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Her fingers instinctively clenched as she smiled at him and slowly nodded. "I know," she murmured, her voice soft.
"Come, Ivy," Hank called out, turning around as he walked across the grand hall.
Ivy glanced at Christian, worry flickering in her eyes. Christian gave her a reassuring nod before leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Don’t worry. He’s not that scary at all." His warm breath brushed against her skin, and he pressed a soft kiss to her ear before pulling back.
Her heart trembled. Looking into his eyes, she nodded before following after Hank.
Chapter 37 Don’t Make A Sound
She walked across the vast hall and stepped into a private room—Hank’s study. Books lined the walls, surrounding a cozy seating area with a couch, a table, and a chair. A television was mounted on the wall, while various devices were neatly arranged on the shelves.
“Come, child. Sit here,” Hank said, patting the back of the couch next to his own.
Ivy obeyed, taking a seat on the single couch.
“Now that you’re here and going to spend your life with my son, I want to talk to you openly,” Hank said, a kind smile on his face. “Just to get to know my new daughter. Is that alright?”
Ivy smiled at his words. The way he called her daughter made it clear that he had already accepted her as family. He was just like Christian—quick to form relationships and unwavering once he did.
Christian was the same. The moment he fell in love with her, he had immediately declared her as his.
Now she knew where Christian got that trait from. The thought made her smile.
Hank continued, "I remember the name Ivy from a long time ago." His gaze turned thoughtful. "Are you the same girl from five years ago? The one Christian called his girlfriend?"
Ivy’s eyes widened in shock. "You… know about me?"
Hank nodded. "Christian had told me about you. He had said he’d found the girl he was going to marry."
A quiet warmth spread through Ivy, her fingers tightening slightly as she took it in.
Meeting Christian again after five years, she had gradually come to understand that he had been forced to leave her due to circumstances. But she had never imagined that back then, when they weren’t even officially together, he had already told his family about her.
He had only been flirting with her, calling her his girlfriend for a few weeks. There had been no real relationship. And yet… he had told his father about her?
He had been more serious about her than she had ever imagined.
All this time, she had thought he had left her without a second thought. But was there more to it—something she hadn’t known?
Hank let out a hearty laugh. "That brat fell in love with you at first glance. It was funny watching all his ridiculous antics. He’s not exactly expressive. But when it came to you, he was half-mad."
Ivy’s face burned. Christian had been so obvious, even to his father?
Hank continued, shaking his head in amusement. “I remember when he found out that you constantly suffered from low blood pressure. He changed the entire cafeteria staff and food selection at the office just to make sure you got proper meals all the time. Even hired a dietician for the entire office—all for you.”
He wiped his eyes and met Ivy’s stunned gaze. "He isn't the most expressive brat, but he cares deeply for the people he loves.”
Ivy swallowed hard, her fingers clenching in her lap.
"When he suddenly suffered from that paralytic attack five years ago. He was furious, but he couldn’t move. It was the darkest time in his life," Hank admitted, his voice laced with lingering pain.
Ivy stiffened. "He… couldn’t move at all? Was it that bad?" she whispered, panic rising in her chest.
Hank nodded, his expression turning tense. “After his mother abandoned him as a child, he suffered through a lot of hardships and trauma. But five years ago, she suddenly came back to meet him. The moment he saw her, his trauma triggered a severe attack. He had to be rushed to the hospital.” Hank sighed. “The doctors here couldn’t do much, so we took him to France for treatment from specialists.”
He fell silent for a moment, his brows furrowed with worry. “The attack was severe. The only movement he could make was blinking. He couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk, or do anything. His body had locked up completely. It took years for him to recover. Only last year was he strong enough to walk and speak normally again.” Then, Hank smiled knowingly. “And the moment he got better, he insisted on coming back. The reason was obviously you.”
Ivy could barely breathe.