Chapter 6

The next day.

I returned to his room to conduct post-operative examinations.

Upon entering, I found him alone in the room; Tiffany was nowhere to be seen.

A post-op patient has limited mobility and needs care, so someone should at least be by their side.

I recorded Alex’s data, frowning as I asked him,

“Why are you alone? Isn’t anyone looking after you?”

Alex was propped up on the bed, his lips pale, his voice hoarse.

“She went to get me some food.”

No sooner had he spoken.

Tiffany walked into the room, carrying a bowl of spicy wontons, steaming hot and fragrant.

She held up the bag in her hand, enthusiastically showing it to Alex.

“Alex, I bought your favorite wontons! I waited in line for ages to get them!”

Alex’s already pale face stiffened.

Looking at the wontons, topped with a thick layer of chili oil, I still felt compelled to remind her from a doctor’s perspective.

“Ms. Tiffany, he just had surgery. His diet should preferably be bland.”

Upon hearing my words, Tiffany’s eyes immediately reddened, and her face showed displeasure.

“Jade, what do you mean? Are you just jealous of me taking care of Alex? Don’t try to stir up trouble between us!”

*Don’t listen to the doctor, then suffer the consequences.*

I was speechless and couldn’t be bothered to say more, so I just looked down and wrote in the patient’s chart.

It was Alex who lowered his eyes and reached out to hold Tiffany’s hand.

“Tiffany, my stomach isn’t really up to spicy food right now. You should eat those wontons yourself. I can order some porridge for delivery.”

Tiffany’s voice wavered with hurt.

“But I went all that way to get them for you, and now you won’t eat them…”

Alex immediately soothed her.

“Don’t cry. When you cry, my heart aches.”

The hand holding my chart trembled.

He had said those exact words to me countless times before.

When I was curled up in pain from my period, when I was upset because he was late for a date, when he hurt me during intimacy…

Every time, he would gently hold me in his arms, tenderly kiss away the tears from my eyes, and then tell me,

“Don’t cry. When you cry, my heart aches.”

But now, he was using those very words to comfort another woman, right in front of me.

I didn't know how I managed to leave the room.

It wasn't until I was in the hallway outside that Dr. Liam, a colleague, called out to me.

“Dr. Jade, could you help me look at this patient’s CT scan? Something feels off.”

I walked over, about to take the report from his hand.

Unexpectedly, a child suddenly darted out of a nearby room and ran straight into me.

Unprepared, I stumbled back a few steps, right into Dr. Liam’s arms.

Dr. Liam instinctively steadied me.

I regained my balance and opened my mouth to say,

“Tha…”

Before I could finish, Tiffany’s surprised shriek came from nearby.

“Jade! How can you be hugging another man during work hours! What kind of behavior is that?”

I frowned and turned my head.

Alex, still in his hospital gown, stood with Tiffany at the room entrance, his face utterly dark.

Tiffany, however, glared over here and sneered again,

“Alex, look! She made you leave with nothing, but she was probably the one who cheated first!”

My face tightened.

Dr. Liam beside me quickly frowned and explained,

“What are you talking about? That was just an accident.”

But Alex gave a cold, mocking laugh.

“How convenient. How did Jade just *happen* to fall right into your arms?”

Seeing that Dr. Liam was about to explain further, I stopped him.

“Dr. Liam, please go on with your work.”