NOAH

I promised my family I would make time for them. After Hannah's checkup, I headed straight to my house in Atherton.

My initial plan was to spend the whole day with my family, but I texted my sister to let her know what happened today and that I would be late.

Fortunately, the tests were completed before it got dark, so I could still spend some time with them.

I brought the dog with me since Hannah and her mom forgot to pick it up. I'll leave the dog in Atherton because I have a business trip tomorrow. I already arranged for someone to take Milo so my family can care for him while I'm away.

While I was taking a shower, I heard my phone ring. I asked my sister, who was in my room, to answer it for me, just in case it was a call from the hospital.

"Who called?" I asked my sister after finishing my shower.

She grinned. "It's a woman," she teased.

"I told her you were in the shower and that you'd call her back. She didn't tell me her name," she added.

I grabbed my phone to check who called. The number wasn't saved, so it might have been a patient or a guardian. I dialed the number while drying my hair with a towel.

It took a while before she answered. "Hello, may I know who's calling and why did you call?" I said as soon as she picked up.

My sister leaned closer. "Be gentle, Noah. You're being too harsh," she said in a playful tone.

I shook my head. The girl didn't respond right away, so I spoke again. "Hello?" I said, my voice more insistent.

"It's me, Dr. Morgan," she finally replied. "I just wanted to ask about the dog my daughter saved earlier."

I froze for a moment as I heard her soft voice. She sounded like Emma, but maybe I was just imagining it because I'd been thinking about her a lot lately. Still, their voices were so similar.

"I took the dog to my place," I replied flatly.

"Are you free tomorrow? Can I pick up the dog? My daughter really likes the dog..." she asked.

"I won't be available tomorrow," I said. "I have a business trip. I'll contact you next week."

"Okay," she murmured. "Sorry to bother you."

"May I know your name so I can save your number?" I asked before the call ended.

"Olivia," she said softly.

"Olivia... Hmm, okay."

"Is she your patient? She sounded young and pretty. Is she single? Next time she calls, be nice to her. Is this her dog?" My sister fired off a series of questions as soon as the call ended.

I tossed my phone onto the bedside table and went back to drying my hair.

"Madison, when did you become so gossipy?" I asked, not wanting to answer her.

"I'm just concerned about you," she replied innocently.

I smiled faintly and threw the towel on the sofa. My short black hair was tousled, slightly falling over my forehead.

"I didn't know you had X-ray vision now. You can tell if someone is pretty just by listening to their voice. Since you have that talent, why don't you quit our company and work at a special center? You'd be a great fit with your new 'powers,'" I said sarcastically.

Madison ignored my remarks. "Is she pretty?" she asked instead.

"Ugly," I said simply, sitting on the sofa and opening my laptop to check some medical records.

She gave me a knowing look. "She must be pretty," she concluded, then passed by me and sat next to me.

"Olivia is a nice name. Do you have her picture? Let me see."

My forehead furrowed as I turned to her. "When did you become like Mom?" I said.

She just grinned at me.

I sighed. "She's not my patient, okay? Her daughter is. Hannah, her daughter, has congenital heart disease."

"Oh, is she married?" The disappointment in her voice was evident.

"Why don't you just meet Isabel? After all, her family is close to ours," Madison suggested after realizing she couldn't push me on Olivia.

"I've already met her. We even exchanged numbers," I told her.

"So you can tell Mom that I've already done what I promised her," I added.

I knew this was why my sister was here-she needed information to pass on to our mom.

Madison looked at me intently, then grabbed my phone from my bed and started scrolling through the messages we exchanged.

"Noah, are you busy today? I have two concert tickets."

"Busy."

"Noah, I have a friend who has a heart problem. Can I consult you about it?"

"Registration."

"Noah, I heard you're off this Saturday. Let's watch a movie together."

"On duty."

My sister slapped me on the shoulder. "What kind of conversation is this, Noah Ezekiel?"

I chuckled. "At least I replied."

"Can you make an effort to get to know her? Mom promised you that after you got married, she'd give you more shares in the company, and your future wife would get a share too," she said, trying to convince me.

I shook my head. "I'm content being a doctor. I don't need more shares in the company. You and Lucas are already doing a great job running it."

"Tss... I know you like being a doctor, but I also know that if you wanted to, you could easily run the company. You just don't want to hurt Lucas," my sister said, a knowing look in her eyes.

She had a point. We never treated Lucas as anything less than a real brother. That's why I'd never fought for the CEO position.

