Jamison’s left shoulder was still stiff and far from healed; he really had no business wielding a scalpel for anything delicate just yet. But at least he could still support the team.

Ivy thought for a moment, then said quickly, “I’ll go with you.” She was worried he’d try to push himself, insist on scrubbing in, and perform surgery while gritting his teeth through the pain. For some reason, she just knew Jamison was exactly the kind of man who’d do that.

“No need. You’ve had a long day—get some rest,” Jamison said, glancing at his watch. “The driver’s still waiting. I should get going. You, take a shower and head to bed.” He barely finished speaking before he leaned in, smiling.

Ivy knew what he was about to do, and didn’t shy away. She let him press a gentle kiss to her lips.

“Don’t be stubborn. The sooner you heal, the sooner you can get back to work—helping people,” Ivy reminded him softly.

“I know.”

He nodded, turned, and strode off with quick, sure steps.

Suddenly, Ivy called after him, “When will you be back?”

“No idea. As soon as I can. Don’t wait up,” Jamison replied over his shoulder, already halfway out the door before the words finished.

The apartment fell abruptly, almost uncomfortably, quiet. Ivy stood there, a little dazed. Since she’d moved in temporarily, this was actually her first night alone here. The feeling was strange—restless. She thought about heading back to her own place at Golden Maple Estate, worried Jamison might come home in the middle of the night. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to stay. But after showering and crawling into bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Chapter 409

They weren’t truly married yet in the most intimate sense, but after several nights of sharing the same bed, feeling his warmth beside her, she’d already grown unconsciously used to his presence. Now, with him gone, the bed felt vast and empty. Her heart, emptier still. She didn’t know how long she lay awake, but at some point exhaustion won and she drifted into a hazy sleep.

At the hospital, Jamison jumped right into a meeting with his team to confirm the best surgical plan for the injured patient. When it came time for surgery, he still changed into scrubs and joined them in the operating room. But his colleagues, well aware of his injury, didn’t let him take the lead.

By the time they finished, it was nearly three in the morning. He actually had a private room to sleep in at the hospital—normally, he would have crashed there without a second thought. But tonight felt different. He couldn’t stop thinking about the young woman waiting alone for him at home.

“Professor Ludwig, the sun’s almost up. You’re heading home now?” one of his colleagues asked as they changed out of their scrubs, eyeing him curiously.

“Yeah. Someone’s waiting for me. I can’t relax otherwise,” Jamison replied with a small smile, checking his phone for messages.

Nothing.

He frowned, but the smile lingered. He’d thought for sure she’d be up, maybe texting him because she couldn’t sleep.

His colleagues watched him go, exchanging amazed looks. “Hard to believe that’s Professor Ludwig. He’s a different man.”

“You’re just now noticing?” one said. “I heard he was in the ER a few days ago, getting stitches, and he wouldn’t let go of his wife’s hand. Kept saying she was better than any painkiller.”

“No way… Professor Ludwig? That attached to his wife?”

“Well, they’re newlyweds, and he’s been single for years—you know how it is…”

Jamison pushed open the apartment door a little after four am. He slipped into the guest bathroom to wash up, then tiptoed quietly back to the bedroom.

The door had barely creaked open when a voice floated through the darkness: “You’re home?”

Jamison paused, surprised, and pushed the door open wider. “You’re still awake?”

“I dozed off, but woke up again,” Ivy mumbled, watching his silhouette as he crossed the room. She pushed herself up on her elbows, squinting at him in the dim light. “Did you end up in the operating room?”

Jamison slid under the covers, voice low and gentle. “No. I helped out with the case review, then waited until surgery was done before I left.”