He was just about to dial her number again when a message popped up:

[I’m in the library study room and can’t take calls right now. If it’s not urgent, let’s talk tonight.]

After reading it, he let out a helpless, bitter laugh. She really did have a knack for shutting out the world, didn’t she? Off at school for barely a day, and she’d already thrown herself into her studies, with barely a thought for her husband back home.

After the laughter faded, a realization hit Jamison–was this why she insisted on living on campus? Did she need the distance just to focus? Did she see him as a stumbling block in her pursuit of success?

The thought made Professor Ludwig’s handsome features darken. No husband could accept the idea of his wife wanting to get away from him. But Jamison–usually so admired, so unflappable, always standing above the crowd–was being pushed aside by his own wife. He glanced down at the plain, cheap ring on his finger, jaw tightening. “Ungrateful little wolf,” he muttered, “use your husband and toss him aside the moment you’re done.”

His phone buzzed again. For a second, he thought maybe Ivy had had a change of heart and was calling back. But the screen showed it was Naylor.

“Hello?”

“Jamison, I just came across the video from Sheridan and Emma’s engagement party a few days ago. Your nephew is front and center.”

Jamison understood instantly. “The incident where he got beaten up in public?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. The video’s everywhere. You might want to give his parents a heads-up and get them to handle it.”

The Shepherds were a respected family, after all. Their precious son had made a scene at someone else’s engagement party and got a public thrashing for it. Now the whole thing was circulating online–embarrassing on every level.

Jamison’s face clouded over. “Alright, I’ll take care of it.”

But really, this wasn’t his mess to clean up. Micah had parents of his own.

After Naylor sent him the link, Jamison watched the video, his mood growing even darker. He forwarded it to Carla Ludwig, figuring it was her and her husband’s problem to solve.

He thought that would be the end of it, but just before clocking out that evening he got another call–this time from Thad.

“Jamison, Mom collapsed. We called an ambulance, they’re bringing her to your hospital. Are you there?”

Jamison’s face turned grim. “What happened to Mom?”

“It’s Micah. The whole thing set her off–looks like her heart. I’m leaving the office now and will be there as soon as I can. I’ll fill you in later.”

“Okay, I’m at the hospital. I’ll get a specialist ready.”

About ten minutes after the call, an ambulance came screaming into the hospital parking lot with Adela Ludwig inside. Carla was right beside her mother as they got her out. A sleek black Mercedes followed behind–the Shepherds. Seeing his nephew hobbling toward him, Jamison felt his anger boil over. But now wasn’t the time. He hurried to his mother’s side. “Mom, how are you feeling?”

Adela was pale, but the medics had stabilized her in the ambulance; she was conscious, though still unable to speak. Carla answered for her. “She just got too upset. One minute she was complaining about chest pain, the next she collapsed.”

Time was short. Jamison didn’t ask more questions and let the nurses rush her in for treatment. The hospital’s top cardiologists were already there. This wasn’t Jamison’s specialty, so he stayed outside. He turned to the Shepherds, face clouded. “What happened? Thad said this has to do with Micah?”

“It’s this ungrateful brat!” Farley Shepherd’s expression twisted with rage. He lashed out, kicking his son hard. “If he hadn’t embarrassed himself and the family, your grandmother wouldn’t be in this state!”

Micah crashed into the wall and collapsed to the floor. Carla gasped and rushed to help her son up.

“What are you doing? Haven’t you hurt him enough for one day? If you hadn’t been so hard on him, would my mother be like this?” Carla’s eyes were red, her voice hoarse–she’d clearly been crying.

Jamison’s temper flared at seeing his sister still defending her son, but before he could say anything, Thad and his wife arrived in a rush.