Chapter 1800

Karina looked slightly surprised. She distinctly remembered that Wilfred wasn’t a drinker. “I thought you avoided alcohol?”
Wilfred, ever the epitome of control and composure, preferred to steer clear of anything that dulled his sharpness. Back when they worked at the Birkham Central Hospital, she had seen him reject bottles of expensive wine from people trying to curry favor with him. He sipped his tea slowly before replying, “You’ve started at a new hospital. As your former mentor, I haven’t given you a proper congratulatory gift yet.”
“This is… for me?” Karina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Wilfred’s gaze was steady as he replied, “Don’t like it? If not, I can send it back and we can find something else later.” He raised his hand to call the server over.
“Wait! No need. I like it a lot,” Karina interjected hastily, stopping him in his tracks.
The idea of going gift shopping with him later felt uncomfortably like a date. And knowing Wilfred’s personality, whatever he chose would likely be even more expensive than the wine. It was better to avoid the situation entirely.
She admitted to herself that ever since her feelings were hurt that day, she had been trying to keep some distance from Wilfred. A little caution wasn’t a bad thing, she reasoned. It was better to avoid any more misunderstandings. Wilfred studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded, retracting his hand. “Alright. If there’s anything else you want, let me know.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly forced herself to calm down. “Don’t overthink this, Karina,” she reminded herself. “It’s just a gift, nothing more.” After their meal, Wilfred drove her home. Before leaving, he paused at the doorway.
“I’m staying temporarily at Garden Road, No. 10. It’s a friend’s house,” he said meeting her gaze. “If anything comes up over the next couple of days, feel free to drop by
or call.”
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Karina nodded. “Got it. Thank you.”
As Wilfred’s car pulled away, Karina let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping with exhaustion as she collapsed onto the couch.
On the table sat the gift bag containing the obscenely expensive wine. She carefully placed it in a cabinet and shut the door.
Giving herself a light slap on the cheeks, she muttered, “Karina, get a grip. He’s just being polite. Stop overthinking.”
Her self-affirmation seemed to work. By the next day, her mind was clearer, focused, and devoid of any unnecessary distractions.
At Wilfred’s lecture, she surprised Yvette by showing up.
“I thought you were skipping this one too. What changed your mind? Did someone convince you?” Yvette teased, her brows arching playfully.
Karina paused, the slightest hesitation betraying her. “Don’t be ridiculous. You all said the lecture would be useful, so I decided to come.
“Don’t forget, I’m planning to apply for grad school later this year. Any useful knowledge is worth listening to,” she added.
She set her things down and took a seat, fully assuming the posture of someone genuinely there to learn.
In a room fitted with people clearly attending more for Wilfred’s striking looks or his personal charm, Karina stood out as a refreshing exception.
Yvette stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. “Wait, you’re telling me… you’re really here to study? Wow, I’m honestly impressed You’re something else!”
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