Jamison just shrugged with an easy smile. “I actually like my job. Older folks just tend to overthink things.”

Thad’s tone grew serious. “Jamison, can you really not have kids? Or are you just taking the fall for Ivy on purpose?”

Jamison didn’t reply, but Thad knew his little brother well enough to see the truth in his silence.

“Alright, if you’re going this far for Ivy, I guess you really do love her. Don’t worry, I’ll have Davina talk to Mom and help set her mind at ease.” Thad clapped Jamison on the shoulder, his expression easing.

Jamison nodded. “Thanks, Thad.”

“I’m heading to the office. There’s a nurse watching over Mom’s room, but if you get a chance, drop by and check on her.”

“Will do.”

Thad hadn’t come to pry out of curiosity or pressure Jamison for grandkids. He simply wanted to know if his brother really had a medical issue – if that was the reason Jamison shied away from the usual matches, settling for Ivy instead of choosing a socialite who matched their family’s status.

It wasn’t that he looked down on Ivy. In fact, after these past few weeks, he’d come to realize just how impressive she was – poised, likable, and every inch deserving of the title “society’s leading lady.”

But no matter how perfect Ivy was as an individual, it didn’t change the notorious reputation of the Windsor family.

From that perspective, Ivy was marrying up.

Now that Thad had his answer – Jamison was healthy, but still chose Ivy, even going as far as shouldering a humiliating rumor to protect her – it could only mean one thing: his brother truly loved this woman, enough to risk everything for her.

And if that was the case, there was nothing left to worry about.

Ivy might carry the Windsor name, but she’d already broken with her family – and was even plotting to take them down.

That kind of decisive, vengeful spirit, that sharp focus, was exactly like their own Ludwig family’s youngest.

Chapter 468

After Thad left, Jamison turned and headed back to his department, throwing himself into work.

At school, things were more settled. Since Ivy’s return, her relationship with her roommate Roberta had softened, though a polite distance remained between them.

Borrowing a page from Jamison’s philosophy, Ivy found this kind of boundary the most comfortable.

But one day, Roberta’s boyfriend happened to spot Ivy in the dining hall and, uninvited, plopped down across from her, all smiles and exuberant greetings.

Ivy’s impression of Adler only soured further; in her eyes, he wasn’t good enough for Roberta.

Still, she kept her thoughts to herself. Everyone has the right to choose and to bear the consequences of those choices. It’s better not to meddle – interfere and you risk annoyance at best, disaster at worst.

Life for Dr. Ludwig, with his wife away, was much the same as when he’d been single.

Sometimes, if he worked late, he wouldn’t bother going home, just crashed in the hospital’s staff lounge.

He’d get up in the morning, do his rounds, then head back to his office for a breather – or grab breakfast downstairs.

One morning, after finishing his rounds, Jamison returned to his office and immediately noticed a bag of breakfast sitting on his desk.

“Who got this?” he asked, glancing around.

One of the residents replied, “Dr. Quinn. She brought breakfast for everyone.”

For everyone?

Jamison’s expression stayed neutral as he picked up the bag. “Anyone still hungry?” Before he could finish, Celeste walked into the office – catching the scene.

“Jamison, is the breakfast not to your taste?” Celeste asked, bold enough to say it to his face.