Chapter 64

“So what about Miss Emma?”

“Marriage still has to happen,” Micah replied flatly.

Hearing this, Jamison clenched his jaw so hard his molars ached. He bristled, “Don’t call me ‘Uncle’ anymore. I don’t have a nephew as reckless as you.”

“Uncle, I–”

Micah started to say more, but Jamison’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen – hospital calling. He answered instantly, “Hello… Yes. Get the patient to the OR right away. I’m on my way!”

Before the call had even ended, Jamison was already striding toward the door.

Micah hurried after him. “Uncle, about Ivy–”

But Jamison was already out the door and gone.

Micah stopped in the hallway, frustration furrowing his brow. He let out a weary sigh and turned back toward the bedroom.

He paused by the bed, gazing at the debris scattered on the floor – discarded medical supplies, wrappers, gloves. His expression was a tangled knot of worry and guilt.

He grabbed a towel to cover his mouth and nose, then used a plastic bag as a glove to sweep all the medical waste into the trash.

Thinking about how he’d just held Ivy, anxiety prickled through him. He hurried into the bathroom and scrubbed himself from head to toe, then changed into clean clothes.

Meanwhile, Ivy had been sleeping deeply.

But a nightmare jolted her awake. She sat up abruptly, gasping for breath.

In her dream, two men had pinned her to the ground and were tearing at her clothes. She fought with everything she had, but they’d stripped her down to her last layer. Just as one of them lunged at her, a dim-witted teenage boy had burst in, swinging a pickaxe and chasing them off. Then he’d helped her get dressed again, clumsy but gentle.

Thinking of that “foolish husband,” Ivy’s heart twisted with complicated emotions.

If it hadn’t been for him protecting her these past three years, her life would have been nothing short of hell – seventy-two circles of it, and then some.

But he hadn’t had it easy in that village either.

She often saw him come home battered and bruised. Only after pressing him would she learn the others had bullied and beaten him.

The bedroom door creaked open. Ivy jumped, snapping back to reality.

Micah looked just as surprised to see her awake. “Ivy, you’re up? How are you feeling? My uncle is incredible – your illness was so severe, and he still managed to pull you through!” Micah’s relief bubbled over as he approached the bed, though he made sure to keep a cautious distance.

Ivy caught the faint scent of body wash and noticed his hair was still damp.

She immediately understood.

A cool, sardonic smile tugged at her lips. “If you’re so afraid of catching something from me, why bother saving me at all?”

Micah’s expression fell, shadows flickering in his eyes. “I helped you because of our history, but… I am scared of getting sick. There’s no cure, after all…”

“History,” Ivy repeated, tasting the word, her smile deepening. “So you do have a conscience after all.”

“Ivy, there’s no going back for us. I’m sorry. Please, don’t hate me.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Her voice was flat and distant. She threw back the covers and eased herself out of bed.

Her stomach still ached, and her legs felt wobbly, but she was so much stronger than before.

She waited for the weakness to fade, then grabbed her phone from the nightstand and opened her banking app.

“Here’s your hundred thousand, paid back in full. We’re even now. I don’t need your sense of obligation, and I don’t owe you anything.”

She transferred back the money Micah had given her for the house, then walked out without a second thought.

Micah stared in shock. “Ivy, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you thinking of doing something reckless?”

He trailed behind her at a careful distance, mind racing with worry.

“I know you’re struggling, but medical science is improving every day. There’s always hope. Look at my uncle – he’s a miracle worker! I’ll beg him to get more specialists involved, and even if there’s no cure, they can at least buy you more time. Please, don’t do anything drastic.”