Chapter 757

Aher Maliny and Thad’s little standoff—Malley’s lower lip started to tremble, and it looked like he might burst into tears. Jamison couldn’t help but step in, taking his phone back and pleading for his nephew. “Let him stay, okay? I won’t be coming home tonight anyway. He can keep me company.”

Davina’s voice replaced that on the other end. “But he’s never looked after a kid before...”

Jamison glanced at his wife and relayed, “Your sister-in-law wants to know if you can handle looking after him tonight.”

She took the phone and answered, “Don’t worry, the gene covered Hailey’s... Good. Will night them. Sorry to trouble you, if anything comes up during the night, just give...”

“Of course.”

Karma handed the gloom sack to Jamison.

Karma commented, "Your brother and his wife are really nice. They trust you."

Jamison said, “The Ludwigs are ground-ggle—all except Cars, who was a little too prefecture and tended to overthink things."

“Try not to dwell on things,” Karma said sincerely as they parted. “Just focus on being happy with Dr. Ludwig.”

Once they left and Karma was watching their car pull away, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Why do those two always have such a hard time? When will they finally get some peace without all this chaos haunting them?”

Naylor, standing beside her, retorted, “You’ve got enough on your own plate, and you’re still worrying about someone else?”

Katrina shot him a glare, annoyance clear in her voice. “Aren’t you childhood friends with Dr. Ludwig? He’s going through all this, and you’re not even a little concerned?”

“Guys don’t sit around talking about feelings; if we’re worried, we act on it. We don’t mag.” Naylor was never one for sugarcoating.

Katrina pursed her lips, too irritated to reply, and shot him another glare before storming off.

Naylor hurried after her, catching her by the wrist. “What’s that supposed to mean? You’re just going to take off after dinner?”

“I have to get back to the hospital to be with my mom.”

“There are two nurses with her already. What exactly are you going to do? Let the professionals handle it.”

Recently, Naylor had hired an extra nurse for Katrina’s mom, mostly so he and Katrina could spend more time together.

Truth be told, her mother’s health had improved since then, and Katrina herself wasn’t quite so exhausted anymore. She was busy working on her master’s thesis, getting ready for her defense, and job hunting.

Ivy had once promised to help fund her own law firm after graduation, but it was a cutthroat field. A fresh grad like her could never keep a practice afloat right away. She needed experience and time to build her reputation before even thinking of starting her own business.

She was grateful for all the ways Naylor looked out for her, but there were times they just couldn’t see eye to eye, which only added to her frustration.

Like now, when he dismissed her concerns so easily, Katrina’s temper flared. “No matter how professional, a nurse can’t replace a daughter. Of course I’m needed.”

With that, she yanked her arm out of Naylor’s grip and stalked away.

Naylor ran a hand through his hair in exasperation, watching her stubborn figure disappear out the front door. Part of him wanted to just let her go—see how she liked braving the freezing night, trying to hail a cab at the end of the block. He’d just gotten back from a business trip and had been hoping for a quiet evening alone with her. If they ended the night like this...

He muttered under his breath, but in the end, he gave in and caught up with her, grabbing her wrist again. “Enough. Get in the car.”

He half-dragged, half-guided Katrina into his own car.

“Who’s making a scene? You’re the one who can’t say anything nicely,” Katrina shot back as he started the engine.

“I’ve always talked like this. Didn’t bother you before. What, you’re sick of me already?”

“No way. You’re my sponsor, after all.”

He snorted. “Could’ve fooled me—don’t see much respect for your sponsor.”

His last girlfriends had all been sweet, gentle, and eager to please—the perfect model of what a girlfriend should be.

Katrina turned and shot him a look, catching the implication. “Sorry I’m not as obedient as your exes.”

Naylor started to snap back but stopped himself at the last second. He glanced at her and muttered, “This is between us. No need to bring up the past.”

Katrina fell silent, lips pressed in a thin line.

Really, what was the point of arguing like this?

He’d helped her so much—she ought to be grateful and treat him like royalty, not throw tantrums.

She had no right to act out.

“Just drive,” she said at last, her tone all business. “You pick where we go. I have to get back to the hospital soon.”

Naylor shot her a disbelieving look as he started the car. “What, am I a client now?” She let out a soft, “Of course not…” and then clammed up.

He stared at her for a full two minutes before finally looking away and gunning the engine, causing her head to smack against the seat with the sudden acceleration.

She winced, glared at him, but said nothing—afraid that if she opened her mouth, they’d only fight more.

Instead of stopping at a nearby hotel, Naylor drove all the way across town to Lakeshore Manor.

He all but dragged her out of the car, herded her into the elevator, and, as soon as the doors closed, caught her chin, forcing her to look up at him before he bent down and kissed her hard.

Katrina frowned, ready to fight back, but he was quicker—pinning her arms behind her, holding her firmly in place.