Chapter 39 Hard To Explain
Bergamini was at work, so he couldn’t drink much. I didn’t force him. We just chatted casually.
He said, “Ivory, remember when you lent me 20 thousand dollars? Well, I still have 8,000 of it left. Let me pay you back now. I’ll eam the rest from part–time jobs. My intership starts next semester Once I find a good company, I should be able to pay you back quickly.”
“Your Internship is coming up?” I was surprised.
“yeah, I graduate next June. Ash will be a senior next year too.” Benjamin reflected on how quickly time dies. “Time goes by so quickly,”
I stayed silent. It felt like yesterday I was still in school, pretending to run into Rowan. Now, I was almost 30.
Just then, I saw there people approaching us. I immediately recognized Ivan Chester and Jasper were with him. Damn date. Why were they also at this bar?
“Benjamin, you should get back to work,” I quickly said.
“Sure, Ivory. If you need anything, just call me.” Benjamin got up and left.
Ivan watched Benjamin leave, then tumed his gaze back to me.
Chester saw me and hesitated before deciding how to greet me. He and Jasper exchanged knowing glances, looking like two monkeys.
Chester and Jasper didn’t know Benjamin, probably thinking I was calling the bartender over for a drink
İvan sat down next to me, crossing his long legs casually, his sharp gaze examining me.
“Ivan, this spot isn’t great. Let’s sit over there,” Chester suggested, uneasy about sitting with me. He was the one who had given Rowan tips on pursuing Ashley
“you guys go ahead. I’ll join you shortly,” van beplied coolly.
“Alright “Chester and Jasper quickly found the farthest table from me
I found it amusing. Did they think I would do something to them?
“Another coincidence?” Ivan said, referring to me and Benjamin sitting togethers.
“Yeah, it really is.” I didn’t be, meeting his gaze steadily.
“Where’s Rowan?” Ivan glanced around, “I thought you left in his car?
1 shrugged. “I saw him run into his true love at the hotel. My mood was ruined, so I got out of his car and came here to drink. Then I into her boyfriend. Isn’t that acoincidence?”
Ivan’s feed. “So, that girl Ashley was at Vinestone Hotel?”
1 flashed a bright smile, “yes. Why? Are you interested in her?”
Ivan let out a mocking unile. “No, you’re overthinking ”
When would be be interested, then? I got tired of waiting
But I really had something to discuss with Ivan. I poured van a glass of wine. Alter contemplating for a moment, I spoke, “van, please don’t tell anyone especially Rowan, that i know Ashley and Berjamin.”
I forgot to emphasize this last time. Rowan’s phone call last night made me nervous. It wasn’t time to reveal my cards yet. I didn’t want things to spiral out of control.
“the asks why we’re close, how do I explain?” Ivan anticipated the issue. He knew town well,
well, aren’t you a doctor? What’s your specialty?” asked
“Cardiology,” Ivan answered
“Oh! Do, York, my stomach hurts. I might have gastritis. Please treat me!” 1 clutched my stomach, putting on
adran
dramatic act for a few seconds.
I saw Ivan’sually calm face darken, like he was possessed by a demon. With a frown, he said, “Your illness isn’t in my field.”
“When Benjamin was in the hospital, it wasn’t a heart issue either, and you still helped him,” Largued. “Doctors save lives. How can you pick and choose patients? You lack medical ethics”
“Ivory, are you an idiot?” van was speechless.
“If we don’t have a reason to meet, how will you explain to Rowant? Fine, I have stomach pain, you can’t treat that. But say I have an anhythmia, and you treated mr. You’re an adult, Can’t you tell a white lie? I was getting angry Ivandearly didn’t want to help me.
Chester and Jasper were watchinges. Emboldened by the alcohol, I got up and sat down next to han, looping my arm through his. “If you don’t help me, I’ll sit on your lap right now. You won’t be able to explain that away, will you?“*
“Ivery, behave yourself!” an angully shook off my hand and stood up.
“We can just tell Rowan we’ve been secretly seeing each other. That’ll explain why we’re so close,” I said, any face burning from the alcohol “No ethics, no brains..
H
Ivan was clearly embarrassed and angry.
ngry, his cheeks reddening slightly as he glared at me for a moment, Bealizing I was drunk, he tumed and strode toward Chester and jasper.
I dumped in my seat, feeling dizzy, I thought van had left me, but aminute later, he came back. He grabbed my ann and helped me out of the bar.
I was too Hipsy to see Chester and Jasper’s expressions, but they probably looked as shocked as joan da when she saw me get out of Rowan’s car
“ban, let me tell you.. “I me
‚ my mind drifting to memories from my past life. “Ashley isn’t all that special. There are plenty of toch in, the sea
2/2
Why are you so hung up on her? Look at me, I’ve moved on…”
These were the words I wanted to tell him before I died in my past life. Sacrificing so much for Ashley wasn’t worth it.
Ivan wasn’t like Roman. He was a good man and shouldn’t have ended up the way he did because of a plain woman. Most importantly, he shouldn’t have lost to
Ivan tamed to look at me, his eyes filled with complicated emotions, while I dozed off in the middle of my ramblings.
Little did I know that Iwan didn’t take me backto Windwill Estate Instead, he checked me into a hotel room. I only realized this the next morning when I awoke. Myphone had a WhatsApp message from fran. With one hand on my aching head, I rapped to open it.
hantested me, “Come to the hospital and make an appointment with the cardiology department. Choose me.”
[was endused for a moment, thencealed an agreed to help me keep this from Rowan. He even planned to go all out with the act.
I quickly seplied “olay, I’m coming right now!”