Billionaire's Hidden Desire**

Chapter 18: Shattered Illusions

The penthouse was silent, save for the muffled sounds of the city outside. Lucien paced the floor, his mind reeling with anger and despair. The confrontation with his mother had been explosive, but the reality of what had transpired hit him like a sledgehammer when he discovered Ivy’s pregnancy test in the bedroom.

He had returned to the penthouse in the dead of night, hoping to find some shred of peace, only to be greeted by the sight of the test, lying on the edge of the nightstand. The positive result was a harsh, undeniable reality. The test wasn’t just an indicator of a potential future—it was a direct challenge to everything he had been fighting for.

Lucien’s hands trembled as he picked up the test, his heart racing. The realization that he had lost Ivy, the woman carrying his child, because of his mother’s manipulative schemes and Alessandra’s relentless interference was overwhelming. Rage surged through him, his thoughts a chaotic storm of fury and regret.

He had just learned from a security guard that Ivy and her best friend, Celeste, had left the city in the early hours of the morning, heading for a remote cabin in upstate New York. Lucien had tried to reach Ivy, but her phone went straight to voicemail, a cruel reminder of how much he had lost.

In his blind anger, Lucien stormed into his office, throwing papers and furniture aside, his rage consuming him. He paced, his mind racing as he replayed the events leading up to this moment—the headlines, the lies, his mother’s manipulations, Alessandra’s insidious plot. Each memory added fuel to his anger.

His phone buzzed incessantly with messages and calls, mostly from media outlets and his own staff, asking for comments on the scandalous headlines. Lucien ignored them all, his focus solely on Ivy and the family he had almost lost.

As he glanced around the office, his gaze landed on a framed photo of him and his parents from years ago. The sight only intensified his fury. He had always tried to live up to their expectations, but now he realized just how toxic their influence had been. His mother’s machinations, Alessandra’s deceit, and his own misplaced trust had pushed Ivy away, driving a wedge between them that seemed insurmountable.

The penthouse door swung open, and Evelyn strode in, her expression smug and self-satisfied. She had been waiting for this moment, convinced that her plans were succeeding.

“Lucien, I’ve been trying to reach you,” Evelyn said, her tone a mix of feigned concern and underlying triumph. “I wanted to discuss the latest developments.”

Lucien’s eyes blazed with fury. “You have no idea what you’ve done, Mother. You’ve managed to push away the one person who truly mattered to me. Ivy is gone, and she’s carrying my child.”

Evelyn’s expression faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered. “Lucien, you need to calm down. Ivy was never meant to be in our world. She’s not the right fit for you, and it’s for the best.”

“For the best?” Lucien’s voice was a low growl. “You think tearing apart my life and my family is for the best? You and Alessandra have manipulated everything to suit your own interests, and now Ivy and our child are paying the price.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean, ‘our child’? Are you saying Ivy is pregnant?”

Lucien’s fists clenched, his anger reaching a boiling point. “Yes, she is. And if you had any decency, you’d have stayed out of this. But no, you had to meddle and make everything worse.”

Evelyn’s face paled as the reality of the situation sank in. She had hoped to control the narrative, but she had underestimated Lucien’s love for Ivy and the strength of their bond.

“I didn’t know,” Evelyn said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t realize—”

“It’s too late for that,” Lucien interrupted, his voice cold and determined. “You’ve done enough damage. I’m going to find Ivy and make things right.”

Evelyn reached out, her voice desperate. “Lucien, please. Let’s talk about this. We can fix this together.”

But Lucien was already heading for the door, his mind set on finding Ivy. He stormed out of the penthouse, his heart heavy with the weight of his mistakes and the consequences of his family’s actions. The city lights blurred as he drove through the night, heading for the cabin in upstate New York where he hoped Ivy was.

Meanwhile, Ivy and Celeste had arrived at the secluded cabin, a cozy refuge far from the chaos of the city. The cabin was nestled in the woods, surrounded by towering trees and the serene stillness of nature. Ivy had hoped that the isolation would provide some peace and clarity, but the turmoil inside her remained.

As she sat on the porch, wrapped in a blanket and staring into the dark woods, Celeste tried to offer comfort. “Ivy, you need to talk to Lucien. He deserves to know about the baby.”

Ivy shook her head, her eyes clouded with tears. “I don’t know if I can, Celeste. With everything that’s happened, I’m afraid he might blame me, or worse, he might not want this child.”

Celeste reached out, taking Ivy’s hand in hers. “Lucien loves you. He might be angry now, but he deserves the chance to know the truth. And you owe it to yourself and your baby to give him that chance.”

Ivy took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. “You’re right. I need to tell him. But I don’t know if he’ll find me here.”

As if on cue, a car’s headlights cut through the darkness, and Ivy’s heart skipped a beat. Lucien’s car came to a stop in front of the cabin, and he stepped out, his face etched with determination and worry.

“Ivy!” Lucien’s voice was urgent as he approached, his eyes scanning her face with a mixture of relief and desperation. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Ivy rose from her seat, her heart aching as she met his gaze. “Lucien, I—”

Before she could finish, Lucien pulled her into a fierce embrace, his hold tight and trembling. “I’m so sorry, Ivy. I should have protected you better. I should have been more honest.”

Ivy’s tears flowed freely as she clung to him, the weight of her decision and the reality of their situation crashing down. “I’m pregnant, Lucien. And I was scared. Scared of how everything was falling apart, scared of how you might react.”

Lucien pulled back slightly, his eyes locked onto hers. “I know. I found the test. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. My mother and Alessandra—they’ve tried to tear us apart, and I let them. I never should have.”

He gently touched her face, his eyes filled with remorse and love. “I want to be with you, Ivy. I want to be there for you and our child. Please don’t shut me out.”

Ivy’s heart ached as she looked at him, the weight of their shared pain and the possibility of a future together settling over her. “I want that too, Lucien. But we have to face everything together. The media, my fears, and your family.”

Lucien nodded, his resolve hardening. “We’ll face it all together. I’m done letting others control our lives. I’m fighting for us, and I won’t stop until we have our future.”

As they stood together on the porch, wrapped in each other’s arms, the enormity of their challenges seemed a little less daunting. They had a long road ahead of them, filled with obstacles and battles, but for the first time in a long while, they were facing it side by side. And for Ivy and Lucien, that was enough to keep going.