Chapter 438
Neo Haven University boasted a century-old legacy, the sort of place parents dreamed their children might attend. Jamison had never studied here himself, but in his own student days, he’d wandered the leafy campus more than once, imagining what it might be like.
He never would have guessed that years later, he’d be back—not as a student, but as the man dropping his wife off for her own studies. Life really did have a twisted sense of humor.
Three years had passed since Ivy’s age group graduated; everyone she might have known had long since moved on. Now she was joining a fresh crop of finance majors, not a single familiar face among them.
The logistics weren’t ideal, either. There was no way to slot her into a regular dorm. Instead, she had to apply for a two-person graduate student suite.
Jamison carried her bags up and followed her inside, only to find his expression souring with each step.
Ivy stopped in the doorway, at a loss for words herself.
Clothes and books were strewn everywhere, shoes and random junk littered the floor, and the trash bin was overflowing. For a room meant for young women, it was somehow messier than any frat house Jamison remembered.
“If you come home with me now, it’s not too late to change your mind,” he said, frowning.
“No need. I’ll tidy up. It’s fine,” Ivy replied, dragging her suitcase inside and dropping it on the only empty bed.
Even that bed was half-buried under someone else’s junk.
She’d have to make do.
Jamison was about to step in and help when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression darkening, then raised his voice. “You get started. I need to take this.”
Ivy glanced at him over her shoulder, guessing it was the same persistent caller from earlier.
Jamison stepped into the hallway before answering, his tone cool. “Mr. Carter, what’s with the barrage of calls? Planning to harass me into submission?”
On the other end, Sheridan Carter sounded just as irritated. “Mr. Jamison, you finally picked up. I was starting to think you’d set me up and were too scared to face me.”
Jamison let out a short laugh. “You’ve got it all wrong, Mr. Carter. When have I ever set you up?”
“Don’t play coy. Emma told me everything—she crossed Ivy, and you decided to get some payback on her behalf by orchestrating my run-in with Emma. You turned me into your pawn so you could teach Emma a lesson. Your schemes are hitting me right in the face.”
Sheridan came right out with it—partly venting at being played, but mostly angling for leverage. Having someone like Jamison from the illustrious Ludwig family owe you a favor could be a real lifesaver one day.
Jamison saw through him easily and had no intention of making it that simple. He had little patience for men like Sheridan and certainly didn’t want to owe him anything or be lumped in with his crowd.
“Mr. Carter, that night at the party there were plenty of eligible bachelors, but you and Emma were the only ones who hit it off. Isn’t that fate? How could you possibly blame me?”
He brushed off the accusation as if it weighed nothing.
“And besides, you’re interested in Emma for your own reasons—trying to use her to climb higher in your social circle. The Windsor family is fading these days, desperate to cling to someone like you, and perfectly willing to hand over their daughter to do it. Seems like a win-win, doesn’t it? No matter how you treat Emma, the Windsors won’t hold it against you. So why play the victim?”
Jamison laid Sheridan’s ugly motives bare, not bothering to soften the blow.
Sheridan had hoped to score a favor, but Jamison turned the tables, exposing every selfish calculation.
Furious but unable to retaliate, Sheridan could only sneer, “So, am I supposed to thank you, Mr. Jamison?”
Jamison slipped a hand into his pocket and smiled coolly. “If you feel the need, I won’t stop you.”
Sheridan ground his teeth, swallowing his humiliation. “Well, then. If it’s all a misunderstanding, I’ll just break off the engagement with Emma.”
Jamison let out a cold laugh. This bastard was actually threatening him now.
He responded smoothly, “That’s your business, your choice. No need to run it by me.”
Seeing that his threats fell flat, Sheridan grew even angrier. In a fit of pique, he snapped, “Don’t think I won’t do it, Jamison! If I break off the engagement, I’m done being your lackey! And for your information, Emma hates Ivy now—she’s crazy enough to do anything, doesn’t care if she gets hurt. You two had better watch your backs!”
With that, he hung up, seething with rage.
Jamison lowered his phone, his face hard, eyes turning cold as ice.
He didn’t know if Sheridan would really end things with Emma, but he was certain that Emma, when pushed, was reckless enough to do something dangerous.
Now Ivy was living on campus, out of his sight. If anything happened to her…
“Done with your call? Let’s go grab something to eat, then you can head home.” Ivy’s voice carried from behind, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to find her watching him, concern flickering in her eyes.
“Ivy,” he said, his expression grave.