Chapter 210

He'd really run out of options—pretending to be a stranger online was the only way he could think of to figure out what she was truly feeling.

Meanwhile, Ivy had no idea. She stared at the three texts from "Dr. Handsome," her brows knitting together as her expression grew complicated.

Mrs. Smith: My personal take is that the market will probably drop again tomorrow. But even if the whole thing keeps sliding, strong stocks can still buck the trend and go up.

Mrs. Smith: Congratulations on your recent gains.

Jamison couldn't help but smile, fatigue softening in his eyes when he saw her reply.

Dr. Handsome: Still awake at this hour?

Mrs. Smith: About to go to bed.

Dr. Handsome: You never answered me earlier. Are you seeing someone?

Ivy stared at that question, her frown deepening. Why was he asking? Was he still waiting for her, somewhere in the background? If she said she wasn't with anyone, would he try to pursue her again?

Dr. Handsome: No answer? I'll take that as a no.

Mrs. Smith: I don't believe in marriage.

Dr. Handsome: Who says you have to get married? You can be together forever without a piece of paper.

Mrs. Smith: So, you're not planning on getting married, either?

Dr. Handsome: That's what I used to think. But now… marriage doesn't sound so bad, as long as it's with the right person.

Ivy didn't respond. She was afraid he'd say he thought she was "the right person."

Dr. Handsome: Can I ask… do you like this guy?

Ivy stared at that line, still not replying. The truth was, she didn't even know how she felt about Jamison. There was definitely some level of fondness, but not enough to make her throw caution to the wind.

Dr. Handsome: Silence means yes. So if you like each other, why aren't you together? Is it because he doesn't feel the same way?

Mrs. Smith: No.

Seeing her reply, Jamison's mouth curled into a satisfied grin. Getting anything out of her was never easy.

Dr. Handsome: So, you like each other. Why aren't you together? Is he married?

Mrs. Smith: No, he's single.

Dr. Handsome: Then does he have some huge flaw you can't get past?

Mrs. Smith: He's actually pretty great.

Dr. Handsome: Then what's holding you back? Do you still have feelings for someone else?

Ivy read his question, feeling even more tangled up inside. But she was sure she didn't love Micah anymore, and there was no one else in her heart. In the two or three months since she'd come back, the only man consistently around her was Jamison. If online friends even counted, then Dr. Handsome made two.

When her silence dragged on, Dr. Handsome cut to the chase: You don't… have feelings for me, do you…

He left the last part hanging, but the meaning was clear enough.

Ivy's heart skipped a beat when she saw it.

As if!

Mrs. Smith: Are all men this full of themselves? I don't even know if you're tall, short, fat, thin, young, or old. How could I possibly have feelings for you?

Jamison let out a low chuckle as he sat in his car, lips curving up at her retort. He remembered the mix-up where everyone thought he was forty and, after a moment, decided to set things straight.

Dr. Handsome: I'm not even thirty yet. Six-foot-two, 155 pounds. You know my job, my income's decent. With those stats, do I make the cut?

Ivy was startled. Dr. Handsome was that young? And that tall? On paper, he matched Jamison almost exactly!

Mrs. Smith: With all that going for you, why are you still single?

Dr. Handsome: I fell hard for someone when I was younger—never worked out. After that, I just didn't feel like dating, or maybe I just never met the right person.

Mrs. Smith: So why do you think I'm the right person? We haven't even met.

Dr. Handsome: Maybe it's just a soul connection.

Ivy thought about that for a moment, then suddenly asked: Do all men have a thing for virgins?