Chapter 508: Jason Summers and Ivy Sherwood Meet

"Miss Sherwood, you..." Jason Summers lowered his head and gave a soft, bitter chuckle. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and it even looked like he was holding back tears.

"You look so much like an old friend of mine."

Ivy Sherwood said, "You mean Winter Mercer, don’t you?"

"Yes."

"Come in and talk."

Ivy Sherwood let Jason Summers into her studio. Seeing his chance, Jason naturally wasn’t about to refuse.

Jason Summers looked around Ivy Sherwood’s studio as he followed her. "You opened this studio yourself, didn’t you?" he said. "Your personality is so much like your mother’s. She never bowed to fate, either. You’re both incredibly capable on your own."

When they reached the reception area, Ivy had someone prepare tea. Jason Summers was still staring at her, seemingly lost in reminiscence.

"I never expected your mother was pregnant back then, and that she had you. I’ve been searching for her all these years, but she vanished without a trace. For her sake, I’ve never married."

"Ivy, may I call you that? I... I’m just so happy, I don’t know how to describe it. Finding you... I’m just so incredibly happy."

As he spoke, tears actually began to fall from Jason Summers’s eyes.

His acting was truly masterful. He even wiped away his tears, putting on a show of genuine heartbreak.

Ivy was at a loss for words. She didn’t know if this man was truly her father.

"Why are you happy to have found me?"

Jason Summers said, "You may not know this, but your mother and I had a relationship. We were childhood sweethearts. We fell in love, but later... we had some disagreements, and your mother left. I... I..."

Jason Summers’s hands were trembling. "Ivy, it’s possible that... you’re my daughter."

Although Ivy was mentally prepared for this, having even heard it from Xavier Mercer, hearing Jason Summers say it himself still sent a jolt through her heart.

’Mom changed her name to Yvonne Summers... could it really have been because of Jason Summers?’

’Is Jason Summers... really my biological father?’

A bitter feeling welled up inside her. She couldn’t help but think of her mother. When she brought her to Lustre all those years ago, what kind of resolve must she have had? What exactly had happened?

Ivy bit her lip. After a moment, she finally spoke. "I’m sorry, but I don’t think so."

A glint flashed in Jason Summers’s eyes. ’Could it be that she knows something?’

"Ivy, what do you mean by that?"

Ivy replied coolly, "Mr. Summers, please just call me Ivy Sherwood. While I don’t know what history my mother had with you, I don’t believe you are my father. I only had my mother. I’m sorry."

"Ivy, are you saying you refuse to acknowledge me?" Jason Summers’s eyes filled with grief.

"Setting aside whether I’m your daughter or not, what exactly happened between you and my mother back then?"

Jason Summers sighed. "It’s a long story. Your mother and I were in love. But you know how it is—misunderstandings and conflicts are bound to happen between people. Your mother misunderstood my relationship with another woman and broke up with me in her sorrow. Given the timing, you are very likely my daughter."

Ivy’s true identity was still a secret to most, and the people who knew the truth were far away in Elandra, so Jason Summers decided he had to seize the first-mover advantage.

Ivy couldn’t tell if what Jason Summers was saying was true or not. She didn’t think her mother was the type of impulsive person to break up, run away, hide so far from home, and even change her name.

The misunderstandings between her and Quentin Blackwood had never escalated to this point; she hadn’t run off with their child to the other side of the world.

Her mother’s actions, in contrast, made Ivy feel like she had been hiding from something.

"What about the specifics? Can you tell me in detail what happened with my mother back then?" Ivy remained rational, refusing to be swept away by the sudden appeal of having a father.

Besides, she saw no reason to rush into acknowledging Jason Summers. If her mother had wanted her to have a relationship with him, she wouldn’t have taken her and married Timothy Sherwood.

Jason Summers began to speak at length, recounting how they were together since they were very young and how they later fell in love.

Ivy listened quietly without saying a word.

When Jason Summers finally finished, he said, "After your mother left, I searched for her frantically. For over twenty years, I never stopped. I’ve scoured the entire world and found many women who resembled your mother, but none of them were her."

"Ivy, I truly loved her. I had no idea she left me such a wonderful surprise in you. If I had known, I would have brought you home long ago. I wouldn’t have let you suffer all these years. Ivy, it was my fault. Can you forgive me?"

Jason Summers was the very picture of devotion, and his words were beautifully crafted.

Anyone else might have already been moved to pity.

But Ivy had seen too much. She knew that men were the last thing one should trust.

She didn’t know Jason Summers or what kind of person he was. The past was too distant; even the Mercer Family wasn’t clear on the details. That made it even harder for her to tell whether his words were true or false.

’What if he’s lying? What if this is all a scam?’

’What if he’s after something I have, approaching me with some hidden agenda?’

"I’m sorry, Mr. Summers, but I think you’re a bit overwhelmed right now. Perhaps we can talk again some other time."

Jason Summers raised a hand to cover his eyes. "I admit I lost my composure, but it’s only because I’m so overwhelmed. I imagined reuniting with Winter countless times, but I never thought... that she would already be gone. Ivy, I know you can’t accept all this right now, but everything I’ve said is the truth."

"You can take your time to think about it. I’ll wait until you’re ready to acknowledge me. For now, I won’t disturb you any further. May I have your contact information?"

Ivy pulled something from a nearby box. "This is my business card."

The number on the card was for her work. She also had a private number—the one she’d gotten for a burner phone to deceive Quentin Blackwood back when she thought he didn’t know her true identity.

Her work number was always busy with a constant stream of messages, but very few people knew her private one. Besides Quentin Blackwood, only the Mercer Family had it.

She was nowhere near familiar enough with Jason Summers to give him that.

Besides, she needed to ask her brother if he knew anything about Jason Summers.

Jason Summers didn’t press the issue. "Alright. Then, when can I treat you to a meal?"

Ivy said, "I’m very busy lately, so I’m afraid I won’t have time. Mr. Summers, you should get back to your own business."

Jason Summers sighed. "Alright. I’ll be going then, Ivy."

Ivy’s expression remained stern and perfectly calm.

The moment Jason Summers turned away, his expression shifted completely. ’As expected of Winter’s daughter,’ he thought. ’She’s just like her mother—not easy to fool.’