Chapter 623
Emma and Sheridan were finished, that much was clear. Now, bound together by their choices, they were locked in a cycle of mutual torment, draining each other dry. But what really worried me was Micah. I’d just called my sister to tell her what happened, and she completely broke down.
When Jamison said this, Ivy’s face fell as well.
Life was unpredictable. No one would have guessed Emma and Micah would break up so disastrously, only to end up tangled together again, and finally meet with such misfortune.
After a long, heavy silence, Ivy finally asked, “Has Micah been tested? Maybe… maybe he’ll get lucky.” It was the only comfort she could offer her husband.
“He’s probably on his way right now.” Jamison’s reply was followed by a complicated, almost bitter laugh. “My sister’s clinging to that hope too.”
Ivy said nothing.
They both knew it was wishful thinking, nothing more.
She understood Jamison’s mood must be terrible right now–maybe even laced with guilt.
After all, it was their scheme that pushed Emma toward Sheridan, and that set off the chain reaction leading to everything that came after.
Like an old proverb: I didn’t kill the man, but he died because of me.
Even if it wasn’t intentional, the outcome was set in stone.
“Jamison, where are you? I’ll come find you.” Ivy steadied her emotions and spoke softly.
“Aren’t you supposed to see Katrina?”
“I can go later this afternoon.”
Jamison understood she was worried about him. He gave a faint smile and tried to reassure her. “I’m fine. You don’t have to come keep me company. Go see Katrina–it’s good for you. I’m heading to the hospital anyway; Emma bit one of the security guards, so I want to check on that, and wait for Micah.”
He’d once despised that useless nephew of his, so much that he could barely stand to look at him.
16:52
Chapter 323
But now, hearing how far Micah had fallen, Jamison found he couldn’t just harden his heart.
Ivy understood. Micah was his only nephew, after all, but it wasn’t her place to see Micah again–not when it could cause more trouble. So she agreed, “Alright, I’ll head to Golden Maple Estate. You take care of things at the hospital. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Ivy walked toward her car in the parking lot.
She climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine, but didn’t pull out right away. Everything Jamison had just told her spun in her mind, still hard to believe.
Emma had finally faced the consequences of her actions–swift, precise, and almost absurd in its cruelty.
But what shocked her most was that Micah got dragged down as well.
Was he innocent? Perhaps, in some ways.
But he wasn’t entirely blameless either. He made his choices, after all.
Right and wrong blurred together, leaving only deep pain for those closest to them.
When the Ludwigs–the family elders–heard what had happened, who knew if they could bear it?
Ivy arrived at Golden Maple Estate just as Katrina was heading out the door. She’d made some soup and lunch for her mom, planning to bring it to the hospital.
“Let me drive you,” Ivy offered.
They headed downstairs together and set off for the hospital.
On the way, Ivy filled her friend in on everything that had happened over the past few days.
Katrina, having nearly been a victim of Sheridan’s assault, already knew from her lawyer that he’d been released from custody on medical grounds.
But she had no idea that Sheridan was up to his old tricks, or that he and Emma had gotten tangled up again.
When she learned both Emma and Sheridan had been in a car accident, Katrina’s
eyes went wide. “So that’s why you’re driving a different car!”
She’d assumed Ivy was just switching cars for fun, given how many Dr. Ludwig owned, but now she realized Ivy’s own car was in the shop.
“Wait–you’re saying Emma and Sheridan both tested positive for HIV?” Katrina blurted out, a chill running down her spine.
She let out a shaky sigh of relief. “Thank God you and the others got to me in time. If you hadn’t, I might have ended up infected too.”
It had been a close call–Sheridan had nearly assaulted her that night.
Getting involved with someone carrying HIV would almost certainly have meant
infection.
Ivy nodded. “Exactly. That’s why I keep thinking about how much you owe Naylor…” Naturally, the conversation turned to Naylor. Ivy shot her friend a look and said, “We played golf with him yesterday, and I asked what he thought of you. He didn’t have a bad word to say–in fact, he went on and on about how great you are. But he says he’s not ready for marriage yet, and doesn’t want to hold you back.”
Katrina’s jaw dropped. “What? You actually asked him that? Oh, Ivy, you’re killing me–how embarrassing!”
Ivy replied smoothly, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? Good men are rare these days. If you find one, don’t let him slip away. I know you think it’s undignified to chase a man, but look at it this way–winning a good man over is a skill, and knowing how to use that is nothing to be ashamed of.”