Liz turned to him in surprise. “Why? Is there something else wrong with my car?”


    William nodded. “Yeah. The insurancepany called me today. Looks like the repairs might take a bit longer.”


    “How much longer?”


    He paused to think. “Probably… about two weeks.”


    “Alright.”


    Liz pressed her lips together. “Then you don’t need to keep picking me up. I can just take the subway.”


    Starting the car, William replied, “It’s really on my way. We start work around the same time, and if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be without a car in the first ce.”


    After a brief pause, he added, “If you really think it’s a hassle for me to pick you up every day, why don’t I just leave my car with you when we get to your office? You can drive it for the next two weeks, and return it once yours is fixed.”


    Liz waved her hands quickly. “No, no… your car is way too expensive. If I scratched or damaged it, I could never afford to pay for the repairs.”


    She wasn’t exaggerating. His car could buy twenty or thirty of her car. And if she damaged it, the repair bill alone might cost as much as her entire car.


    “Then don’t turn me down again,” he said lightly. “Otherwise, I’ll feel guilty.”


    She studied his calm, refined profile in silence for a few seconds before finally nodding. ” Alright. I appreciate it.”


    “It’s no trouble. I should be the one making it up to you.”


    “By the way,” she added, “you said earlier you work at the hospital. Are you a doctor?”


    He nodded, “Yeah.”


    “So sometimes you must have surgeries and get off reallyte, right?”


    He nced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting. “All the time. Why do you ask?”


    “I just don’t want you having to wake up early to pick me up if you’re workingte.”


    “It’s fine. I usually leave for the hospital around this time anyway. Taking you along really is no trouble, so don’t feel pressured.”


    “Okay.”


    Half an hourter, William pulled up in front of herw firm.


    Liz opened the door and stepped out. “Thank you, Mr. Sanders.”


    His eyes softened. “You’re wee. I’ll see you tonight.”


    She closed the door and watched the ck G–Wagon pull away before turning toward the building.


    The day flew by. Around five in the evening, Liz received a message from William saying he was downstairs.


    She replied with an “Okay,” tidied up the unfinished files on her desk, slipped them into her briefcase, and headed out.


    Hunter hurried after her. “Liz, you’re leaving early today?”


    “My car’s in the shop, so I’ve beenmuting with a friend. I’ll probably be leaving earlier for a while.”


    “Oh, I see.”


    His gaze flickered, and he looked down, lost in thought.


    They rode the elevator down together, parting ways at the front doors. Liz walked quickly toward the ck G–Wagon parked at the curb.


    Reaching the car, she tapped on the window before opening the door. “Thanks foring, Mr. Sanders.”


    William smiled and slipped the medical journal in his hand into the door’s sidepartment. “Ms. Smith, no need to be so formal. Just call me William.”


    “Alright. Then you can call me Liz.”


    “Liz,” he repeated. His voice was cool, yet there was a quiet warmth in it, as if her name had lingered on his lips many times before.


    Maybe it was just her imagination, but it felt like there was something almost tender in the way he said it.


    When their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away.


    That face was almost criminal. Every time she looked at him, she found herself pulled in without even meaning to.


    If Jane ever found out, she would never stop teasing her for acting like such a lovestruck


    fool.


    She lowered her head and fastened her seatbelt using the motion to hide her slip inposure. By the time she looked up again, her expression was calm once more.