The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 314: [ Volume 1] Chaper - Not soap opera

Hesitantly, Ryan unbuckled the watch and handed it over. Katrina took it with a faint smile, turning it over in her hands as if examining an artifact. "You’re a doctor, correct?" she asked, her tone conversational but carrying an undercurrent of something sharper.

Before Ryan could respond, Esme’s voice cut through the air like a whip. "If you doubt his credentials, Officer, you can consult the medical board. His name will be listed there alongside his accolades," she said, her words laced with ice.

Katrina chuckled softly, clearly unfazed. "Relax, Ms. Esme. It’s just a question," she said, leaning back slightly. She set the watch down on the coffee table with deliberate care. "Now, Mr. Ryan, you mentioned during the initial investigation that you checked your brother’s pulse before the fire broke out. Is that correct?"

Ryan nodded slowly, his eyes darting to Esme as if seeking reassurance.

"Interesting," Katrina murmured, tapping a manicured finger against the watch’s screen. "Because the timestamps on this device don’t align with your statement. According to this, the date on your smartwatch is set to yesterday. But the fire occurred today."

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Ryan’s face paled as he stared at the watch, his lips parting slightly in disbelief. "What are you implying, Officer?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Katrina’s gaze sharpened, her smile fading into something colder. "I’m simply stating that for a doctor—a profession that relies on precision and detail—it’s unusual for your watch to be set to the wrong date. Especially during an emergency."

Hearing that, Ryan took a deep breath, his chest rising slightly as he gathered his thoughts. He then slowly reached down, unbuttoning his shirt cuff with deliberate movements.

As he folded up his sleeve, the faint click of fabric echoed in the quiet room. He revealed a simple yet elegant watch—nothing extravagant, but with a certain understated beauty. It was a classic design, with a slim leather strap that looked well-worn and comfortable, and a clean, minimalist face with no flashy details.

While it wasn’t an automatic watch or one of the high-tech models people often showed off, it was clear that it wasn’t just any watch. It had a timeless quality, the kind that was both functional and tasteful, worn not for show, but for purpose.

Katrina froze for a moment, her eyes shifting from the watch to Ryan’s face, trying to comprehend the situation.

The silence between them stretched for a second, as she processed his words and the watch in front of her. Ryan then continued, his voice calm but with a slight strain from the earlier emotional tension.

"I’m a doctor," he began, his tone steady but matter-of-fact. "That’s why I carry this watch with me." He gestured to the watch, his fingers lightly brushing over the leather strap as if to emphasize its practical nature. "It’s simple, but reliable. I need something that keeps me on track during long shifts, something I don’t need to think too much about."

He paused briefly, then added with a more personal tone, "The other watch you saw—that one was a gift from my wife. It’s for contact." His gaze softened slightly as he spoke, his voice becoming more reflective. "I wear it so that, when I get caught up in work or forget where I put my phone, I can check it quickly. If I miss a call, or if there’s something urgent, I know my brothers and my family are trying to reach me."

Ryan glanced at the two watches briefly, his fingers resting on the smartwatch, then looked back at Katrina. "So, if you’re wondering why I have two watches, it’s simple. One is for work, and the other is a reminder of my family. It keeps me connected to the people I care about." He finished, his tone quieter now, as if the weight of his words had settled.

As Katrina opened her mouth to speak, Ryan quickly cut her off, his voice calm but carrying an edge. "About the digital watch," he said, his eyes locking with hers, "the one in your hand. It fell off my desk." He paused for a moment, letting his words hang in the air. "One of my patient’s children knocked it over, and it fell straight into water. It’s slightly water-resistant, yes, but it was warm water. The watch wasn’t completely destroyed, but it was definitely damaged. If you look closely, you’ll notice a dent in the casing." He spoke matter-of-factly, his tone unwavering.

He let the silence settle for a second before continuing. "You can check the security footage from my clinic,from the hospital... and can also ask the staff. They saw it happen. The watch was functioning perfectly before it fell. But after that, it’s been malfunctioning. It won’t even receive calls properly anymore." His expression didn’t flinch, though his voice had a slight firmness to it, like he was trying to push through the weight of the situation.

Ryan then sighed, a bit of weariness creeping into his voice. "The time on the watch was off from the moment it stopped. Around 26th December. I’ve already contacted the company to fix it. And if you still don’t believe me, you can talk to them too. It’s all documented."

Katrina was silent for a moment, taken aback by the clarity and confidence in his response. She had expected a nervous stammer, some sign of guilt or unease, but Ryan was unfazed. After a brief pause, a smile crept onto her lips. "Mr. Ryan," she said, her tone shifting into something more playful, almost teasing. "It seems you’ve misunderstood us. We’re officers, and it’s our duty to—" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Of course," Ryan interrupted again, his voice sharper now, the weariness replaced with coldness. "I know your duty. But Miss Katrina, let me offer you a piece of advice. Please, stop watching so much drama." His eyes held hers, a challenge in them. "We’re not some low-budget soap opera, fighting over property or plotting some grand, tragic love story."