Ivy frowned in confusion. No way… What was this guy up to? Was he trying to eavesdrop on her snoring while she slept?
Wait, did she even snore last night?
Feeling a wave of frustration, Ivy immediately sent him a message.
They’d only just added each other on WhatsApp yesterday.
[After you called me last night, why didn’t you hang up?]
Jamison was driving when Ivy’s first message popped up. His face lit up as he picked up his phone.
He responded with a voice note.
“I was driving late at night, everything was quiet, and I felt so alone. Keeping the call going with you made it feel like you were there with me.”
Ivy listened to his message, eyebrows knitting together.
[What kind of weird habit is that? Did I snore or not?]
He replied, “Hmm… just a little. You sleep like a piglet.”
[You’re the pig! Your whole family’s a bunch of pigs!]
Rolling her eyes, Ivy tossed her phone aside and went back to her yoga routine.
Meanwhile, Jamison, still behind the wheel, glanced at her last message. The smile on his lips grew even more irresistibly charming.
After finishing yoga, Ivy went to wash up and change.
She’d just come out of the bathroom when her phone started ringing.
She glanced at the screen. The number looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place
Puzzled, she answered, “Hello?”
“Ivy, it’s me–Micah’s mother.” Carla’s voice was polite, almost formal. “Sorry to bother you, but there are some things I’d like to discuss in person. Do you have a minute to meet?”
Ivy had dated Micah for two years. Back then, they’d been serious–talking about marriage, meeting each other’s families, visiting for the holidays. She’d actually
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liked her ex’s mother once, but now… Well, she knew Carla looked down on her her own feelings toward Carla had soured too.
She kept her tone polite but distant. “Mrs. Turner, I know what you want to talk about. Honestly, there’s no need.”
“Oh? You know what I want to say? Tell me, then–am I here to talk about Micah, or about Jamison?”
Ivy gave a cool, careless laugh. “It really doesn’t matter, does it? Whether it’s your son or your brother, they’re both the ones chasing after me. If you have a problem with it, you should talk to them.”
“Ivy, it’s been years since we last spoke. I remember when you were the picture of grace in the social circles–a real role model.” Carla’s words sounded complimentary, but Ivy could hear the criticism underneath.
Ivy smiled, her response light but cutting. “Mrs. Turner, that’s funny. After nearly dying, do you really think I care about playing by the rules anymore? If your son is so well–mannered, why can’t he understand plain English? I’ve told him over and over–I don’t love him anymore, and I’m never getting back together. He just can’t let it go.”
“You-” Carla was speechless, momentarily stunned by Ivy’s candor.
She’d always believed her brother was exaggerating when he said Ivy wasn’t interested in Micah anymore. But hearing Ivy now, it was obvious–she truly didn’t
care.
No mother wants to admit her son isn’t good enough, or that someone could reject him.
Carla was no different.
After a pause, she retorted, unwilling to concede, “Of course you’d pick Jamison over Micah. But if you want to talk about who really loves you, it’s always been Micah. One day you’ll see losing him will be the biggest regret of your life.”