Chapter 60:

Chapter 60:
\-ZOEY ASHFORD-

Mariah had called barely an hour ago, sounding flustered. She said she forgot one of her patient's records at home and needed it urgently. So here I was—doing a favor I didn’t mind, even if I wished she’d try being less forgetful sometimes.

Her room was just as tidy as always. I didn’t waste time looking around; I went straight to the desk she usually kept her files on. It took me a moment, but I spotted the folder she’d described—blue spine, labeled in her handwriting. I flipped it open quickly just to be sure, then closed it and tucked it under my arm.

I grabbed my bag and locked up behind me before heading to the hospital.

\-MARIAH-

The meeting had barely ended when I stepped out of the conference room with a few other physiotherapists. Everyone was chatting about the new therapy protocols, though half of them were more focused on who was dating who in the department. I was halfway down the hall when I heard someone call my name.

“Mariah!”

That voice—loud, cheerful, and annoyingly familiar. I froze for a second before turning to see Lucas, leaning casually against the wall with that usual smirk that made me want to smack him and laugh at the same time.

What is he doing here? I don't remember asking him to come over.

Of course, the girls noticed.

“Whoa,” one of them whispered beside me. “Is that him?”

"Who?" I asked back.

Another giggled. “Please tell me he’s your boyfriend, Mariah. He’s hot.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a patient. So stop with the assumptions.”

One of them raised an eyebrow. “A patient? He doesn’t look sick to me.”

“Yeah,” another added, half-whispering, “He looks more like trouble than a patient.”

I didn’t even bother responding. I just kept walking toward my office while they dissolved into quiet laughter behind me. Lucas, of course, followed.

Why would they think that he's my boyfriend? Do we look like we can make it as a couple? Obviously not.

When I got to my office, I pushed the door open, walked in, and dropped the files onto my desk. Lucas shut the door behind him, grinning like a man who just got praised.

“I didn’t know I had such a fan club here,” he said. “Even your coworkers can’t help but appreciate fine art when they see it.”

“Fine art?” I repeated, sitting down. “You mean you?”

He pointed at himself. “Obviously. You saw the way they looked at me.”

They we go again. He's letting the compliments get into his head

“Yeah, they probably thought you were lost.”

He laughed.

“Don’t be jealous, Mariah. It’s not my fault your coworkers find me handsome while you keep pretending I’m ugly.”

I gave him a flat look. “You’re not ugly. You’re just… loud.”

“That’s not an insult, you know.”

“Wasn’t meant to be one,” I said, flipping through a few papers on my desk. “Anyway, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be resting that shoulder or doing some work. Don't tell me you have become jobless.”

He leaned against the edge of my desk like he owned the place.

"Far from being jobless, Mariah.. I missed your face.”

I looked up at him, incredulous. “You missed my face?”

“Yeah,” he said with a straight face, though I could see the mischief in his eyes. “It’s my favorite post-therapy motivation.”

“Lucas.” I crossed my arms. “Get over it with the jokes. Why are you really here?”

He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “I told you...because I missed you.”

I stared at him for a long second before shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told that before,” he said, unfazed.

I sighed, my tone shifting as I leaned back in my chair. “Can you be serious for a second? There’s something I need to talk about. It's actually good you're here”

He straightened a bit, sensing the change in my tone. “Alright. What’s going on?”

“It’s about Chase and Zoey.”

The teasing look on his face faded instantly. “What about them?”

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lower lip.

“There’s something that’s been bothering me. The truth behind what really happened between them… I can’t keep pretending I don’t know. Zoey deserves to find out what’s really going on. She’s been hating both Chase and Wes, and honestly, it’s not fair to her.”

Lucas exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I get it, Mariah. I really do. But maybe it’s not the right time to say anything yet.”

I frowned.

“So you want me to just sit here and watch her suffer? She’s my friend, Lucas.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But some truths do more damage when they come out too soon. You just need to hold on for a bit longer. Chase is trying to figure things out.”

I shook my head, frustration building. “He’s been ‘figuring things out’ for weeks. Meanwhile, Zoey keeps thinking he’s the villain. How much longer do you want me to wait?”

“Until the test results come out,” he said quietly. “Once they do, no one will have to guess anymore. Not you, not Chase, not Zoey.”

I leaned forward. “And if it turns out he's the child's father?”

"That's great.. She would have to accept him"

I shook my head negatively.

"That's unfair. I don't want to keep her in the dark and keep lying to her about.."

Before I could finish, the door creaked open.

Lucas and I both turned at the same time.

Zoey stood there, her eyes flicking between us in confusion.

“Oh… I didn’t know you had company.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Zoey, what are you doing here?”

She stepped in slowly, holding a file against her chest.

“I came to drop off the progress report you asked for. I guess I should have knocked.” Her gaze lingered on Lucas, her brow furrowing slightly. “Sorry, am I interrupting something?”

Lucas straightened, clearly caught off guard but trying to mask it with an awkward smile. “Uh… hey.”

Zoey blinked. “Hi?”

I stood up quickly, trying to regain my composure. “No, you’re not interrupting. I was just… talking to a patient.”

Zoey’s eyes shifted back to Lucas, studying him. “A patient?”

“Yeah,” Lucas said, finally finding his voice. “The one who apparently looks too healthy to be one.”

Zoey let out a small, polite laugh. “Right…”

The room fell quiet for a moment, tension thick enough to feel.

"You can go sir, I'll have your report forwarded when it's done.." I said to Lucas and signaled him with my eyes to leave.

He caught the signal, stood up and left.