The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 834

"What playful side? He's just being shameless," I scoffed softly, but my heart fluttered with sweetness.

I loved his shamelessness.

No, I loved everything about him. His aloofness, his arrogance, and yes, his shamelessness.

"I actually think this makes Dr. Sterling feel so much more human," Amber said earnestly. "Back when the rumors about him and Zoey were flying around, I even gossiped about it with my mentor. We were wondering how someone as cold as Dr. Sterling could ever date. We figured Zoey must have been doing all the work.

"I never expected Dr. Sterling to be the initiator. And I definitely didn't expect him to be so aggressive about it! He's not ice at all, he's pure fire!

"But I guess it makes sense. He and Zoey were never dating anyway; she just spread those rumors herself."

Amber bringing up Zoey out of nowhere caught me off guard, and my mood dipped slightly.

Amber sharply caught the shift in my expression and immediately backpedaled. "Oh my god, me and my big mouth. I'm so sorry, Selena, I shouldn't have brought up the past."

"It's fine. I really don't mind," I shook my head.

I was telling the truth.

I used to think those events were insurmountable mountains, suffocating and heavy. But now that I had climbed over them, they felt like nothing more than a passing breeze, quickly fading into nothingness.

I truly didn't care anymore.

Amber let out a massive sigh of relief and nodded emphatically. "Yeah!"

Just then, the door to the lounge was pushed open.

Thinking it was the stylist coming to help me change into my reception dress, I turned and said, "Wendy, I don't think I need to change. I'm not joining the toasts..."

But when I saw who was at the door, I froze.