The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 5

It took a while for him to answer. “Riley.”

His voice was raspy and sluggish, as if he hadn't fully woken up.

“Why didn't you come home last night?”

“I was busy until the early hours. It was too late, and I didn't want to wake you, so I just crashed in the office lounge.”

“Really?”

“You don't believe me?”

“No, I'm just worried something happened at the company and you're keeping it from me.”

“The issue is resolved. Don't worry.”

“That's good. Moving forward, no matter what happens, you have to tell me. Don't hide things. We're married; we carry the burden together.”

“...I will.”

Riley hung up, got out of bed to wash up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs for breakfast.

After eating, Mr. Carter drove her to work as usual.

At noon, the colleague assigned to the online consultation shift got a stomachache and asked Riley to cover for a bit.

Riley logged into her account.

Whoever accepts the consultation is responsible for the patient. That was hospital policy.

But she didn't expect that shortly after logging in, the anonymous woman from yesterday would appear again.

“Doctor, he stayed with me and the baby all night last night, leaving his wife to sleep alone. Doesn't that prove I'm more important to him than she is?”

Even though the statement was morally reprehensible, as a psychologist, Riley couldn't judge; she could only guide.

After some thought, she typed: “It's clear you care about him a lot. But considering he approached you while already married, do you really think you can have a whole and equal relationship?”

“This dynamic was built on secrets and lies from the start. Can it truly bring you long-term stability?”

She desperately wanted to reply: “My husband and I have an amazing relationship, and we will never get divorced!”

But the person on the other end was a patient. She couldn't respond like that.

Riley let out a heavy breath and typed on the keyboard: “I know my own boundaries. A relationship that crosses my bottom line isn't worth draining myself over.”

“Exactly. The original wife should know her place and leave on her own. Clinging to him is pointless.”

Riley was speechless.

Where did she get the audacity to twist the narrative so shamelessly?

Riley finally fully understood the true meaning of the word 'shameless' from this patient.

Thankfully, the woman went offline right after sending that. Otherwise, Riley genuinely feared she'd abandon her professional ethics and deliver a crushing critique of the woman's basic morality.

After work, Riley went home, packed some food, and took it to General Hospital to eat dinner with Quinn.

“Oh, right,” Quinn recalled while eating. “I heard Seraphina's child is sickly and has been in the hospital ever since they returned to the country.”