Chapter 5

I turned around to see Dr. James Rivera—Stephen's Johns Hopkins classmate—swaying toward me. The neurosurgeon had clearly had more than his share tonight, his cheeks flushed, his gait unsteady.

"Dr. Rivera, you look... very happy," I said cautiously, quietly tucking away my phone. The divorce attorney's webpage was still open on my screen, but this wasn't the time.

"Beautiful Karolyn!" James called out loudly. "Sitting here all alone? Where's Stephen?"

"He's networking with other doctors," I replied politely.

"That workaholic!" James shook his head, then suddenly lowered his voice. "You know, Karolyn, Stephen really loves you."

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my composure. "Of course, we're married."

James shook his head. "No, you don't understand. He's loved you for years, ever since we were kids."

Just then, several doctors approached, and James immediately turned to them, his voice growing louder:

"Gentlemen! Do you know how much our Stephen has sacrificed for love?"

I tensed up instantly, but didn't want to miss any information. I pretended to look at my phone while listening intently.

"What sacrifices?" Dr. Williams asked curiously.

"The Harvard fellowship!" James revealed without reservation. "Top-tier cardiothoracic surgery fellowship! He turned it down flat just to stay in LA!"

Blood rushed to my head. What? Stephen never mentioned Harvard!

"James, are you sure?" a doctor questioned.

"Of course I'm sure! I saw the acceptance letter myself!" James grew more excited. "And here's what you really don't know—this guy's been obsessed with Karolyn since he was eight! This engagement? He initiated the renewal completely!"

My phone nearly slipped from my hands. He initiated it? Not a family arrangement?

"No way!" The doctors all looked shocked.

"Absolutely true!" James couldn't stop himself. "This lovesick fool has to watch Karolyn's movies every night to fall asleep! I've stayed at his place—saw it with my own eyes! His room is covered with her photos and clippings, worse than any fanboy!"

I felt the whole world spinning.

"And there's more!" James continued his revelations. "You know what his nickname was in medical school? 'Karolyn's Guardian'! Because he was always secretly following her news, and if anyone said a bad word about her, he'd get into it with them!"

The surrounding doctors erupted in good-natured laughter:

"My God, that's so romantic!"

"No wonder Dr. Montgomery married such a perfect wife!"

"Childhood crush turned into marriage—it's like a modern fairy tale!"

My heart was pounding frantically as I struggled to maintain surface calm. Then I saw Stephen approaching from a distance, clearly coming to find me.

I immediately stood up, pretending I'd just noticed the group's conversation. "You all seem to be having such a lively discussion. What are you talking about?"

James turned to me, grinning drunkenly. "We're talking about how lucky you are to marry a man who loves you so much!"

Stephen approached, looking somewhat confused. "Talking about what?"

"Dr. James was praising our marriage," I smiled sweetly. "Saying we're a perfect match."

"Yes, yes!" James nodded enthusiastically, completely unaware of what he'd just revealed. "You really are a perfect match! Stephen, you're so blessed!"

Stephen smiled politely. "Thank you, James." Then he turned to me. "Ready to go home? You look a bit tired."

"Yes." I took his arm, silently grateful he hadn't heard the earlier conversation.

As we said goodbye to the others, I could feel Stephen's arm tense slightly, but he didn't know that this time it wasn't because of his discomfort—it was because of the shock reverberating through me.

In the car, Stephen asked, "How was tonight? You seemed a bit distracted at the charity gala."

"It was fine." I gazed out the window, working to keep my voice steady. "Just a little tired. These social events can be quite draining."

"Mm, next time if you don't want to attend, you can tell me directly." His voice carried genuine concern.

Concern... so this wasn't politeness, but actual concern.

"I wouldn't miss it. These events are important for both of us," I said, glancing at his profile as he focused on driving. "Besides, I like attending with you."

Stephen's hands paused slightly on the steering wheel, but quickly returned to normal. "Good."

Back home, we each retired to our rooms. I closed my door and immediately leaned against it, my heart still racing wildly.

James's words kept echoing in my mind:

Obsessed since he was eight...

He turned down the Harvard fellowship...

He initiated the engagement renewal...

Watches my movies every night to fall asleep...

His room covered with my photos...

I walked to my vanity and stared at my pale reflection. Suddenly, all the fragments began reassembling:

Stephen's fleeting look of deep affection whenever he saw me...

His frantic rush home from the hospital when I'd faked being sick...

His clenched fists, knuckles white with restraint...

His pained expression when he said "it's complicated"...

Even tonight's conversation with Sarah—maybe he was just fulfilling basic social obligations, and I was jealous enough to consider divorce?

Oh my God...

I slowly sat on the bed's edge as a earth-shattering realization struck me like lightning:

He wasn't emotionally distant. He was protecting himself! He thought I didn't love him, so he used professional distance to hide his feelings!

I remembered his trembling fingers every time he touched me.

I remembered his furtive backward glances when he hurried away.

I remembered his panic when he heard I might want a divorce.

All this time... he wasn't rejecting me. He was protecting himself.

I walked back to the mirror, but this time I didn't see a woman being treated coldly—I saw a woman deeply loved without knowing it.

I thought about earlier at the gala, when I was about to click on the divorce attorney's website. If James hadn't appeared, if I'd actually scheduled that consultation...

I might have destroyed a man who'd loved me since he was eight.

My lips slowly curved upward, a light beginning to sparkle in my eyes—the cunning of awakening, the sweetness of revenge, and the pride of a woman who knew she was loved.

I could hear movement from the adjacent room. Stephen couldn't sleep either.

He must be worried—worried about how I'd react if I knew the truth, worried I'd feel deceived, worried I might actually contact that divorce attorney.

The irony was, just yesterday afternoon I'd almost clicked on that website.

I laughed softly, eyes wide open in the darkness.

This man... hiding so deeply, letting me misunderstand for so long, nearly destroying both of us.

Was I angry? Yes, I was furious.

But more than that... I felt an unprecedented thrill.

Since Dr. Stephen Montgomery enjoyed playing this secret admirer game, since he thought professional distance could protect his heart, then...

It was time to show him what real "taking the initiative" looked like.