CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: CHLOE, STOP SMILING AT ME

Chloe Preston coughed softly. "Well, from my years of medical experience, there’s... no need to continue the examination."

For a moment, she truly regretted taking off his clothes. Now that she’d provoked him, it would be difficult for her to get away. She had really shot herself in the foot!

Donovan Xavier rose from his chair, lifted her up with one hand, and placed her on the wide, cold desk in front of him. "Fine, no examination then."

He leaned in, appearing as if he were about to kiss her. Chloe Preston hurriedly squeezed her eyes shut, her heart racing and her hands clenched tight.

The kiss she expected never came, so she slowly opened her eyes. Donovan Xavier was still watching her quietly, his expression intriguing. He tilted his head and smiled, whispering in her ear with his deep, pleasant voice, "Were you hoping I’d kiss you just now? Hmm?"

Chloe Preston lifted her head and glared at him. Donovan loved seeing her flustered and shy. He turned his head, reached for a large box nearby, and handed it to her.

Chloe Preston was taken aback. "Hmm?"

"A dress," Donovan said.

Chloe opened the box. Inside lay a long, scarlet gown of exquisite craftsmanship. Even without a closer look, she could tell how stunning it would look on.

Chloe frowned. "Why are you giving me this for no reason?"

Donovan replied, "I have a banquet to attend tomorrow, and you’re coming as my date."

"Ah?" Chloe was momentarily stunned.

"Unwilling?" Donovan asked.

"No, it’s just..."

It’s just that she had already agreed to attend Evan York’s birthday party at the Yates family’s home. She couldn’t just back out now.

She bit her lip lightly, glancing cautiously at the man. "I... I’m not free tomorrow."

"Why? Work?" Donovan’s brow furrowed slightly.

"I already made plans with someone else."

Donovan’s face immediately darkened. "With whom?"

"A friend."

"Cancel them. You’re coming with me."

Chloe felt conflicted. "But I already promised them."

Donovan leaned in, pulling her tightly into his arms. His voice was low and husky. "So you’d rather refuse me?"

"Chloe Preston, you should know that women all over Kryton dream of being my date!"

"Don’t make this difficult for me," Chloe said. "You should have told me sooner."

Donovan said nothing. He released her, his captivatingly handsome face turning gloomy. He was angry.

Chloe immediately tried to soothe him. She looked up, her clear, bright eyes meeting his.

"Husband."

She knew this was his weakness.

Donovan’s dark eyes seemed to flicker, but his voice remained just as cold. "Don’t call me that."

Chloe paused for a few seconds before deliberately provoking him. "Fine. Then I’ll go call someone else husband!"

Donovan was instantly furious. His expression turned icy as he gripped her waist, his eyes filled with a menacing possessiveness. "You dare!"

"If you dare call anyone else ’husband’ besides me, I’ll break your legs! Chloe Preston, I mean what I say. Do you understand?"

He squeezed so hard that she winced, her brows furrowing slightly. She didn’t struggle. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, a bright, captivating smile playing in her eyes.

"Donovan Xavier, why are you so fierce! Acting like this will scare women away."

Donovan leaned back in the leather executive chair, pulling her into his embrace once more. He leaned close to her ear. "So, are you scared?"

"Of course, I am."

When he got truly fierce, nothing could stop him.

Donovan’s brows lifted slightly, a trace of a smile touching his cold face as his dark eyes fixed on her. "A little fear is good. It’ll make you behave. Chloe Preston, I wasn’t joking earlier. For the rest of our lives, the title ’husband’ belongs only to me!"

Chloe Preston’s clear, watery eyes shifted.

He spoke in a way that could make her mistakenly believe she was deeply loved by him.

Chloe Preston lay in his warm embrace, looking up at him with bright, smiling eyes. "You’re so domineering."

She added, "Alright, I’ll remember. From now on, I’ll only call you that."

Her voice was irresistibly soft and gentle. Even the most ruthless man would be disarmed and forced to surrender in her presence.

Donovan glanced at her, the corner of his lip hooking upward. "Chloe Preston, don’t keep smiling at me like that. I’ll take it as an invitation."

