Chapter 9

As Kannika drove her friend back home, silence pressed down on them like a heavy fog. Since the car had pulled away from the hospital, Evelyn hadn’t lifted her eyes from the window. Tears rolled down her cheeks, unbothered and unseen.

“You know,” Kannika said softly, “we can always talk about whatever’s bothering you.”

Evelyn shook her head. “No, please, Kannika. I just want to rest. We’ll meet tomorrow at work.”

Kannika didn’t insist. She sensed Evelyn needed time to process, time to let her strong-woman mask finally crack.

When they stopped in front of Evelyn’s home, she stepped out of the car and waved her friend off. The moment she closed the door behind her, she dropped her bag to the floor and headed toward her bed, desperate to shut her mind off. But before she could, a sound came from the bathroom.

Heart racing, she grabbed a wooden baton from beside her desk and crept closer.

“Who’s there?” she shouted.

“It’s me! Jack!” a man’s voice replied.

“Jack?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I had to use your bathroom.”

He stepped out, dripping wet, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.

“Oh, no,” Evelyn muttered, turning away in embarrassment. “How did you even get in here?”

“I have a copy of your keys,” he said with a grin. “You gave me one, remember?”

“Jack, you can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“I… I…” She stammered, unable to think clearly in front of a half-naked man, though he was her boyfriend. “Please, just put on your clothes,” she managed at last, brushing past him toward the living room, refusing to look at those infuriatingly perfect abs.

“Hey, I’m sorry!” Jack called after her, but she was already gone.

It had been almost three years since they met, yet their relationship had only turned romantic a week ago. And even now, Evelyn wasn’t ready to open herself completely. Jack was trying hard, too hard, to push further into understanding her fierce need for privacy.

“I just needed a quick shower,” he said, now dressed, following her into the living room. “My place is too far, and you weren’t answering your phone. Are you mad at me?”

As he spoke, he noticed her red eyes and pale face. “Evelyn, are you okay?” He reached out, but she stepped away, her gaze fixed on the large portrait hanging on the wall.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly. “Just a bad day at work. One of the kids was sick.”

“Don’t worry about them,” Jack smiled. “They’ve got you, and I know you never give up.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice as his fingers brushed her shoulder. His eyes lingered on her face, soft and inviting, the kind of look that usually made her heart flutter. “But now that I’m here,” he murmured, “maybe we could savor this moment… just you and me.”

Evelyn stiffened. “Jack, I’m not having sex with you,” she said flatly.

“Wow. Is that what you think I came for?” he said, half-laughing. “I meant we could watch a movie, talk, maybe hang out outside.”

“So, you just happened to take a bath here after we started dating, even though you’ve never done that before? You insisted I give you my spare key, and now this?” She folded her arms. “Convince me otherwise.”

Jack froze. “I… well…”

“Jack, please.” Evelyn sank onto the couch, exhausted. There was nothing he could say that she’d believe.

He meant well. He was funny, persistent, impossible to discourage, and Evelyn was hard to get. The perfect mix. But tonight, she wasn’t in the mood for him or anyone else.

Across town, Dr. Emilio had been trying desperately to reach her. Time was a luxury he couldn’t afford. He had to face Dr. Williams and ease her burning heart before it exploded and burned everything in its path. Yet Evelyn wasn’t answering his calls.

Out of options, he went to his boss’s office and knocked. No answer. He pushed the door open to find it empty. Dr. Williams was gone.

Panic crawled up his spine. He hurried to Malaya’s office, where she sat typing beside a colleague.

“Hey, Malaya, where’s Dr. Williams?”

“She went home,” she said without looking at him.

“At this hour? Did she ask for me?”

“No.” Her tone was clipped and distant.

Emilio noticed the wall between them. She wouldn’t meet his eyes or speak to him like before. Their easy camaraderie had vanished, replaced by a cold, deliberate silence.

He stood there a moment longer, hoping to catch her eyes, but it was clear he had become as negligible as the weight of the air that surrounded them. Defeated, he turned and walked back to his office.

But Dr. Williams hadn’t left willingly. Even if she had wanted to tear Emilio apart, she had an appointment waiting for her, a very delicate one.

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