The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 406

Riley arrived at the hospital.

Holly spotted Riley carrying the large thermos and raised an eyebrow. "Dr. Vance, did you pack a lunch today?"

"It's breakfast. I'm going to drop it off for a friend downstairs when I get a minute."

The word 'friend' instantly sparked Holly's memory. She leaned in, her face practically glowing with gossip. "I heard a rumor from the nurses' station that a couple nights ago, you brought an incredibly hot guy into the staff room for a 'private consultation.' And then yesterday, you squeezed an incredibly hot guy into your schedule. Dr. Vance, are they the same guy?"

Riley hadn't expected the hospital rumor mill to spin this fast. "Do you guys really have nothing better to do?"

Holly could tell Riley wasn't actually mad. She shook her head, grinning. "Normally, no one cares. But they said this guy was illegally attractive. Like, perfect face, perfect body, and this insane elite aura. They're calling him a once-in-a-lifetime god-tier specimen. Obviously, everyone is dying of curiosity."

Riley felt an inexplicable surge of pride. Sebastian really was an absolute god among men. And that god was now her boyfriend.

However, she knew that the more she avoided the topic, the more suspicious people would become. Since Sebastian would be coming in for regular treatments, being transparent was the best way to shut down any weird rumors.

"Yes, it's the same person. He's a friend of mine. He's dealing with extreme stress and severe insomnia, so he's seeking treatment with me."

Holly practically vibrated with excitement. "The next time he comes in, you have to let me see him! They talked him up so much, I have to see if this friend of yours lives up to the hype."

Thinking of Sebastian, the corners of Riley's lips curled up into a soft, involuntary smile. "He is pretty handsome."

Holly stared at Riley in absolute shock. Riley was a workaholic. Between the clinic and the research institute, she was always drowning in work.

Holly occasionally pointed out the attractive new male interns, but Riley never batted an eye or offered a single comment. It was as if Pierce's betrayal had completely shattered her, leaving her utterly numb to the existence of men.

But now, she was actually complimenting a guy's looks. If Riley Vance was calling a guy handsome, he had to be drop-dead gorgeous.

Holly's curiosity hit critical mass. "You have to tell me the second he shows up again."

Riley let out a helpless laugh. "Alright."

After finishing her morning rounds, Riley grabbed the thermos and took the elevator down to the ninth floor. The moment she stepped out, she practically bumped into Zach. He was leading a massive entourage through the ward. Dr. Jenson was right beside him, trailed by a small army of department heads and attending physicians. It was a spectacular sight.

As the primary board director of Aegis General Hospital, Zach mostly dealt with administration. He only held outpatient clinics a few times a month, and it was exceedingly rare to see him doing inpatient rounds. He was likely only here today because of Eleanor.

Riley had planned to quietly slip past, but he actually greeted her first. "Morning, Dr. Vance."

"Great. I'll swing by your office when I'm done."

Zach nodded and led his massive entourage into the next room.

Riley proceeded to Eleanor's VIP suite. When she walked in, she found Sebastian sitting on the sofa, deeply engrossed in his work. His long legs were casually crossed, a sleek laptop resting on his lap. His elegant fingers flew across the keyboard, and a tall stack of documents rested on the coffee table beside him.

Hearing the door open, he lifted his gaze.

They locked eyes in absolute silence. Riley was just about to say something when Mrs. Higgins walked out from the inner room. "Oh, Riley! You're here!"

Riley offered a warm smile. "I brought some fresh oatmeal for Eleanor."

"Thank you so much! She was just talking about you and Winona," Mrs. Higgins said warmly, taking the thermos and gently guiding Riley toward the inner bedroom.

As she followed Mrs. Higgins, Riley discretely glanced back at Sebastian. His eyes were already locked back onto his screen. He was completely ignoring her.

Seeing the icy, detached look on his handsome face made Riley's chest tighten uncomfortably. She knew he always acted this cold and distant around other people, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was purposely freezing her out because he was still angry about last night.