Chapter 539

On his way to the hospital, Jamison mulled things over again and again before finally deciding he had to let the Shepherd family know about what had happened. Whether they’d actually listen or take action was their business. As a relative and an elder, all he could do was give them fair warning–then his conscience would be clear.

He dialed the number and waited. It rang for a long time with no answer. Just as he was about to hang up, the call finally connected. Carla’s voice came through, cool and distant: “What is it?”

She didn’t bother with any greeting, not even his name. Whatever bond they’d once had as siblings seemed long gone, replaced by the cold detachment of strangers. Jamison didn’t take it to heart. He knew he was doing the right thing.

“I’m calling to let you know Micah’s gotten tangled up with Emma again. You really ought to step in,” he said, getting straight to the point.

Carla was stunned. “Micah and Emma? That’s impossible. They haven’t spoken in ages–and wasn’t Emma arrested?”

“She was, but she’s out on bail now. Turns out she’s pregnant.”

“Why would she go to Micah? She’s engaged to Sheridan, she’s got a child on the way–what does she want with Micah?” Carla’s voice rose, her anger flaring. The mere mention of Emma was enough to make her blood boil.

“I don’t know all the details. I guess Emma’s run out of options and turned to Micah again. He lost his head, played the hero, and picked her up in the middle of the night. He’s set her up in one of his apartments.”

Carla was so furious she could barely breathe. “That idiot–he’s going to be the death of me! Just the other day he was crying to me, swearing he’d turn over a new leaf, promising never to get into trouble again. And now this…”

Jamison had done his duty. He didn’t say another word. There was no point–if he kept talking, she’d probably just accuse him of being unable to tolerate his own nephew.

When he arrived at the hospital, Adela Ludwig’s attending physician called to remind him that the old lady was due for a follow-up, just to check on her recovery. Jamison, facing three surgeries that day and no spare moment, scheduled it for 9:30 tomorrow and called home to remind the family.

He was so busy he didn’t even notice Celeste was in the department and had overheard his phone call.

Ivy slept in until seven-thirty. When she woke up and checked her phone, she found a message from Jamison.

He reminded her that the hotel had a breakfast buffet and told her to eat before heading back to campus. Once again, he emphasized that if she needed anything, she should call Boyd–no playing the hero on her own.

She smiled at the message, got ready, and headed down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.

As soon as she got back to her dorm, her phone rang. Boyd was calling to ask about her preferences for the couch and bed – style, color, that sort of thing.

“I don’t have any preferences. Jamison’s the one insisting on all this. You know what he likes, just go with his style,” Ivy replied. Material things hadn't mattered to her; she’d learned to adapt to whatever came her way.

Boyd grumbled, “Your uncle is such a perfectionist.”

“Yeah, I agree with you there,” Ivy said with a small laugh.

Before the call was over, she’d already walked through the dorm door.

To her surprise, Roberta was still there and hadn’t gone out.

On the phone, Boyd asked again about her moving plans.

Ivy said, “I don’t have much stuff. I can just grab a cab and move it myself–you don’t need to come.”

“No way. If your uncle finds out, I’m dead meat. I’ll come by after the cleaning’s done and the bed’s set up, then we’ll head to campus together.”

Remembering how Jamison had repeatedly told her not to do everything herself, Ivy relented. “All right, fine.”

She hung up and walked over to her bed.

Roberta looked at her and asked quietly, “You’re moving out today?”

Ivy didn’t look back, just nodded. “Yeah, I found a place yesterday.”

Chapter 540