Chapter 21

"Pity? Why should I pity her? I don’t owe her a thing.”

Jamison scoffed inwardly. Why on earth would he feel sorry for a woman who never missed a chance to call him an incompetent doctor? Frankly, it was a blessing he hadn’t cursed her outright. It was the same old story—her miserable fate wasn’t his doing, so why should he be the one to shoulder the consequences? And who ever pitied him?

Naylor, sitting across from him, couldn’t make sense of his friend’s prickliness. “Jamison, what’s gotten into you today? You’re acting like someone set your nerves on fire. Did she offend you or something?”

Jamison snapped out of his thoughts, only just realizing how much a certain woman had managed to get under his skin. “Forget it. Let’s eat.” He cut off the conversation and reached for the menu.

But Naylor wasn’t done. “Oh, right. Isn’t your nephew and Miss Emma about to get engaged? You two are going to be in-laws. Holding such a strong grudge against her isn’t a good look.”

Jamison’s patience wore thin. “Are you eating or not? If you’re not, I’m leaving.”

“I’m eating, I’m eating!” Naylor quickly waved over the waiter. As he placed his order, he couldn’t help but add, “Honestly, if it were the old Miss Ivy, you two would’ve made a great couple. Such a shame, really.”

Jamison’s face darkened. He pushed back his chair as if to leave, but Naylor caught his arm. “Okay, okay, I’ll drop it. My treat, order whatever you want.”

Jamison sat back down, though Naylor couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. His friend was reserved by nature, and not one for idle chatter, but he was always a gentleman around women. So what was it about Miss Windsor today that had him acting so out of character?

Ivy and Katrina spent most of the day wandering around the city. Eventually, Katrina headed back to campus, while Ivy caught a cab home to the Windsor estate. The taxi only went as far as the gates of the gated community, so she paid the fare, grabbed a few reusable bags, and started the walk back to the house.

The heat outside was suffocating, like stepping into a sauna. Ivy hadn’t gone far before sweat was pouring down her face and her breathing grew labored. Her body really was too weak.

“Ivy.” A car pulled up beside her.

She recognized the voice instantly. Without so much as a glance, she kept walking.

But the sleek Bentley continued to cruise alongside her, keeping pace. Micah leaned over from the driver’s seat, his expression full of concern. “Ivy, it’s way too hot out. Come on, let me give you a ride home.”

She didn’t look back, just asked coolly, “Aren’t you worried I’ll mess up your car?”

“I’m not.” Micah’s tone faltered, but he shook his head.

“Not afraid Emma will throw a fit?”

“Emma won’t. She cares about you, too, you know. Even after everything, she hasn’t held it against you.”

Ivy almost laughed. Not held it against her? On her very first day back, Emma had greeted her with fake smiles and a show of sisterly affection. But after last night’s little “dog mess” incident, she’d dropped the act—going out of her way that morning, right in front of Katrina, to slander Ivy and drive a wedge between friends. That’s what he called not holding a grudge?

Micah fell silent, expecting another flat refusal. He knew how much Ivy hated him.

But to his surprise, she suddenly stopped walking and turned around.

He hit the brakes, startled. “Ivy, why don’t you sit in the back—”

He was about to suggest she ride in the back seat, but Ivy had already walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger door. She climbed right into the front seat.

Micah’s entire body went rigid. This close—could she really be contagious…?

“Well? Drive, or were you planning to kick me out after all?” Ivy looked over her shoulder at him, forcing a smile.

Micah couldn’t help but stare at her smile, memories of better times flashing through his mind and leaving him unsteady. “N–no, of course not…” he stammered, forcing himself to focus on the road, though even his breathing sounded tense.

“So, you and Emma—when’s that engagement party going to happen?” Ivy’s tone was almost light, as if she were just making small talk.