"But Mom wants you to settle down. She's doing this not just for herself, but for you too," my sister said, her voice filled with genuine concern.

I simply nodded in response.

"Can you at least tell me what your 'type' is? If you don't like Isabel, we can introduce you to other daughters of our family friends," she pressed, still not giving up.

"Big breasts, slim waist, long legs, fair skin. Oh, and I don't like girls who are too thin or too glamorous, and they can't be too short either. Preferably around 168 cm," I said, listing off the usual traits I tell to others.

She started listing girls who might meet my standards, and I couldn't help but smirk. But my smirk quickly faded when she mentioned a name.

"Emma Cooper."

My expression soured, and I felt a tightness in my chest. I slammed my laptop shut and pointed to the door. "Leave," I said, my voice cold and steady.

OLIVIA

A week had passed in the blink of an eye. We secured another major client, and I was determined to close this deal. Once it was finalized, it would be a huge help with my daughter's surgery, in addition to the deal I closed with Mere and Line.

"Hey, guys, have you heard the news about Isabel?" Jessica asked as we wrapped up our team meeting.

"What's the scoop?" Ella asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Isabel has a boyfriend," Jessica replied, her tone dripping with intrigue. "From what I've heard, it's an arranged marriage. The guy's family comes from a powerful background in the US, particularly in California. And get this-the family lives in Atherton."

Everyone's eyes widened in amazement. Who wouldn't? Atherton is an exclusive, affluent town in California, famous for its luxurious homes, sprawling estates, and high-profile residents.

I couldn't help but think of Noah. His family also lived in Atherton.

I might not approve of Isabel's work ethic, but her personal life is none of my business.

"If Olivia could charm someone as powerful as Isabel's boyfriend, then I wouldn't have to work so hard. I could just live off you," Jessica teased, shaking my arm playfully.

I smirked at her. "Just so you know, I already have a child. So, you can forget about that dream."

Even if Hannah weren't part of my life, what Jessica was suggesting still felt impossible. I had never seen myself as attractive or charming. Even though I got compliments from people-sometimes even strangers-after losing weight, I still struggled to see myself that way.

Maybe it was because of the humiliation I faced when I was overweight. It left me with an inferiority complex and chipped away at my self-confidence.

"So what if you have a child?" Jessica insisted, lifting my chin to meet her gaze. "What the world really lacks now is natural beauty."

She smiled, her tone light and teasing. "If I were a man, I'd definitely be into a girl like you-gentle, beautiful, and naturally stunning."

Then, without missing a beat, she casually placed her hand on my waist. "And your waist... it's so slender. How do you manage to keep your body like that?"

I gently patted her hand and chuckled. "Alright, enough of this. Let's wrap up this meeting, apply what we've discussed, and finalize everything in our next one."

Since it was already lunchtime, we all decided to grab a bite together. As we sat down at the restaurant, I remembered to check my phone-it had been on silent during the meeting.

But when I saw Noah's missed call, I suddenly lost my appetite.

OLIVIA

I remembered Noah mentioning last week that he was busy and wouldn't be available to meet until this week to hand over the puppy.

At this point, I had no intention of getting the puppy from him anymore. I wanted to avoid any interaction with Noah as much as possible, especially now that I knew he had a girlfriend. It seemed best to stick to my initial plan of keeping my distance.

Though I knew that, whether Noah had a girlfriend or not, it was still impossible for us to be together.

After my call with Noah, I spoke to Margareth the following day, asking for her permission to get a pet since Hannah had been asking for one for so long. To my surprise, Margareth agreed right away. She understood how much Hannah wanted a pet. I promised that I would train the dog well so that it wouldn't cause any trouble for her or the neighbors.

Once I had Margareth's approval, I went to the pet shop and picked out a dog for Hannah. I chose a round, plump, white Shih Tzu. When I brought the dog home, Hannah was thrilled, but I could still see a hint of disappointment in her eyes. The dog I brought wasn't Coco, the puppy she saved. It seemed that some things simply couldn't be replaced.

Hannah named the dog Mochi. It was a well-behaved dog, always wanting to lie down on my slippers.

"Olivia, are you okay?" Ella's voice snapped me back to reality.

I smiled faintly. "I'm okay, just thought of something."

After lunch, we went back to our respective tables and got back to work.

I stepped out of the restroom when I noticed Alice. Her face was pale, and she looked unwell.

"Alice, are you sick?" I asked as I approached her.

She nodded softly. "Yes, I had my period and I'm dealing with dysmenorrhea." She explained.

