Maybe Ivy was right all along. Maybe he just hadn’t realized it himself – until she’d crashed through his defenses and spelled it out for him.

Jamison drew a slow, steady breath, his lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn’t explain what it was about Ivy that drew him in. Was it her striking beauty? The sharp, fearless way she carried herself? Her brilliant mind? Or her razor-sharp wit that never backed down from anyone? Or maybe it was all of those things together, making Ivy utterly one of a kind.

The realization hit Jamison hard, leaving him almost in disbelief. He, of all people, had fallen for his own nephew’s ex-girlfriend – the infamous Miss Windsor, Ivy, who’d been dragged through the mud for three years before returning home in disgrace.

His phone buzzed with a notification. He snapped back to reality.

Mrs. Smith: Not answering, huh? Looks like I was right. Sorry, but I’m not interested, so don’t waste your time.

Jamison’s face darkened as he read her message. He understood Ivy, though. After being betrayed by her own family and boyfriend, it made perfect sense that she didn’t trust love – or anyone, really. But as “Dr. Handsome,” he shouldn’t know any of that.

Dr. Handsome: Why? Are you married? Or is there someone else?

Mrs. Smith: That’s none of your business.

Dr. Handsome: I’m not trying to pry; I just care about you, that’s all.

Mrs. Smith: Thanks, but it’s not necessary.

She owed nothing to a stranger online – especially one who was clearly interested in her for all the wrong reasons.

Dr. Handsome: Is it because you’re not well? You don’t want to drag anyone else into it?

Ivy rolled her eyes at the message, her patience thinning.

Mrs. Smith: Sorry, I need to drive now – signing off.

With that, Ivy exited WhatsApp entirely. She’d only ever let the app run in the background before, glancing at messages when they popped up. Now, she was done. She didn’t want to be bothered anymore.

Jamison stared at the now-grayed-out profile picture on his screen and let out a helpless chuckle. He was losing his mind. Here he was, hiding behind a fake online persona, practically groveling for the attention of a woman who wanted nothing to do with him. If Naylor ever found out, he’d never hear the end of it.

When Ivy got home, Micah was nowhere to be seen outside her door. Apparently, Jamison had kept his word and actually had someone keep his nephew in check.

Katrina greeted her, wide-eyed, recounting the scene of Micah being practically dragged away by men in black. “Who were those guys? They didn’t show Micah an ounce of respect!”

“I called Jamison. Probably his people,” Ivy replied.

“No wonder!” Katrina nodded in understanding, then glanced at her slyly. “Have you noticed that Dr. Ludwig will do just about anything you ask?”

“Will he?” Ivy shot her a look, seeing the mischievous glint in Katrina’s eyes. She saw right through her. “What are you trying to say – that a man like Jamison would ever fall for me?”

“Well… yeah.” Katrina nodded, innocence personified. “At the very least, he treats you differently than everyone else.”

Ivy just laughed. “You really ought to get your eyes checked.”

For one thing, she didn’t expect anything like that to happen. And even if, by some miracle, it did, it would be nothing but trouble for her, not a stroke of luck. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what sort of bad karma she’d run into lately – why were so many messy, unwanted suitors suddenly turning up in her life?

Katrina frowned in confusion. “Ivy, why are you so dead set against Dr. Ludwig? Sure, he can be blunt, but he’s helped you out more than once. Like this time, with your cramps – you have him to thank for that…”

At the mention, Ivy groaned, remembering she still owed Jamison a meal. What a headache. She’d planned to call him once she was feeling better, take him out to dinner, and settle the debt so she could put it behind her. But after what she saw yesterday – his son, his girlfriend – she wanted nothing to do with the...