The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 316

"Then I'll..." Riley pointed vaguely toward the bathroom. "Go wash up."

"Okay."

Riley practically marched toward the bathroom, constantly reassuring herself in her head: Stay calm. He's acting perfectly fine. If I freak out, it just makes it look like I care way too much. I have to act like this is completely normal, or it's going to be so awkward.

Sebastian watched Riley try to play it cool, though her limbs were moving in such stiff, uncoordinated jerks that she was practically marching. A brilliant, affectionate smile broke across his face, his eyes lighting up with genuine amusement.

After breakfast, Madeline arranged for her driver to take Riley to school.

Riley used the excuse that she wanted Madeline to walk her to the car to get her out of the room, successfully giving Sebastian his window to slip away unnoticed.

She had the driver drop her at The Grand Regency, quickly changed her clothes, and then headed to the hospital for work.

When Holly Xavier saw Riley walk into the office, she practically sprinted over. "Dr. Vance, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

Riley had reported to Dr. Grosse yesterday but was officially back in the outpatient department today.

Riley smiled. "You must have been exhausted these past few days."

Before leaving for her trip, Riley had temporarily handed her patients over to Holly. Managing two full caseloads must have been overwhelming.

"I survived." Holly gave Riley a quick rundown of their cases before pulling a gratitude plaque out of her drawer and handing it over. "Jenna and Jayden Joyce brought this by for you. Since you weren't here, I held onto it."

It wasn't Riley's first time receiving a plaque of gratitude—she had gotten plenty at Unity Health Center before—but this was her first one since transferring to the First Hospital.

She had kept in touch with Jayden Joyce, who told her that after the video of Riley and Jenna dancing went viral, the internet quickly figured out Jenna was the woman who had nearly jumped off the building due to depression.

Lila Lanning was the only one who didn't join in. Watching Riley holding the plaque, surrounded by adoring coworkers, a toxic mix of jealousy and hatred flared in Lila's eyes.

It wasn't fair. She had been demoted to a junior doctor because of the Jenna Joyce incident, while Riley was showered with hospital awards, recruited into the research institute, and was now receiving gratitude plaques.

She refused to accept it.

Riley only had everything she did because she was backed by the power and wealth of her ex-husband, Pierce Landon! Her medical doctorate, her title as an attending physician—it was all bought and paid for. If Riley were just a nobody like her, she would never have achieved any of this!

Just then, Dr. Gillian Grosse walked into the office, offering a friendly smile. "Dr. Vance, you got a plaque! Are you treating us to dinner tonight to celebrate?"

"Dinner! Dinner! Dinner!" the rest of the department started chanting.