The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 483

"...Wasting time. So, Dr. Hayes is in a rush to get divorced just to jump into bed with someone else?" The silence in the room shattered. Ferris's smile vanished entirely, replaced by a storm of dissatisfaction and brewing anger in his eyes.

I knew it.

I knew my suspicions were right. Ferris cooking for me, acting uncharacteristically gentle and attentive—it was all a calculated move.

He had overheard Uncle Silas talking to Leon yesterday, and he'd heard Leon's response. It sparked a sense of urgency. He was terrified that I would immediately get together with Leon the second the divorce was finalized, becoming a permanent thorn in the side of his relationship with Zoey.

That was why he had gone to such great lengths to manipulate Lucille, using her as a pawn to talk me out of it, even going so far as to claim that a divorce wasn't necessary.

No wonder this man, who made a habit of never coming home at night, had rushed back in the dead of night. Cuddling me to sleep, washing my lingerie, waking up at the crack of dawn to tie on my apron and cook breakfast.

He was playing the emotional card.

He hadn't been sleep-talking last night. He was completely awake, feigning sleep, holding me and begging me not to leave, pretending to be dazed as he asked if we hadn't agreed I would only ever love him.

He knew I loved him. He knew I had loved him from the start, and he weaponized that very love to manipulate me, entirely for his own benefit.

It felt like a blade slicing my heart into jagged, agonizing pieces.

I stared into Ferris's increasingly furious eyes and forced a bitter, mocking smile. "Yes, I am in a rush. I can't keep other people waiting too long."

He loved Zoey. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her, willing to trample my dignity into the dirt, and completely unfazed by using my love against me.

To me, that was the ultimate humiliation.

Seeing Ferris like this only cemented the fact that I had been utterly blind. I had loved the wrong man.

Dr. Yates nodded in satisfaction.

The Iron Mask's expression softened a fraction, but his dark eyes stayed fixed on me, still brimming with that familiar displeasure. He didn't say anything, though.

In the past, I might have been a nervous wreck, but I was completely immune to his attitude by now.

I still didn't know the root of his resentment toward me, and frankly, I didn't care. As long as I did my job and kept my conscience clear, that was all that mattered.

After the morning meeting, I followed The Iron Mask for our routine rounds. When we reached the Cardiology ward, a weak but bright voice called out.

"Dr. Hayes. It's so good to finally see you."