Ivy shot Jamison a glance, then popped the pastry she was holding straight into his mouth. “How’s that?”
“Not bad,” he replied, chewing contentedly.
They exchanged a smile, sitting side by side in the car like any ordinary couple on their way to work, sharing breakfast one bite at a time–relishing those simple, everyday moments.
By the time they finished eating, the sun had finally risen in earnest, and the hospital was starting to buzz with activity.
Jamison helped Ivy out of the car, and together they headed inside and up the elevator.
As the doors slid open on their floor, they nearly collided with Celeste, who was just about to head down.
The three of them came face–to–face. Ivy greeted her with easy confidence, “Good morning, Dr. Quinn.”
Celeste, working the night shift and looking exhausted, simply nodded before stepping aside. They passed each other with little fanfare.
Once the elevator doors had closed and they were walking away, Jamison glanced at Ivy. “You don’t have to bother with people you don’t like. Don’t force yourself to be polite just for my sake.”
Ivy held her head high. “She’s a fellow woman in medicine. I respect her skills–and she even helped me out yesterday. As long as she’s not competing with me for my husband, I have no reason to be hostile. Saying hello just makes me look gracious.” Jamison let out a low chuckle. “You really know how to draw your lines–and keep up appearances.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow, accepting the compliment with a bright, unbothered smile.
Outside the intensive care unit, they ran into Davina Foster, who was just arriving with breakfast for her husband.
She looked surprised to see them. “What are you two doing here so early? Ivy, aren’t you supposed to be at school?”
“Davina, I came back last night,” Ivy replied.
Chapter 401
Davina eyed them both, her expression difficult to read. It was clear she assumed they were newlyweds who couldn’t bear to be apart, so Ivy had rushed back after only a day away.
Sensing the misunderstanding, Ivy quickly explained, “I just found out yesterday that Mom was in the hospital, so I came to see her.”
Jamison added with a wry smile, “Explaining only makes it sound more suspicious, you know.”
Ivy rolled her eyes, speechless.
Inside the hospital room, as luck would have it, Adela Ludwig had just woken up. Thad was at her bedside, gently massaging her legs.
Seeing her son and daughter–in–law arrive together, Adela’s face softened with gratitude. She lifted a frail hand. “You don’t all need to hover around me. Go take care of your own things…”
Jamison stepped forward, grabbed her chart from the foot of the bed, and flipped through the day’s notes.
Everything looked stable.
Not every number was perfect, but for someone her age, she was out of immediate danger.
Ivy approached and spoke gently, “I just wanted to see you, Mom. Please focus on resting and getting well soon.”
Adela looked over with a kind smile. “You came back from school for this?”
Ivy was about to answer when Jamison interjected, “Ivy wasn’t feeling well yesterday. I told her to rest and not come to the hospital, but she didn’t listen–she sneaked over here on her own. Ended up fainting as soon as she got here, so I didn’t let her visit you last night.”
Ivy stared at him in surprise.
Last night, he’d been all stern and forbidding, refusing to let her visit. Now, in front of his family, he was covering for her.
He was infuriatingly inconsistent–yet unexpectedly sweet.
“Fainted?” Davina’s eyes widened as she turned to Ivy. “Did you get checked out? What happened? You can’t ignore something like that.”
Embarrassed by the concern, Ivy muttered, “It was just cramps and low blood
Chapter 461
sugar. Nothing serious.”
“Oh, still, you should take care of yourself,” Davina said, her tone softening.
Ivy nodded, replying meekly, “Jamison already took me to see a doctor. Thank you for worrying, Davina.”