The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 843

Jamison nodded, satisfied, and raised his glass to gently clink against hers. “To the chef. Thank you for your hard work. Cheers.”

“Cheers!” Ivy’s smile was radiant.

They took their first bites and were pleasantly surprised to find the food was actually quite good. Ivy’s pride swelled again.

“I always thought I had zero talent for cooking, but it seems that exceptional people are exceptional in every way. If I keep at it, I bet I could become a fantastic cook.”

Jamison adored her confident, almost cocky nature, and her ability to never get bogged down by self-doubt. Being with her was always so easy and joyful; it could wash away the fatigue of a long day at work.

Halfway through the meal, Ivy suddenly remembered Sophia’s visit. “Oh, right, Sophia said she wants to take us out to dinner tomorrow. Are you free?”

“She’s coming again?”

“Yeah, for the store renovation. She has to pop in every so often to check on the progress.”

Jamison wasn’t in the mood to see friends. He made an excuse. “I’m not sure I’ll be free tomorrow. You should go.”

“Okay.” Ivy knew he wasn’t keen on socializing, so she didn’t press him.

Jamison cleaned up after dinner while Ivy curled up on the sofa, petting their cat. Watching the man who’d been born with a silver spoon now learning to do chores, she was filled with a profound sense of emotion. This simple, everyday warmth was the very essence of a home, a feeling of deep security. She gazed at his busy silhouette in the kitchen, an involuntary smile spreading across her face as she cuddled the cat even closer.

When Jamison finished, he came over with a plate of fruit, as was his habit, and naturally held a piece to her lips. Ivy opened her mouth to take it, then pulled him down to sit beside her on the sofa.

A classic Hollywood film was playing on the projector screen, and they settled in together to watch. Jamison toyed with her fingers, mentally rehearsing how to bring up his trip, trying to find a way that wouldn't sound abrupt or raise her suspicions.

Basking in happiness, Ivy would occasionally feed a piece of fruit to her husband behind her. The next time she turned to offer him a piece, she found him staring blankly into space. She nudged him. “What are you thinking about? You’ve been so quiet.”

Jamison sat up a little straighter, his hands tightening around her slim waist. “Ivy, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“There’s a training opportunity at the hospital. In Germany.”

Ivy’s hand, holding a piece of fruit, froze. She looked at him, and suddenly his reticence all evening made perfect sense.

Ivy stared at him, and neither of them spoke.

Feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach, Jamison tried to break the silence. He reached up to touch her face, forcing a smile. “What’s wrong? You don’t want me to go?”

“What do you think? We’re trying to get pregnant, and you suddenly have to go abroad for six months? And leaving me aside for a moment—didn’t you just say your mother isn’t doing well? Aren’t you worried about leaving her for half a year?”

The more Ivy thought about it, the less sense his “assignment” made. He was definitely hiding something from her. And what could possibly require him to be away for a full six months?

Jamison continued to play with her slender fingers, a gesture that looked casual but was really a way to mask his nerves. “My mother’s condition is stable for now. Six months isn’t that long; it’ll fly by,” he explained gently.

But to Ivy, his words were full of holes. Just a few days ago, he’d said his mother’s health was precarious and that they needed to get pregnant quickly to fulfill her wish. Now, suddenly, her health was stable, and he was ready to leave everyone behind for a six-month trip to Germany. Had he not even noticed the glaring contradiction in his own story?

Ivy desperately wanted to demand the truth, but she was afraid of startling him and making him guard his secret even more fiercely. So she said nothing more, simply turning back to the movie and tossing a cool remark over her shoulder. “Well, I don’t want you to go. Think it over. You should tell the hospital to send someone else.”

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