Chapter 151

“Why not? It’s not like I ever planned on getting married and having kids. As far as I’m concerned, that organ’s just dead weight.”

The truth was, love and family had left her with scars too deep to ever really heal. She’d come to think that being on her own was just fine. No heartbreak, no messy attachments, no obligations to anyone or anything. She could live her life on her own terms – quick, clean, and free. What could be better than that?

“Ivy, you can’t be serious. Medicine is advancing all the time. There are always new options, and there are plenty of cases where women keep their uterus and still find relief. You can’t just give—”

Hearing Jamison’s serious tone only made Ivy more irritable. Her mind was already crowded with images of him, his ex, and that woman’s son – all cozy, like some happy little family.

When Ivy was in a bad mood, she had a habit of lashing out. So she shot back, “And why exactly is this your problem? I’m not your patient, so why are you so concerned?”

Jamison’s face darkened and he dammed up, caught off guard by her bluntness.

Just like that, the fragile truce they’d managed to build between them shattered, leaving them right back where they’d started.

Suddenly, reality hit Jamison square in the chest. What was wrong with him, anyway? He’d never been the meddling type – Ivy wasn’t family, wasn’t even a friend – why did he care so much about her choices? Clearly, she didn’t appreciate it.

No good deed goes unpunished, he thought grimly.

With a huff that was half laugh, half scoff, he replied, “You’re right. I overstepped. My apologies.”

Ivy caught the chill in his voice and became even more brisk. “I’m driving. I need to go.”

With that, she ended the call. The Maserati pulled away from the hospital, and Ivy’s thoughts were a tangled mess the whole way home. She realized, with humiliating clarity, that her feelings for Jamison had shifted far more than she’d ever admit. She’d gone from open hostility to reluctant respect, to something dangerously close to attraction – even flirtation.

How stupid could she be? She was actually developing feelings for Micah’s uncle. Wasn’t her life complicated enough already?

Still, in a way, she was glad she’d gone to the hospital today. Stumbling into that scene had snapped her back to reality.

Actually, she’d met Davina before. At Emma’s recent birthday party, Ivy had rented a cottage to surprise her. The whole Ludwig clan showed up with their spouses and kids. But at the time, Ivy had been so focused on Emma that the other guests barely registered. No wonder she’d gotten things mixed up.

Jamison, on the other hand, had no idea any of this was running through her mind.

Back at the hospital, his colleagues looked up in surprise when he walked into the department.

“Professor Ludwig, weren’t you supposed to be off today?” one of the residents asked, curious.

“What, is my being here messing with your workflow?” Jamison’s mood was in tatters, and he defaulted to his old habit of snapping at people.

“No, sir, not at all. I just meant, you work too hard,” the resident stammered, ducking away as fast as possible.

Jamison sat down at his desk, but his mind refused to settle. His phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced down, unlocked it.

A message from Dale Sullivan.

[Dr. Ludwig, after our last appointment, my niece has been following your rehab plan and she’s improving a lot! When should we come in for her next check-up?]

Jamison replied: [I’m off today. I’ll be back tomorrow. Just have her come to the ward and ask for me.]

He had the time, but absolutely zero motivation to see any patients today.

As soon as their chat ended, Dale was back in the “Stonks Only Go Up” group chat, stirring up the usual chaos.

Dale: @Mrs.Smith, there’s no bad news today but the market’s tanking. What’s your take? Can you give us some analysis?

Jay: Ugh, everything’s in the red!

Bob: Same here, but at least I trimmed my positions yesterday.

Jay: @Mrs.Smith, did you lose money today too?

Jamison stared at his phone, watching everyone ping Mrs. Smith. Without even realizing it, he was waiting for her reply, too.