"This is what you call an invitation?" Chloe’s eyes curved as she gave him a radiant, beautiful smile. She reached out, her fingertips tracing a line across his handsome face before tilting his chin up.

Looking up at him, she smiled again. "This is an invitation."

Donovan raised his forearm and clamped down on her mischievous hand. "Chloe Preston, you have some serious nerve, provoking me like this!"

As he spoke, he stood, suddenly sweeping her into his arms in a princess carry and striding toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Ahem, what do you plan on doing?" Chloe asked.

Donovan leaned down to look at her, his smile profound. "Miss Quinn, you’re so clever. Why don’t you guess?"

Chloe turned her head, avoiding his gaze. "Let me go."

"How could I possibly do that?"

She was here, in his arms. The woman he had longed for for four years. How could he bear to let her go?

Chloe pushed against him, her voice softening. "Stop messing around."

"I’m going to keep teasing you," Donovan said. "What are you going to do about it?"

He was being utterly unreasonable.

Chloe felt helpless.

"Donovan Xavier."

"Hmm."

"Stay away from me."

Donovan’s dark eyes narrowed, but he ignored her. Chloe fell silent as well, her bright, pretty face set in a stern expression as they stared each other down. She looked adorably fierce.

Donovan pulled her flush against him, trapping her in his embrace with a smile. "My Chloe is so cute when she’s angry. It just makes me want to dote on you more."

Chloe pushed him again. "I have to go to the hospital."

But Donovan only held her tighter. "Chloe Preston, call me ’husband’ one more time, and I’ll let you go. I’ll stop teasing."

「Evening.」

In the hospital office, Chloe had just finished surgery. Feeling utterly exhausted, she was leaning back in her office chair with her eyes closed.

Her mind couldn’t help but drift back to that morning in the study, when he had held her, coaxing her to call him ’husband’ again and again.

At the thought, Chloe’s face grew slightly warm.

Suddenly, the door clicked open. "Dr. Quinn?"

Hearing the voice, Chloe opened her eyes. "What is it?"

A nurse walked in, holding a decorative banner and a bouquet of jasmine. "Dr. Quinn, this is from the husband of the patient you just operated on. He wanted to thank you for saving his wife’s life."

Chloe rose and accepted the gifts with a gentle smile. "As doctors, it’s our duty to treat patients and save lives. There’s really no need for thanks."

Just then, Aiden Jenson walked in, his gaze immediately landing on Chloe. He approached her. "Chloe..."

"Hmm?" Chloe placed the flowers on her desk and glanced up at him.

Aiden pressed his lips together, his voice full of hopeful anticipation. "Chloe, I wanted to ask you to dinner last time, but you already had plans. I was wondering if you’re free today? Today is my birthday, and we’re about to get off work. I’d like to treat you to a meal."

With him putting it like that, and with so many colleagues around, a direct refusal would be quite embarrassing for him.

However, Donovan absolutely despised him and had forbidden her from having any contact with him.

Chloe’s brow furrowed as she bit her lip, unsure how to respond.

Suddenly, her phone rang with a crisp tone. She pulled it out and saw it was a call from Ivy Lane. Her eyes lit up as if she’d just seen her savior.

Chloe immediately answered. "Ivy, I heard you have a fever! Don’t worry, just hang on a little longer. I’m on my way now, so don’t you worry!"

On the other end of the line, Ivy was completely lost. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Chloe promptly hung up and looked at Aiden apologetically. "I’m so sorry, Dr. Jenson. My best friend has a fever, and I need to go take care of her. I’m very sorry, but I can’t accept your invitation. Happy birthday!"

With that, she turned and bolted.

「Outside the hospital.」

The torrential rain continued to pour, leaving the air hot and humid. Just then, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up to the main entrance.

"Mr. Xavier, we’ve arrived at the hospital," Liam Keane said, glancing back at the man.

Donovan nodded slightly and leaned back against the leather seat. He gazed down at the bouquet of white roses in his hand, his mood excellent. Then, he rolled down the window to look outside, just in time to spot the woman running out.