Jamison looked at Ivy, his heart sinking with understanding. He nodded politely at Sophia. “Thank you for looking after her. I’ll take her home now.”
“Of course.” Sophia helped Ivy to her feet, waiting until Jamison had a firm hold on her before letting go. She then handed him Ivy’s purse.
“Thanks.”
Jamison only had eyes for his wife. He tossed a perfunctory thank-you to Sophia, then bent down, scooped Ivy into his arms, and walked out.
Sophia watched them go, a worried expression on her face, and sighed.
---
Jamison carried Ivy to the car. He had intended to put her in the passenger seat, but seeing how unsteady she was, he decided to open the back door instead, thinking she would be more comfortable lying down.
But just as he laid her down and started to pull away, her arms shot up and wrapped tightly around his neck.
He looked down at her. Her eyes were open, wet with a raw, innocent sadness as she stared at him. His heart melted. He leaned back into the car and held her. Ivy buried her face in his chest, not saying a word, just clinging to his waist.
In that moment, Jamison felt like his heart was being torn apart. He leaned down and kissed her tear-stained cheeks, gently brushing her hair from her face. “You know, don’t you?” he asked, his voice low and heavy.
Ivy flinched. She looked up at him, her voice hazy but her gaze sharp. “Know what? That you’re sick? No, I don’t know. Tell me. How bad is it?”
She held his gaze, her eyes searching his. Before Jamison could say the words, she spoke again, her voice raspy. “Jamison, no matter what happens, I will never leave you. If you go overseas, I’ll go with you. I can handle any pain except being apart from you.”
Ivy was in deep. She had always thought she could keep a clear head, never be trapped by love or heartbroken over a man. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t imagine a life without Jamison.
Her raw, heartfelt confession struck Jamison to the core. He had already been dreading leaving her, and now, hearing her declare her love so fiercely, his eyes burned and his lips trembled. He pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids. “We won’t,” he promised, his voice thick with emotion. “We won’t be separated.”
“But her aunt got through it, and Katrina was strong and optimistic the whole time. If they could do it, why can’t we? You were just going to leave me to face this possibility alone? Did you think that was some grand, noble sacrifice?”
Jamison was speechless. He truly would have preferred to suffer alone than to watch the woman he loved endure the emotional toll.
Ivy had imagined all sorts of terrible outcomes, even believing he didn't have much time left. Now, learning it was early-stage cancer with a real chance of being cured, she felt a sudden surge of strength.
She had been through so much hardship in recent years, had even faced death itself. She knew better than anyone that you never give up until the very end. Even if there was only a one-in-a-million chance, you had to fight for it with everything you had. It was just like when she had been kidnapped. The villagers had mocked her, telling her that once you were sold into the mountains, you never got out. You were born there, you died there. But she refused to believe it. As long as she had breath in her body, she never stopped trying to escape. Even when she was caught and beaten, she just planned her next attempt. And eventually, she made it out.
This was just another challenge. But unlike then, when she had been all alone, this time they would face it together.
As these thoughts raced through her mind, a sense of calm settled over her. She looked at her husband and asked evenly, “The hospital must have a treatment plan ready, right? Did you want to go abroad because the medical technology is more advanced, or was it just to hide this from us?”
***

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