"Walk me upstairs?"

Ivy was first surprised, then shyly delighted. "You don’t have to walk me all the way to the door like I’m a kindergartner on her first day. Are you really that worried about me?"

"It’s been days since I last saw you. Let me enjoy a few more minutes with you."

Jamison couldn’t bear to part from his wife so soon, especially now, knowing she might be at risk again. He wanted nothing more than to stay by her side, every moment. But they were adults, after all, with responsibilities of their own. All he could do was walk Ivy safely to her office building and hand her off to the security detail. He, meanwhile, needed to hurry back to the hospital for surgery.

Hearing the longing in his voice only deepened Ivy’s own feelings of missing him. She didn’t protest further, letting him take her hand as they walked together into the building.

Sure enough, they ran into coworkers in the elevator. By now, the office gossip mill–and the internet at large–had gotten wind of Ivy and Jamison’s “controversial” relationship. Everyone knew exactly who Jamison was and where he stood in society.

Someone had even snapped a picture of Jamison’s name on the hospital’s specialist registry and posted it online, hoping to stir up another round of public outrage. But the ploy backfired. The internet swooned over his chiseled features and cool, aloof aura. Even rumors–spread by hired trolls–that Dr. Jamison had bought his credentials or used connections to get his honors couldn’t stop people from trying to book his appointments. Some didn’t even care about seeing a doctor–they just wanted to lay eyes on him in person.

In the end, the scandal flipped on its head. People discovered that Dr. Jamison wasn’t just from a powerful family–he was a brilliant, hard-working physician, fiercely dedicated to his craft and genuinely gifted.

Now, seeing Dr. Ludwig in person, Ivy’s coworkers realized he was even more handsome and magnetic than his photos suggested. He towered over everyone else in the elevator, making the other men seem positively ordinary by comparison.

After the initial shock, someone blurted out, “Ivy, your husband is so handsome! And so tall! You two look so in love–it’s honestly kind of enviable.”

After all, who else’s husband personally walked them to work, hand in hand, all the way to the office?

Already a little embarrassed, Ivy’s cheeks turned even redder under their teasing. She managed a polite nod. "Thank you." She glanced back at her husband, her eyes half playful, half reproachful: I told you not to walk me up, but you insisted.

But Jamison didn’t care. He only squeezed her hand a little tighter, his gaze growing even softer. When the elevator arrived, her coworkers hurried out, giving them a knowing smile on the way.

Jamison led Ivy forward, but then pulled her gently to a stop.

“See you upstairs, Ivy!” one of her coworkers called, grinning.

Ivy frowned and tried to tug her hand free. “Okay, you’ve seen me up. Go on, you’re going to be late for your surgery.”

“I’ll pick you up after work tonight.” After a couple days apart, Dr. Ludwig could hardly get enough of her–he was already counting down the hours until he’d see her again.

“That’s not necessary, I-”

“I’ll pick you up, and we’ll go visit my family together."

She hadn’t expected that. Ivy paused, then nodded. “Oh, I see… Well, alright then.”

Truth was, ever since Micah’s funeral, they hadn’t gone back to visit the family estate. Carla had lost both her husband and son, and the tragedy had left her deeply unstable. Adela, wanting to care for her daughter, had brought her back to the Ludwig family home. No one really knew how things were going there now.

Seeing her agree, Jamison, already pressed for time, wrapped her in a quick embrace, pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, and patted her shoulder. “Alright, go on. Have a good day.”

The elevator doors slid open just then, and the coworkers stepping out were treated to this affectionate scene–their eyes practically bulged in shock.

Flushed to the tips of her ears, Ivy quickly said goodbye and hurried away. Of course, her coworkers caught up, eager for gossip. “Ivy, that was your husband, right?”

“Obviously! He just kissed her–who else would it be?” another chimed in, loud enough for half the floor to hear.

Desperate not to be the center of office gossip, Ivy picked up her pace. She had barely stepped into the office when Edmond rushed out and nearly collided with her.

“Mr. Shaw.”

“Oh, Ivy! Where’s Mr. Jamison? I heard he walked you up this morning.” Edmond had picked up on the rumors and had hurried out, hoping for a chance to meet Jamison in person.

Too late.

“He’s already gone downstairs,” Ivy replied.

“Aww, you should’ve invited Mr. Jamison in for a cup of coffee! He was right at the door,” Edmond said, half-turning as if he might run after him.

Ivy quickly explained, “He just got back from a business trip this morning–he has to rush to the hospital for surgery.”

“I see.” Edmond stopped, a little disappointed, and let the idea drop.

Ivy went back to her desk, heading straight into the morning meeting with her team. When it finished and she stepped out of the conference room, she saw Baillie approaching with his assistant in tow. The Windsor Group project wasn’t progressing smoothly. The pressure was showing–Baillie looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Ivy watched him head straight for Edmond’s office and pretended not to notice, returning to her own work.

About an hour later, someone knocked on her desk. She looked up to see Baillie standing there.

“Do you have a moment to talk?” He looked impassive–there was no trace of old friendship in his expression.