The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 562

Riley stiffened as that familiar, deep voice drifted through the air. "Yeah. Is everything packed?"

"Almost."

"Alright."

Steady footsteps approached the hospital room.

Panic surged through Riley. She turned her head slowly, just as Sebastian St. John appeared at the door. He wore a charcoal gray shirt beneath a sharp black suit, exuding his usual commanding presence. However, he looked visibly thinner, the sharp lines of his jaw drawn tighter and colder than before.

He clearly hadn't expected her to be there. He paused, then gave her a curt nod, his expression so detached it was as if they were complete strangers.

A sharp, suffocating wave of despair pierced Riley's chest. His cold, polite distance was a devastating blow, yet wasn't this exactly the outcome she had fought for?

But now that he was treating her like a stranger, she finally realized how unbearable the agony truly was.

Taking a moment to steady herself, she stood and looked at Eleanor Hayes St. John. "Mrs. St. John, I have matters to attend to upstairs. I should go. Please rest well after you're discharged."

Eleanor nodded. "I will."

Riley walked toward the door. As she brushed past Sebastian, her breath hitched. The familiar scent of his cologne wafted over her, inexplicably bringing a sting of tears to her eyes. She curled her hands into tight fists, refusing to look at him as she marched straight ahead.

Once out in the hallway, the tension drained from her body. She let out a shaky breath, gathered her wits, and took a step forward. But just as her foot hit the floor, that deep, resonant voice called out from behind her. "Dr. Vance."

She froze. Not Riley. Not the playful Dr. Vance he used to tease her with. This was a distant, formal dismissal.

Emotions battered against her ribs, but she quickly shoved them down.

When she turned to face Sebastian, her expression was a mask of professional calm. "Can I help you, Mr. St. John?"

His gaze was unreadable as he looked at her. "My grandmother asked me to see you out."