The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 398

It was Vivian.

Her command was as brief and arrogant as ever. "Second-floor coffee shop. Come down immediately."

She had already arrived, moving much faster than I anticipated.

My head was spinning, my limbs felt like lead, and vicious chills wracked my body, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself up. "Understood. I'll be right there."

I didn't care if I had a burning fever. Even if I had just walked out of major surgery, I would have dragged myself downstairs to meet her. I had to seize this window of opportunity and finalize the divorce before Ferris could stop us.

A few hours ago, Ferris dragged me into his room with terrifying clarity of purpose—he wanted to force my submission to his tyrannical supplementary clause. If I didn't bow to his terms, he would never let me go.

And I was utterly powerless against him. Even my threats had felt hollow.

Vivian's rogue intervention was a miraculous lifeline. I couldn't waste it.

I threw on my coat and hurried out the door. Dizzy and disoriented, I leaned against the wall, walking with my head down.

Right at the elevator banks, I crashed hard into someone's chest.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see..." I immediately took a step back, blurting out an apology.

The person reached out, wrapping a steadying hand around my waist. I looked up and saw his face.

Cold, chiseled features, silver-rimmed glasses, and deep, predatory eyes. He frowned, his sharp brows pulling together. "Why is your face so red?"

It was Ferris—the exact same man who had assaulted me just hours prior.

Seeing him sent a jolt of panic through my chest. Guilt hit me instantly, and my instinct was to turn and run.

What were the odds? The moment I tried to do something behind his back, I literally ran into him.

Even though I expected it, my heart still plummeted.

He dropped me without a second thought. He was terrified of being seen with me, terrified of breaking Zoey's heart.

But I didn't have time to wallow. The elevator arrived with a ping.

I walked straight toward it, but from the corner of my eye, I saw his hand reaching toward my head again.

Startled, I dodged instinctively and glared at him. "What are you doing? Going for another ambush, Dr. Sterling?"

He had dragged me into the dark a few hours ago. Was he seriously going to try something in front of the elevators?

My hyper-vigilant expression seemed to freeze him. His hand hovered awkwardly in mid-air, a flash of shock and deep displeasure crossing his dark eyes.