He stared at Ivy, confused and blank, his eyes searching her face for answers.

With a sigh, Ivy offered a quick explanation. “That was my ex-boyfriend. We broke up. He’s not the one.”

“Oh…” Silly mumbled. It was anyone’s guess if he truly understood, but he couldn’t stop glancing between Ivy and Jamison, his curiosity evident.

Jamison looked at Silly with genuine sympathy. As a doctor, he knew all too well that cerebral palsy couldn’t be cured – this was a life sentence.

Yet, for a fleeting moment, Jamison felt an odd sense of relief that Silly had this condition.

Cerebral palsy was a neurological disorder that affected movement and posture. Sometimes, it came with intellectual disabilities, but in other cases, the mind was untouched.

Silly, it was clear, belonged to the latter group. His mind and emotions were sharp and intact.

Jamison could see it – Silly liked Ivy. If not for his disability, Jamison thought, he might well have another rival for Ivy’s affection. She was the type who always repaid kindness; she might even have offered her heart in gratitude.

But Silly, despite his feelings, never tried to possess her. He knew he wasn’t like everyone else, that he couldn’t match her. Instead of acting on his feelings, he did everything in his power to protect Ivy, even helping her escape in the end.

Thinking of this, Jamison felt deeply moved – and humbled.

Silly’s body was broken, but his character was flawless.

He was nobler, more honorable, than most healthy people Jamison had ever met.

Lost in thought, Jamison finally turned and took an envelope from Derek’s hand.

“Ivy,” he called softly.

She turned, noticing the envelope he held out.

“There’s two thousand dollars in here,” Jamison said. “Let’s give it to him – it’ll help him out for now, let him buy some clothes, maybe make things a little easier at home.”

Ivy stared in surprise, her voice dropping to a whisper. “When did you put this together?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jamison replied.

She took the envelope, then reached into her own bag and pulled out another one – also filled with cash.

She’d prepared it before coming, the same amount: two thousand dollars. She had actually considered giving Silly a debit card with ten thousand on it as a thank-you. But thinking about his situation, she realized a card would be useless – he couldn’t get to town to withdraw money, and if his brute of a father got wind of it, the money would be gone in a heartbeat.

Cash was safer. Silly could hide some for himself, buy a few things at the little store in the village.

It wasn’t a fortune, but in this poor, remote mountain village, two thousand dollars was more than some families made in a year or two.

Jamison noticed her envelope, arching an eyebrow with a hint of amusement. Their thoughts had been perfectly in sync.

“Silly,” Ivy said gently, “take this money. Find a safe place for it, and don’t let your father know.” If the man found out, he’d take every cent.

But Silly shook his head furiously, waving his hands in protest. “No – no, really, I don’t need it… I just wanted to see you, not… not for money. I only wanted to know you’re okay, and seeing you – seeing you happy – now I can let go.”

He stood abruptly from his chair, ready to rush out.

Ivy blocked his way. “Please, take it. It’s not much to us, but it could change your life.”

“No, I-”

“Take it,” Jamison said, his deep voice carrying a quiet authority that made Silly freeze. “Look after yourself. That’s the best thing you can do for her.”

Jamison continued, “And if your mother needs to see a doctor in the city, I can arrange for someone to take her. Don’t worry about the cost. As for you – once your mom is better, if you want a job, I can help with that too.”

Ivy stared at him, startled by his words.