most inconvenient moments.

The timing of their arrival wasn’t coincidental, either. News of Lucien’s supposed rekindled romance with Alessandra had spread like wildfire, and Evelyn, ever the socialite, was delighted by the idea of her son finally reuniting with the woman she had always seen as the perfect daughter-in-law.

As soon as they arrived at the Blackwood penthouse, Evelyn wasted no time in making her opinions known. Lucien barely had a chance to greet them before his mother launched into a tirade of questions, her excitement bubbling over.

“Darling, I saw the photos! You and Alessandra look wonderful together,” Evelyn gushed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “I always knew you two would find your way back to each other. Isn’t it wonderful, Henry?”

Henry nodded absently, more focused on his phone than the conversation. He had never been as invested in Lucien’s personal life as Evelyn was, but even he knew better than to argue when his wife was on a mission.

Lucien forced a tight smile, his frustration barely contained. “Mother, it’s not what you think. Alessandra and I are not back together.”

Evelyn waved a dismissive hand, clearly not listening. “Oh, don’t be modest, Lucien. I’ve always said she’s the one for you. All those silly flings you’ve had—they were never right for you. But Alessandra… She’s family. She belongs with us.”

Lucien’s patience was wearing thin, and he struggled to keep his voice calm. “Alessandra isn’t family, and she never will be again. I’m with Ivy now, and that’s not changing.”

Evelyn’s expression faltered, her enthusiasm dimming as she finally took in Lucien’s serious tone. “Ivy? The assistant you’ve been seeing?” Her voice was sharp with disapproval. “Lucien, darling, you can’t be serious. She’s not… well, she’s not our kind of people.”

Lucien’s jaw clenched. “Ivy is everything to me. And I won’t have you or anyone else dismissing her like that.”

But Evelyn wasn’t about to be deterred. “Lucien, you have to think of your future, your legacy. A woman like Alessandra understands our world. She’s elegant, refined—everything a Blackwood needs in a partner. Ivy… She’s charming, I suppose, but she doesn’t fit. She never will.”

Lucien turned away, his frustration boiling over. “This isn’t up for debate, Mother. Ivy is the woman I love, and that’s the end of it.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “We’ll see about that,” she muttered under her breath, determined to push her agenda, regardless of Lucien’s wishes.

Later that evening, Lucien found Ivy sitting on the balcony of her apartment, staring out at the city lights with a distant look in her eyes. She hadn’t expected to see Lucien, especially after their recent tension, but he had shown up unannounced, his expression a mix of frustration and determination.

“Ivy,” Lucien said softly, stepping onto the balcony. “I needed to see you.”

Ivy turned to face him, her eyes guarded. “What is it, Lucien?”

“My parents are in town,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “They saw the news about Alessandra, and my mother is… well, she’s thrilled at the idea of us getting back together. She doesn’t know about us, not really.”

Ivy’s stomach churned, a mix of anger and despair washing over her. “So, your mom’s happy about Alessandra. That’s great,” she said sarcastically, her voice tinged with bitterness. “I guess that makes one of us.”

Lucien moved closer, his eyes searching hers. “Ivy, you’re the only one I want. I don’t care what my mother thinks or what the media says. You have to know that.”

But Ivy was tired—tired of the drama, tired of feeling like she was constantly fighting for her place in Lucien’s life. “It’s not that simple, Lucien. Your parents, Alessandra… It’s like I’m always going to be the outsider.”

Lucien reached for her hand, but Ivy pulled away, her emotions raw and on edge. “I need some time, Lucien. I need to figure things out.”

Lucien’s heart sank, but he nodded, knowing that pushing her wouldn’t help. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Take all the time you need. But I’m not giving up on us.”

The next day, the tension escalated when Evelyn decided to pay a visit to Ivy at the office. Lucien was out at a meeting, and Ivy was sorting through documents when Evelyn strolled into her office, her presence as imposing as ever.

“Ivy, is it?” Evelyn said, her tone dripping with condescension. “I’m Lucien’s mother, Evelyn Blackwood.”

Ivy looked up, caught off guard by Evelyn’s sudden appearance. She quickly stood, extending her hand. “Mrs. Blackwood, it’s nice to meet you.”

Evelyn ignored Ivy’s outstretched hand, instead opting to take a seat in one of the office chairs, crossing her legs elegantly. “Let’s not pretend, shall we? I know who you are, and I know what’s going on between you and my son.”

Ivy stiffened, her heart pounding. “If you’re here to talk about Lucien—”

Evelyn cut her off, her smile icy. “I’m here to talk about Alessandra. I’m sure you’ve seen the news, and I want to make something clear. Alessandra is the right match for Lucien, not you.”

Ivy felt a surge of anger but kept her composure. “Lucien and I are together, Mrs. Blackwood. Alessandra is part of his past.”

Evelyn’s gaze hardened. “You might be together now, but that won’t last. Lucien has a legacy to uphold, and Alessandra understands that. She’s already proven she belongs in our world. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a distraction—a temporary fling that he’ll outgrow once the novelty wears off.”

