Jamison replied offhandedly, "We just got married. Neither of us wants kids right now, and honestly, we’re not sure if we ever will."
"Oh… I thought you two were planning to stay childfree," Thad remarked.
"That’s not a bad idea," Jamison admitted. "Ivy and I both like our peace and quiet. Kids are just… too much chaos."
Thad turned to look at his younger brother, trying to persuade him. "You two have such great genes. Don’t waste them – have a few! If you do, I’ll make sure your kids get a share of the family dividends. You won’t even have to worry about the expenses."
Jamison shot him a scornful look, sizing up his older brother. "What, you think I don’t want kids because I can’t afford them?"
"Of course not," Thad replied with a soft sigh and a gentle smile. "I just always felt I owed you. You never wanted anything from me, so maybe I could pass something on to my nieces and nephews instead."
Just on the other side of the wall, Carla heard everything. Her jaw clenched, and the frustration she’d been bottling up for years only grew heavier.
Right then, Ivy came around the corner looking for Jamison and ran straight into Carla.
Their eyes met. Ivy hesitated, unsure if she should say hello, but Carla didn’t bother hiding her contempt. She shot Ivy a glare and brushed past her with a sharp huff.
Ivy pressed her lips together, exasperated but too tired to care.
Meanwhile, in the back garden, Jamison heard footsteps approaching. He turned quickly, his face relaxing when he saw it was just his wife.
"What’s with the guilty look?" Ivy teased, catching the tension in his face.
Jamison admitted, "Your timing’s good. I was talking to Thad and didn’t want anyone eavesdropping. If it’s you, I don’t have to worry."
Ivy paused, then gestured behind her. "When I came over, I saw… well, Carla walking down the hallway."
Old habits die hard; she still almost called Carla "Aunt" after so many years with Micah. Now that things had changed, it was hard to switch.
Chapter 525
Jamison and Thad exchanged glances, immediately realizing Carla had overheard their conversation.
"I’ll be right back," Jamison said, worried about the fallout, and hurried off.
Out in the driveway, Carla was already getting into her car, ready to leave.
The driver noticed Jamison coming and hesitated with the engine running. When Jamison motioned, he understood and rolled down Carla’s window.
Carla’s expression was icy as she looked at her brother. "What do you want?"
Jamison knew his sister despised him now, so he got straight to the point. "Whatever you heard back there, don’t repeat it to Mom. Her health isn’t what it used to be. Any emotional upset could trigger heart failure, and you know what that means."
Carla let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Relax. Whether you have kids or not has nothing to do with me. I don’t care. But the way you two were whispering about splitting up the family estate–well, it just made it painfully clear: this family really doesn’t have room for me anymore."
Her words were bitter, her gaze drifting to the manor house as if she couldn’t decide whether to feel nostalgia or resentment.
"Micah can’t even set foot here anymore," she said, voice cracking with self-mockery. "And I guess pretty soon, I’ll be just as unwelcome in the house I grew up in."
Jamison gave a bitter, mocking smile. He knew exactly why she was picking this fight. Normally, he wouldn’t have bothered to explain, but these days, every misunderstanding just made things harder for Ivy. So this time, he decided to set the record straight.
"I was just a kid when you got married, but I remember the whole city talking about your wedding. You got a huge dowry from the family. And after Micah was born, Dad gave him shares in the company. Even now, the Shepherds’ business relies mostly on the Ludwig Group’s support. This family has never failed you."
"As for what happened with Micah, he brought that on himself. Of course you want to protect your son – I get that. But I have every right to look out for our mother. The family’s doors are always open to you. If you want to come home, you’re welcome. If you don’t, no one’s going to force you."
His voice was firm and clear, his expression cold and resolute. Carla’s face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation.
Chapter 525
Jamison turned and walked back into the house.
Carla’s lips trembled. She stared at her brother’s retreating figure for a long moment before finally shouting after him, desperate and resentful: "Why did you have to marry Ivy? If you hadn’t, this family wouldn’t be so divided! Micah wouldn’t have ended up like this! You lecture me like you’re blameless, but have you ever considered that you might be the problem?"
"Your whole life, you’ve been selfish – doing whatever you want without caring how it affects anyone else! What kind of uncle marries his nephew’s ex-girlfriend? Did you really not know what would happen? But you did it anyway, never thinking about the consequences. You ruined Micah, and now you keep pushing him down – Jamison, of everyone in the Ludwig family, you’re the coldest. The most selfish!"
Who knows how long Carla had been holding those words inside. Tonight, she finally let them all out.
Before her tirade was even finished, her eyes filled with tears.
Inside the house, Danny was sitting in the living room. Even though the estate was secluded and no outsiders could hear, the shouting in the courtyard made him bristle with embarrassment. He got up and barked, "What’s all this yelling about? If you don’t want to come home, then don’t! Your mother and I could use some peace and quiet for once!"