Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Zoey, what are you doing here? Your man is looking everywhere for you."

After the Chief left, my colleague approached me with a look of pure gossip.

"Isn't today your wedding day? But Nathaniel Beckett showed up this morning carrying some woman into our department."

"Now he's demanding that you personally take care of her. I don't know what game he's playing, but watch out. People are waiting to laugh at you."

The girl speaking was Lila, my best friend at the hospital.

I wasn't surprised by Nathaniel's behavior, but I appreciated the warning.

"Thanks, Lila."

My exhaustion must have been obvious because Lila reached out to rub my temples.

"Zoey, just leave. You're technically on leave today anyway. Nathaniel can be a jerk, but he can't force a doctor to work on her day off."

"Everyone knows he stood you up to bring that woman here. How does he have the nerve to act so entitled?"

Lila was fuming on my behalf. I looked at her frustrated face and managed a small, tired smile.

"It's okay, Lila. I'll handle it. Don't get your blood pressure up over him. It's not worth it."

"I'll go see what he wants."

I walked toward the ward. I could see Nathaniel standing there, his face tight with impatience.

Even from a distance, I could hear him shouting.

"Where is Dr. Rivers? I told you I want her to handle this personally! Do you people not understand English?"

"Call her right now! Do I have to do everything myself? Have you all forgotten who I am?"

He sounded like some pampered prince, but he was just a regular visitor. I didn't know where he got the ego.

"Dr. Rivers!"

The nurse he was bullying looked at me like I was a guardian angel. She practically ran toward me.

"Dr. Rivers, this gentleman is looking for you. He insists that you serve his friend. I told him it's against protocol, but he keeps throwing his status around."

The nurse was clearly calling him out. Nathaniel's temper flared instantly.

"Watch your mouth!" he snapped at the nurse. "Zoey is my fiancée. What's wrong with her taking care of my friend?"

"How is that 'throwing my status around'?"

Nathaniel was aggressive, determined to win the argument.

The nurse looked like she was about to cry. I stepped in front of her.

"Nathaniel, leave her alone. She's right. I'm on leave today. Why are you giving them a hard time? Why couldn't you just call me?"

His face flickered with a brief moment of guilt, but he quickly puffed out his chest again.

"I was afraid you'd be mad about earlier. I thought it was better if the hospital staff notified you."

"It's this nurse's fault. She's incompetent. All she had to do was make a call, and she turned it into a whole drama."

So, he knew I would be angry. He actually felt a tiny bit of guilt.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest, but I forced a smile.

"Why would I be mad? I understand. Maddy is sick. You couldn't just leave her to marry me. I was being immature before."

I acted completely understanding and offered to check on Maddy Cross. Nathaniel gave me a suspicious look.

In the past, I had made no secret of how much I hated Maddy.

Especially since she had sabotaged our marriage attempts every single time. I used to want to tear her hair out.

Now that I was being nice, Nathaniel was immediately on the defensive.