Chapter 417
It was obvious that Ivy’s beauty and poise had instantly "won over" the woman standing across from her. Even with Ivy’s frosty expression and distant gaze, her striking features were enough to make anyone pause and think—she really was stunning.
“Ms. Penn, how is Ivy doing? Has her condition gotten worse?” Jamison asked bluntly as soon as he entered the office.
Professor Penn had just received the test results by email and was opening them as Jamison spoke. She glanced up, ready to respond, when her eyes landed on the student standing awkwardly off to the side.
Jamison noticed too. He turned and, without missing a beat, said, “Dr. Quinn, could you give us some privacy?”
Celeste blinked in surprise, looking at him. His expression was calm, even distant—a reminder of the aloof demeanor he was known for. Yet just moments ago, when he’d come in holding his wife’s hand, he’d seemed gentle and approachable.
Celeste hesitated, still rooted to the spot.
It was Ivy who snapped out of her thoughts first, thanks to Jamison’s prompt. Only then did she realize there was someone else in the room. She glanced over, just as the other woman was sizing her up.
A woman’s intuition rarely failed. Ivy could tell instantly—this person had something to do with Jamison. Or, more likely, she harbored feelings for him. With sudden clarity, Ivy understood why Jamison had dragged her here as his “shield.” Of course—no wonder he needed someone to ward off all the admirers chasing him around the hospital.
“Celeste, go ahead and take care of your work,” Professor Penn intervened, her tone gentle but firm. “I’ll be having lunch in the cafeteria. If you need to talk, we can do it then.”
“All right, I’ll see you at lunch,” Celeste replied, nodding. As she turned to go, she cast another quick glance Jamison’s way, her voice soft and respectful. “Goodbye, Jamison.”
Ivy felt a jolt of surprise.
Oh, they’re former classmates. That explains the tension. There’s always a hint of something extra between people who’ve spent long hours in the trenches together.
Once the door closed and they were alone, Jamison turned to Professor Penn, repeating his question with more urgency. “How bad is Ivy’s condition, really?”
Professor Penn’s face grew serious. “It’s not looking good. The ultrasound shows that the uterine lining has thickened, and the uterus itself is diffusely enlarged. The lesions have grown compared to last time.”
Jamison’s already grave expression tightened with worry. “So what do we do now?”
“We’ll try the new medication first. If that doesn’t help, and the pain doesn’t ease, then we’ll have to consider surgery,” Professor Penn replied.
“Surgery? You mean… removal?” Jamison began, then faltered, glancing uneasily at Ivy.
Ivy, on the other hand, was direct. “You mean a hysterectomy?”
Professor Penn shook her head. “Not necessarily. There are ways to preserve the uterus. You two haven’t had children yet—unless it’s absolutely necessary, we won’t take that step.”
But Ivy felt detached. Whether or not she ever had children didn’t matter much to her anymore. Three years of hardship had given her a new perspective on blood ties. She wasn’t even sure if, deep down, she carried the same selfish streak as the Windsors. If she was anything like Adkins or Rosetta, maybe she wasn’t fit to be a parent anyway.
Not that she’d say any of this in front of Jamison. He’d once joked that he didn’t care about having kids, even teasing about adopting one of his older brother’s children. But in the end, everyone wanted a family of their own.
Jamison watched her, worry and tenderness written all over his face. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he just quietly reached out and took Ivy’s hand in his.
Professor Penn spent a while reviewing the test results, then started writing up instructions and prescriptions, explaining what Ivy should do to take care of herself.
“Thank you, Professor. When you have time, we’d love to take you and Dr. Naylor out for dinner,” Jamison said politely as they were leaving.