Chapter 480

“What kind of talk is that? Now that you’re married, she’s part of the Ludwigs too—this is her home as much as yours. If she’s not used to it, she just needs to visit more often. She’ll settle in soon enough.”

Danny’s expression turned stern as he shot his son a sharp look. “You should learn from your older brother. Look how well he gets along with Davina. You, on the other hand—ever since you were a kid, your attitude hasn’t exactly been charming. Don’t go thinking that money and status will keep someone by your side forever. And let’s not forget, you can’t even give her children. You’d better hope she doesn’t find a better option and leave you high and dry.”

Jamison’s lips pressed together, but he didn’t answer.

“Did you hear me? Bring her home for dinner tomorrow—and she’ll stay the night here.”

He gave a low, reluctant grunt. “Alright. I’ll head up to my room. If Mom needs me, just let me know.”

Danny leaned on his cane in the living room, watching his youngest son’s broad silhouette as he disappeared up the stairs.

Big, strong, perfectly healthy on the outside—and even from behind, Jamison looked like someone who could handle anything. Yet of all things, he had to end up with infertility issues.

With a heavy sigh, the old man shook his head. Life never really gives anyone perfection, he thought. Maybe it’s those little flaws that make it real.

Jamison, meanwhile, was less than thrilled about staying at the family estate for a while. Ivy only came back on weekends as it was; if he was lucky, he’d get to hold her for one night—Sunday. Now, with this arrangement, even that was up in the air.

Growing more disgruntled by the minute, he picked up his phone, ready to test the waters with his wife.

Ivy had been swamped lately, barely catching a break. It was a rare treat to be back in her own place, stretched out on her own bed, and by ten she was already ready to sleep.

She’d just picked up her phone, debating whether to message Jamison to ask about his grandmother’s health, when her screen lit up with an incoming call.

Seeing his name, her heart skipped—but then she quickly hit decline.

On the other end, Dr. Ludwig’s brow furrowed in annoyance.

She’s not picking up? Still mad at me? Well, if she won’t take my call, I’ll just text her.

Ivy immediately regretted declining. What if he was calling about something important? What if his grandmother had taken a turn for the worse and needed to go back to the hospital?

She pressed her lips together, berating herself for being so quick to hang up.

Just as she was growing anxious, her phone buzzed with a message.

Jamison: Why aren’t you answering?

Her face softened a little, and she replied at once: What do you want?

Jamison: I have something to discuss with you.

Ivy: Go ahead.

Jamison: My father wants you to come stay at the house.

Ivy stared at her screen, caught off guard.

Ivy: What do you mean?

Jamison: Exactly what it sounds like. Dad’s worried about Grandma’s health and wants me living at the estate for a while. He also thinks it looks bad for newlyweds to live apart, so he asked me to bring you back with me.

Ivy was stunned.

This was… well, they’d barely gotten used to living together at his place after their whirlwind marriage, and now she was supposed to move into the Ludwig mansion?

Jamison noticed her silence and realized she was probably in shock, still weighing her options.

Jamison: Well? If you’re okay with it, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.

Ivy: Not really. I’m heading back to campus early the day after, so there’s no need to make a big deal out of just one night.

Jamison: Cold-hearted.

Ivy smirked but didn’t reply.

Jamison: Doesn’t matter. I already told Dad you’d be here tomorrow. So, it’s your call.

Ivy’s fingers flew across the keyboard, annoyed: Who told you to decide for me?

Jamison: I didn’t have a choice. Everyone knows about my… condition. They’re all worried you’ll get tired of me and leave. I had to convince them we’re madly in love, totally inseparable, and that you’d never dream of spending a night apart.

Ivy closed her eyes, exasperated.

Shameless. Absolutely shameless!

As their chat drifted off, a sudden thought struck Jamison.

He still didn’t know how Ivy had figured out he was “Dr. Handsome.” When had he slipped up? He didn’t dare ask outright—it’d be like walking into a trap.

Just as he was racking his brain for clues, his phone chimed.

But it wasn’t Ivy this time. It was Dale Sullivan.

[Dale Sullivan]: Dr. Ludwig, is it true you really married Mrs. Smith?

[Dale Sullivan]: When did that happen?

[Dale Sullivan]: Mrs. Smith said when you two got your marriage license, you pretended not to know her. What’s up with that?

Gossip knows no boundaries—men, women, everyone’s the same.

Dale Sullivan was clearly both shocked and dying of curiosity, unable to make sense of things even after a whole night of thinking. In the end, he just couldn’t resist and went straight to the source.

Jamison eyed the string of messages and suddenly wondered if Dale had let something slip.

After all, Dale was the only one who knew Jamison’s true identity.

True, he always referred to Jamison as “Dr. Handsome” in group chats, and only called him “Dr. Ludwig” in private, but who knew if he’d slipped up and blurted out the wrong name in the wrong place?

The suspicion made Jamison’s eyes narrow.

But to ask Dale about it would mean jumping through a lot of hoops—like explaining why he was digging for information about his own wife through someone else.

Jamison hesitated.

Before he could make up his mind, another message popped up.

[Dale Sullivan]: And if you two have been married all this time, why did Mrs. Smith tell me on WhatsApp she couldn’t get in touch with you? Your relationship is a complete mystery…

Jamison latched onto the key point—suddenly, it all clicked.

He didn’t bother to type out a reply. Instead, he hit the call button.

Dale picked up, sounding surprised: “Dr. Ludwig?”