The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 197

By the time we finished giving our statements, the city lights were already glowing against the night sky.

Leon and I helped Julian out of the precinct, his leg heavily bandaged.

But the moment we stepped outside, we were startled by a massive swarm of reporters waiting by the doors.

"Is that Dr. Hayes? Dr. Hayes, you're a true angel in white! Could we get a quick interview?"

I thought I was hallucinating. I followed the reporter's gaze and realized he was definitely talking to me.

But since when was I associated with being an "angel in white"?

Panicking, Leon grabbed us and dragged us back through the precinct to sneak out the back door, demanding to know what Julian had done.

"Okay, listen," Julian explained quickly. "I had a hidden camera pinned to my jacket. When those thugs pinned me to the ground, the lens happened to be pointed straight at the roof. It didn't catch Selena's gorgeous face, but it recorded her entire epic speech perfectly."

I asked in confusion, "And then?"

"I had it clipped and uploaded," Julian said proudly. "But don't worry, I made sure none of your personal information was exposed."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Leon smacked the back of his head. "You bastard, you backstabbed a friend for clicks, didn't you?"

"I did it for her own good! Look at how horribly the internet was treating her," Julian argued righteously. "Nothing slaps the haters in the face harder than the cold, hard truth. Right, Selena?"

Watching the two of them bicker made me burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright, dinner is on me," Julian said apologetically, dodging Leon's hands. "I know this amazing Classic Continental Cuisine place. I know the owner, the food is incredible."

Leon looked at me. "Are you up for it, Selena?"

It smelled fresh and sweet.

Thinking back on the chaotic hell of the past few days, I picked up my glass. "To our friendship."

"Don't leave me out," Leon grabbed his own glass. "To justice."

The cool, refreshing liquid burned pleasantly down my throat, and for the first time in days, an overwhelming sense of liberation washed over me.

"But seriously, Selena, your acting was absolutely terrifying," Julian said, glancing at me exaggeratedly. "You have no idea. When you dangled your foot in the air, Leon looked like he was about to have a heart attack from the sheer panic."

Acting?

I chewed on the word silently, knowing perfectly well that it hadn't been an act at all.