No Renewal My Contract Husband (Nella and Alfred) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Her Excuses.

Finished

Nella was getting impatient under his intense gaze. She was about to urge him again when Alfred asked, “Nella, you don’t want to see me?”

The impatience in her eyes froze instantly. Without thinking, she shook her head. “No.”

“You’re a surgeon. Nobody books a procedure right at lunchtime.”

Alfred’s tone cut through her flimsy excuse like a knife.

Her stomach sank. She wanted to argue, but this lie wasn’t going to hold.

“Or are you saying you switched out of your scrubs in the middle of surgery, dashed to the cafeteria for lunch, then ran back to finish the operation?”

His mocking words hit her by surprise.

Before she could respond, he added, “Nella, you’re disgusted with me.”

It wasn’t a question-he was stating a fact.

His eyes darkened, fixed on her calm, unreadable face.

The thought made him stumble inside, unsure what he was feeling.

Defeat, panic, uneasiness, confusion-every emotion crashed together inside him.

Nella’s face stiffened when she heard that.

Being seen through made her feel guilty and embarrassed, and that familiar irritation she’d been holding onto for days flared up again.

She didn’t bother making up more excuses. She just brushed him off with a flat answer. “If that’s what you think, I can’t change it.”

That simple reply seemed to trap all the anger he’d been holding inside, leaving him stuck and

tense.

He let out a short, sharp laugh. “So now you don’t even want to make an excuse?”

Nella barely moved her lips. She didn’t have the energy to argue. She just said flatly, “No. I’ve got work. Tons of patient files for surgery are still stacked in my office.”

Alfred stared at her calm voice and felt like he’d hit a pillow. There was no fight in her at all.

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9:47 Fri, Jan 9

Chapter 28 Her Excuses

She wouldn’t argue or explain.

She didn’t even bother making up a halfway believable excuse.

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He almost asked if she was still mad that he left her in Glacieroth to see Zoey.

But what was the point? Her answer wouldn’t change from last night anyway.

Finally, he sighed and handed her badge back. “Forget it. Since you’re busy, how about dinner then?”

He was giving in again, careful and tentative.

Nella didn’t want to deal with him. “I’ve got the night shift. Eat by yourself, or—”

“Nella.”

His voice went low and serious.

When she looked at him, he took a deep breath, holding back the heat in his chest. “Even on night shift, you’ve got to eat.”

She had no idea why he was so stuck on this one meal. In the end, she gave in. “Fine.”

He relaxed slightly when she agreed. “Good. I’ll pick you up after work.”

She just nodded, not refusing. “I’m going back to my department.”

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9:47 Fri, Jan 9

No Renewal My Contract Husband