The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 846

After standing there in a daze for some time, her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen: Sophia.

“Hey, Ivy.”

“You landed?”

“Yeah, I’m dropping my luggage at the hotel, then I’m going to check on the store’s renovation. See you tonight,” Sophia said, insistent on treating her.

“Okay, see you tonight. Jamison can’t make it, though.”

“That’s fine. I know Dr. Ludwig is a busy man.”

To all of them, the handsome doctor was a sacred figure, a hero who fought death and saved lives on the front lines every day. They understood.

The call pulled Ivy out of her spiral of grief. Feeling returned to her legs, and she walked back to the living room and sat down, her mind slowly regaining its clarity.

No matter what, she wouldn't abandon Jamison and let him go abroad for treatment alone. Even if it was terminal, even if his time was short, she would stay by his side, optimistic and unwavering.

Having made her decision, Ivy felt a little calmer, but tears still welled up in her eyes. The thought of how he had been holding her so tightly lately, how he would just stare at her in a daze—it made her heart ache even more. She understood the pain he was hiding and the effort it took to conceal it. Perhaps every time he held her, every time he looked at her, he was counting down the moments they had left.

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That evening, Ivy met Sophia for dinner as planned.

“Just you? Where’s Dale Sullivan? Is he not coming?” Ivy had assumed it would be the three of them, even without Jamison.

Sophia pouted. “Don’t mention him. I don’t want to see him.”

“What, did you two have a fight?” Ivy asked, teasing her as she sat down. “Isn’t this ambiguous phase supposed to be the most intoxicating part? How are you already fighting?”

“Ugh, there’s nothing going on between us,” Sophia insisted, and Ivy didn’t press the matter. She wasn’t one for gossip.

After the two women ordered, Ivy suddenly said to the waiter, “And a bottle of wine, please.”

“No, you can’t drink,” Sophia immediately protested. They all knew Ivy had undergone a splenectomy. Although it had been over six months and she had recovered, her body was still different from a normal person’s.

Ivy smiled. “What, after all the money I’ve made for you, you won’t even spring for a bottle of wine?”

“That’s not it, I’m just worried about you…”

“Sophia, please, just ignore me…” Ivy kept her head down, her face buried in the napkin. She waved a dismissive hand, but before she could finish, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Sophia was confused, but thinking of Ivy’s traumatic past and her despicable family, she assumed Ivy was suddenly overwhelmed by painful memories. She didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, she moved to sit next to Ivy, gently rubbing her shoulder. “If crying makes you feel better, then just let it out. It’s okay.”

Other diners glanced over, but they quickly looked away. In the adult world, life was never easy, and breakdowns could happen in an instant. Everyone has moments when they can’t hold it together.

But Sophia was still worried. She took out her phone, found Jamison on WhatsApp, and sent him a message, along with the restaurant’s location.

Jamison immediately sent a voice note: *“Are you still at the restaurant?”*

Sophia typed back: *Yes, I’m with her. Don’t rush.*

Jamison: *I’m on my way. Please watch her for me.*

Jamison arrived quickly. He spotted their table and strode toward them, his brow furrowed with concern. By then, Ivy had calmed down a little, though her eyes were still red and swollen. Seeing Jamison, she looked up, surprised. “What are you doing here? Are you done with work?”

Jamison’s gaze fell on the bottle of wine on their table and his expression darkened. Before he could speak, Sophia quickly explained, “Dr. Ludwig, don’t worry, the wine isn’t strong, and she only had one small glass. I know she shouldn’t be drinking, and she was very controlled, but I think she still got drunk. She was crying so much… I had to call you.”

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