Chapter 226

Adela asked, "She's just a disgraced heiress–what on earth do you see in her?"

Jamison lounged back in his chair, deliberately nonchalant. "I can't really say. I just know that whenever I see her, I want her. I read somewhere online that it's called a biological attraction–something about genetics making the choice for you."

His answer left the whole room stunned. Faces flushed with embarrassment and anger, and an awkward silence settled over the family.

Thad turned to his younger brother, trying to remind him gently, "Jamison, you know she was kidnapped for three years."

"But she wasn't violated. Even if she had been, I wouldn't care. She was a victim–it wasn't her choice."

"What?" Carla’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice sharp and skeptical. "She wasn't violated? That's impossible. The Windsor family claims she had a child with some old man, and that the kid was–well, not right in the head."

"The Windsors also said she had HIV, but that was just a vicious rumor–totally untrue."

"Just because that rumor was false doesn't mean the rest is. She was gone for three years, Jamison! In some backwater town where women are trafficked to have children–sometimes for more than one man…" Carla's voice trailed off, unwilling to say more in front of everyone, but her meaning was clear.

Adela chimed in as well. "She's a victim, yes, and it's tragic, but those are the facts." Their reactions didn’t surprise Jamison. If anything, he finally understood why Ivy never tried to defend herself to outsiders–no one would believe her anyway.

His face grew cold, disappointment clear in his eyes. "It doesn't matter if you believe her or not. I do. That's enough."

A tense silence filled the room.

Micah grew anxious. Seeing that no one could get through to his uncle, he tugged at Carla's sleeve, hoping she'd say something.

Carla shot her son a glare and snapped, "Even if your uncle doesn't end up with Ivy, you're not getting back together with her. Stop dreaming!"

"Mom…" Micah protested, discontent clear in his voice.

Before he could say more, Jamison let out a dry laugh, speaking in front of the whole family. "Ivy would never go back to Micah. She'd rather stay single her whole life than get back with him–so don't worry, big sis."

"Ivy wouldn't give Micah another chance?" Carla's anger almost turned to laughter. "She's not even the same Miss Ivy she used to be. What makes her think she's too good for my son?"

"Even if she's cut ties with the Windsors, with her ability, her standards, and her vision, she's still out of your son's league."

Jamison finished, looking at his sister with a faint, almost teasing smile–as if to say, "Don't blame me your son can't measure up."

"Jamison, you-" Carla was so furious she could barely speak, and finally turned to their parents in exasperation. "Dad, Mom, do you hear this? How can he put down his own nephew just to praise some outsider? Ivy's just got a pretty face left–Micah's interest in her is a favor to her, and she still wants to play hard to get." Danny, their father, looked at his youngest son, his white beard bristling as he prepared to speak up. But Jamison cut him off, his tone unyielding.

"I came home tonight to tell you all: Ivy and I are together. Unless something changes, she'll be my wife in the future–your new daughter-in-law."

"What? You-"

"And if you can't accept that, then I just won't bring her around. In fact, I might not come home either. Makes no difference to me."

Jamison didn't give anyone a chance to cut in. His face was calm, a cold smile playing on his lips as he continued, "I won't accept your opposition. And don't go making trouble for Ivy, either. Once I've made up my mind, nothing on earth can stop me. If you insist on making this difficult for me, then I promise–I'll make things difficult for all of you."