Ivy stood silently to the side – she hadn’t said a word or made a move, but the weight of guilt pressed heavily on her shoulders.

The Ludwig family, once united and harmonious, had cracked – and she was at the heart of it all. This was the outcome she’d always feared most, the one thing she’d prayed would never happen.

Carla, on the verge of a breakdown, eyes red and voice trembling, snapped at the driver. “Well? What are you waiting for? Drive!”

The poor man, caught in the crossfire, quickly rolled up the windows and pulled away from the curb.

Jamison didn’t mind being yelled at, but with his wife standing right there, something shifted in him. He turned to head back inside, and as he glanced up, he spotted Ivy standing beneath the eaves. The way she stood – silent, shoulders hunched with remorse – made his heart ache.

Davina, worried about their father’s health after witnessing his anger, hurried outside to comfort him.

Thad came out as well, just as Jamison reached the bottom step. He looked at his younger brother and said quietly, “Take Ivy home. We’ll stay here tonight.”

The unspoken message was clear: they’d look after their parents, so Jamison and Ivy didn’t need to worry.

Jamison’s jaw was tight as he led Ivy up the steps, then paused to ask, “What about Gertie? She’ll be home by herself?”

Gertie was Thad’s daughter, a seventh grader who usually spent weekends at home. Davina replied, “She’s with my mom tonight.”

Even with everything going on, Jamison still thought to ask about his niece. It proved he wasn’t selfish – just selective about who he cared for and when. When he wanted to, his concern was meticulous. When he didn’t, he could be cold and distant.

“All right, we’ll head out then.” He nodded, gave Ivy’s hand a gentle tug, and they left together.

Ivy glanced up at his dark hair, the rigid line of his neck, and felt a sudden surge of sadness. Carla’s words must have cut deep – how could they not? After all, it was family. Even the strongest person would struggle to stay unmoved after being berated like that, especially by someone so close.

Once they were in the car, Jamison started the engine without a word and pulled away from the house.

Ivy watched him, wanting to say something comforting, but the words caught in her throat. She didn’t know where to begin.

They drove in silence until the city lights grew brighter and the streets became lively again. Ivy felt her sadness ease a bit. She finally spoke up, her voice gentle. “Don’t take it to heart. Your sister’s just worried about her son – she wasn’t thinking before she spoke. As for… the baby thing, maybe it’s better to just be honest. We can tell them I can’t have children. If your parents want to blame someone, let them. At worst…”

They hit a red light. Jamison braked, turned to look at her, and cut her off. “At worst, what? We get divorced?”

Ivy fell silent.

The thought had crossed her mind, after all.

Truth be told, his parents had always treated her well. They never looked down on her background or held her troubled past against her. Their only real wish was for a grandchild – something she couldn’t give them.

She hated the idea of putting Jamison in an impossible position, or letting his parents down. So if it came to that, divorce seemed the only way forward.

Her silence made Jamison’s expression darken. He turned back, his voice serious. “You think I can go have a baby with someone else if we divorce? Who would I even have a child with?”

Ivy studied his face for a moment, then forced a teasing smile. “I was just kidding. Mr. Jamison, you’re stuck with me. I could never let you go.”

He kept staring at her.

Only when the light turned green and the car behind them honked did he look away and start driving again. “You want a divorce? Not happening.”

Ivy let out a breath.

So now the pressure was back on her. She’d just have to keep up with her treatments and hope for a miracle – a child, someday. Not just for the sake of their parents, but because her own feelings had changed.

Every time she saw Halley, her little nephew, she couldn’t help but wish for a child of her own.

And Jamison – seeing how gentle and patient he was with his nephew – he’d make a wonderful father.

As they neared home, Ivy turned to him. “Let’s go to the hospital for another check-up tomorrow.”

Jamison looked puzzled. “Check-up? What, are you planning to drag me in for a men’s health exam?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. For me. The last few times, Professor Penn suggested a more thorough scan, but since we… hadn’t really… well, they switched to an abdominal ultrasound instead. Now that we… you know… it’s better to get checked again. It’ll help the doctor figure things out and adjust the treatment.”

Jamison finally understood. “Yeah, sure.”

Then he couldn’t help but correct her, “What’s with all the tiptoeing? Is it really so hard to say ‘married life’ out loud?”

Ivy punched his arm in mock outrage, her cheeks flushing.

Later that night, just before sleep, Jamison pulled her into his arms, his voice low and gentle. “Ivy…”

She nuzzled closer, listening to the steady thump of his heart, feeling safe and warm. Her reply was drowsy, “Hmm? What is it…”