Chapter 76 Did You Go to See Him?
Sloane's POV
His kindness felt warm and comforting, but there was something sharp beneath it that made me afraid to get close.
I tucked the business card into my purse and shook my head politely but distantly. "I appreciate Mr. Rex's kind offer, but the rehabilitation center won't be necessary. My hand is really fine."
This rejection wasn't just about his therapy center—it was a warning to my own restless heart.
The concern in his eyes didn't fade, but was joined by a hint of understanding and regret. He didn't insist further.
This perfectly measured respect and sense of boundaries only made me feel worse.
Just then, my phone buzzed abruptly in my purse, breaking the delicate silence in the lounge.
It was Jessie.
I breathed a sigh of relief, as if I'd found the perfect excuse to leave, and immediately answered the call.
"Sloane, where did you go? Professor Smith is looking everywhere for you!" Jessie's anxious voice came through the phone.
"I'll be right back," I replied, hung up, then turned to Harrison and nodded politely. "Sorry, I need to go."
"Alright." He nodded, still with that gentle manner, his deep eyes watching me quietly, a faint smile playing at his lips. "I hope we'll meet again soon, Dr. Sloane."
I didn't respond to his meaningful words. I just turned and quickly left the lounge that had left me so unsettled.
As soon as I returned to the conference hall, Jessie flew over like a little bird, excitedly grabbing my arm, her eyes shining like they were filled with stars. "Sloane, you're my hero! Professor Smith has been bragging about you to everyone, saying you're the most talented young doctor he's ever met! And Professor Hans said your paper gave him inspiration for his new project! So many big names want to meet you!"
She chattered on, her face full of proud joy.
Watching her admiring gaze, the turmoil Harrison had stirred in my heart was finally soothed somewhat by this pure academic recognition.
"Sloane," Jessie suddenly stopped and looked at me seriously, bowing deeply. "Please take me as your student! I don't want to just be your fan anymore—I want to be your student and learn from you!"
Her earnest manner made me laugh. I reached out to help her up. "Okay, I accept."
"That's amazing!" Jessie cheered, nearly jumping with joy.
Seeing her happiness completely brightened my mood.
I glanced at my watch and smiled at her. "To celebrate your successful apprenticeship, teacher's treat for dessert."
After settling the excited Jessie, I stepped aside, pulled out my phone, and somehow found myself opening my chat with Jared. My fingertip hovered on the screen for a moment before I sent a message.
[Are you free for lunch? Let's eat together.]
Almost the instant I sent it, his call came through.
"Where are you? I'll pick you up." His voice was low, with a barely noticeable hint of pleasure.
I gave him the hospital address, and after hanging up, the corners of my mouth unconsciously curved upward.
By the time Jared's car pulled up at the hotel entrance, I had made up my mind.
"Let's go to that street up ahead," I said, fastening my seatbelt and pointing to a lively corner not far away. "I know a restaurant you might like."
It was a trendy couple's restaurant that had been popular online recently, decorated warmly and romantically—a place I would never have set foot in before. But today, I really wanted to take him there.
Jared was clearly surprised but drove over as I suggested.
The restaurant was filled with young couples. Our more mature presence seemed somewhat out of place.
Jared frowned as he surveyed the pink decorations around us, his face clearly saying "I don't like this place," but seeing the interest in my eyes, he said nothing and sat down across from me in silence.
"How was the conference? Did you get anything out of it?" he asked.
"Yes, I met many impressive experts and made some new friends." I was in a good mood, my tone lighter. "Professor Smith even invited me to join one of his research projects."
"That's good." Hearing this, the hard lines of Jared's face softened considerably—a genuine approval, happy for me from the heart.
The steaks were quickly brought to our table. Jared naturally pulled my plate toward him, picked up his knife and fork, and elegantly cut it into small pieces before switching it back in front of me.
He did all this so naturally, as if we were a married couple who had been together for years.
Warmth filled my heart. I forked a piece of beef and put it in my mouth, the rich sauce instantly spreading across my taste buds.
"Eat slowly." He watched me, then suddenly leaned forward, his warm fingertip gently brushing the corner of my mouth.
My whole body stiffened. I instinctively wanted to pull away, but he had already withdrawn his hand, a bit of brown sauce on his fingertip. He looked at the sauce, then at me, with a faint smile in his eyes that made my heart flutter.
The air around us instantly became somewhat ambiguous, and my cheeks began to heat up beyond my control.
Just then, a sudden wave of nausea surged up from my stomach, instantly dispelling all the romantic atmosphere.
I quickly covered my mouth, my face turning pale. Without another thought, I pushed back my chair and rushed toward the restroom.
"Ugh..."
I leaned over the sink, retching violently, my stomach churning, but nothing came up.
Splashing cold water on my face finally helped me recover a bit.
I looked at my pale face in the mirror and pressed my lips together.
"Sloane? What's wrong?" Jared's worried voice came from the doorway. He had followed me, his tall figure blocking the light from the entrance. He walked to my side and held my still-trembling shoulders, his brow furrowed. "Are you feeling unwell somewhere? I'll take you to the hospital."
His palm was broad and warm, transmitting a reassuring warmth through my thin clothing.
I looked at the undisguised worry and tension in his eyes, and the suspicion that had just formed in my mind was infinitely magnified, almost bursting through my chest.
Let's have a child.
His hoarse request still echoed in my ears.
If, if it were true...
I took a deep breath, lifted my head to meet his concerned gaze, and decided to tell him this secret that might bind us together forever.
"Jared, I..."
Before I could finish, his hand on my shoulder suddenly froze. His gaze fell directly on my purse, which I had casually placed on the sink.
The purse's opening had come undone from my hurried movements earlier, and a pure black card had slipped partway out of the inner pocket, its gold lettering reflecting a cold light.
Harrison Rex.
The worry and tension on Jared's face froze, cracked, and shattered inch by inch the moment he saw that name, leaving only a terrifying frost.
He slowly withdrew the hand that had been supporting me, the movement as slow as a movie in slow motion, but the pressure around him instantly dropped to freezing point.
He reached out and pulled out the business card, holding it between two fingers and lifting it in front of me.
The face that had just been colored with tenderness for me was now as cold as iron.
"You went to the conference today to see him?" he asked, his voice so calm it had no ripple, yet like a poisoned ice blade, each word carrying bone-chilling coldness, stabbing straight into my heart.