Chapter 26 My Wife
“Mr. Evans, please sit here,” the nurse instructed as she led Ivy, and Christian inside the therapy room.
The doctor glanced at Christian, then at Ivy, his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. “Do you want her to leave the room?” he asked Christian.
"It’s alright," Christian replied nonchalantly. "She can stay."
The doctor nodded and began the session, handing Christian some papers to mark his answers. The nurse exited the room, closing the door behind her.
As Christian settled into his seat in front of the doctor, Ivy moved to stand near the door, keeping a respectful distance to stay out of their way.
Once Christian completed the questionnaire, the doctor looked up. “Are you still getting nightmares?”
Christian shook his head. “Not that much anymore. A few here and there, but not as often as before.”
“That’s good.” The doctor smiled professionally. “Have they changed? Or are they still the same?”
Christian’s fingers curled slightly as he answered. "I've started seeing my mom’s face clearly in those dreams now. She left me on the street and disappeared, and I kept shouting her name for a long… long time." He shuddered slightly, his gaze flickering toward Ivy for a brief moment, embarrassment shadowing his face.
“Ever since I saw her again five years ago, I’ve been seeing her face clearly in my nightmares. Not just a black silhouette like before. And nowadays, it’s more vivid, like it just happened yesterday.”
"Christian, that’s a good sign," the doctor reassured him. "Don't look so worried. It’s actually great progress."
Christian's brows furrowed.
"It means you're healing. Your mind is finally processing and accepting what happened to you back then. This is good news."
Christian nodded, his gaze drifting to Ivy before shifting back to the doctor.
"I want to be cured soon," he admitted. "I don’t want to hurt Ivy or be a burden on her by getting sick again and again."
Ivy remained silent, even though every fiber of her being wanted to move—to close the distance between them, to wrap her arms around him, to hold him so tightly that he would never doubt his place in her life. She wanted to tell him, over and over again, that he could never be a burden to her.
Christian looked so vulnerable, so broken, completely at her mercy, as if his very existence depended on her presence.
And seeing him like that, her heart didn’t just ache, it shattered, piece by piece, leaving nothing but an unbearable pain in her chest.
The doctor took Christian’s hand, observing his muscles. “Have you experienced any paralytic attacks recently?”
“Not for the past few months,” Christian replied. “I’ve been fine since I came back to the country.”
The doctor’s gaze sharpened. “Since you came back? Or since something else?”
Christian hesitated for a second before answering truthfully. "Since meeting Ivy again."
Ivy’s fingers curled around the hem of her sweater as her eyes snapped to Christian, momentarily caught off guard.
She hadn’t expected to matter to him this much. A soft warmth spread through her chest, a feeling she wasn’t used to. It made her breath catch for a second. She looked down, her fingers gripping the sweater tighter.
When she looked back at him, her heart felt a little heavier, like it was both scared and relieved.
The doctor made some notes in his notebook before standing up and shaking Christian’s hand. “Mr. Evans, since you’re eager to recover, I strongly recommend attending all your sessions regularly. The more consistent you are, the sooner you'll heal."
Christian nodded. “I get it.”
He picked up his phone from the table and walked out of the room. On the way, he grabbed Ivy’s hand, pulling her along with him.
As they exited, his grip on her was firm. He then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her close as they made their way out of the building.
Then, a shaky voice called out from behind them.
“Christian?”
Christian halted. Both of them turned.
An elderly couple emerged from the hospital ward, leaning on each other for support. The man was tall but thin, his silver hair neatly combed back. Despite the tired lines on his face, his dark eyes were still sharp.
The woman, shorter and frailer, held onto his arm as she walked. Her silver hair was swept into a loose bun, soft wrinkles framing her gentle eyes. A thin scarf wrapped around her neck, and her sweater hung loosely over her small frame.
A rare smile softened Christian’s face. “David. Rita.” He immediately walked over, supporting them as they slowly moved toward the waiting chairs. “What are you both doing here?” he asked.
"Just a doctor’s check-up for old people’s sickness," Rita answered sweetly before glancing at Ivy. "New assistant?"
"My wife," Christian said at once, a proud smile stretching across his lips as he pulled Ivy closer. "Ivy, this is Rita. Say hi."
"Hello." Ivy smiled and shook their hands one by one.
The old couple beamed.
“Oh! How wonderful!” Rita reached out, shaking Ivy’s hand warmly. “You’re very beautiful.” Then she turned to Christian, smacking his arm lightly. “You didn’t tell us you were getting married?”
Christian chuckled. “I was going to invite you to be my groomsmen when we host the wedding. We haven't had the ceremony yet. Just signed the papers so far. A court marriage."
David nodded in approval. "Good thing. You look so much better now that you have a wife. Look at your face. No dark circles anymore."
