Chapter 615: So You’re Not a Fool

Chapter 615: Chapter 615: So You’re Not a Fool

"So, you were just pretending to be a fool?" Lucas Rhodes asked tentatively.

Ivy Tanner averted her gaze, speaking with a casual air. "It was just for survival. Everyone has secrets. Since you’re willing to negotiate with me, I’m sure you have your own."

’No one would take in a pregnant fool. The only reason Lucas Rhodes is giving me a chance must be because I have something he can use.’

Lucas Rhodes said, "I’m not interested in women, but I need to carry on my family line. I’ll help you raise your child, but on one condition: you have to bear a child for me in the future. Of course, I won’t touch you. Medical technology is quite advanced these days. You know what I mean."

’So that’s how it is...’

Ivy Tanner nodded readily. "Alright."

’Who knows if I’ll even be alive after I give birth to this child? Heh... I’ll just agree for now. It’s a good stalling tactic. I’ll figure out the rest later.’

Lucas Rhodes glanced at her stunning face and suddenly asked, "How could Ethan Kingsley bring himself to lay a hand on you?"

Ivy Tanner froze for a moment before answering bluntly, "He was drugged and delirious. I’d also drunk something I shouldn’t have. It was just an accident."

Lucas Rhodes smiled. "If you knew it was an accident, why didn’t you take any precautions afterward?"

Ivy Tanner flinched, a pang of sadness in her heart. "I only went to school until the seventh grade. Most of what I know, I learned online. I’m not that smart... I don’t know the basics about getting pregnant. I never formally learned about it."

"You’ve had a hard life."

"I don’t need your pity. If you ever decide I’m of no use to you, just please don’t hurt my child. I can disappear from your life forever."

Her words made Lucas Rhodes chuckle. "Not all men are as heartless as Ethan Kingsley. I may not be interested in women, but I respect them. Don’t worry."

Ivy Tanner’s lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say.

Lucas Rhodes looked up and called out, "Ayla Ryan, please ask Claire Sinclair to come over."

"Yes." Ayla Ryan turned and left.

Before long, Claire Sinclair walked over, trailed by a little shadow.

Theo Rhodes spoke first. "Uncle, are you going to start dating Third Miss Tanner?"

Lucas Rhodes nodded. "I’m going to her family next month to formally propose."

Theo Rhodes: "!!!"

It was an absolute bombshell.

Claire Sinclair’s face lit up. "Mr. Rhodes, have you made your decision?"

"Just don’t forget my conditions when the time comes."

"Don’t worry, Mr. Quincy and I will definitely be there!"

Lucas Rhodes gave a slight nod, then took out his phone and handed it to Ivy Tanner. "Take this phone. The passcode is 12341. Call me if you need anything. My number is saved in the contacts."

Ivy Tanner took the phone, hesitating.

Claire Sinclair quickly chimed in, "Take it. They can’t tap Mr. Rhodes’s phone. If there’s something you can’t discuss on a landline, use this instead."

That seemed to put Ivy Tanner at ease. "Alright."

Watching this unfold, Theo Rhodes finally put two and two together. "So you’re not actually a fool!" he exclaimed.

Ivy Tanner gave him an indifferent glance and said nothing.

Theo Rhodes unabashedly looked her up and down a few times before saying, perplexed, "Uncle, she’s only twenty. That’s three years younger than me. Do I really have to call her ’Auntie’?"

Lucas Rhodes said, "If you don’t want to, then you don’t have to call me ’Uncle’ ever again."

Theo Rhodes: "..."

’My own flesh and blood... ’

Ivy Tanner let out a soft breath. "It’s okay if you don’t want to. I imagine not many people will approve of this marriage anyway. I’ll just try not to go out much."

Claire Sinclair immediately replied, "You’ll get cabin fever if you stay cooped up all the time. I’ll have more free time soon, and I can come visit you often then."