“Why wouldn’t I be?” James said with a chuckle. “Dr. C is Ms. Tate. If she were still your wife, I’d have to salute you every time I saw you. That would mess up the hierarchy, wouldn’t it?”

Adam fell silent. James shot him a meaningful look. “Feeling any regrets now?”

Adam wasn’t sure. Just then, a stir rippled through the crowd.

“Look! Dr. C is here!”

Adam looked up. Celine had arrived. She wore a sleek black gown. Her long, jet-black hair was loosely pinned up, with a few strands curling against her snow-white neck. She looked effortlessly elegant, like an ethereal beauty untouched by the world.

By her side, Halley wore a flowing white gown, exuding a playful charm and delicate elegance. Together, the two of them were a breathtaking sight.

Celine and Halley approached, and James took the time to introduce everyone to Celine. He smiled, a peaceful, composed nod. Adam watched Celine, and now he finally understood why she always addressed his uncle James by his first name. It turned out James had been her mentor.

“Dr. C, you went to Estorie to work on a large-scale vaccine research project for a plague after graduating from Haftard University. But then you suddenly disappeared. What happened?”

“Yeah! You’ve been out of the public eye for three years. We’ve all been wondering where you’ve been!” The crowd was filled with questions about her.

Celine answered candidly, “I got married.”

“You got married? Dr. C is already taken?”

“What kind of remarkable man was able to capture Dr. C’s heart? I’m beyond curious!”

Her clear, almond-shaped eyes briefly flickered toward Adam before she looked away, smiling as she said, “At the time, he was in a vegetative state.”

“Dr. C actually married someone in a vegetative state?”

“He must be fully recovered now. With Dr. C’s medical skills, he’s probably walking and running without any issues.”

Celine smiled. “Yes, he’s doing very well now.”

Adalbert softened at her words. It was only now that he realized it was Celine who had cured him. He had been wondering about it.

Back then, when he fell into a vegetative state, every doctor had given up on him. Even Carly had walked away. Yet, Celine had chosen to marry him. And three years later, he had miraculously recovered. He had never known it was Celine who had healed him.

“I bet you and your husband must be deeply in love now.”

“How could they not be? Without Dr. C, he wouldn’t be where he is today.”

Celine chuckled. “We’re divorced.”

A wave of shock spread through the group. “Someone actually divorced Dr. C?”

Celine waved a hand dismissively. “It’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about him anymore.”

Halley looped her arm through Celine’s and grinned. “Exactly. No need to dwell on old news. If anything, losing Celine is his loss.” She glanced at Adam meaningfully.

The murmurs started again.

“That man truly didn’t know how lucky he was. When he was in a vegetative state, Dr. C married him and cured him. That kind of fortune is something most people wouldn’t get in several lifetimes.”

James laughed. “Well, when one door closes, another opens. Ms. Tate is an outstanding woman. Plenty of great men out there for her. Am I right, Mr. Alvarez?”

Adam remained silent.

Hailey added with a teasing smile, “Mr. Alvarez, you must know plenty of eligible bachelors. You should introduce some to Celine.”

Before Adam could respond, Halley continued, “Oh, but I was just joking. Celine is the nation-renowned genius Dr. C. The line of suitors pursuing her probably stretches all the way to Frankford. She certainly doesn’t need Mr. Alvarez to worry about such things.”

Adam was speechless. It seemed he was the target tonight, and everyone was taking their shots at him.

The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving Adam standing beside Celine. He took a deep breath and said softly, “Celine, thank you.”

Celine looked at him. “For curing your vegetative state?”

Hadley scoffed. “Mr. Alvarez, do you really think a simple ‘thank you’ is enough? The difference between people is really something. When you were in a coma, Carly ran off, but…”

The nation-renowned Dr. C disappeared from the world for three years, and now we know why—she was by your side, as your wife.