The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 376

My hand froze on the doorknob.

The sight before me and that quiet, vulnerable sigh left me completely stunned, rooted to the spot for several long seconds.

I had been so frantic, assuming the absolute worst. But looking into the room, I realized Ferris was simply using a damp cotton swab to gently moisten my father's dry lips.

His movements were meticulous and incredibly tender, devoid of the malice I had expected.

Startled by the sound of the door, he turned, and our eyes locked.

A flicker of surprise crossed his piercing gaze, the lingering softness in his eyes not quite faded.

It slowly dawned on me that I had completely misjudged him. He wasn't here to sabotage my father's care.

He really was just here to "vent."

He had come to tattle on me, complaining about how disobedient and infuriating I was.

He sounded exactly like a frustrated son-in-law coming to his father-in-law for backup, asking him to talk some sense into his wife.

But how could words like that possibly come from Ferris?

Our marriage was nothing but a hollow shell—cold, empty, and devoid of genuine affection. We were never a real couple. Why would he come running to Maxwell like a wronged husband seeking comfort?

Yet, I had heard it with my own ears, loud and clear...

"You..." Seeing me, Ferris looked startled, then briefly embarrassed. The tenderness in his expression evaporated instantly, replaced by a wall of ice.

Furthermore, calling Leon my "boy toy" was completely out of line.

It was vile.

"Enough, Dr. Sterling," I snapped, tossing the swab into the trash.

After tucking the blankets securely around Maxwell, I stood up, grabbed Ferris by the arm, and hauled him into the adjoining private sitting area.

Once the door was firmly shut, I glared up into his face. "Leon is not only our colleague but also your old friend. Have some basic respect."

"Respect!" Ferris practically detonated. A wave of fury erupted from him, washing over me so intensely that I blinked in shock.

The fire blazing in his dark eyes behind his glasses was terrifying. His voice was a lethal hiss. "You have the nerve to talk to me about respect? Have you ever respected me as your husband? You flaunt your little dates, holding another man's hand right in front of me, and you think you have the right to lecture me?"