Chapter 118

Evelyn had kissed him. And not only had Nathan failed to push her away instantly, but worse—he had surrendered to the kiss, losing all control. How could he have been so weak against Evelyn? The memory of her mocking gaze mere moments before made his chest constrict with irritation.

Drawing a steadying breath, Nathan stormed out of the room with long, purposeful strides, his mood dark as thunder.

Inside the bathroom, Evelyn braced herself against the sink, her face burning crimson. She turned the faucet on and splashed icy water onto her skin repeatedly, willing the heat to fade.

What had she done? She had kissed Nathan. Boldly. Recklessly. And it had been her first kiss!

The realization sent another wave of humiliation crashing over her, her cheeks flaming even hotter. She gripped the edge of the sink, forcing herself to steady her breathing.

It had just been an impulsive act, born from sheer frustration with Nathan’s infuriating indifference and maddeningly cool demeanor. That was all.

She had only wanted to see if he would break—if the ice in his veins would thaw, even just a fraction. But rationalizing it did nothing to calm the frantic rhythm of her heart. Her fingertips brushed against her lips, still tingling from the warmth of Nathan’s kiss. Shaking her head, Evelyn stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. The cold water cascaded over her, gradually cooling her flushed skin and quieting the storm inside her.

That night, Nathan didn’t return to the room, and Evelyn, despite her exhaustion, found her thoughts too tangled to surrender to sleep. After what felt like an eternity, she finally drifted into a restless slumber.

The next morning, the shrill sound of her alarm jolted Evelyn awake. She bolted upright, fumbling to silence it, her face instantly burning. She had dreamed about Nathan last night. And not just about him—but about the two of them, tangled together in passion. The vividness of the dream made her ears flush with mortification. Shoving the thought away, she scrambled out of bed, freshened up, and dressed in a hurry. Skipping breakfast, she left the house and drove straight to the hospital.

Arriving early, she headed to the cafeteria to grab a quick meal. The moment she stepped inside, she sensed something off. Conversations stuttered to a halt as eyes flicked toward her, and gazes lingered as she walked to the counter. Evelyn frowned slightly, puzzled by the sudden attention. She quickly bought her breakfast and found an empty table.

As she began eating, murmurs from nearby tables caught her attention.

"That’s her, isn’t it? The new doctor from the Cardiac Surgery Department—Evelyn Hartley?"

"Yeah, that’s her."

"The one with ties to Mr. Holloway."

"She’s stunning, no doubt. No wonder she’s getting special treatment."

"It’s ridiculous. The rest of us had to pass the hospital’s residency exam. But for her? A pretty face is all it takes to secure a permanent position here."

"My cousin has tried twice to pass that exam! I thought this hospital was supposed to be fair. Guess not."

"Exactly. And I heard her grades in med school were barely passing. How competent can she really be?"

"Keep it down! If she hears you and complains to Mr. Holloway, we’re finished."

"Right, let’s just drop it."

Evelyn’s grip on her fork tightened, her appetite vanishing.