The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 844

Seeing she was upset, Jamison didn’t dare press the issue. He just held her closer, trying to soothe her. “I’m just discussing it with you. Don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry,” Ivy said, giving him a sideways glance. “But if this is a discussion, does that mean if I disagree, you won’t go?”

“Well… it puts the hospital in a difficult position.”

“I can believe the hospital putting other people in a difficult position, but you?”

Jamison looked at the suspicion in her eyes and was at a complete loss for words. His brother’s warning echoed in his mind—*Ivy isn’t naive. She’s not that easy to fool.*

The mood for the movie was ruined. Ivy slipped out of his embrace and stood up. “I’m tired. I’m going to wash up and go to bed.”

Still feeling guilty, Jamison didn’t follow her immediately. “You go ahead,” he said from the sofa. “I’m going to feed the cat.”

Using the cat as an excuse, he sat alone in the living room for a while longer, first trying to think of another way to convince Ivy, then wondering if she had already seen through his lie. The more he thought, the guiltier he felt, and the more he dreaded facing her in the bedroom.

---

In the master bathroom, Ivy mulled things over as she showered. She tried to pinpoint when Jamison had started acting strangely. The more she thought, the clearer it became: it all began the day he got his physical exam report.

That was the day he had suddenly changed his mind and decided they should start trying for a baby. The day he’d gone to his parents’ house for dinner and hadn’t argued with his mother. And since that day, he had suddenly become less busy at work, no longer staying late, coming home on time every single day.

A chill ran down Ivy’s spine. If her suspicions were correct, there was only one possibility—there was something wrong with his medical report. He was seriously ill. And the “hospital training” in Germany was just a cover for him to get treatment.

But was the illness something that could only be treated overseas? Or was he choosing to go abroad to hide it from her, to keep her from worrying?

Ivy let out a long sigh, not daring to dwell on the question. What kind of illness did he have? Was it terminal? If it was, how much time did he have left? If she let him go overseas for treatment, would they ever see each other again?

No. If that was the case, she could never let him go alone. If he was going, she was going with him.

Her mind was in turmoil. She was afraid to ask him directly, terrified that the truth would be even worse than she imagined. But if she didn’t ask, she could still cling to a sliver of hope. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe it really was just a training opportunity.

His mind a swirl of questions and guilt, Jamison grabbed his robe and headed for the bathroom.

That night, they held each other just as tightly as always. But one of them didn't ask, and the other didn't tell. They both understood what the other was thinking, yet they chose silence.

---

The next day, Ivy didn’t have to go to the university. When Jamison was leaving for work, she was on the treadmill in their home gym, and they waved goodbye from a distance.

Once she was sure the front door had closed and he was gone, Ivy stopped the treadmill. Wiping sweat from her brow with a towel, she walked to the study. She remembered Jamison putting the medical report in there after he brought it home. She began searching, pulling open every drawer.

But after checking every drawer and bookshelf in the study, she couldn't find it. There was only one explanation: he had taken it later, or hidden it somewhere extremely well.

A cold wave of dread washed over her, and the panic and despair returned. She took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, then took out her phone and called Davina.

***