Chapter 24
Chapter 24
They tumbled onto the bed, and Wesley, not wanting to crush her, braced his hands on either side of Yvonne. His face was so close that her eyes widened in an instant.
She could clearly feel his breath, tinged with a faint medicinal scent–it wasn’t unpleasant, to be honest. That unique aroma, mingled with the subtle hint of his masculinity, filled the small space around them.
Wesley was taken aback as well, staring down at Yvonne. Her eyes, like clear lake water, now rippled with alarm, reflected his image. A breeze from outside rustled the curtains, their gentle movement like invisible fingers plucking at the strings of Wesley’s heart.
His arms trembled slightly. His hands on either side of Yvonne seemed to have a mind of their own, wanting to draw closer. yet held back by reason.
His throat felt tight, as if words were caught there. He wanted to say something to break the awkward tension but found himself speechless. All he could do was gaze quietly at Yvonne, as if time had stopped for them.
“Move aside, Yvonne whispered softly.
Wesley quickly propped himself up, nearly losing his balance in his haste. Standing beside the bed, he awkwardly straightened his clothes, not daring to look at Yvonne for fear of seeing how embarrassed he was now in her eyes.
Yvonne sat up too, taking a moment to steady herself.
“I–I’ll go now,” Wesley said hurriedly, his voice tinged with a hint of panic. He turned and walked toward the door, his steps a bit unsteady as if he were fleeing.
As he reached for the door, he paused, as if remembering something. With his back to Yvonne, he said, “Take your medicine on time and get some rest. If you feel unwell, call me anytime.”
With that, he left the room without looking back, leaving behind a gently swaying door and Yvonne, who was still trying to dispel the lingering tension.
*****
After a sound sleep, Yvonne felt much more energetic the next day. She checked the time and realized there were only five days left until the cooling–off period was due.
After all that had happened, she was not in the mood for fun and decided to rest for another day before heading back to Avaloria.
Reid had been sending her loads of messages these past few days, and Yvonne replied to only a few. The thought of having to deal with him when she got back made her feel a bit stressed.
To her surprise, Wesley didn’t take the money she sent; it was returned by the system without any issues. She considered calling him to ask about it but felt it wasn’t really necessary. It was probably best for their relationship to remain as it was.
Wesley seemed to exude a cool detachment, as if he was wary of people using “thank you” as a reason to get closer to him.
However, Yvonne didn’t expect to run into him again at the hospital. After all, she was heading to the gastroenterology department, which was in a different building from his cardiology volunteer clinic.
She had just picked up her test forms when someone abruptly snatched the document from her hand. “Huh?” Yvonne looked up and saw him wearing a mask, his eyes lowered as he examined the forms.
After Wesley finished reading the test orders, he raised his head slowly and looked at Yvonne’s face. He asked softly, “Have you eaten anything yet?”
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Chapter 24
“Not yet, Yvonne answered.
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“Alright, let’s get your blood drawn first. Afterward, I’ll take you to the cafeteria to grab a bite, and then we’ll do the other tests,” he said, casually holding the paper.
Then he gestured toward the nearby waiting area and added, “Sit here for a bit while I go pay, and I’ll come back to take you
over.”
“Dr. Godfrey, there’s no need-” She hadn’t finished her sentence before Wesley started heading to the payment window. With a sigh, Yvonne could only sit down and wait for him to come back.
His tall build made him stand out in the crowd, and as Yvonne watched him handle everything effortlessly, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were starting to go off course.
Wesley returned after making the payment. “Let’s go, time for the blood test.”
Yvonne hesitated. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work? Go ahead; I can do this. By the way, how much was the payment? I’ll transfer the amount to you.” As she spoke, Yvonne took out her phone and ready to take notes.
Wesley glanced down at her phone screen and suddenly noticed she had saved his contact name as “Creditor“-to be honest, that was a bit hurtful.
“I worked overtime yesterday, so I have a two–hour break today. Let’s go, no point in wasting time here,” Wesley said, turning to walk ahead.
Yvonne’s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively grabbed the corner of Wesley’s jacket.
He turned back, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “Hmm?”
She hesitated for a moment before answering, “Is this really a doctor’s responsibility too?”
Wesley went silent, letting his eyes rest on her face for a moment before slowly saying, “No, it’s about being a friend. You’re new here, and having a friend to help isn’t bad, right?”
Yvonne was slightly startled by his words, her hand instinctively letting go of his jacket. Her mind was in a whirlwind of surprise, gratitude, and confusion.
She looked at Wesley and opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say. After a moment, she softly said, “Okay, thank you.”
Wesley’s lips curled up slightly into a faint smile. “Let’s go.”
He turned and kept walking, with Yvonne following quietly behind. Having someone around really did make things easier. She didn’t have to push through the crowd in her weakened state or juggle holding the blood draw site and the receipt all by
herself.
After the blood test, Wesley took her to the cafeteria and used his temporary card to get her a bowl of cereal and a sandwich. Yvonne sat on a stool, watching as Wesley moved through the crowd.
Before long, he returned with the food and gently set the tray in front of Yvonne. “Here you go. I choose hot milk with your cereal. Be careful; it’s hot,” he said softly.
Yvonne nodded slightly. “Thanks.” She picked up her spoon and stirred the cereal gently. The rising steam blurred her v and made her heart feel a little warmer.
“Hey, Wesley, I’ve been thinking about you and there you are,” a doctor in a white coat said with a smile, glancing between Wesley and Yvonne with a mix of curiosity and amusement. “And who might this be?” he asked, still looking at Yvonne.
Yvonne responded politely, “Hello, I’m Yvonne.”
Chapter 24
“Wesley, you’re not cool. You’ve got a girlfriend and you didn’t tell us?” the doctor teased. “But hey, you’ve got good taste. She’s really pretty.”
Wesley gave him an exasperated look. “Cut it out. She’s just a friend.”
“Oh, just a friend?” The doctor didn’t seem convinced, his teasing grin still in place. “No wonder you’re here together for the check–up and breakfast.”
Yvonne stayed calm. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Dr. Godfrey and I aren’t seeing each other.”
Wesley sighed inwardly at his colleague’s antics. “Alright, stop joking around. I’ve got things to do. Go back to work”
The doctor noticed that Wesley was getting annoyed and finally backed off. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. But Wesley, don’t forget to share the good news in time, alright?” He nodded at Yvonne and walked away with a smile.
Wesley looked a bit awkward. “He’s my colleague, Alan Norton. He just loves making jokes. Don’t think too much of it.”
Yvonne smiled gently. “It’s alright.”
Wesley fell silent.
Yvonne still picked at her food, managing only a few spoonfuls of cereal before pushing the bowl away. Wesley wanted to encourage her to eat more, but he knew it wasn’t his place to push.
Afterward, he took her for an EKG and a few other tests. By the time they were done, it was nearly noon.
Yvonne headed back to the hotel, insistently reminding him to let her know how much he’d spent so she could pay him back. Wesley just promised to get in touch later and went back to work.
That night, he ended up working late. The next day, when he finally got his hands on Yvonne’s test results and went to find her, he discovered she’d already left without telling him, again.
AD
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