The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 14

Someone else in mind.

The words crashed over me like a bucket of ice water, freezing me to the bone.

My legs turned to lead, completely immobile.

In that very second, Zoey's smiling face forced its way into my mind.

"Oh? Who is it?" Alastair asked.

"A fresh neurosurgery grad," Ferris answered smoothly, adding, "The girl is quite clever."

A brief silence settled over the study.

My heart sank into a bottomless abyss.

The girl.

Such an intimate, affectionate term.

For a cautious man like Ferris to openly bring up Zoey in front of his father, his blatant favoritism was undeniable.

She truly was special to him.

"Alright, I trust your judgment."

Alastair's final word was filled with a father's unwavering support. He had seemingly forgotten all about his high praise for me just a minute ago.

My accomplishments meant nothing compared to Ferris's preference.

I quietly slipped downstairs and ducked into the guest bathroom.

I splashed freezing water on my face until my racing heart finally slowed down.

By the time I returned to the living room, masking my devastation, Ferris and Alastair were already seated.

The staff was setting the table. I walked over to help as usual. As my gaze swept past Ferris, I noticed him scrolling on his phone.

A pink anime girl avatar flashed across his screen, paired with the nauseatingly fond nickname "Little Mischief." My hand jerked, and the Royal Worcester bone china soup bowl slipped from my fingers, shattering against the marble floor with a deafening crash.

"Oh no! That's Vivian's favorite bowl!" a maid gasped.

Her cry snapped me back to reality. I stared at the shattered porcelain at my feet and immediately bent down to clean it up. The jagged edge sliced deep into my index finger.

Blood instantly welled up, the sharp sting mirroring the agonizing pain in my chest.

"My Royal Worcester! That was a limited edition!" Vivian shrieked in distress, immediately turning her fury on me. "Selena, why are you so clumsy? It's bad enough you can't give me a grandchild, but now you're destroying my precious belongings!"

Something inside me fractured, tearing my heart to shreds.

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

I screamed in my mind, but my throat refused to make a sound.

My eyes immediately burned with unshed tears.

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