The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 261

I had no idea when Ferris Sterling arrived.

Judging by the awkward, hesitant look on Zoey Zeller's face, I guessed they had overheard my little speech.

But so what if they had? I was merely stating the truth, mimicking Ferris's usual strictly-business tone.

It was exactly like the conversation they just had in the lounge.

With that in mind, I quietly looked away, just in time to hear Lucille ask, "Dr. Sterling, when do you think Silas will be out of the ICU? Will it be another couple of days?"

"It depends on the patient's recovery," Ferris replied. His voice was steady and completely devoid of warmth. Then, he shifted his focus. "Though I see our anesthesiologist is in a rather leisurely mood, enjoying breakfast here. Did you forget it was time for rounds?"

He was clearly picking a fight.

I obviously kept track of the time for my own patients, especially when the patient was my uncle, Silas.

I fired back, "There are still three minutes until rounds begin. I don't believe I'm late, Director Sterling."

I made sure to look right at him when I said it, a smile lingering at the corners of my eyes to show my "respect" for his authority.

Ferris seemed momentarily choked up. A flash of displeasure crossed his features, and he simply stared at me with a predatory gaze. Standing beside him, Zoey apparently couldn't hold back. She explained in her usual soft, sweet tone, "You might not know this, Selena, but because the patient's condition is special, Ferris was just being diligent and prepared early. Please don't misunderstand him."

As she spoke, her eyelashes fluttered under the fluorescent blue light. The light pink polish on her nails was faintly visible through her surgical gloves, looking like forbidden flowers blooming on sterile drapes.

I just realized she had put on sterile scrubs too.

Thinking back to their conversation in the lounge last night—where they were clearly figuring out how to dodge any surgical risks—and now hearing them spout these high-and-mighty excuses right to our faces, I found it absurd. They looked like clowns tap-dancing in a high-voltage magnetic field.

Putting it nicely, he was following protocol, but...

My gaze fell on Zoey standing right beside Ferris, and I scoffed inwardly.

"If I remember correctly, Director Sterling, Dr. Zeller isn't on the surgical team either, right?" I glanced at the younger woman, noting the surgical gloves she had already put on. "Since she's going in to observe, one more doctor wouldn't hurt. As the patient's family, I have no objections to Dr. Lennox joining."

The man clenched his jaw, the lines of his face pulling taut. He let out a dark laugh. "So the patient's family is reaching into the Department of Neurosurgery to make decisions for me now?"

He was still using that aggressive, overbearing tone.

He was right. Neurosurgery was his domain, which was exactly why he could blatantly disrespect Leon right in front of us while openly favoring Zoey.