Chapter 52
[ 503 words ]
Chapter 52:
“A long day?” Brenna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Dr. Croft, she’s being modest. The entire surgical floor has been treating her like a leper all afternoon. Melanie even took a marker to her locker.”
Caroline’s face flushed hot with humiliation. “Brenna, please. Don’t.”
Julian’s expression instantly hardened. The gentle warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, protective anger. He looked at Caroline.
“Is this true?” Julian demanded. “Are they harassing you?”
Caroline looked away, staring at the pavement. She couldn’t explain the real reason—Jarrod, the threats, the forced marriage. “It’s just workplace drama, Julian. I can handle it.”
Julian stared at her for a long moment. He saw the defensive wall she was putting up, and he didn’t push. Instead, he checked the silver watch on his left wrist.
“It’s been a brutal day for both of us, it seems,” Julian said, his tone lightening, though his eyes remained focused on her. “There’s a craft brewery a few blocks from here. The Oak. It’s quiet. Let me buy you a drink, Caroline. You look like you need to decompress.”
𝗦a𝘷е y𝗼u𝗋 𝘧a𝘃𝗈𝗿𝗂𝘁e 𝘯𝗈v𝗲𝗅𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝘨𝗮𝗅𝗇𝘰vеls.𝖼𝘰𝗆
Caroline hesitated. All she wanted was to go home and collapse into her bed. But the thought of returning to her parents’ house, where Jarrod’s presence still lingered like a ghost, made her stomach clench.
“Oh, come on, Caroline!” Brenna interjected, grabbing her arm. “A free drink from a handsome doctor? You’d be crazy to say no. I’m coming too, if you don’t mind, Dr. Croft.”
Julian smiled politely. “Of course.”
Caroline let out a defeated sigh. “Okay. One drink.”
They began walking down the busy D.C. sidewalk.
As they walked, Julian smoothly and naturally stepped to the outside of the pavement, placing himself between Caroline and the rushing traffic. It was a small, classic gentleman’s gesture, executed without a word.
Caroline noticed it. After days of being physically manhandled, threatened, and aggressively protected by Jarrod’s terrifying dominance, Julian’s quiet, respectful courtesy felt like a cool breeze on a burn.
They arrived at The Oak. It was a dimly lit, upscale tavern with exposed brick walls, leather booths, and soft jazz playing in the background.
Julian guided them to a quiet booth in the back. He pulled out the chair for Caroline before sitting down opposite her.
He ordered a round of drinks, then leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. He smiled at Caroline, his eyes crinkling.
“So,” Julian said softly. “Tell me everything I missed since Baltimore.”
For the first time all day, Caroline felt the tight knot in her chest begin to loosen. She offered him a genuine, tired smile.
The atmosphere inside The Oak was a thick, comforting blanket of low lighting, the murmur of quiet conversations, and the smell of roasted malt.
Sitting in the leather booth, Brenna was already halfway through her second margarita. The alcohol had completely dissolved her filter.
“I’m telling you, Dr. Croft,” Brenna slurred slightly, waving a salted rim in the air. “The patients in this city are insane. Today, a guy in bed four tried to bite me because I wouldn’t give him his phone.”
.
.
.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.