My Secret Husband Is My Cold Boss novel Chapter 85

"I told you right after I finished my undergrad that I didn't need you to take care of me anymore."

"You were the one who insisted on it, just to ease your own guilt."

Kimberly clutched her chest, looking heartbroken as she shook her head. "Wendy, why would you twist my intentions like that?"

"I just wanted you two to get along so you'd have more family in this world later on."

"But did you ever ask if I actually wanted that family?" Wendy stared her down.

Kimberly choked on her words.

Wendy said, "I have my own family now."

"By marriage. Legally, he is my next of kin. Compared to any other 'family,' I'd prefer it if you at least showed some respect to my husband."

Kimberly stood there in silence for a long time.

She looked at Wendy.

Stared for a good while.

Finally, she gave a thoughtful nod and let out a dry laugh.

"I was wondering why you suddenly had such an attitude with me today."

"When it comes down to it, this is all because Willa gave Sampson a hard time, isn't it?"

There was no getting through to her. Wendy was too exhausted to even try anymore.

But Kimberly wasn't finished.

She looked at Wendy, her chest heaving, before finally saying, "Wendy, you've really disappointed me."

"Sneaking off to get married was bad enough. But marrying a man whose career is an absolute failure? Is this the partner you chose for yourself?"

Lunch break was over.

Colleagues were starting to file back into the hallway.

Wendy and Kimberly had been talking inside the office, and no one had intended to walk in on them.

Unfortunately, Kimberly's voice was too loud. The office doors were thin, and her final sentence drifted clearly into the corridor.

Outside, everyone exchanged awkward glances and instinctively backed away from the door.

They waited until Kimberly finally left.

Only then did the waiting doctors slowly push open the door and return to their desks.

Unbothered, Wendy was typing up patient charts.

A few of her colleagues exchanged looks, and finally, Victor Vance, whose desk was closest, slid his chair over.

"Chief Gates, everything okay?"

Knowing there was no way Kimberly's voice had gone unheard, Wendy didn't try to hide it. She shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Good."

Victor wasn't exactly great at comforting people. He rubbed his nose, thinking hard for a few seconds.

Finally, he forced out, "Well, congratulations on the marriage."

"Thanks."

-

But compared to the spread of hot, home-cooked food in front of her...

What kind of miserable existence had she been living before this?!

Sampson took a small sip of soup and looked at her. "I'm heading out of town tomorrow and I'll be back on Tuesday. I'm going to Austen for the Annual Cardiothoracic Surgery Conference."

Every winter, top medical organizations hosted these single-discipline symposiums.

It was an opportunity for specialists from all over the country to discuss complex cases and share advancements.

As one of the nation's premier young cardiothoracic surgeons, Sampson naturally received an invitation.

He was reporting his schedule to her, so Wendy gave a nod.

"Okay."

Replying with just one word felt a bit too cold.

Wendy added, "Do you need me to help you pack anything?"

It was purely a polite offer.

They hadn't truly moved in together in a practical sense, so Sampson didn't need her help with his personal life.

And she definitely couldn't help him with his professional work.

"No."

Sampson finished speaking, and adopting Wendy's pattern, added, "Actually, yes."

"If you aren't working this Sunday, go have dinner with my parents."