"Did you take any pain meds?" I asked, concerned.

She shook her head. "I don't take painkillers. I don't want to become dependent on them."

I nodded in understanding, then noticed the lunchbox she was holding. "Are you just eating now?"

"No, it's not for me. It's for Isabel's boyfriend. He's having surgery, and Isabel assumed he wouldn't have time to buy lunch, so she asked me to deliver it to him." Alice explained.

"Oh, okay." I just said.

Just as I was about to leave, Alice suddenly cried out in pain. I rushed over to her and helped her sit in the nearest chair.

"Olivia, are you busy? Can I ask you a favor?" She asked, her voice strained.

"I am. I'm heading to Palo Alto for a client meeting," I replied.

Her eyes widened, a glimmer of hope in them. "Since you're going to Palo Alto, could you drop this food off at the Palo Alto Medical Center? That's where Isabel's boyfriend works."

I hesitated, wanting to reject the favor, but seeing the pain on Alice's face, I couldn't bring myself to. I sighed. "Fine, just send me the details."

When I arrived at the hospital, I checked Alice's message. To my surprise, the details she gave me were the same as Noah's clinic.

Could it be Noah? Or maybe there's another doctor using the same room? I tried to calm myself down, rationalizing that it could be someone else.

I went to the specified room, my heart racing with anxiety. Please don't be Noah, I prayed silently. But all my hope shattered when I heard his voice.

"Come in," he called in a deep, commanding tone.

I hesitated before stepping inside. Clearing my throat, I said, "Isabel, your girlfriend, asked me to deliver this food to you." I spoke like an automaton, trying to keep my composure.

Noah was absorbed in typing at his desk, his face showing the strain of a long surgery. He was dressed in his white doctor's coat, the fabric crisp and professional. His eyeglasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his dark hair was slightly tousled from a long day. As he glanced up and met my gaze, his tired eyes softened briefly before turning cool and distant.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Girlfriend? How come I didn't know I had one?" he asked, his voice deep and slightly cold.

"Isabel is my boss, and everyone at the company knows she's been seeing someone recently," I explained, trying to keep my voice steady.

Then, I remembered the woman I heard with Noah on the phone last week. Could it have been Isabel?

"Anyway, I've already done my part. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," I said, eager to avoid further interaction.

But as I turned to leave, Noah suddenly grabbed my hand. Before I could react, I stumbled and ended up in his lap. His grip tightened around my waist, and with his other hand, he gently pinched my chin, pressing his thumb against my soft lips.

"Olivia, please... do me a favor," he murmured softly.

Without waiting for my answer, he lowered his head and kissed the thumb that was pressed against my lips.

My eyes widened at his sudden action. His strong brow bone and the bridge of his nose brushed against mine. Our breaths mingled, creating an electric, intimate moment.

I was completely consumed by his presence, his powerful aura making my mind go blank. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively tried to push him away, but the hand around my waist only tightened.

I was completely stunned.

"Ah! What are you guys doing?!" A woman's scream shattered the moment, snapping me back to reality.

Noah raised the hand that had been on my waist, pressing the back of my head against his chest as he looked at the girl standing in the doorway.

"Ava, I'm off duty. You have no right to interfere with my personal affairs," Noah said coldly, his voice firm.

The woman's voice cracked with frustration. "Is she the reason you rejected me? What's so special about her? Our families have known each other for years, and my father is your mentor! I'm the one who's more suited for you!"

Noah didn't even acknowledge her. His gaze remained sharp and impassive. "Leave. And close the door behind you."

Though I couldn't see her, I could feel the intensity of her glare sending a chill down my spine. I heard her footsteps storm out of the room, slamming the door behind her in a fit of rage.

Noah finally released his hand from the back of my head. Our eyes met, and I saw the mockery in his gray eyes. It only then dawned on me that he had been putting on an act-using me to get rid of Ava.

"How long are you planning to sit on my lap, Olivia?" His voice was husky, laced with a magnetic pull.

NOAH

Olivia tried to get up and leave, but I wouldn't let her. I tightened my grip, not allowing her to move even an inch.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement as I watched her struggle against my hold. She looked frightened, her attempts to break free only making her more desperate.

She gritted her teeth slightly and said, "Dr. Morgan," in a warning tone.

Finally, I released my grip on her. She quickly stood up and took several steps back, putting some distance between us.

She took a deep breath. "Dr. Morgan, please have some self-respect," she said coldly, then turned and walked away.

