I shoved the ring box into Adrian’s hand and said, “Hold onto this properly. Katelyn’s still waiting for you.”
“But this is for you,” he said.
His words caused everyone to gasp collectively.
“Thank you.” I smiled gently. “But it’s not going to happen.”
Another collective gasp sounded, followed by whispers.
“What does she mean by that?”
“Could it be that the two of them…”
“Um… We have other matters to attend to. You two stay and chat.”
Soon, the office cleared out, leaving just Adrian and me.
Adrian looked at me, waiting for me to say something, like I usually did.
I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and asked, “How about we grab something to eat?”
He tried to steady his breath. “Aren’t you going to explain yourself?”
I smiled at him. “Let’s not talk about that. What do you say we go to that steakhouse where we first met?”
“It’s really hard to get a chance to sit down and have a proper chat with you,” I said, sitting across from Adrian. I handed him the menu.
Instead of taking it, he just looked at me. “So, are you planning to leave for Solaria by yourself?
I ordered a few dishes we used to love and returned the menu to the waiter.
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
“Are you still mad at me?”
I paused for a moment, then smiled. “Of course not. Katelyn grew up with you, and she’s also your patient. So, I understand it all, Dr. Randall.
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“But as a woman, I must remind you that she’s just had a miscarriage. Her emotions can be unstable at a time like this. You have to be careful, as she might develop postpartum depression.”
He pressed his lips tightly together, his gaze growing more complicated.
I continued, “I’ve packed everything that belonged to me in the house. I left notes on your things. If you can’t find something, just look for the labels. And for the gas stove, I’ve mentioned it many times before. Whenever you get a call from her, you’ll just ignore everything and often forget to turn off the gas.
“So, just be more careful from now on. Or maybe you could have her stay at your place. Hasn’t she been living alone ever since she returned to Hadivax? I’ve already tidied up my old room. You and her-
“Stop talking,” Adrian interrupted, suddenly gripping my hand tightly. He gritted his teeth, the corners of his eyes tinged with a deep red, as if he were struggling to hold something back. Please, just stop.”
I patted the back of his hand. “It’s okay. She’s your patient.”
“Is that so?” He gave a self–deprecating smile, his eyes still red as he looked at me. “But I’m also ill because of a certain someone, and that doctor seems to want to leave me behind.”
“Dr. Randall, you’re a doctor too. You shouldn’t have to ask me what to do.”
His hand trembled slightly in mine, and his breathing was uneven.
I’d just repeated what he told me not long ago when he was about to care for Katelyn.
The food arrived, and the waiter quickly retreated when he sensed the tension at our table.
I handed Adrian the cutlery and casually remarked, “They’ve changed the recipe for the buffalo wings at this place. Try them and see if they still taste how they used to.”
He didn’t move, so I fed him a bite.
I asked, “How is it?”
“Bitter,”
“How can that be? I think it tastes quite nice.”
He grabbed my hand. “What I mean is, don’t go.”
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I had said the exact two words to him countless times, but he had never said them to me. We just stared at each other, and for a moment, it felt like time had stopped.
The proud, aloof Adrian was now red–eyed,
Then, his phone rang. It was Katelyn calling.
I smiled and gestured to the phone with my chin. “If you don’t go to her this time, I won’t leave.
He looked at me, then answered the call.
