Ste didn''t step off the operating table until after five in the afternoon. The


    surgery had been particrlyplex, and Dr. Grant had told her it was a rare case-one she should observe from start to finish.


    Fortunately, both the mother and her baby came through safe and sound.


    Ste had barely settled into her office chair when someone knocked on the door.


    "Come in," she called.


    The door swung open, and Quentin walked in.


    Catching sight of him, Ste froze for a moment before quickly standing up. "Director Lockwood, what brings you here?"


    Quentin closed the door behind him. Ste straightened, a little on edge. "Please, have a seat, Director Lockwood."


    He smiled, warm brown eyes crinkling. "No need to be so formal. I just wanted to let you know the hospital is organizing an outreach clinic in the countryside at the start of next month. Would you be interested in joining?"


    "A rural clinic?" Ste asked. "Where? And for how long?"


    "Frostvale, up in Riverstead County. The conditions there are tough, and not many doctors or nurses are eager to volunteer."


    Quentin adjusted his sses, his tone gentle and genuine. “I''ll be leading the team myself this time. Since it''s such a challenging environment, I''m hoping our younger staff will really step up."


    ,


    With things put that way, Ste couldn''t exactly refuse.


    "All right, count me in."


    Hearing this, Quentin''s lips curved in a satisfied smile. "Dr. Joyner, you''re a real asset to our hospital."


    Ste forced augh. "Director Lockwood, you''re the one who''s truly impressive."


    As both hospital director and the current head of the Lockwood family, Quentin personally leading a rural medical team was an impressive disy of leadership— at least on the surface.


    Ste, just an average employee, could only privately sum up Quentin''s gesture with a silent, honest appraisal: what a calcted performance.


    After Quentin left, Ste''s phone rang. It was Briony.


    "Are you on duty tonight?" Briony asked.


    "No, I was supposed to have today off!" Ste groaned. "Unpaid overtime! And I just got assigned another task-lucky me!"


    "What task?" Briony wanted to know.


    "Next month, I have to join some outreach clinic. Out in the middle of nowhere, too!" Ste massaged her sore neck. "Speaking of which, are you off tonight? Want to grab dinner?"


    "That''s actually why I called," Briony replied. "I was hoping we could eat together."


    ...


    Ste drove over to pick Briony up from her studio.


    It was Friday, and the Imperial Pavilion was bustling with families out for dinner. Briony had reserved a private room in advance.


    Once inside, they ordered, and the waiter quietly closed the door behind them.


    Ste took a sip of tea, then nced across the table. "All right, spill. What''s on your mind?"


    Briony looked surprised. "How did you know I had something to say?"


    "You''ve been zoning out this whole time," Ste said, giving her a sidelong look. "If I couldn''t tell you were preupied after ten years of friendship, what kind of friend would I be?"


    Briony sipped her tea, then sighed. "It''splicated—I can''t exin it in a few words. Just pull out your phone, check the news. It''s everywhere; you won''t even have to look hard."


    "A big headline? Did some celebrity get exposed again? Let me look..." Ste unlocked her phone. Right at the top was a ring headline: ROSITA''S WEDDING APPROACHES!


    "Wedding approaching?!" Ste looked up sharply. "Rosita and Stewart are getting married?!"


    Briony nodded, her expression unreadable.


    "But wait-haven''t you and Stewart not finalized your divorce yet? Is this some PR stunt or is she forcing his hand?"


    "The wedding is real," Briony said quietly. "Honestly, whether or not they get married doesn''t matter to me anymore. The problem is, Stewart refuses to sign the divorce papers."


    "He''s about to marry Rosita! Their kid is already five! How can he keep dragging his feet on your divorce? That''s practically bigamy! I mean, Stewart''s awyer, not God. He of all people should know better! Is he out of his mind? Seriously, is he?!" Ste was so furious she nearly mmed her fist on the table. "I should report him!"


    "Calm down and take a look at this first." Briony set her teacup down and pulled a document from her bag.


    Seeing the agreement, Ste''s anger dimmed a bit. "Is this... the new divorce agreement Stewart offered?"


    Briony nodded.


    Ste snatched it up and quickly flipped through the pages-


    "Is Stewart insane? Has he lost his mind? He''s offering you... half his assets?!"


    "Wait, your entire studio building... Just the property alone is worth tens of millions, right? He wants to give it to you? Hold on, this doesn''t add up..."