Monday morning, Lucien texts me.
Parent-teacher conference today at 3. Mrs. Chen wants to discuss Ivy's progress. And probably the media situation. Would you come with me?
I stare at the message. He's asking me to come to a parent-teacher conference. As what? A girlfriend? A family member? A complication?
Are you sure? Won't that make things worse?
Maybe. But Ivy keeps telling everyone you're her family. And Mrs. Chen specifically said she wants to meet "the people in Ivy's life." So yes. I'm sure.
Okay. I'll be there.
At 2:45, I meet Lucien outside the school. He's in a button-down shirt, looking nervous.
"Thank you for coming," he says.
"Of course. How do you think it'll go?"
"No idea. Mrs. Chen was very neutral on the phone. Could be good. Could be a disaster."
We walk to the
