Chapter 510

Ivy stared in surprise, frowning. “Do you affect…”

“No, not yet. I want to see how my mom recovers before making any rash decisions.”

Ivy understood her hesitation. “Makes sense. No need to rush, step at a time.”

If her friend’s mother didn’t make it through, at least her friend wouldn’t have to sacrifice her own future just to pay for hospital bills.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too.”

“Alright, since you’re not at the hospital, I’ll head out. I’ve got class this morning and I’m running late. If you need anything, just reach out to Jamison; I’ve already filled him in.”

“Okay, thank you–and thank Dr. Ludwig for me. You’d better get back to school.”

Once back on campus, Ivy’s days quickly filled up again. Senior year didn’t have many classes, but she was gearing up for her CPA exams, so she kept herself busy with early mornings and late nights, holed up in the library.

Recently, her market analyses had been spot-on, perfectly predicting shifts in the stock market, and she’d gained quite a few new followers because of it.

In her WhatsApp group, Jay, Dale, and the others were in awe, constantly begging to meet her in person. Every time she came online, they’d bombard her with questions about when she and Dr. Handsome were finally going to tie the knot.

On Friday evening, Jamison came to pick her up from school. As soon as she got in the car, he grinned, “Everyone’s dying to know about our wedding. Any plans to finally announce to the world that I’m your husband?”

Ivy turned around, buckling her seatbelt. “I’m still a student. Do you really think it’s the right time for a wedding?”

She remembered that just a few days ago, her roommate had asked if she’d really been kidnapped–that alone proved that her return to campus had sparked plenty of gossip. People had probably searched up her name and read all about her past.

The last thing she wanted was to flaunt her relationship and invite even more drama.

“Why not? It’s not like we’d throw the wedding on campus.”

“I’m not arguing with you about this.” Ivy settled back in her seat and reminded him, “Let’s get going before traffic gets any worse.”

“Alright.” Jamison’s whole demeanor softened as he glanced at her, then pulled the car onto the road. “And tonight, you’re off kitchen duty. I booked us a private chef at the villa.”

Ivy brightened. “Perfect, I’ve been craving a good meal.”

On the drive, she asked about her friend’s mom.

Jamison shook his head slightly. “She’s still in the ICU. There was another brain hemorrhage yesterday, and they had to resuscitate her again. No one knows if she’ll wake up.”

“Yeah, Katrina told me about it last night.”

Ivy already knew, but hearing the heaviness in Jamison’s voice made her realize just how dire things were. She sighed. “She must be a wreck these days. I told her not to worry about the cost.”

“I’ve already spoken to the hospital. They’re to do everything possible–money’s not the issue right now.”

ICU care meant the best medicine, round-the-clock treatment, and expenses piling up by the day. If they’d followed the standard billing, the $150,000 Katrina managed to get from the Lester family would barely have made a dent.

Ivy’s heart ached for her friend’s struggle, and her own mood dimmed.

Luckily, the chef’s seasonal dishes at the villa brought her some much-needed comfort, and by the end of the meal, her spirits had lifted.

After dinner, the night was beautiful. Jamison took her hand, and the two of them strolled along the river.

For three years, Ivy had been held captive far away in the mountains, cut off from city life and everything familiar. Now, standing by the water’s edge, she looked across at the sparkling skyline, the dazzling light show, and the luxury cruise ships gliding by with their horns echoing over the river. The scene was so breathtaking, she felt a wave of emotion.

It was the kind of moment she’d never dared to dream of during those long years away. How lucky was she, to have made it home alive.

A cool breeze swept through, carrying the scent of water and ruffling her hair. Jamison, worried she’d catch a chill, slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

She turned to him and gave a soft, loving smile.

Jamison gazed at her, utterly captivated by the way her bright, lively eyes reflected the city lights. In that moment, it felt like she was the only thing in the world.

“Ivy…”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t smile at me like that.”

Ivy raised an eyebrow, and when she realized what he meant, she shot him a playful glare before turning back to the river.

Jamison, unable to resist, wrapped his long arms around her and pressed a gentle bite to her ear.

“Let’s go home. I’ve missed you…” His voice was low and rough, sending a shiver down her spine.

“The night’s too pretty. Let me enjoy it a bit longer.” She laughed softly, teasing him. He tightened his hold, pulling her close, lips brushing slowly from her ear to her mouth.

“Not even the city lights can compare to you…”

Ivy frowned, trying to push him away, but his warm, familiar scent seemed to wrap around her, pulling her in. She couldn’t help turning her face toward his, lips parting just enough to meet his gentle kiss.

Fortunately, the spell didn’t last long. Ivy soon came back to herself, her eyes sparkling with stars as she gave him a bashful glance. “Enough, there are people around…”

“No one cares,” Jamison chuckled, hugging her even closer, as if he could fuse her into his very bones.

They stood together, soaking in the peace and happiness of the moment–until Jamison’s phone rang, breaking the spell.

He freed one hand and glanced at the screen, answering with a hint of annoyance. “What is it? If you’re calling to drag me out for drinks, forget it. My wife is com-”

He stopped mid-sentence, his brow furrowing in surprise. “You’re looking for Ivy? Why do you need her?”