Chapter 77

Professor Penn’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “You? Online friends?”

Jamison gave a nonchalant shrug. “Yeah, just met someone by chance.” But even as he said it, he realized how odd it sounded—why was he asking about it at all?

He remembered Mrs. Smith hadn’t shared any personal details that night. She’d been careful, almost secretive, clearly wanting to keep things private. So why was he making a special effort to dig into her business now? Meddling in other people’s affairs was never his style.

Professor Penn noticed his silence, glanced over, and suddenly asked, “That girl who said hi to you just now—do you know her?”

Jamison shook his head. “Nope, don’t really remember her.”

“You, honestly…” Professor Penn sighed, stepping into the elevator as it arrived. “You never give girls a second look. You’re almost thirty—are you planning to be a bachelor forever?”

Professor Penn raised a teasing eyebrow. “Like a monk, living alone your whole life!”

Jamison just sighed in exasperation.

Professor Penn shook her head and went on, “You never bother with anyone, while Naylor just can’t be alone for a second. He broke up last month, and yesterday he’s already got a new girlfriend. His dad nearly smashed a plate when he heard. If only you two could balance each other out a little, it’d be perfect.”

As Naylor’s mother, Professor Penn looked downright exasperated whenever she mentioned her son’s endless dating dramas.

Jamison chuckled. “Well, at this rate, you and your husband will be grandparents before you know it.”

Inside another elevator, Ivy stood lost in thought, barely saying a word.

Katrina glanced at her. “What’s up with you? Still annoyed at Dr. Ludwig?”

Ivy shook her head quickly. “It’s nothing…”

But her curiosity simmered. What was the real relationship between Jamison and that old professor?

She remembered that night—Dr. Handsome had mentioned that the visiting specialist today was his mentor’s wife. Yet, seeing the way Jamison acted just now—so polite and respectful to Professor Penn, not at all his usual cold and aloof self—it made her wonder.

Could Dr. Handsome and Jamison really be the same person?

But then she recalled their online conversations. Dr. Handsome was always warm and friendly, nothing like Jamison, who was perpetually icy and sharp-tongued, making every encounter a trial.

No, they couldn’t possibly be the same man.

Shaking off her tangled thoughts, Ivy headed to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription, then made her way toward the hospital’s main exit.

She wasn’t expecting to run right into Micah in the lobby.

“Ivy?” Micah’s eyes narrowed in anger, his voice sharp. “So you do have a conscience—coming to check on Emma at least.”

Ivy blinked in surprise, then offered a breezy smile. “She’s admitted? Lost the baby, did she?”

Micah’s fists clenched. He seemed to realize something. “You’re not here for Emma, are you?”

“What’s so special about Emma, anyway?” Katrina cut in before Ivy could answer, glaring at Micah with open disdain. “Ivy’s here for herself. Seriously, what do you even see in Emma? If you like drama so much, why not just date an actress?”

Micah ignored Katrina, his gaze dropping to the medication in Ivy’s hand—and his expression twisted in disgust. “What’s the point of treating your disease? Women like you—cold-blooded and venomous—should rot in hell.”

It was clear Micah thought she was here to treat something shameful, maybe even HIV.

Katrina’s temper snapped. “Are you insane, Micah? If anyone’s venomous, it’s your little gang! Ivy’s the victim here, but you all turn a blind eye and keep defending Emma, the real culprit!”

Their argument quickly drew a crowd—patients, visitors, hospital staff. Micah, still fuming over Emma’s recent scandal, suddenly started shouting, hoping to turn everyone against Ivy.

“Hey everyone, look over here! This woman’s got a filthy disease and wants to infect everyone! She can’t stand her sister having a better life, so she—”

Smack!

Before he could finish, Katrina stormed over and slapped him hard across the face, standing up for her best friend without hesitation.