SOPHIA’S POV

The hospital shift that evening completely drained me.

By the time I finally stepped out of the operating wing, my shoulders ached badly and my head felt heavy from exhaustion. The emergency cases had been nonstop since morning, and several surgeries lasted much longer than expected.

Even my wolf felt tired.

I removed my gloves while walking through the corridor toward the staff elevator. My hair was slightly messy now from the long shift, and my eyes burned from lack of rest.

Honestly... I just wanted sleep. But the moment I reached the hospital lobby, I froze slightly.

Lance stood there waiting.

He leaned casually beside the front desk while holding his phone in one hand.

The moment he saw me, his expression softened immediately.

“You look exhausted,” he said quietly.

I sighed tiredly. “I feel exhausted.”

His eyes moved over my face. Concern slowly appeared in his expression when he noticed how pale I still looked.

“You should be resting more.” He said.

I sighed “My patients won’t allow that.”

Lance’s presence always comforted me lately.

“I haven’t eaten yet,” Lance said after a moment. “Come have dinner with me.”

I hesitated briefly.

Part of me genuinely wanted returning to Bianca’s apartment immediately, but another part of me didn’t want sitting alone with my thoughts tonight either.....especially not after everything happening lately.

“Fine,” I agreed softly.

Lance opened the hospital door for me with a smile.

“Good.”

The cold evening air hit my skin the moment we stepped outside.

For a few seconds, I simply breathed quietly.

And strangely enough...being beside Lance felt peaceful. There was no emotional pressure around him, no confusion and no painful memories constantly in my mind.

My wolf relaxed slightly too.

Lance noticed my silence while walking beside me toward the parking area.

“Tough day?” he asked.

I laughed weakly “You have no idea.”

-

About forty minutes later, we arrived at one of the most luxurious restaurants downtown.

The place overlooked the river beautifully through massive glass walls while soft piano music played quietly in the background.

Lance pulled my chair out gently before sitting across from me.

The waiter arrived shortly after. We ordered dinner quietly, then we started talking.

Lance mostly asked about work while listening to every answer I gave. Unlike Damien, he actually paid attention when people spoke.

At some point during dinner, I even found myself relaxing slightly, actually relaxing.

My wolf softened too. Then suddenly, she became alert.....very alert.

My entire body stiffened instantly. It was because I smelled him before I even saw him.

Zade.

The scent hit my senses hard from across the restaurant the moment he entered. My wolf reacted immediately inside me.

I froze completely while staring toward the entrance.

And there he was. Zade walked into the restaurant wearing black from head to toe. His dark coat hung perfectly against his broad frame. Several people instantly turned to stare at him the moment he entered.

But he wasn’t alone. A woman walked beside him. She was beautiful and familiar. I recognized her immediately - Celeste Laurent.

She was one of the biggest actresses in the country. She had long dark hair and an elegant figure. She was the type of woman magazines constantly praised for her beauty.

She held Zade’s arm naturally while smiling up at him.

And worst of all... Zade looked relaxed beside her.

My chest tightened at the sight of them. My wolf instantly became distressed.

Lance noticed my expression immediately.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I forced a smile “Nothing.”

But unfortunately...at that exact moment, Zade looked up. Our eyes met across the restaurant instantly.

Everything inside me twisted. His expression changed the moment he saw me sitting with Lance. The relaxed look on his face disappeared completely.

Celeste noticed his distraction and followed his gaze curiously. Then slowly smiled. And somehow...that smile irritated me immediately.

Zade continued staring at me several seconds longer before finally looking away coldly.

Then he guided Celeste toward a table extremely close to ours.

My stomach dropped. Lance noticed too.

His eyes narrowed “Was that intentional?”

“Yes,” I answered flatly.

I knew Zade well enough already. It was very intentional.

The entire atmosphere around me became tense.

I suddenly couldn’t focus properly anymore. My wolf had become far too aware of Zade’s presence nearby now. Every movement he made pulled at my senses painfully. I could smell Celeste’s perfume all over him too.

That hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Lance quietly studied me for a moment.

“Do you want to leave?”

I shook my head “No.”

No matter how much Zade hurt me lately...my wolf still reacted to him, and I hated it.

A few minutes later, the waiter arrived at Zade’s table with wine.

That was when things became worse.

Celeste laughed softly before leaning directly against Zade’s shoulder. Her fingers rested comfortably against his chest while she whispered something into his ear.

Zade smirked then he deliberately looked at me.

My heartbeat became uneven. He was doing this on purpose - Every single thing.

I picked up my water calmly instead. Inside, I felt like my emotions were slowly being ripped apart.

We continued eating silently. But across the restaurant, Zade’s eyes barely left me.The actress beside him eventually noticed too.

She picked up a strawberry from the dessert plate before holding it toward Zade playfully.

“Open your mouth.” She teased.

Zade accepted the strawberry from her fingers while still staring directly at me.

My chest burned painfully.

The actress giggled then rested her chin against his shoulder again.

“Good husband.”

The word hit me like a slap.

Husband?

My breathing nearly faltered for one second. Even though logically I knew it probably meant nothing...it still hurt.

I quickly looked away before my emotions became too obvious. Across from me, Lance’s expression had completely darkened now.

“He’s provoking you intentionally.” He said.

“I know.”

Lance continued the conversation normally. We talked about medicine, about university politics, about Professor Archer’s impossible standards. Lance even told me a ridiculous story about Marcel accidentally insulting an entire conference panel once.

Eventually, I laughed softly.

And the moment I did, I physically felt Zade’s attention on me across the room.

I made the mistake of glancing toward him again. It was a huge mistake.

Zade was still staring directly at me. But this time, his expression looked dangerous.

Cold jealousy burned visibly in his eyes while Celeste continued talking beside him.

Zade reached up and brushed his thumb slowly across the actress’s lower lip. The movement looked deeply intimate.

I looked away again. My wolf growled softly now.

Why was he doing this? Why deliberately hurt me further? Hadn’t things between us already become painful enough?

By the time dinner finally ended, I was exhausted emotionally.

I just to leave.

Lance stood first before helping me with my coat gently.

I grabbed my bag while trying not looking toward Zade’s table again.

My heart twisted painfully inside me.