"Thank you for dinner, Sister-in-law!" Aaron said enthusiastically, looking more excited than grateful.

Ivy shot him a flat look in response.

After leaving the mall without buying anything, Ivy had asked Xander to stop by a nearby food stall. There, she bought several takeout dishes and, most importantly, Leo’s favorite banana smoothie.

The three of them had returned home and were now finishing dinner together.

"Mommy, guess what?" Leo said excitedly between bites. "Today, my teacher gave me a thumbs-up during practice for our school skit. She even said I did a really good job!"

"Really?" Ivy smiled warmly. "Now you’ve made me even more excited to watch it."

"You will, Mommy!" Leo giggled. "And I’m going to be the best one there."

"I’m sure you will."

Leo beamed before opening his smoothie and taking a large sip.

Across the table, Xander finished his meal and set down his utensils.

Then he looked at Aaron.

"Meet me in my study."

Aaron immediately straightened.

"Sure."

Xander stood and was about to leave when his gaze shifted to Ivy.

"Don’t fall asleep before I come back."

The words sounded innocent enough, but the meaningful look he gave her made Ivy nearly choke on her drink.

Aaron blinked.

Then he looked at Ivy.

Then at Xander.

Then back at Ivy.

His expression gradually transformed into complete bewilderment.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Unfortunately for him, Xander noticed.

"Dare say a word," Xander warned coolly, "and I’ll personally send you back to your apartment tonight."

Aaron immediately raised both hands in surrender.

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were about to."

Aaron sighed dramatically.

"Being the younger brother in this family is hard."

Ignoring him, Xander headed upstairs.

Aaron reluctantly followed behind.

The moment the two brothers disappeared from sight, Ivy let out a quiet breath.

She turned toward Leo, only to find the boy staring at her instead of drinking his smoothie.

His big eyes were filled with curiosity.

Ivy instantly felt her ears warm.

"Hehe..." she laughed awkwardly. "Your father likes joking around sometimes."

Leo blinked.

Then another blink followed.

For a moment, Ivy thought he had actually believed her.

Then a knowing smile slowly spread across his face.

A smile far too intelligent for a child his age.

Without exposing her, he simply nodded and returned to drinking his smoothie.

The satisfied little grin on his face, however, made it obvious that he understood far more than he was letting on.

Ivy suddenly felt even more embarrassed.

This child is definitely Xander’s son, she thought helplessly.

***

[Study Room]

"What do you think about this case? Does the patient have a chance of surviving?"

Xander sat behind his desk as he handed a file to Aaron.

Aaron took it and immediately began reviewing the medical reports.

The room fell silent except for the occasional rustle of paper.

Several minutes passed before Aaron finally closed the file and looked up.

"To be honest, the chances aren’t very good."

His expression turned serious.

"The patient has already relapsed once despite undergoing two major surgeries. The body is becoming less responsive to treatment, and every relapse makes recovery more difficult."

Aaron paused before adding,

"I’m not saying it’s impossible. But if we’re talking purely from a medical standpoint, the odds aren’t in her favor."

As he spoke, he noticed a brief flicker in Xander’s eyes.

Concern.

The realization made Aaron narrow his gaze.

"Brother," he said slowly, setting the file down, "who exactly is this patient?"

Xander didn’t hesitate.

"Logan Mortini’s wife. Hailey."

Understanding immediately dawned on Aaron’s face.

"Ah."

He leaned back in his chair.

"That explains it."

A faint sigh escaped him.

"That man is still dragging you into his messes, isn’t he?"

Xander gave a slight nod.

"Usually, I’d agree with you."

Aaron raised an eyebrow.

"But?"

"But this time he had a legitimate reason."

Xander leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

"Taylor reported that Logan left for Country P before our scheduled meeting. At first, I thought he was avoiding me again."

"And he wasn’t?"

"No."

Xander’s expression darkened.

"He went there to meet Dr. Merik."

The name immediately caught Aaron’s attention.

His relaxed posture disappeared.

"Dr. Merik?"

"Yes."

Aaron frowned.

"If Logan managed to get a meeting with him, then he must be desperate."

