Callie’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise, but she maintained her composure.
She appreciated Joshua’s straightforwardness, even if his approach seemed a bit cold.
She nodded, indicating her willingness to participate.
‘How much do you earn per month?’ Joshua asked.
‘Well, as a fifth-year surgical resident, I make around five to six thousand dollars a month.’
‘Not bad. Now, what about your parents? What do they do for a living?’
‘Actually, I don't have parents. I grew up as an orphan.’
Joshua scowled. ‘I see. Moving on, do you own any property or are you living in a rental?’
‘I currently live in a rented one-bedroom apartment.’
‘Fair enough. Last question, are you currently in debt?’
‘Well, I do have a student loan of about two hundred fifty thousand dollars.’ Callie shrugged. ‘Medical school loans, you know how it is.’
Joshua stood up abruptly and started packing up his belongings. ‘Well, this has been a complete waste of my time. You should know better than to lead people on, Miss Hawthorne.’
Callie was confused. ‘Wait, how am I wasting your time? I came here as a favour to my friend. I didn’t ask for this blind date.’
Joshua said sarcastically, ‘Oh, of course, how foolish of me. You’re just a surgical resident, not even a certified doctor yet. Your job and income are so secure, aren’t they? And let’s not forget your quarter-million-dollar debt.’
Callie was offended. ‘Excuse me? I didn’t realise my financial situation was the only thing you cared about. I thought we were here to get to know each other.’
Joshua sneered. ‘Well, Miss Surgical Resident, I’m looking for a wife, someone independent, who can contribute to a stable family unit. But it seems I’ve stumbled upon someone burdened with a massive financial debt. I guess you’re not looking for a boyfriend, but an idiot who will help pay off your mountain of loans.’
‘How dare you!’ Callie was getting angry. ‘I never asked for your money or any help with my debts. I didn’t come here to be judged based on my finances. I’m capable of standing on my own two feet.’
Joshua flicked his fingers dismissively. ‘Oh, spare me the act.’
He gave Callie another once-over. ‘It’s such a shame you’re so poor. Maybe if you put on some makeup and invested in fancy dresses, you might have a chance of seducing a wealthy man who only cares about appearances. He might even be willing to settle your debts if you’re willing to give him what he wants. But I’m not that kind of fool.’
Callie was livid. ‘Is this how you view women? As mere objects to be bought and sold? Money isn’t everything in a relationship, Mr Faulkner. It’s about trust, support, and genuine connection. Clearly, you’re not capable of understanding that.’
The lawyer smirked. ‘Save your lectures, Miss Hawthorne. It’s clear we’re not compatible. I don’t have time for someone who can’t bring financial stability to the table. Instead of wasting your time with me, I suggest you try your luck at Crimson Alley.’
Crimson Alley was a historic entertainment district in the city of Steinheim, known for its vibrant nightlife, bars, and…street prostitution.
Callie’s face contorted with anger as she glared at Joshua, her hand gripping the coffee cup tightly. ‘You think you can just waltz in here and insult me like that?’
An arrogant smile danced on Joshua’s lips. ‘Well, sweetheart, you should learn to control your emotions. It’s unbecoming of a lady.’
Callie took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing.
She lifted the cup and pours the remaining iced coffee onto Joshua’s crisp white shirt.
The coffee stains spread across Joshua’s shirt, making him shiver.
He swore loudly, then brushed away the melting ice cubes, his expression turning even more disdainful. ‘What the hell, woman! Do you know how much this shirt cost? I’ll sue you for assault!’
‘You can take your ridiculous threats and shove them, jerk!’ Callie’s body trembled with rage.
She tried to hold back tears, but the stress of recent weeks and the painful memory of her ex-boyfriend’s betrayal made it incredibly difficult.
Just as Joshua was about to say something, a figure stepped up beside Callie.
Simon shot a concerned look her way, then turned to Joshua with a growl. ‘Back off, mister. You don’t want to mess with her.’
Callie’s eyes widened in shock at Simon’s sudden appearance.
She quickly recovered, her anger returning with a vengeance.
Simon Moncrieff was the last person she wanted defending her.
Callie tossed some cash on the table to pay for the coffee, then pulled out more bills, holding them out towards Joshua. ‘Here’s some money for your dry-cleaning. Take it and leave me alone. If you’re so hell-bent on suing, you know where to find me.’
