The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 854

After the surgeon left, Ivy quickly composed herself and turned to the others. "Why don't you all go get something to eat? It's almost one, you must be starving. I can wait here for him."

Thad glanced at his watch. "It is getting late. Alright, we'll go grab lunch and bring something back for you. We'll meet you in the room to see Jamison."

"Okay."

As they left, Ivy found she couldn't sit still. She began pacing in front of the operating room doors, anxiously waiting.

After another half an hour, the doors finally swung open, and she saw him. Jamison was being wheeled out.

He was awake, but weak from the surgery, lacking his usual vitality.

"Jamison!" she called out.

The man on the gurney clearly heard her. His eyes fluttered open, a faint smile gracing his lips as he weakly lifted a hand.

Ivy rushed to his side and took his hand in hers. "You're out. The doctor said the surgery went perfectly. You can rest now."

Overcome with joy, she squeezed his hand tightly, as if to impress the good news upon him.

Jamison didn't speak, but he managed to squeeze her hand back.

A nurse explained, "Dr. Ludwig is still coming out of the general anesthesia. He's conscious, but he'll likely feel weak for a while. It will wear off."

Ivy nodded. "Okay. I'll come with you to his room."

She held onto his hand, her steps matching the pace of the medical staff, her eyes never leaving her husband's face.

In all the time they had known each other, she had never seen this man, who usually stood as tall and strong as a mountain, look so fragile and worn.

Seeing him so vulnerable filled her with an aching tenderness.

But she also believed, with every fiber of her being, that he would be back on his feet soon, restored to his resilient, indomitable self.

Back in the room, once the nurses had settled him in and given Ivy a list of instructions, they departed.

A private nurse was already there—an experienced, middle-aged woman with a gentle demeanor.

Sensing the family's exhaustion and worry, the nurse kindly suggested Ivy rest on the sofa while she watched over the patient.

But Ivy couldn't bear to leave his side.

"That's alright, ma'am. I'll stay here with him."

Even as she spoke to the nurse, her gaze remained fixed on Jamison.

Weakened by the surgery and still under the lingering effects of anesthesia, he had drifted back to sleep, his breathing shallow and even.

"I will."

As the group prepared to leave, Katrina gave her friend's hand a silent, comforting squeeze before waving goodbye.

Once the room was quiet again, Ivy returned to her post by the bed, taking Jamison's hand in hers.

The meal had made her drowsy. She yawned but refused to leave him, instead resting her head on the edge of the bed, her cheek pressed against his arm, and closed her eyes.

…

The sun began to set, casting a warm, dim glow across the room.

Jamison's eyes fluttered open. His thoughts were a muddled haze, as if his soul had briefly departed his body, leaving behind a sense of ethereal emptiness.

As a doctor, he knew this was a normal side effect of the anesthesia.

When his vision cleared, the first thing he saw was the figure slumped beside his bed.

It was no surprise that the first person he saw upon waking was his beloved wife.

She was asleep right next to his hand, her grip on him still tight even in her slumber.

Jamison knew she hadn't been eating or sleeping properly for days. The successful surgery was likely the only reason she could finally rest. He didn't move or speak, content to simply watch her.