"Dr. Taylor, there's an emergency patient inside who needs you to perform an operation."
"What's the result of the preliminary examination?"
Her heels clicked against the hospital corridor, the modest three-inch heels adding to her commanding presence. The loose white coat couldn't conceal Olivia's tall, poised figure. Hands in the pockets of her coat, she pressed the bridge of her nose, trying to dispel the fatigue lingering from her last operation.
Rachel, her intern assistant, glanced nervously at the composed and distant Dr. Olivia. Despite being only a few years older, Olivia was already the deputy head of orthopedics, and she was admired for her calm and competent demeanor. She lowered her head modestly and reported, “It seems to be internal bleeding caused by a ruptured vessel in the lower body.”
“A rupture?”
Olivia's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She glanced at Rachel from the corner of her eye. When did a ruptured vessel qualify as an emergency surgery?
Rachel had been with Olivia for a period of time, so she naturally looked around. She explained in a low voice, “The patient’s family seems to have some serious connections. The department head welcomed them personally and specifically requested you for the operation.”
Olivia replied softly, "Then let's go." In the hospital, there were always some VIP lists. Even if it was a minor operation, the whole department would be frightened.
When Rachel pushed the door open, she couldn't help but turn her head and said shyly, "Dr. Olivia, I'm telling you, you have to be mentally prepared. That man and the patient's family are gorgeous..."
Olivia's brows arched faintly. She found it amusing how new graduates often got distracted by appearances. A distant memory crossed her mind—a time when she too had been a fangirl in her early days. But now, at 27, the carefree excitement of those years felt like a lifetime ago.
Just as they reached the door, muffled voices emerged from within, causing Rachel to freeze.
“Am I going to have some incurable disease? Boohoo... I’m so scared..."
"Don't let your imagination run wild. I just checked it. It's just a small problem."
“Mason, this is all your fault. You were too rough in the car earlier. Now it hurts so much... Don’t you want—”
“Shhh, enough. Be a good girl. I have work to do. Once you’re done with the operation, I’ll have the driver take you home.”
Olivia's tight string suddenly broke.
This voice...
Her normally impassive expression cracked ever so slightly. She couldn’t mistake it. Even after five months without seeing him, that deep, polished tone was unforgettable. His voice was like aged whiskey—smooth and rich, with a hint of cold authority that masked its underlying charm.
It was him.
"Dr. Olivia, are we still going in?" The intern, Rachel's, cheeks burned red with indignation. “Honestly! A brother-in-law and sister-in-law causing this kind of drama in a hospital? What is this world coming to? And here I thought the man was classy—turns out he’s nothing but a refined scoundrel!”
This new intern was good in everything, but she was too upright... In this world, most people's moral standards have almost deviated.
A mocking smile tugged at Olivia's lips. That's right, the refined scum she was referring to. The hero in the operating room was her husband, Mason Carter, the young CEO of Carter Enterprises.
In the two years since they’d wed, they’d barely seen each other—a handful of encounters, at best. He had been in many affairs outside and had been involved in many scandals. He had long forgotten that he had a wife.
In New York, everyone knew that Mason was married, but it was little more than a business arrangement. To most, his wife was nothing more than a phantom, nicknamed “the invisible Mrs. Carter.”
As for her, she had been staying alone in the villa for a long time, like a woman who was deeply attached to her family. Did she not love him? How could it be possible? Even if such a thing happened, even if she knew that he married her for revenge, she would still marry him without hesitation.
For months, she had obsessed over the women in his life, scouring gossip columns and social media for details, consumed by jealousy and insecurity.
But time had worn her down. What once burned brightly in her chest had dulled into an ache she could no longer feel. She lived in quiet solitude, her once-passionate love now a stagnant pool of apathy.
And yet, standing here now, listening to Mason’s familiar voice, Olivia felt the cracks in her carefully constructed walls.
"Dr. Taylor?" Seeing that her eyes were frozen, Rachel raised her hand and shook it. “Are you okay? I mean, running into something like this must be awkward.”
"Let's go in."
When Olivia recovered her senses, the space between her brows furrowed, and she made up her mind. She had many ways to avoid this meeting, for example, her mental state was poor, and she wasn't feeling well, because she was sure that the one who welcomed her would definitely be humiliated. At this moment, an idea crazily grew in her mind. She wanted to see him, but she couldn't control it.
She was like a moth. Even though she knew there was a fire in front of him, she still rushed forward without hesitation.
"Two of you, the attending doctor is here."
Rachel made a serious introduction. Previously, she was really afraid that she would see a picture that was not suitable for children. As a result, both of them were well-dressed, but the man was still handsome.
Olivia felt that with every step she took, his body stiffened by an inch, especially the two people who were lying on the opposite side. When they looked at each other, she inexplicably held her breath and didn't know what to do.