Everyone in their field knew who Dr. Merik was.

The man rarely accepted patients and was considered one of the world’s leading specialists in complex and recurring cases.

"He is desperate," Xander replied quietly.

Aaron glanced at the medical file again. For the first time, he looked at it differently.

Not as a case. But as a husband desperately trying to save his wife.

"So?" Aaron asked. "Did Dr. Merik agree to take her case?"

Xander’s gaze shifted toward the window.

"He did."

Aaron let out a slow breath.

"Then why are you still worried?"

A faint, humorless smile appeared on Xander’s face.

"Because even Dr. Merik couldn’t guarantee anything."

The room fell silent.

Aaron looked down at the reports once more.

After a moment, he closed the file.

"If even Merik isn’t confident, then Logan must already know how serious this is."

"He does."

"And yet he’s still fighting."

Xander nodded.

"He’s not the type to give up."

Aaron couldn’t argue with that.

A man willing to cross countries and exhaust every possible option for a single chance at saving someone wasn’t a man ready to surrender.

For a moment, neither brother spoke.

Then Aaron leaned forward.

"So what exactly do you need from me?"

Xander slid another document across the desk.

"I want a second opinion."

Aaron looked at the folder before him.

"And if my opinion ends up being the same?"

Xander’s expression remained calm.

"Then at least we’ll know we’ve explored every possibility."

Aaron stared at his brother for a few seconds before slowly nodding.

"Alright."

He picked up the file again.

"I’ll go through everything from the beginning."

For the first time since the conversation started, some of the tension in Xander’s eyes eased.

"Thank you."

Aaron smirked.

"Don’t thank me yet. If I find a treatment option everyone else missed, I expect full credit."

A small chuckle escaped Xander.

"You’re still impossible."

"And yet you keep calling me."

The brothers shared a brief smile before Aaron opened the file once more and returned to work.

***

Meanwhile, Ivy continued waiting in the bedroom.

The moment the door opened and Xander stepped inside, she immediately sat up.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

She had assumed the conversation between the brothers would last no more than five minutes. When ten minutes had passed, then fifteen, her curiosity had only grown.

Xander closed the door behind him and loosened the collar of his shirt before walking toward the bed.

"It was about someone I’m trying to get close to."

His tone was casual, as if he were discussing the weather.

Unfortunately, Ivy interpreted his words very differently.

Her expression instantly stiffened.

"Someone you’re trying to get close to?"

Xander glanced at her.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Slowly, Ivy folded her arms.

"And just who is this person, Xander?"

The suspicious look in her eyes almost made him laugh.

Realizing what was going through her head, a chuckle escaped him.

Ivy’s frown deepened.

"Did I say something funny?"

Instead of answering, Xander simply looked at her.

That only made her more annoyed.

Before he could react, Ivy reached forward and grabbed the front of his shirt.

"Listen carefully, Xander Emerson."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"If you’re planning to bring another woman into your life, you’d better warn her about me first."

Xander raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"I am not sharing."

Ivy pulled him slightly closer.

"Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever."

For a brief moment, silence filled the room.

Then Xander’s lips curved upward.

The amusement in his eyes became impossible to hide.

"You’re jealous."

"I am not jealous."

"You just threatened a woman who doesn’t exist."

Ivy froze. Realizing she might have reacted a little too quickly, she stubbornly lifted her chin.

"That isn’t the point."

"It sounds exactly like the point."

A helpless laugh escaped Xander.

Meanwhile, Ivy’s embarrassment slowly transformed into irritation.

"I’m fine as long as she’s not a woman."

Her words only made Xander laugh harder.

Before Ivy could protest, he wrapped an arm around her waist and fell back onto the bed, taking her with him.

A startled yelp escaped her lips. The next thing she knew, she was lying on top of him.

"Xander!"

Instinctively, she tried to push herself up, but Xander’s hand moved to the back of her head and gently pressed her against his chest.

The steady sound of his heartbeat filled her ears.

"Xander, you are—"

"Just let me hold you for a while."

His quiet interruption immediately stopped her, and the way his arm around her was firm, almost as if he were seeking comfort rather than giving it, made her ease instantly.