The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 185

"You can fly to Statenbury, or I can bring her back to Riverport when I have time."

Sebastian unconsciously tightened his grip. Alora's little lips quivered, and she burst into loud wails. He instantly loosened his hold, a rare flash of panic crossing his calm eyes.

"Alora is crying. I have to go." Riley immediately hung up and rushed over to Sebastian. "I'll take her." She reached into his arms to lift the baby.

As she did, the soft swell of her chest brushed firmly against his forearm. Entirely focused on the crying infant, she didn't notice it at all.

But Sebastian felt an electric shock rip through his skin, freezing him in place for a split second. He stood rigidly, his arms suspended in the air for two agonizing seconds before he finally let them drop to his sides.

His Adam's apple bobbed. The long-dormant embers inside him threatened to ignite.

His predatory gaze dropped to Riley.

She was rocking the baby, completely oblivious to the inferno she had just sparked within him.

A hint of self-mockery and sheer helplessness flickered in his eyes. Her accidental touch had set a wildfire in his veins, and the iron-clad restraint he prided himself on was already fraying at the edges.

As Riley was soothing her daughter, she noticed Sebastian striding swiftly past her toward the front door. "Sebastian, are you leaving?"

"Yes," he replied without even turning around.

Franklin followed, completely baffled. Weren't they supposed to stay for dinner? Why the sudden exit?

It was Riley's first day of work. She had been specially recruited as an official hire, which was vastly different from a visiting fellow just there to study.

Fellows simply shadowed senior doctors, observing and assisting, and were never given full autonomy over patients.

As a full-time hire, she was assigned her own workload immediately. Even though she had been a key asset back at Unity Health Center, here, she was just the new girl.

The medical resources, the sheer variety of cases, and the state-of-the-art equipment here were lightyears ahead of what Riverport had to offer.

She was naturally assigned to the Psychiatric Department. Her department head didn't bury her in patients immediately, instead telling her to spend the day familiarizing herself with the hospital's layout.

She walked into the outpatient building and was scanning the directory for her floor when she suddenly heard someone call out, "Riley!"