SOPHIA’S POV
The hospital shift that evening completely drained .
By the ti I finally stepped out of the operating wing, my shoulders ached badly and my head felt heavy from exhaustion. The ergency cases had been nonstop since morning, and several surgeries lasted much longer than expected.
Even my wolf felt tired.
I removed my gloves while walking through the corridor toward the staff elevator. My hair was slightly ssy now from the long shift, and my eyes burned from lack of rest.
Honestly... I just wanted sleep. But the mont I reached the hospital lobby, I froze slightly.
Lance stood there waiting.
He leaned casually beside the front desk while holding his phone in one hand.
The mont he saw , his expression softened imdiately.
“You look exhausted,” he said quietly.
I sighed tiredly. “I feel exhausted.”
His eyes moved over my face. Concern slowly appeared in his expression when he noticed how pale I still looked.
“You should be resting more.” He said.
I sighed “My patients won’t allow that.”
Lance’s presence always comforted lately.
“I haven’t eaten yet,” Lance said after a mont. “Co have dinner with .”
I hesitated briefly.
Part of genuinely wanted returning to Bianca’s apartnt imdiately, but another part of didn’t want sitting alone with my thoughts tonight either.....especially not after everything happening lately.
“Fine,” I agreed softly.
Lance opened the hospital door for with a smile.
“Good.”
The cold evening air hit my skin the mont we stepped outside.
For a few seconds, I simply breathed quietly.
And strangely enough...being beside Lance felt peaceful. There was no emotional pressure around him, no confusion and no painful mories constantly in my mind.
My wolf relaxed slightly too.
Lance noticed my silence while walking beside toward the parking area.
“Tough day?” he asked.
I laughed weakly “You have no idea.”
-
About forty minutes later, we arrived at one of the most luxurious restaurants downtown.
The place overlooked the river beautifully through massive glass walls while soft piano music played quietly in the background.
Lance pulled my chair out gently before sitting across from .
The waiter arrived shortly after. We ordered dinner quietly, then we started talking.
Lance mostly asked about work while listening to every answer I gave. Unlike Damien, he actually paid attention when people spoke.
At so point during dinner, I even found myself relaxing slightly, actually relaxing.
My wolf softened too. Then suddenly, she beca alert.....very alert.
My entire body stiffened instantly. It was because I slled him before I even saw him.
Zade.
The scent hit my senses hard from across the restaurant the mont he entered. My wolf reacted imdiately inside .
I froze completely while staring toward the entrance.
And there he was. Zade walked into the restaurant wearing black from head to toe. His dark coat hung perfectly against his broad fra. Several people instantly turned to stare at him the mont he entered.
But he wasn’t alone. A woman walked beside him. She was beautiful and familiar. I recognized her imdiately - Celeste Laurent.
She was one of the biggest actresses in the country. She had long dark hair and an elegant figure. She was the type of woman magazines constantly praised for her beauty.
She held Zade’s arm naturally while smiling up at him.
And worst of all... Zade looked relaxed beside her.
My chest tightened at the sight of them. My wolf instantly beca distressed.
Lance noticed my expression imdiately.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I forced a smile “Nothing.”
But unfortunately...at that exact mont, Zade looked up. Our eyes t across the restaurant instantly.
Everything inside twisted. His expression changed the mont he saw sitting with Lance. The relaxed look on his face disappeared completely.
Celeste noticed his distraction and followed his gaze curiously. Then slowly smiled. And sohow...that smile irritated imdiately.
Zade continued staring at several seconds longer before finally looking away coldly.
Then he guided Celeste toward a table extrely close to ours.
My stomach dropped. Lance noticed too.
His eyes narrowed “Was that intentional?”
“Yes,” I answered flatly.
I knew Zade well enough already. It was very intentional.
The entire atmosphere around beca tense.
I suddenly couldn’t focus properly anymore. My wolf had beco far too aware of Zade’s presence nearby now. Every movent he made pulled at my senses painfully. I could sll Celeste’s perfu all over him too.
That hurt more than I wanted to admit.
Lance quietly studied for a mont.
“Do you want to leave?”
I shook my head “No.”
No matter how much Zade hurt lately...my wolf still reacted to him, and I hated it.
A few minutes later, the waiter arrived at Zade’s table with wine.
That was when things beca worse.
Celeste laughed softly before leaning directly against Zade’s shoulder. Her fingers rested comfortably against his chest while she whispered sothing into his ear.
Zade smirked then he deliberately looked at .
My heartbeat beca uneven. He was doing this on purpose - Every single thing.
I picked up my water calmly instead. Inside, I felt like my emotions were slowly being ripped apart.
We continued eating silently. But across the restaurant, Zade’s eyes barely left .The actress beside him eventually noticed too.
She picked up a strawberry from the dessert plate before holding it toward Zade playfully.
“Open your mouth.” She teased.
Zade accepted the strawberry from her fingers while still staring directly at .
My chest burned painfully.
The actress giggled then rested her chin against his shoulder again.
“Good husband.”
The word hit like a slap.
Husband?
My breathing nearly faltered for one second. Even though logically I knew it probably ant nothing...it still hurt.
I quickly looked away before my emotions beca too obvious. Across from , Lance’s expression had completely darkened now.
“He’s provoking you intentionally.” He said.
“I know.”
Lance continued the conversation normally. We talked about dicine, about university politics, about Professor Archer’s impossible standards. Lance even told a ridiculous story about Marcel accidentally insulting an entire conference panel once.
Eventually, I laughed softly.
And the mont I did, I physically felt Zade’s attention on across the room.
I made the mistake of glancing toward him again. It was a huge mistake.
Zade was still staring directly at . But this ti, his expression looked dangerous.
Cold jealousy burned visibly in his eyes while Celeste continued talking beside him.
Zade reached up and brushed his thumb slowly across the actress’s lower lip. The movent looked deeply intimate.
I looked away again. My wolf growled softly now.
Why was he doing this? Why deliberately hurt further? Hadn’t things between us already beco painful enough?
By the ti dinner finally ended, I was exhausted emotionally.
I just to leave.
Lance stood first before helping with my coat gently.
I grabbed my bag while trying not looking toward Zade’s table again.
My heart twisted painfully inside .
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