Chapter 19

Katrina’s eyes widened in shock. “You know Mr. Ludwick?”

Ivy didn’t answer. Her jaw clenched as she ordered her friend, “Get in the car and stay put. Don’t let him see you—I’ll handle this.”

Seeing Ivy storm off with such determination, Katrina tried to call her back a couple of times, but it was no use.

Just then, Mr. Ludwick finished his phone call and glanced out the window. Katrina’s heart skipped a beat. She ducked back into the car before he could spot her.

Inside the restaurant, Jamison was still on his phone. Lunch had been Naylor’s idea, and now the guy was running late.

“I’m giving you ten more minutes. If you’re not here by then, I’m leaving,” Jamison warned, his voice cold as he hung up.

He hardly had time to set his phone down before someone marched over. A young woman with a frosty expression, radiating hostility.

Jamison looked up, frowning with clear displeasure. “Ivy? What was she doing here? And why did she look like she wanted to kill him?”

“Can I help you?” He arched an eyebrow, cool and composed.

Ivy pulled out the chair across from him and sat down with a derisive snort. “I finally understand why Micah’s such a jerk. Clearly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Jamison pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, his expression turning glacial. “Miss Ivy, if you’re losing your mind, maybe you should see a psychiatrist. Want a recommendation?”

When it came to sharp tongues, Jamison had never lost a battle.

Ivy gave a cold laugh, her gaze flicking meaningfully to his waist. “Shouldn’t you be seeing a urologist yourself? If you keep playing around, it’s only a matter of time before you catch something. Viruses don’t care if you’re a doctor.”

Jamison’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about?”

Ivy shot him a frosty glare. “You know exactly what you’ve done. Womanizing, sleaze—word is you’re an expert at dirty jokes. I guess being a doctor desensitizes you, huh? Or do you use your job as an excuse to do even filthier things?”

Her words weren’t just insulting Jamison; they were an attack on the entire medical profession, and a little over the top. But even as she spoke, a memory flashed unbidden through her mind—two years ago, the night she’d nearly been assaulted by a doctor.

She’d refused to do what was demanded of her and was beaten badly enough that her captors, afraid she might die, took her to the town hospital.

She’d thought it was a chance to escape. While the doctor was treating her wounds, she’d grabbed his hand and begged for help.

But the middle-aged doctor had taken advantage instead, making disgusting advances, even pulling off her pants under the guise of dressing her injuries.

She’d screamed for help, only for him to clamp a hand over her mouth. If someone hadn’t walked in at that moment, she would have lost everything to that monster in a white coat.

It was much later that she learned that doctor came from the same village—and that his own wife had been trafficked from out of town.

Jamison knew nothing of this, but he could see the outrage in Ivy’s face, as if she’d endured something traumatic. He didn’t deny it—every profession had its rotten apples, and medicine was no exception. Some creeps did use patient care to satisfy their twisted desires.

But he was not one of them. He had no idea what had gotten into Ivy, why she was suddenly accusing him so viciously.

Ivy, seeing his silence, took it as guilt. Her scorn deepened.

“I thought you were just an incompetent doctor, but turns out you’re a pervert too! I’m warning you—stay away from Katrina, or I’ll put your dirty secrets online for everyone to see-”

Her threat was cut off by a call from Katrina.

“Ivy, why aren’t you here yet? He just called, asking if I was going to bail again—and he threatened to tell my dad!” Katrina sounded confused on the phone.

Ivy stiffened, eyebrows knitting as she glared at Jamison across the table. “I’m with him right now! I haven’t even finished telling him off…”

Katrina, now outside again, spotted Ivy through the window and stamped her foot in panic. “You’ve got the wrong guy! Go two tables down—that’s Mr. Ludwick! Ludwick! Who are you yelling at?”

From her distance, she hadn’t recognized the man sitting across from Ivy.

Ivy’s cheeks flushed bright red, her mind buzzing in shock.

Right then, Naylor finally arrived. He took in the scene—Jamison sitting across from a striking woman—and did a double take. “Jamison, is this your friend? Wait… isn’t that Ivy-?”

Back in the day, Ivy had been the most renowned socialite in Neo Haven, and every young man with any status knew her.

Ivy didn’t let him finish. She shot to her feet, ready to flee.

Jamison’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Leaving so soon, Miss Ivy?”

“What do you want?” Ivy’s bravado was gone; her face was icy once more.

Standing now, she finally noticed the man two tables down—short hair, glasses, white dress shirt. But his looks and presence were worlds apart from Jamison’s.

“You owe me an apology for accusing the wrong person, don’t you think?” Jamison’s tone was lightly teasing.

“Sorry,” Ivy replied without hesitation. She had made a mistake—no point denying it.

But Jamison, finally holding the upper hand, had no intention of letting her off so easily.