Bella wanted to ask Dominic why he was there, but the words caught in her throat. She didn't want their acquaintance to be known in such a public place.

Seeing his indifferent expression, she pretended nothing was amiss and walked past him into the operating room. After scrubbing in and completing the disinfection process, she approached the operating table.

She glanced at Ian Clarke, who was operating on the patient, and was unsurprised. The moment she saw Dominic, she realized the transferred doctor was Ian. Ian had known Dominic for years; he'd even been a professor at her university. He was a respected figure in the field, and his arrival was a boon to the hospital. Ian was also the only person in Dominic's circle who knew about her.

Ian was meticulous during surgery. Only after the operation did he have a moment to greet her. "Long time no see. How are you and Dominic?"

Bella was startled. He'd asked about them together, not separately—a significant detail. "Uh… We're both doing fine…"

Ian stretched, stiff from surgery, and smiled. "I'm going out to eat with Dominic later. You should join us."

Bella quickly declined. "No, it's fine. I have something to do. You two go ahead."

Frustration welled up. Dominic willingly having a meal with her would be a miracle. As his longtime friend, didn't Ian know about their strained relationship?

Ian didn't notice her reaction. "These past three years have been tough on him. His father passed away suddenly, and with the overseas branch office just starting, he wanted to return but couldn't." Bella remained silent, unsure why Ian was telling her this.

He added, "If I were him, I wouldn't feel at ease leaving you at home alone, either."

Bella narrowed her eyes at Ian, who was smiling innocently. Despite his excellent medical skills and good looks, he seemed remarkably naive, wasting his talents on his obliviousness. Did he truly not know how much Dominic resented her, or had he misunderstood their relationship all these years?

As they spoke, Dominic approached. Ian, still oblivious, cheerfully suggested, "Let's all have dinner together." Bella started to leave, but Ian grabbed her. "Why are you running away? Are you afraid Dominic's going to eat you?" Her head throbbed. How had she gotten involved with someone so clueless?

To her surprise, Dominic said calmly, "Let's go together."

Bella was stunned. This was their first meal out together in years, and it was his suggestion. His face was impassive; she couldn't read him. She assumed he was humoring Ian, avoiding embarrassment.

They drove to a Cantonese restaurant. Upon sitting, Bella instinctively chose a seat next to Ian, thinking it might annoy Dominic to sit beside him. Years of reading Dominic's moods had ingrained this habit. She glanced at him and saw his face had grown cold.

Her mind raced. What had she done?

Ian, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, chatted casually with Dominic. "Did you handle that matter? I still don't understand why you brought Mandy to Horizon Hospital."

(The final paragraph is promotional material and has been removed.)