Rita beamed, taking both Ivy and Christian’s hands and placing them together. “I hope you two stay happy and together for a very, very long time. You look perfect together.”
“Thank you.” Christian patted the back of her hand, his expression soft.
“We’ll get going now,” he added. “I’ll have someone drop you both off at the shelter.”
David waved him off. “No need. We can take a taxi.”
"Don't worry about it when I’m here," Christian said immediately. "Just come out when you're done, and there will be a car waiting for you outside."
"Alright then." Rita patted his hand again, smiling as she settled into the chair.
Christian turned back to Ivy, pulling her along as they left the hospital.
Outside, Samuel was already waiting by the car.
Spotting them, he opened the back door. Christian helped Ivy in first before rounding the car to get in himself.
As soon as the car started, he pulled her onto his lap instead of letting her sit in the seat.
Ivy had grown used to it by now, so when he tugged at her hand, she simply sighed and climbed into his lap, making him grin.
With her hips resting on his lap, his hands secured around her waist, his fingers traced lazy circles over her skin, making her shiver slightly.
Leaning back against the seat, he dipped his head beside hers and whispered, "Ivy, aren’t you curious about me?"
She pulled back slightly, searching his eyes. “Huh?”
“You never asked who Rita and David are.”
“Will you tell me?” she asked.
Christian’s gaze softened. "I'll tell you anything you ever ask about me." He leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek, making her squirm in his hold.
Ivy hesitated before asking, “Who are they?”
Christian frowned slightly as Ivy pulled away from his touch, his head not buried in her neck any longer, to look at his face. He leaned in again, but Ivy gently placed a hand on his face, holding him back. He looked into her eyes, his expression serious, though not pleased.
“They lost their family in a car accident last year,” Christian muttered. “Two sons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids. Everyone gone. I met them a few months later, they looked very broken. So I started helping them.”
“They live in a shelter?” Ivy’s voice was soft, tinged with pity. "You had said that you will have them dropped off at a shelter?"
Christian nodded. "They both run and take care of a shelter for homeless kids on the streets. It's privately owned by me." His hands tightened around Ivy as he looked into her eyes. "I don’t want more kids to suffer like I did. It’s a safe place for them. Rita and David live there now, taking care of it with others."
Ivy’s gaze softened, her heart aching for him. She had never imagined that someone like him—always smiling, pulling her close, treating her like a treasure—would have such a painful past. But as the layers of his life began to unfold, her heart broke for him. It was clear that he had never truly healed from the trauma of his childhood.
Yet, despite his fears, he was taking steps to fill the void that had broken him all those years ago.
Without thinking, Ivy leaned into his chest, her hands slipping around his neck. She tilted her head up, pressing her face into his neck, feeling his warmth surround her.
Christian, caught off guard, sat still, almost like a statue. This was the first time Ivy had initiated such intimacy, the first time she had hugged him like this.
His heart nearly stopped. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly as he pulled her closer, tightening his hold on her. His gaze burned with intensity as he buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent of her.
Ivy didn’t pull away. She stayed in his arms, her body pressing against his, and Christian felt a warmth settle in his chest. He could have stayed like this forever—her scent surrounding him, her soft breaths against his neck, her hair brushing his face. He buried his face deeper into her neck, inhaling every breath of her scent as if it were the only thing that mattered.
Slowly, his lips brushed against her skin, pressing soft, loving kisses along her neck, his tongue caressing her exposed skin with tender strokes.
The car ride home was silent for a long time, the only sound the gentle hum of the engine and their breaths, until Ivy’s phone rang, shattering the silence.
Ivy stirred slightly, starting to pull back, but Christian’s arms tightened around her. His voice was a soft whisper in her neck, a plea. “Please don’t. Please.”
Ivy hesitated, her body softening against him. After a moment, she surrendered to him, staying in his arms, her hands resting on his face and letting him nuzzle her neck with gentle kisses as she closed her eyes
However, a few minutes later, Ivy’s phone rang again. Ivy’s eyes fluttered open, her head turning, and gaze drifting toward her phone. She lifted her head, meeting Christian’s frown. His arms tightened even more, silently telling her he wasn’t letting go.
“Just let me check who it is. If it’s not important, I won’t pick up. I promise,” she said softly.
Christian’s frown deepened, but with a reluctant sigh, he loosened his grip just enough for her to lean forward and reach for her phone in her purse.
The screen flashed ‘Mom.’
Ivy picked up the call, pressing the phone to her ear. “Mom?”
“Ivy?” Patty’s voice trembled, fragile with distress.
Instantly, Ivy’s worry spiked. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Your dad,” Patty’s voice broke with a sob. “He’s in trouble.”