Chapter 520
The two of them had settled into married life surprisingly well. Ivy, though proud by nature, was well aware of how much she owed her husband and never played both sides or made unreasonable demands.
If all it took to please him was the occasional display of affection, she was willing to go along with it. Men–well, you use them when you need them, sweet-talk them when it suits you. There’s really no need to butt heads and turn the house upside down.
When Ivy and her husband arrived at the hospital, they found Katrina waiting anxiously outside the ICU, dressed in a hospital gown.
“Katrina, you’re up and about already? Why aren’t you resting in your room?” Ivy hurried over, concern etched on her face. Katrina still looked pale.
Katrina shook her head. “I’m fine. The doctor said my mom’s showing signs of waking up, so I rushed over to check on her.”
“Really?” A smile broke out on Ivy’s face. She immediately turned to Jamison, and before she could say anything, he understood and gestured for them not to worry. He strode off to speak with the ICU staff.
Nearby, Katrina’s aunt looked on in surprise. “Katrina, your friend knows the doctors here?”
“Yeah,” Katrina replied quietly. “Ivy’s husband works here–he’s one of the hospital’s senior doctors. That’s the only reason my mom was able to get a room here. Otherwise, well…”
“Oh, I see.” Her aunt nodded gratefully, turning to Ivy to thank her again.
Jamison returned soon, bringing news about Katrina’s mother.
“There are definite signs she’s coming around–she moved her fingers, but hasn’t opened her eyes yet. Still, her vitals are stable, and she’s doing a lot better than yesterday. It looks like she’s out of immediate danger.”
Before he could finish, Katrina pressed a hand to her chest, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“That’s wonderful. I’m not going to lose my mom… Auntie, Mom’s going to be okay!”
Her aunt hugged her, soothing, “See, I told you, your mom wouldn’t leave you behind. Now, why don’t you head back to your room and lie down for a bit? I’ll stay here and keep watch, and if anything changes, I’ll let you know right away.”
Katrina, still filled with questions from the night before, glanced at Ivy. Trusting her aunt’s advice, she agreed.
“Ivy, you two go on ahead and talk in the room. I’ll skip this one–I need to check on a few things at the department. Call me when you’re ready to leave,” Jamison said, figuring the girls could use some time alone.
“Alright, go take care of your work.”
After watching her husband disappear down the corridor, Ivy slipped her arm through Katrina’s and walked her back to the room.
“I heard about last night from your aunt,” Ivy said softly. “Your dad forced you to drink, didn’t he?”
Katrina nodded. “My aunt got dragged down to the police station. The officers said it was a minor matter that could be settled privately, but Waller refused to let it go–he insisted on pressing charges. If he hadn’t agreed to a settlement, my aunt would’ve been held for days. I had no choice but to beg Waller to reconsider, and he made me go around the table and toast every single boss there.”
If it had just been about herself, Katrina would have had the guts to flip the table, trash the place, and wipe that smug look off Waller’s face. But she couldn’t–her mom was lying in the ICU, and she couldn’t risk her aunt ending up behind bars.
A place like that is no place for anyone, let alone her aunt.
So, for her aunt’s sake, she swallowed her pride and went around the table, glass in hand, toasting each of those men.
“Some were drinking whiskey, some had wine, others were on cocktails. My tolerance isn’t great to begin with, and mixing drinks like that… By the time I finished the circuit, I could barely stand. Once the toasts were done, Waller finally called the police and agreed to the settlement, so they let my aunt go.”
“I staggered out of the room, about to be sick. I remember someone helped me to the restroom–I threw up so much I could hardly stand. Someone walked me out after that, but everything after… it’s all a blur.”