The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 87

When the words 'shouldn't decline' left Ferris's lips, he didn't even grant me a direct look.

His tone was light, and an outsider might have assumed he was simply giving advice, but I knew exactly what he was doing. He was giving me an order.

The irony was crushing—this was the very first time Ferris had ever bought me a dress.

Only, this dress wasn't a gift from Mr. Sterling to his wife; it was a 'professional courtesy' from Dr. Sterling to Dr. Hayes.

Handed to me right in front of his Little Mischief.

And it came with zero option to refuse.

The bitterness in my chest instantly mutated into a cold, seething frustration. I wasn't sure whether I should laugh or cry.

Fine. If Ferris was so deeply concerned that my own wardrobe would embarrass Capital General, I would do exactly as he wished and take the damn dress.

With that thought, I slowly reached out and accepted the boutique bag. After a two-second hesitation, I kept my tone perfectly professional. "As expected of Dr. Sterling, always so thorough and considerate. Allow me to thank you on behalf of the Anesthesiology Department."

I forced a polite, manufactured smile, ensuring our act as nothing more than strictly platonic colleagues was as flawless as possible.

"Oh, Selena, you don't have to be so formal," Zoey said, looking innocently at me, then at Ferris, beaming. "We're all friends here!"

My grip on the shopping bag tightened, my gaze sweeping over the man on the sofa as I let out a silent sigh.

Right. Friends.

Back at the hotel, we all went our separate ways to get ready. But when I finally opened the shopping bag, I was stunned by the design they had chosen.

It was a stunning emerald-green silk gown, infused with intricate vintage embroidery and a high Mandarin collar.

It featured a daring side slit that went all the way up to the thigh.

Though the color was dark and understated, the luxurious silk paired with the gold-threaded toggle buttons gave it an aura of quiet, opulent elegance.

But if memory served me right, tonight's banquet was a modern business mixer. Wouldn't showing up in something this vintage-inspired make me stick out like a sore thumb?

Was this a total coincidence, or had Ferris done this on purpose?

Regardless, time was ticking. Finding a replacement dress now was entirely impossible. After a moment of debate, I unzipped the side of the gown and slipped it on, feeling completely out of my element.

It made sense. Amidst a sea of ultra-modern, trendy evening wear, my vintage-inspired emerald gown was undeniably eye-catching.

As I approached, a colleague from logistics gasped. "Is this really our Selena? You look like an absolute goddess!"

The over-the-top praise made me slightly uncomfortable. "You're exaggerating."

"See, Ferris! I told you Selena would look incredible in this style," Zoey's sweet voice rang out clearly over the chatter, laced with a heavy dose of pride. "She's totally giving 'icy beauty' vibes. Hehe, my taste is just too good."

I froze for a second.

So, Zoey was the one who picked this out for me.

Dr. Yates walked over just then. Her gaze swept over us as he joked, "Truly the aesthetic pillars of our two major departments. Outstanding."

Laughing and chatting, our group made its way into the hall.

Given Dr. Yates and Ferris's elite status, people instantly flocked over to network. After handling a wave of pleasantries, Dr. Yates suddenly stopped me. "Selena, weren't you eyeing St. Jude's clinical data? Come on, I'll take you over to say hello."

The cocktail reception was buffet-style, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and breezy. Following Dr. Yates's lead, I grabbed a cocktail and shadowed her across the room.