bChapter /bb8 /b

Pushing bthrough /bthe bcrowd/bb, /bshe bsaw /bbJaxson /bshielding bCaroline /bbprotectively/b. He had bintercepted /ba bfamily /bbmember’s /bhand bmid/b–swing before it could strike Carolineb, /bwho cowered fearfully in his barms /bwith ba /bpitiful bexpression/b.

The bfamily /bbmember /bbseemed /bbintimidated /bbby /bbJaxson’s /bbimposing /bbpresence/bb. /bWho… Who bare /bbyou/bb?/bb” /bbhe /bbstammered/b.

bJaxson /bpushed the bman /bback firmly.“bCan’t /bbwe /bbresolve /bbthis /bwithout violenceb?/bb” /b

b“/bbAsk /bbher/bb!/bb” /bThe man pointed angrily bat /bCaroline. “My bson /bbjust /bbsurvived /bmajor bsurgery/bb, /bband /bthis bdoctor /bhad the bnerve /bbto /bbcall /bhis bwound /bbdisgusting /bbduring /bbrounds/bb! /bbIf /bbshe /bbcan’t /bbhandle /bit, bshe /bshouldn’t bbe /ba doctorb!/bb” /b

That’s not what happened,” Caroline bprotested /btearfully, looking up at bJaxson/b.“I felt bnauseous /bbbecause /bbof /bbsomething /bI ate this morning, not bbecause /bof the patient.”

bJaxson /bnodded. ‘I’ll handle bthis/b.b” /b

He turned to the man.“She bwas /bgenuinely unwell, not being bdisrespectful/b. I’ll bcover /ball hospitalization expenses bto /bmake bup /bbfor /bbit/b.”

The offer immediately diffused the tension, and the man reluctantly breturned /bto the patient’s broom/b, muttering babout /bbbad /bbluck/bb. /b

I’m sorry for causing trouble, bJaxson/b,” Caroline bsaid /bwith heartfelt bconcern/b.“You bdidn’t /bhave bto /bintervene. What if byou’d /bbgotten /bbhurt/bb?/bb” /b

Jaxson smiled slightly, “Your safety was what mattered.”

“Ms. Warren, is Mr. Hamilton your boyfriend?” bsomeone /bbasked/b.

Caroline lowered her eyes demurely. “No, don’t talk bnonsense/bb…/b”

“Come on, you two look perfect together!” The onlookers joined in teasing.

As the crowdughed, bJaxson’s /bbgaze /bfound Charlotte’s bacross /bthe room.

Her heart clenched painfully when their eyes met, a bitter taste filling her mouth.

There stood her husband, the bpicture /bofpatibility with another woman.

She didn’t belong here.

CD18