Chapter 150
She found the inpatient wing, asked for directions to the pediatric ward, and headed upstairs.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, Ivy spotted Jamison pacing the hallway, holding a little boy in his arms and quietly soothing him. The boy’s small hand hung limp at his side, with an IV needle taped to the back.
So, he was admitted.
Ivy’s face froze for a moment, her mind suddenly swirling with questions. Why would a man as busy and important as Jamison be here in the pediatric ward, comforting a child? Whose child was he holding? And the whole scene – a powerful, aloof man gently calming a sick child – just felt so at odds with his usual untouchable aura.
Ivy wondered who the boy might be, but her thoughts were interrupted when Jamison spotted her and turned to approach.
She immediately mustered a polite smile and hurried over. “Your suit – it’s been dry-cleaned.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind.” Jamison nodded, his expression a little stern, but as he looked at Ivy, his eyes softened with concern. “You went for your follow-up. What did the doctor–”
He didn’t finish; the boy in his arms scrunched up his face, about to cry again. Jamison instantly shifted his attention back, murmuring gentle words to comfort the child.
His assistant stepped forward and took the garment bag from Ivy. “Thanks so much.”
Ivy smiled in response, her gaze naturally drifting to the pale little boy in Jamison’s arms – and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. There was something unmistakably familiar about the boy’s features, especially his nose; he looked so much like Jamison.
Could he be Jamison’s son?
The realization hit Ivy like a jolt of electricity. Suddenly, she felt ridiculous – what had she been hoping for? What kind of daydreams had she been indulging in? Sure, Jamison wasn’t married, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a child. With his wealth and status, there were probably more than enough women willing to have his baby, no strings attached.
Ivy stood there, dazed, her mind reeling – until a gentle, sophisticated woman’s voice sounded behind her.
“Jamison.”
Ivy turned just enough to see a young woman sweep past her. Her hair was tied back in a neat chignon, she wore a perfectly tailored suit, and her posture was flawless – elegant, poised, with a figure that would turn heads anywhere. Even just her silhouette was enough to make men look twice.
The woman came over, stroked the boy’s hair with a tender hand, then gently lifted him from Jamison’s arms.
Ivy snapped out of her thoughts, panic kicking in. Instinct took over; before she knew it, she was spinning around and darting into the elevator as if fleeing the scene.
“Ivy–” Jamison, now empty-handed, looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of her disappearing into the elevator. He called out reflexively.
But it was too late.
The doors slid shut.
“Who were you calling?” Davina, now holding her son, turned to her brother-in-law with a questioning look.
Jamison's gaze lingered on the closed elevator, then he shrugged. “No one. Just a friend... something off. Halley was upset, so I got delayed.”
He hedged slightly, thinking back. “That girl who was standing in front of you just now.”
Davina’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Since when do you have female friends? What’s going on between you two?” She’d been too worried about her son to pay attention earlier, but if her brother-in-law was seeing someone, she definitely didn’t want to be the one to get in the way.
“Just a friend,” Jamison replied, then quickly changed the subject. “You should take Halley back to the room. I need to get back to my rounds.”
He strode off in a hurry.
Davina watched him go, then called after him, “Go on – catch up with your friend and have a proper conversation!”
Jamison didn’t answer, vanishing into the elevator.
Ivy’s phone buzzed the moment she stepped out onto the ground floor. She glanced at the screen, silenced the call, and tucked her phone back in her pocket.
When Jamison realized his call wasn’t going through, his brow furrowed in frustration. She’d just left – why wasn’t she picking up?
He hesitated, then dialed again. By now, Ivy was already in her car, keys in the ignition, preparing to drive off.
Her gaze lingered on the name flashing across the screen. Her feelings were a tangled mess.
What could Jamison possibly want to say? Had he seen right through her awkward reaction upstairs? But it wasn’t as if she had any claim on him. Whether he had a child, a partner, or an entire secret family, it was none of her business.
Still, if she ignored his calls, it would seem petty, almost childish, which was the last thing she wanted.
After a moment’s thought, she answered.
“Hello, Dr. Ludwig?” Her tone was polite, perfectly even.
“Why did you rush off like that?” Jamison asked, not bothering to hide his confusion. “I looked up and you were gone.”
Ivy let out a small laugh. “My friend was waiting for me downstairs.”
So that was it.
Jamison couldn’t quite make sense of the odd, unsettled feeling in his chest, but hearing her explanation, he felt strangely relieved. At least she hadn’t run away because she disliked him.
“How did your follow-up go today?”
“It’s the same as before – just need to keep managing it.” Ivy’s voice was calm, almost breezy. Adenomyosis, after all, was sometimes called “the cancer you can’t die from.” No matter what treatment you tried, it only eased the pain; there was no real cure. The only way to be rid of it for good was to have a hysterectomy.
Ivy had done her research, read medical articles, listened to experts – she knew exactly what she was up against.
“Maybe you should get a second opinion?” Jamison suggested, thinking of Professor Brown – maybe some alternative therapies could help.
Ivy smiled, her tone light. “Honestly, I’m tired of the appointments. I’ll give this another try, but if it doesn’t work, I’ll just have the surgery and get it over with – one and done.”
“Have your uterus removed?” Jamison’s reaction was instant and sharp, his voice tight. “How can you say something like that so casually?”