She shot the lawyer a withering look, then stormed out of the café.
Simon chased after Callie, his hand reaching out to grab her arm.
Callie deftly dodged his approach, keeping a safe distance between them.
Simon’s face fell, a mixture of sadness and longing. ‘Callie, please! Let’s talk about this.’
Callie kept her composure. ‘Dr Hawthorne, if you must address me at work, or Miss Hawthorne outside of it. Or simply Callista. We’re not close enough for you to call me Callie.’
Simon winced at her words, hurt evident in his eyes. ‘But we’ve known each other for so long, Callie. We shouldn’t be strangers.’
Callie’s expression remained blank, her voice cool. ‘Colleagues, Simon. We’re still colleagues at work. But outside of work, I’d prefer it if you kept your distance.’
Simon’s eyes searched her face, desperately hoping to find a flicker of the love they once shared.
His voice was sincere. ‘Callie, I still love you. I’ve never stopped loving you. You know that.’
He only chose to marry Abby for the opportunity at the hospital.
It was a career move.
Callie shook her head. ‘Love isn’t something you can choose when it’s convenient, Simon. It’s not something you can put on hold for ambition.’
Simon’s voice trembled with emotion as he tried to reach out to her. ‘Don’t do this, Callie. Don’t shut me out like this.’
Callie took a step back, maintaining her distance. ‘Simon, your clinginess to an ex-girlfriend is ridiculous. We’re over, and it’s time to accept that.’
Despite her tough exterior, Callie was still hurting from the breakup.She had poured her heart and soul into the relationship, only to be betrayed by Simon for the sake of his career.Simon’s face contorted with pain, his voice filled with anguish. ‘Please, Callie, give me another chance. Let me prove to you that we belong together.’He grasped Callie’s wrist, pleading with her. ‘I know you still have feelings for me. I remember the promises I made, that I’d take care of you for the rest of my life. I haven’t forgotten.’Callie’s eyes narrowed, disbelief written across her face.She said mockingly, ‘Take care of me? Really, Simon? With your empty promises and broken trust?’Simon’s voice quivered as he tried to explain himself. ‘You don’t understand, Callie. I’m just a surgeon from an ordinary family. I can’t give you the luxurious lifestyle you deserve. That’s why I had to marry Abby. But it’s only temporary, I promise. Once I have everything I want—the hospital directorship and wea
Abby, clad in her pristine white coat, finished her morning rounds and emerged into the bustling hospital hallway just in time to overhear Callie and Wendy’s conversation.A smug smirk danced across her lips as she savoured the opportunity to stir up trouble.She approached Callie, her voice dripping with false sympathy. ‘Oh, Dr Hawthorne, I heard about your article. Such a shame it got rejected. I thought it was top-notch.’Her tone was smooth and sugary, but her words rang hollow.Callie remained silent, refusing to take the bait set by her ex-boyfriend’s conniving fiancée.Abby continued, unfazed, ‘Maybe it just wasn’t good enough, Callie. It’s too bad. Such a rejection might even hinder your chances of getting your full-time position at the hospital approved.’Callie’s composure remained unshaken. ‘Thank you for your concern, Abby. But as a fifth-year surgical resident, I have offers from other hospitals. Staying at Rosedale isn’t my only option. Besides, you should be more concer
Callie bit her lower lip, her thoughts racing as she tried to gather her thoughts.The demands of her gruelling schedule as a surgical resident had left her with little time for personal matters, and she had honestly forgotten about Elias’s proposal.She looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes.‘I... I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Westwood, I—’‘Just call me Elias.’‘All right. Um, Elias, the past few days have been a blur. I completely forgot about your, um, your proposal.’ She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the decision pressing upon her.Before she could utter another word, her phone buzzed in the pocket of her pristine white lab coat.The caller ID flashed ‘Abby Colman.’Confusion washed over Callie’s face—why would Simon’s new girlfriend be calling her?The two women certainly weren’t friends, given the tension that had lingered since the end of Callie’s relationship with Simon.Curiosity gnawed at her, and she stepped away from Elias, answering the call. ‘Hello, A
