Chapter 1

At the moment, I was on the exam table with my butt in the air, wishing the world would end already.

Because the man with those ice-cold fingers poking around my unspeakable parts was none other than Dennis Shaw.

He was my ex-boyfriend and the hopeless simp I ruthlessly dumped five years ago.

I spent so much effort into getting a specialist to check on me, yet when the curtain was pulled, I saw his cold and ascetic face.

"Noelle, after five years, this spot is tougher than your heart," Dennis said.

He wore sterile gloves, sounding so detached it was like he was pronouncing my doom.

But I could catch that vindictive glee in his tone. It was like he was finally getting his payback.

I shoved my face into the pillow, playing dead, and swore to myself that the moment I got off this table, I would leave this city.

"Dr. Shaw, are you done yet? I've got places to be!" I snapped.

"What's the rush? It's bad. You should stay for observation," he replied.

He took his time peeling off his gloves, about to say something, when the intercom in the exam room suddenly blared with a shrill alarm.

A person said, "Emergency alert. A suspected case has been reported in the outpatient department.

"The entire building is now under lockdown. Everyone must stay where they are. No one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Dennis and I were separated by a curtain, both of us silent. The room was so quiet that I could hear a pin drop.

A few seconds later, he pulled back the curtain. There was a slow, smug grin on his unfairly handsome face. It was like he'd gotten exactly what he wanted.

He said, "Miss Robson, looks like I'll have to spend the next fourteen days right here on this single bed with you and working to cure your condition."

My life was completely ruined at 3:23 PM today. Not because I ended up with some humiliating condition at my age, but because the one diagnosing me was Dennis.

He was the broke student ex I dumped five years ago with a single, brutal line. "You can't give me the life I want."

Five years had gone by, and I thought we'd never cross paths again.

I could've never guessed that our reunion would be me, butt in the air, and him, wearing those cold gloves, in total control of my most humiliating secret.

"Noelle, after five years, this spot is tougher than your heart," Dennis said from behind me, his voice icy and dripping with poison.

Every word was like a scalpel, cutting straight into my pride that was already full of holes.

I could picture his face right now. It must be deadpan mockery, with the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

That was his trademark. I used to be obsessed with it. Now, all I wanted was to smash that smirk right off his face.

"Dr. Shaw, can you please hurry up? It's a minor condition," I muttered, burying my face deep in the disposable sheet, my voice muffled and desperate.

Dennis snorted, and that sound sent a jolt right down my spine, "A minor condition? Hyperplasia, edema, and even rupture with bleeding.

"Miss Robson, you sure have a unique take on what counts as 'minor.'"

With every word he spoke, my cheeks burned hotter. I felt less like a patient and more like I was being nailed to a pillar of shame for a public execution.

"Want me to snap a pic so you can see how bad it is? I can even give you a special discount," he said.

"Dennis!" I finally lost it, whipping my head around to snap at him, only to remember I was still stuck with my ass in the air, looking absolutely ridiculous.

His gaze slid over me with maddening composure, then settled on my face. Those dark eyes were stormy with emotion. I saw mockery and something else, weighing down on me like a ton of bricks.

His face was sharper than ever, all the boyish softness gone, replaced by a cold, mature edge.

In that white coat, he was aloof and irresistible. If we'd met under any other circumstances, I might've been tempted to hit him up for his number.

But right now, I wanted to take him down with me.

"Are you shouting like that because you are hoping I'll give you an even more detailed check-up?" Dennis said lazily, straightening up.

He peeled off his disposable gloves and tossed them into the yellow medical waste bin, moving with elegance as if he were taking off a pair of luxury silk gloves.

I hurriedly pulled up my pants and climbed off the table, my face burning with shame.

"Is this how you treat your patients? You're taking revenge!" I snapped.

"Taking revenge?" Dennis leaned against the desk, arms crossed, looking down at me with that maddeningly calm expression.

He said, "Miss Robson, you were the one who booked my slot. I'm simply doing my duty as a doctor, objectively describing your condition.

"If my attitude makes you uncomfortable, take a left outside and file a complaint."

He had that smug look, as if to say, "Try it and see who'll stop me."

I was so pissed that my hands were shaking.

As I was racking my brain for the most savage comeback, the intercom overhead suddenly erupted without warning.

It said, "Emergency alert. A suspected case has been reported in the outpatient department.

"The entire building is now under lockdown. Everyone must stay where they are. No one is allowed to enter or leave!"

The piercing alarm was like a power drill, tearing through my brain.

I couldn't believe that there was a lockdown.

I stood there, frozen, my mind wiped clean.

Dennis was as stunned. The sarcasm froze on his face. We stared at each other, barely six feet apart, eyes locked.

Outside, a commotion erupted, and the iron gate slammed down with a thunderous crash. It was like someone had nailed shut the coffin on this mess between us, trapping us for good.

"Was that a joke?" I asked, clinging to my last bit of hope, my voice going shaky.

Dennis didn't say a word. He walked over to the door and tugged at the handle. It didn't budge.

Then he moved to the window and looked down. I squeezed in next to him, and saw a bunch of people in white hazmat suits pulling up a long stretch of caution tape.

I knew that we were screwed. My vision was going black as I grabbed onto the wall for support.

Now I was stuck with my ex, whom I'd humiliated before. We were trapped in a tiny exam room with a bed and a bathroom. It was unknown how long we would stay there.

This was a million times worse than having hemorrhoids.

I turned to Dennis, desperation written all over my face.

He slowly turned around. That unfairly handsome face of his had a slow, evil smirk. It was like karma had finally paid him back.