The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 810

Rosetta jumped, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at her enraged son, too frightened to even breathe.

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Soon after, The Windsor Group officially declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its assets.

The news came as no surprise to Ivy.

"Baillie's divorced, the company's bankrupt, and I heard they're drowning in debt," Boyd Ludwig reported at dinner, a veritable font of gossip. "They don't even have a place to live. Baillie had to sell his car and is now driving some second-hand domestic electric vehicle. I wonder if he's going to start driving for a ride-share service…"

Ivy had seen some of this online, but the detail about the second-hand car was new to her.

"His ex-wife is worth billions. Didn't she give him anything in the divorce?" Ivy asked, curious.

"Not a penny," Boyd said. "I'm sure they had a prenup. Mrs. Cooper is no fool. She spent decades as a high-society wife; she knows how to protect her assets."

Jamison noticed the thoughtful expression on Ivy's face and shot Boyd a look. "That's enough. Let's just eat."

On the way home, Jamison glanced at his wife several times.

"You're thinking about helping them, aren't you?" he asked quietly as they neared their apartment.

Ivy shook her head. "I'm not that much of a saint. They brought all of this on themselves."

It was just that she had told them to call her if they were willing to accept her arrangements. But weeks had passed, and they hadn't called. It seemed they had found some pride after all, preferring poverty to bowing their heads to her. If that was the case, why should she help? It would just be throwing good money after bad.

"You looked so unhappy, I thought you felt sorry for them."

"There's a reason they're in this mess."

Jamison nodded and let the subject drop.

As they pulled into their complex, Ivy noticed the large red lanterns hanging by the entrance. "It's already New Year's," she said with a sigh.

"It is. I was going to ask what you wanted to do for the holiday. I can take a week off. Should we go on a trip somewhere? Get away from it all?"

Ivy's mind drifted for only a second, but it was long enough for her pajamas to mysteriously disappear.

Jamison's five-o'clock shadow was a testament to his vitality. He could shave clean in the morning, and by evening, a rough stubble would reappear. He nuzzled his chin against her neck, the light scratching sending a shiver through her. She squirmed, trying to escape the electrifying sensation.

"Jamison…" She said his name, but it came out as a soft, cat-like mewl. "Stop it, I'm tired today…"

It was the end of the year, and work was hectic. Even as an intern, her schedule was packed. She had only managed a short nap at lunch before being woken by a phone call. She was genuinely exhausted and just wanted to sleep.

Jamison, who had been full of enthusiasm, paused. He looked down at her, heard the genuine weariness in her voice, and sighed. "Alright. I'll let you off the hook tonight."

He pulled her clothes back into place and held her quietly.

They were so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body, the physical evidence of his desire. The fact that he could stop, even at this point, just because she said she was tired, filled her with a deep, warming sense of being cherished and respected.

She smiled sweetly in his arms.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked, his voice laced with affection.