Chapter 365
As they turned the corner, Jamison’s face tightened in pain, his discomfort obvious to everyone.
Ivy’s heart clenched. She immediately lowered her voice and asked, “What’s wrong? Does your injury hurt? Let’s get you to the hospital, quickly.”
Adela Ludwig, close enough to overhear, looked at them in shock. “Injury? What injury? Jamison’s hurt?”
Carla, still in the dark, shot Jamison a scornful look. “He hit Micah, and now he’s the one acting hurt? What, trying to play the victim for sympathy?”
The Thad couple had been quietly observing from the side, staying out of it. But now Thad had no choice but to step in and explain for his brother. “Jamison’s hurt his back, needed over a dozen stitches. With all that scuffling earlier, I’d bet the wound’s reopened.”
“What?” Carla’s face registered genuine surprise.
Adela stared at her eldest son, seeing he was serious. She immediately turned back to grab her youngest’s arm, her voice tight with worry. “How on earth did you get hurt? Why didn’t you say anything when you got home?”
Before she could finish, the family matriarch turned a disapproving eye to Ivy. “How were you taking care of him? He’s that badly hurt and you kept it from us?”
Ivy supported Jamison, too preoccupied to defend herself.
Thankfully, Davina stepped forward and gently took the old lady’s arm, coaxing, “Mom, this isn’t the time to blame anyone. Let’s get Jamison to the hospital first.”
She then glanced over at Micah, making an effort to be fair. “Micah, how’s your injury? Maybe you should come too, get checked out.”
Micah’s expression was icy. “I’m fine. No need.”
Since Micah insisted, Adela dropped it and hurriedly told the butler to prepare the car.
“Mom, you really don’t need to come. Let Thad go with them,” Davina urged, not wanting to worry the old lady further.
“No! You all kept this from me! I don’t trust a word you say anymore!” the matriarch retorted.
Still supporting Jamison, Ivy promised, “Mom, you really don’t have to come. I’ll take good care of him.”
“You’re the last person I trust!” the old lady shot back, waving her hand. “I’m coming with you. Now, let’s go! Don’t dawdle!”
Seeing there was no persuading her, Ivy glanced at Jamison and the two of them started for the door.
The matriarch followed close behind, and only then did she notice the back of her son’s shirt–dark with blood, clinging to his skin.
“So that’s why you wore black–afraid I’d notice the bleeding? No wonder you’ve lost so much weight, and your complexion’s so pale. You really are something, pretending nothing’s wrong after all those stitches! Are you just worried I’d blame Ivy if I found out?”
She kept up her litany of complaints all the way out.
Ivy pressed her lips together and said nothing, pretending she didn’t hear. She’d braced herself for this scolding, knowing there was no escaping it.
Not that she blamed anyone but Micah; if he hadn’t stirred up trouble, they might have kept this under wraps.
Jamison endured his mother’s fussing as they walked, but when they reached the car and she still hadn’t stopped, he turned and said coolly, “If you keep nagging, you’re not getting in the car.”
Adela Ludwig glared at him, face stormy, but fell silent, out of options.
Ivy remained quiet, though she couldn’t help thinking: He really does know how to keep everyone in line.
At the hospital, as soon as Jamison reached the ER, the doctors and nurses rushed over in shock, their concern palpable.
The attending physician’s tone was grave. “Professor Ludwig, when did this happen? The wound’s infected and inflamed.”
“Yes, I tore it open again today. Just clean it up and re-dress it, please,” Jamison replied, gritting his teeth through the pain.
Adela Ludwig, meanwhile, was being held back outside by Thad.