The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 336

Zoey was overthinking it.

I wasn't angry, and I certainly wasn't upset over some random comment she made.

I was just suffocating. The crushing pain in my chest felt like a massive net, wrapping tightly around my heart and pulling until I couldn't draw a breath.

I didn't blame Zoey.

I didn't even blame Ferris.

The only person I blamed was myself. Over eight years, I had allowed Ferris to become my entire world. I blamed my own incompetence. After three years of marriage and exhausting every effort, I had failed to thaw his frozen heart. Instead, by loving him so blindly, I had handed him the power to destroy me. I had given him the ammunition to casually humiliate and degrade me right in front of the woman he actually loved.

"Selena, are you okay?" Leon caught up with me, firmly supporting my arm as he guided me toward the restroom. He frowned, radiating righteous indignation. "I knew this so-called apology dinner was a setup. That's exactly why I crashed it, and I was right. Ferris is completely heartless!"

So he had followed us on purpose. It hadn't been a coincidence at all.

My gratitude toward him swelled. He was truly a friend bonded by fire, stepping in solely because he was terrified I'd be mistreated and bullied.

But knowing Ferris's arrogant temperament and his overwhelming protectiveness of Zoey, Leon's presence wasn't going to stop Ferris from tearing me down.

"Zoey is doing the most for absolutely no reason. Everyone knows about the team-building trip, yet she insists on throwing this performative apology dinner and dragging Ferris into it, just to make sure you suffer!" Leon ranted, his anger escalating until he finally snapped. "If you ask me, we're done here. Let's just leave. I'll take you somewhere with actual good food."

I didn't agree or disagree. I just looked at his furious face and suddenly found him incredibly endearing.

The usually mild-mannered and easygoing Leon was always willing to lose his temper for my sake. He was even willing to openly antagonize Ferris for me. It was a fascinating contrast.

Selena, you look like an absolute clown tonight.

But at least I hadn't let myself become the entire circus.

I started genuinely considering Leon's suggestion. There was absolutely no point in staying for this dinner. Instead of sitting there being humiliated, I'd be much better off going out with Leon for a wild night of heavy drinking until I forgot my own name.

I grabbed a paper towel to pat my face dry and looked down to smooth out my clothes. From the corner of my eye, I noticed someone walking in.

I paid it no mind, keeping my head down as I adjusted my sleeves, assuming the tall figure stepping up behind me was Leon.

I kept my voice low. "Give me a second to text Zoey. I'll tell her something urgent came up and we had to leave. Where are you taking me to eat? Want to grab some drinks?"