Ivy clenched her fists, her mind racing with a thousand retorts she wanted to throw back at Evelyn, but she held her tongue. She wouldn’t give Evelyn the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

Evelyn rose to her feet, smoothing down her perfectly tailored suit. “You’ll never be enough for Lucien. Not in the way Alessandra is. I suggest you do the sensible thing and step aside before you get hurt.”

With that, Evelyn swept out of the office, leaving Ivy seething in her wake. She had known that Lucien’s mother was a formidable woman, but the sheer intensity of her disdain was more than Ivy had anticipated.

As Ivy sat back down, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—anger, hurt, and a sinking feeling of inadequacy that she couldn’t quite shake. She had fought so hard to carve out her place in Lucien’s life, but it was becoming painfully clear that the forces against her were determined to tear them apart.

Later that afternoon, Lucien returned to the office to find Ivy packing up her desk. Panic seized him, and he rushed over, his voice laced with urgency. “Ivy, what are you doing?”

Ivy didn’t look up, her movements mechanical as she shoved files into her bag. “Your mother was here.”

Lucien’s heart sank. “What did she say?”

Ivy finally met his gaze, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “She said I’m not good enough for you. That Alessandra is your perfect match, and that I should just step aside.”

Lucien swore under his breath, anger boiling over. “I’m so sorry, Ivy. I had no idea she would—”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ivy cut him off, her voice breaking. “It’s not just your mom, Lucien. It’s everything. Alessandra, the media, your parents… I’m exhausted. I can’t keep fighting like this.”

Lucien reached out, desperate to comfort her, but Ivy stepped back, her expression resolute. “I’m taking some time off. I need to clear my head and figure out what I really want.”

Lucien’s chest tightened, the fear of losing Ivy looming larger than ever. “Ivy, please. Don’t let them win. Don’t let them come between us.”

Ivy shook her head, her voice trembling. “I’m not sure I can do this, Lucien. Not with everything that’s happening.”

Lucien watched helplessly as Ivy walked out of the office, her departure leaving a void that felt impossible to fill. He knew that his mother’s interference and Alessandra’s relentless pursuit had driven Ivy to this point, and he cursed himself for not protecting her better.

As Ivy drove home, her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. She thought of the pregnancy test hidden in her apartment, the positive result that had thrown her already tumultuous life into chaos. She hadn’t told Lucien, hadn’t told anyone, because she wasn’t sure how to
Lucien’s parents, Henry and Evelyn Blackwood, were not ones to shy away from the spotlight, and their arrival in New York was nothing short of a spectacle. They had flown in from their estate in France, landing with an entourage of staff and luxury vehicles that made their presence impossible to ignore. For Lucien, their visit was poorly timed, but he wasn’t surprised. His parents had always been experts at inserting themselves into his life at the most inconvenient moments.

The timing of their arrival wasn’t coincidental, either. News of Lucien’s supposed rekindled romance with Alessandra had spread like wildfire, and Evelyn, ever the socialite, was delighted by the idea of her son finally reuniting with the woman she had always seen as the perfect daughter-in-law.

As soon as they arrived at the Blackwood penthouse, Evelyn wasted no time in making her opinions known. Lucien barely had a chance to greet them before his mother launched into a tirade of questions, her excitement bubbling over.

“Darling, I saw the photos! You and Alessandra look wonderful together,” Evelyn gushed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “I always knew you two would find your way back to each other. Isn’t it wonderful, Henry?”

Henry nodded absently, more focused on his phone than the conversation. He had never been as invested in Lucien’s personal life as Evelyn was, but even he knew better than to argue when his wife was on a mission.

Lucien forced a tight smile, his frustration barely contained. “Mother, it’s not what you think. Alessandra and I are not back together.”

Evelyn waved a dismissive hand, clearly not listening. “Oh, don’t be modest, Lucien. I’ve always said she’s the one for you. All those silly flings you’ve had—they were never right for you. But Alessandra… She’s family. She belongs with us.”

Lucien’s patience was wearing thin, and he struggled to keep his voice calm. “Alessandra isn’t family, and she never will be again. I’m with Ivy now, and that’s not changing.”

Evelyn’s expression faltered, her enthusiasm dimming as she finally took in Lucien’s serious tone. “Ivy? The assistant you’ve been seeing?” Her voice was sharp with disapproval. “Lucien, darling, you can’t be serious. She’s not… well, she’s not our kind of people.”

Lucien’s jaw clenched. “Ivy is everything to me. And I won’t have you or anyone else dismissing her like that.”

But Evelyn wasn’t about to be deterred. “Lucien, you have to think of your future, your legacy. A woman like Alessandra understands our world. She’s elegant, refined—everything a Blackwood needs in a partner. Ivy… She’s charming, I suppose, but she doesn’t fit. She never will.”

Lucien turned away, his frustration boiling over. “This isn’t up for debate, Mother. Ivy is the woman I love, and that’s the end of it.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “We’ll see about that,” she muttered under her breath, determined to push her agenda, regardless of Lucien’s wishes.