"Self-respect?" I muttered, a smile tugging at my lips as I watched her disappearing figure.

As I was driving out of the hospital, I spotted a girl walking along the road, dressed in a light blue long dress. A faint, familiar scent lingered in the air, slowly drifting toward me.

I couldn't help but notice how her skin seemed to glow with a dazzling whiteness-impossible to ignore. It sparked an uncanny sense of familiarity within me.

The image of kissing her, even though I had only kissed my thumb pressed against her lips, lingered in my mind. I could still feel the delicate softness at the corner of her lips, the faint, sweet fragrance that lingered in the air, and the way her waist felt in my hand, as though I could hold it effortlessly.

She was probably cursing me in her mind for acting like a jerk earlier.

I honked the horn a few times. She startled like a cat, jolting and warily glancing at my car as it pulled up beside her.

I rolled down my car window, letting her see my face, and then I said, "Get in."

"No need, Dr. Morgan," she said coldly.

"I don't want to repeat myself," I replied, my tone firm.

She ignored me and started to walk away, but I called after her, "Don't you want the dog anymore? If not, I'll just throw it away."

She quickly slid into the car, and I couldn't help but smirk. Got you.

"But I still have a meeting to attend," she said after getting in.

"Just enter the address in my GPS," I replied coolly.

She sighed and reluctantly typed the address into my GPS.

After dropping her off at her client's company, I decided to wait for her. Since I had the entire day free and my schedule would likely get busier in the coming days, today seemed like the perfect opportunity to give her the dog.

The look on her face when she stepped outside and saw me standing by my car was priceless. She clearly hadn't expected me to wait-let alone wait until she finished her meeting.

"Why are you still here?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief, her eyes wide with surprise.

I couldn't help but tease her. "Don't you want the dog anymore? Should I just throw it away?" I said with a slight smirk, enjoying the reaction I was getting.

She narrowed her eyes, giving me a death glare that made it clear she wasn't impressed. I chuckled softly, amused by her reaction, and then I opened the car door for her, gesturing for her to get in.

As we reached my penthouse, I chuckled when I noticed Olivia turn around, clearly trying to avoid seeing the password as I entered it on the door.

I stepped inside first, with Olivia following closely behind. I led her into the living room before heading to the kitchen to fetch her a drink.

I saw Milo running toward us, and at first, I thought he was coming to me. But I furrowed my brow when he suddenly darted straight to Olivia. He sniffed her, wagging his tail eagerly.

Olivia looked surprised by the dog's reaction, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she crouched down and entertained him.

"I didn't know you had a dog," she muttered, still looking a bit surprised.

"Why? Don't I look like someone who'd have one?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded, hesitating for a moment. "You keep saying you'd throw the dog away, so I assumed you didn't like them."

I sighed, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "I didn't like them before, but someone does... so I had no choice but to adopt this one." My voice lowered as I thought of Emma.

"I'll just leave you with Milo," I said, gesturing toward the dog. "I'll go get your dog."

I let them play together for a moment before walking toward Milo's room, where the dog Hannah had saved was. I hadn't named it yet, since it was meant to be Hannah's pet. I decided it would be best to leave that decision to her.

"Take it," I said, handing the dog to Olivia.

I also passed her a paper bag filled with dog food and treats. "I bought too much," I remarked casually.

Olivia cradled the dog in her arms, and it whimpered softly, it was calm and well-mannered.

"Thank you," she said quietly, avoiding my gaze. "You've gone through a lot of trouble."

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "How much was all this?"

I had no intention of making her pay for it, but if that was what she wanted, I would respect it. As I looked at her, I couldn't help but notice how often she wore blue-it was the same color she had worn the last time, too.

Strangely, there was something about her that felt familiar, as if I had seen her before. But in the seven years I had spent living in the UK, if I had crossed paths with her, it would have been impossible for me to forget someone like her. With her beauty and demeanor, she was the kind of person who would leave a lasting impression.

The sense of familiarity had been nagging at me ever since I first saw her in the hospital.

I raised an eyebrow slightly as she handed me 50 bucks. I took the cash from her, letting it slide between my fingertips.

She intrigued me.

I sent her to the elevator, and when the doors were about to close, I reached my hand out to stop it.

I stared at her intently. "Olivia, have we met before?" I asked.

She looked nervous.

"Ah... I already told you, we came to you for a consultation before because my daughter has a heart condition," she repeated the same answer as before.

"I wasn't asking about that time," I said, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"No, we've never met before," she said firmly, her voice clear.