Chapter 2
Mona felt that maybe this aloof genius doctor wasn't as unreachable as she thought. She gradually drifted off to sleep.
In the master bedroom, Damon didn't fall asleep right away. He leaned against the headboard, phone in hand, scrolling through Mona's Instagram.
Her latest post was from three days ago. It read: [Fifth day as a resident physician, so exhausted I'm questioning my life, but gotta keep going!]
There was a cheering emoji and a photo of her in a white coat, flashing a peace sign.
In the photo, Mona's eyes curved with a bright, radiant smile, her gaze lively and full of energy. She was nothing like the reserved, tired girl he'd seen during the day.
Damon's finger hovered on the screen for a moment. He didn't like or comment. He quietly exited Instagram and turned off his phone.
He remembered what his grandfather had said. The first time Mona had appeared before him, she was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans and had a shy smile.
She softly said, "Dr. Annable, I hope we can get along well."
He understood his elders' intentions, and he wasn't deliberately cold to her.
He was used to keeping to himself, used to being alone, and didn't know how to be a husband to a stranger.
As night settled in, the city lights of Akands gradually dimmed, leaving only two small lamps glowing quietly in the apartment.
They guarded two lonely souls, waiting for spring to finally arrive.
The days slipped by. Mona and Damon's interactions stayed low-key and ordinary, but the awkwardness that once lingered between them slowly faded.
It was replaced by a gentle warmth that crept in without them even noticing.
Mona's shifts were all over the place, sometimes early, sometimes late. Sometimes she even had to work overtime.
One night, she was stuck at the hospital until eleven. As she was about to head out, a heavy rain started pouring down.
Raindrops hammered the windows, making a sharp, relentless patter. Standing at the hospital entrance, she stared at the downpour, feeling helpless.
She hadn't brought an umbrella, and she didn't have the nerve to dash through the storm. She pulled out her phone, hesitating over whether to call a ride-share.
Then, a black sedan eased to a stop in front of her. The window slid down. Damon's aloof, sharp gaze appeared from inside.
"Get in," he said, his voice neutral. There was no trace of his usual detachment.
Mona was caught off guard and blurted out, "Why are you here?"
She remembered Damon had spent eight hours in surgery today. He should've been resting by now.
Damon replied, his eyes fixed on the rain ahead, deliberately avoiding hers, "I just left the hospital and saw you standing at the entrance. Come on, the rain's too heavy."
Mona snapped out of it, quickly opened the car door, and slid into the passenger seat.
The car was warm, and a faint scent of cedar lingered in the air. It was Damon's scent. She instinctively tugged at her coat, trying to hide how flustered she felt.
Damon handed her a dry towel. "Wipe yourself off. Make sure you don't catch a cold. You're a girl. Working overtime this late isn't safe."
"Thanks," Mona said, taking the towel and gently dabbing the rain from her face and hair.
She felt a gentle warmth bloom in her chest. It was the first time Damon had taken care of her like this.
The car was quiet. The only sounds were the rhythmic sweep of the wipers and their steady breathing.
Mona glanced at Damon, her heart fluttering a little. He was focused on driving, his profile sharp and handsome, the streetlights softening his usual aloof vibe.
"Did the surgery go well today?" Mona asked after a moment's hesitation. She knew cardiac surgery was no joke. Every operation was a tough fight.
Damon replied with a nod, "Yeah, it went smoothly. The patient's stable, and recovery shouldn't be a problem."
Mona said with a smile, "That's great. Dr. Annable, you're amazing. I want to be as great a doctor as you someday."
Damon's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It faded so quickly that it seemed to be a trick of the light.
He said, "Keep working hard. Being a resident physician is tough, but take your time. There's no need to rush."
He paused before adding, "If you ever run into anything you don't understand, you can always ask me."
"Really? That's awesome!" Mona's eyes lit up, and she broke into a bright smile. "Thank you, Dr. Annable. Wait, thank you, Damon."
It was the first time she'd called him by his name. Damon felt a strange flutter in his chest, but he didn't say anything. He nodded and kept his eyes on the road.
The car pulled up outside their apartment building. It was still pouring outside. Mona grabbed her bag and was about to get out when Damon stopped her.
He said, handing her an umbrella, "Wait. Take this. You'll need it for work tomorrow. I'm heading straight to the hospital in the morning, so I won't need it."
"But you have to work tomorrow too. What if it rains again?" Mona protested.