Later that evening, Lucien found Ivy sitting on the balcony of her apartment, staring out at the city lights with a distant look in her eyes. She hadn’t expected to see Lucien, especially after their recent tension, but he had shown up unannounced, his expression a mix of frustration and determination.

“Ivy,” Lucien said softly, stepping onto the balcony. “I needed to see you.”

Ivy turned to face him, her eyes guarded. “What is it, Lucien?”

“My parents are in town,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “They saw the news about Alessandra, and my mother is… well, she’s thrilled at the idea of us getting back together. She doesn’t know about us, not really.”

Ivy’s stomach churned, a mix of anger and despair washing over her. “So, your mom’s happy about Alessandra. That’s great,” she said sarcastically, her voice tinged with bitterness. “I guess that makes one of us.”

Lucien moved closer, his eyes searching hers. “Ivy, you’re the only one I want. I don’t care what my mother thinks or what the media says. You have to know that.”

But Ivy was tired—tired of the drama, tired of feeling like she was constantly fighting for her place in Lucien’s life. “It’s not that simple, Lucien. Your parents, Alessandra… It’s like I’m always going to be the outsider.”

Lucien reached for her hand, but Ivy pulled away, her emotions raw and on edge. “I need some time, Lucien. I need to figure things out.”

Lucien’s heart sank, but he nodded, knowing that pushing her wouldn’t help. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Take all the time you need. But I’m not giving up on us.”

The next day, the tension escalated when Evelyn decided to pay a visit to Ivy at the office. Lucien was out at a meeting, and Ivy was sorting through documents when Evelyn strolled into her office, her presence as imposing as ever.

“Ivy, is it?” Evelyn said, her tone dripping with condescension. “I’m Lucien’s mother, Evelyn Blackwood .”

Ivy looked up, caught off guard by Evelyn’s sudden appearance. She quickly stood, extending her hand. “Mrs. Blackwood, it’s nice to meet you.”

Evelyn ignored Ivy’s outstretched hand, instead opting to take a seat in one of the office chairs, crossing her legs elegantly. “Let’s not pretend, shall we? I know who you are, and I know what’s going on between you and my son.”

Ivy stiffened, her heart pounding. “If you’re here to talk about Lucien—”

Evelyn cut her off, her smile icy. “I’m here to talk about Alessandra. I’m sure you’ve seen the news, and I want to make something clear. Alessandra is the right match for Lucien, not you.”

Ivy felt a surge of anger but kept her composure. “Lucien and I are together, Mrs. Blackwood. Alessandra is part of his past.”

Evelyn’s gaze hardened. “You might be together now, but that won’t last. Lucien has a legacy to uphold, and Alessandra understands that. She’s already proven she belongs in our world. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a distraction—a temporary fling that he’ll outgrow once the novelty wears off.”

Ivy clenched her fists, her mind racing with a thousand retorts she wanted to throw back at Evelyn, but she held her tongue. She wouldn’t give Evelyn the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

Evelyn rose to her feet, smoothing down her perfectly tailored suit. “You’ll never be enough for Lucien. Not in the way Alessandra is. I suggest you do the sensible thing and step aside before you get hurt.”

With that, Evelyn swept out of the office, leaving Ivy seething in her wake. She had known that Lucien’s mother was a formidable woman, but the sheer intensity of her disdain was more than Ivy had anticipated.

As Ivy sat back down, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—anger, hurt, and a sinking feeling of inadequacy that she couldn’t quite shake. She had fought so hard to carve out her place in Lucien’s life, but it was becoming painfully clear that the forces against her were determined to tear them apart.

Later that afternoon, Lucien returned to the office to find Ivy packing up her desk. Panic seized him, and he rushed over, his voice laced with urgency. “Ivy, what are you doing?”

Ivy didn’t look up, her movements mechanical as she shoved files into her bag. “Your mother was here.”

Lucien’s heart sank. “What did she say?”

Ivy finally met his gaze, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “She said I’m not good enough for you. That Alessandra is your perfect match, and that I should just step aside.”

Lucien swore under his breath, anger boiling over. “I’m so sorry, Ivy. I had no idea she would—”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ivy cut him off, her voice breaking. “It’s not just your mom, Lucien. It’s everything. Alessandra, the media, your parents… I’m exhausted. I can’t keep fighting like this.”

Lucien reached out, desperate to comfort her, but Ivy stepped back, her expression resolute. “I’m taking some time off. I need to clear my head and figure out what I really want.”

Lucien’s chest tightened, the fear of losing Ivy looming larger than ever. “Ivy, please. Don’t let them win. Don’t let them come between us.”

Ivy shook her head, her voice trembling. “I’m not sure I can do this, Lucien. Not with everything that’s happening.”

Lucien watched helplessly as Ivy walked out of the office, her departure leaving a void that felt impossible to fill. He knew that his mother’s interference and Alessandra’s relentless pursuit had driven Ivy to this point, and he cursed himself for not protecting her better.

As Ivy drove home, her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. She thought of the pregnancy test hidden in her apartment, the positive result that had thrown her already tumultuous life into chaos. She hadn’t told Lucien, hadn’t told anyone, because she wasn’t sure how to