Chapter 0019
Aria’s PV
Over the next few days, I met with Lucian a few times while disguised as Dr. A, so that we could discuss and work on our collaborative project. In these early stages, we decided to keep the project confidential. At the time, I only wanted to protect the integrity of the project.
It wasn’t until a few days later, when I saw the tabloids in the grocery store check–out line, that I realized our mistake.
One of the headlines read, Alpha King Lucian and Dr. A Secret Rendezvous Confirmed Lovers?
By keeping the true nature of our meetings a secret, we had incited the speculation of the entire kingdom, thanks to the paparazzi and the photos they snapped of our outings.
The photos were also grossly out of context. Yes, we had gone out for dinner together one night, but that was only after our earlier meeting extended overlong. We were hungry but still had topics to discuss.
While we’d been eating, I had only leaned over like that because I was talking about something I felt so passionate about. That made me animated.
It had nothing to do with perceived feelings for Lucian
Although, I supposed, it had been nice to talk to him as an equal for a change. Typically, as his dutiful housewife, would be unable to question him, afraid he might perceive ne as combative or argumentative and not a good wife.
As Dr. A. I shed those inhibitions. With no fear of pleasing him, I could be as loud, as animated, and as disagreeable as I wanted.
any romantic Yet, even in those instances, like at this dinner the tabloids perceived as a date, I wasn’t drawing on any acclimations toward Lucian. I’d just been excited about the project.
The tabloids made it seem like Lucian and I were planning to run away together.
Carrying the tabloid rolled up under my arm, I walked into the hospital that morning and immediately noticed a difference in how people interacted with me. Typically, disguised as Dr. A, I drew curiosity or wonder things I generally didn’t think about and could easily ignore.
This morning, the people around me seemed to hold an iciness towards me. They looked at me with disgust or distrust and whispered behind my back, as if I couldn’t hear
“Is it true about her and the Alpha King….
“I heard her medical skill isn’t actually as good as the rumors say, and that’s why she refuses to take on the more difficult cases…”
“Is she even a real Healer? Maybe the Alpha King got her the job…”
Arguing with gossip was not the way to resolve this, I knew, so I hurried along and dipped into the breakroom, where I would be safe from the populace and thought I’d be safe from the rumors and gossip.
Instead, two of the older Healers looked at me with distair Chue of them was holding the very same tabloid I had rolled up under my arm. He showed it to his companion.
“She’s
he’s finally shown her true colors,” he said. “If not by spreading her legs, how could a mere female wolf gain so much praise and achievement?”
This too, I should have ignored, just as I had the others. But with the aches and pains of my pregnancy, my
I
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patience was already shorted. By now, I was at my limit.
“I’ve earned my place here,” I said. “Or have you already forgotten the medicine I developed that helps extend life?”
“They didn’t forget,” Cathy said, joining me. She must have been in the corner when I entered. I hadn’t seen her until she came to stand beside me now. “In fact, I know they both take that medicine regularly.”
Both of the older Healers paled slightly. Glancing at each other, they shuffled away to the other side of the room. Yet even from there, even having been humbled, they both continued to look at the pictures in the tabloid and whisper to each other, while sometimes glancing at me.
Trying to ignore them and the many whispers I knew would follow me everywhere now, I turned to Cathy.
“Did you see this?” I asked, showing her the tabloid.
“It’s trash and everyone knows it,” Cathy said. “Just throw it away where it belongs.”
I didn’t. Instead, I rolled it back up and tucked it under my arm. With Cathy at my side, we left the break room and walked to my office. The whispers didn’t sound so loud when I was standing near my friend.
In the office, Piper immediately hopped to her feet to great me. “Good morning, Dr. A!”
She seemed even brighter and bubblier than normal. Perhaps this was her way of offering me comfort. Or she was just an extreme morning person.
Either way, it was a good distraction from my building anxiety and helped focus me for the day.
“Good morning, Piper.”
As we settled in for work, the phone started ringing. Piper immediately answered, but Cathy, oddly, started to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” I asked her softly, not wanting to distract Piper.
Cathy glanced at me. “It reminds me of when Jasper called you last night.”
Immediately, I rolled my eyes, remembering. Since my run–in with Jasper at the bar, he’d been quite persistent in his pursuit of me.
“Have you given more thought to that divorce?” he’d asked “You know, I’d be happy to be your new boyfriend. I could help you relax…”
“No, thank you,” I’d told him on the phone, then made an excuse to hang up.
Now, I looked at Cathy and said, “I still don’t know how he knew your number.”
“It’s in the phone book,” Cathy said. She laughed. “I bet that was the first time that playboy has ever been rejected”
Jasper was handsome and charming. If I had been properly single, I might have even been tempted – but probably not enough. Jasper, the playboy, wasn’t built for long–term love and commitment.
He was a love them and leave them kind of guy.
He only truly enjoyed the chase. Once he’d actually won a girl’s heart, he was quick to move on to the next.
Even fully single, I wouldn’t let myself be caught in that net Mid–divorce as I was, I was going to avoid him like the plague.
“But, I mean, he’s not entirely wrong.” Cathy said. “Maybe after your divorce is finalized, you should try to find a
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new boyfriend? Someone nice and caring, who wants to help take care of you without stifling you so much.”
“A boyfriend doesn’t fit into my plans right now,” I said. “All I care about is completing my work well, earning my pay, and then escaping from the pack.”
Subconsciously, I lifted my hand to my stomach.
Cathy opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, the door to the office swung open and Sheila rushed inside.
Holding the tabloid with Lucian and me, Sheila raised it high as she spoke.
“I’ve done nothing but show you respect since I met you,” Sheila said loudly.
Piper quickly ended the call she was on and pushed up to her feet. “Sheila… If you could lower your voice…”
“I will not be silenced,” Sheila snapped at her. To me, she continued, “How could you, an anonymous Healer with unconfirmed status, dare to seduce the Alpha King?!”