Callie’s voice trembled as she demanded to know if he had been eavesdropping on her phone call with Abby.Elias’s gaze never wavered as he spoke, his voice deep and resonant. ‘There were only the two of us up here on the roof, bunny. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. It wasn’t intentional eavesdropping.’His words held a mix of apology and understanding.Humiliation washed over Callie, her vulnerability exposed before this man she barely knew.Her voice broke as she sobbed. ‘Why? Why is she doing this to me? I don’t understand. All I want is to focus on my work as a doctor, to make a difference in people’s lives. Why is Abby persisting in tormenting me?’Elias’s strong presence remained unwavering as he leaned down, his voice a whisper against her ear. ‘Callie, be my woman. Marry me.’His words held a promise of protection, a vow to shield her from any harm that might come her way.He spoke with conviction, his voice tinged with the authority of a soldier accustomed to g
‘I... I didn’t...’ Simon stammered, his voice filled with desperation as he tried to salvage his delusion. ‘I know... deep down, you still have feelings for me. Your indifference only hides the space you’ve kept for me in your heart.’Callie’s patience wore thin as she listened to Simon’s feeble attempts to hold onto a love that no longer existed.She mustered her strength and shot back, ‘Simon, there is no space in my heart for you. You need to understand that and move on.’Desperation tinged Simon’s voice as he persisted, his words slurred and laden with false promises. ‘I want... I want to tell you not to come to my wedding. I’m afraid you’ll be hurt. Don’t worry, once I have everything, I’ll divorce Abby. I’ll choose you over her.’Callie clenched her teeth, her frustration boiling within her.She glanced up to meet Elias’s gaze, expecting to see a hint of disdain or triumph.However, to her surprise, his eyes held a clear, unwavering gaze.‘Give me the phone,’ Elias said, his voi
‘All right,’ Callie agreed, slipping off her white coat and making her way downstairs with Elias.Elias was in civilian clothes, his jacket devoid of any intricate design, yet the man exuded a charm that captivated those around him.His face remained impassive, and his dark eyes resembled the depths of a bewitching night, luring people into their enchanting gaze.As Callie and Elias stepped out of the lift, their mere presence drew the attention of the entire room, with most of the eyes falling on Elias.It wasn’t because Callie lacked in beauty, but Elias possessed a natural magnetism that compelled all eyes to gravitate towards him.Feeling overshadowed by his dazzling allure, Callie instinctively created a distance between them.She attempted to do so discreetly, but as a perceptive soldier, Elias caught onto her actions.Amidst the scrutinizing gazes of onlookers, he took the initiative and gently clasped Callie’s hand.Her hand, petite and delicate, was effortlessly enveloped by
The deafening sound of her own heartbeat made Callie wonder if Elias could hear it too.‘Are you mad?’ he asked.Rolling her eyes, Callie snorted. ‘Mad at you? Please, don’t flatter yourself.’‘All right, let’s go then.’ Elias stepped down on the gas pedal.The Pagani roared to life, then sped out of the parking lot.Under the night sky, Callie glanced at Elias by her side and couldn’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions.Marrying a man she had only known for a few days—a soldier, no less—was beyond surreal.And on top of that, he was wealthy.It felt like she had stepped into a dream, a beautiful but unreal fantasy.Elias, observing Callie’s gaze, had the urge to flick her forehead. ‘Why are you looking at me like that? Having second thoughts? Bunny, let me make it clear: you’ve already made a promise, so there’s no turning back.’Callie shook her head, a playful smile curling her lips. ‘I wasn’t thinking about that. And who said I didn’t want to marry you? No matter how you look a
Elias frowned at Simon, still clutching onto him like a bear, his expression a mix of disgust and annoyance.Without hesitation, Elias delivered a swift karate chop to the back of Simon’s neck, causing him to instantly lose consciousness.With Simon incapacitated, Elias effortlessly lifted him in his arms, carrying him away from Callie’s house.He placed Simon on a bench about fifty meters away, ensuring he would be safe before returning to Callie.As the events replayed in Callie’s mind, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter once again, her joy infectious. ‘I can’t believe that just happened!’ she exclaimed, wiping away tears of mirth.Elias raised an eyebrow at her, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his eyes. ‘You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you? What would you have done if I wasn’t here today?’‘I... I don’t know,’ Callie stammered, her eyes flickering with vulnerability.She fidgeted, unsure of how to express her gratitude to Elias.The man just prot