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Chapter 1
Theresa Cohen saw Hansel Zimmer again in Northville in October. She was there for a year-long work assignment, and the cold had already gripped the city.

Theresa arrived late at almost 11:00 pm. Shortly after she stepped off the plane and made her way through the airport, Hansel called and asked where she was.

"I'm at Gate A," she replied.

"I'll be there soon."

Before long, Theresa noticed a man approaching from a distance. He was tall and upright, dressed in training gear. His demeanor was even more composed and mature.

With his neatly cropped hair and well-defined facial features, his chiseled jawline and serious expression gave him a distinctive appearance. His eyes, while seemingly calm, carried a sense of aloofness.

Theresa couldn't help but tense up. It had been long since she last saw Hansel, and to say she wasn't nervous would be a lie.

Hansel's gaze settled on her, and his deep voice broke the silence. "Have you been waiting long?"

She shook her head, trying to sound casual. "No. I just got here."

As Theresa wasn't dressed warmly enough, her face was flushed from the cold, and her eyes glistened with a certain innocence.

Hansel stared at her for a moment, his expression calm but carrying a subtle intensity.

"Let's go," he finally said, taking her suitcase and heading toward the exit.

Theresa hurried to keep up with him. "Thank you for picking me up."

"It's no trouble."

When they got into the car, Hansel turned on the heater.

The warmth was a relief, but Theresa still felt uneasy. She sat stiffly with her hands neatly folded on her lap while Hansel started the car and pulled away from the airport.

Having just landed in Northville, Theresa planned to stay at a hotel for the night and report for work at the hospital the following morning.

After a few minutes of silence, Hansel spoke up. "You're staying in Northville for a year?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"I'll stay at a hotel for now. The hospital will assign me a dorm later."

Hansel's grip on the steering wheel tightened for a brief moment, then he said, "I have a place in the city center. I'm rarely there. You can move in for the time being."

Theresa instinctively declined, "That's not necessary."

Hansel glanced into the rearview mirror, his tone firm. "It's a ten-minute walk from the hospital."

She fidgeted slightly, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. "I don't want to impose—"

He cut her off, "Your family asked me to look after you."

The implication was clear—he was simply helping her because of family obligations, nothing more.

Theresa bit her lip. She wanted to keep a distance from Hansel. If it hadn't been for her family arranging for him to pick her up from the airport, she wouldn't have even told him she was coming to Northville.

"What if your girlfriend comes over? Wouldn't it be inconvenient?"

If she remembered correctly, Hansel did have a girlfriend.

"Who told you that?" he asked.

"No one," Theresa quickly replied.

Hansel paused. "Don't worry about it. Just stay at my place."

"Then, how about I pay you monthly rent and utilities? Would that be okay?"

After all, they weren't actually family and had no blood relation. Theresa didn't feel right taking advantage of him.

"Theresa." Hansel's voice suddenly deepened as he uttered her name, startling her. Theresa's pulse quickened, and she felt a rush of unease. "When did you start being so formal with me?"

Theresa's heart skipped a beat, and she wanted to shrink away. In the end, she said nothing.

Thankfully, Hansel didn't press the matter further. He turned his attention back to the road. After a while, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

"No. I ate on the plane," she answered.

He didn't say anything else, and the rest of the drive passed in silence until they reached their destination an hour later.

The place was a spacious three-bedroom duplex with central heating. It was clean, tidy, and decorated in cool tones—black, white, and gray—perfectly matching Hansel's style.

After Hansel carried her suitcase upstairs, he said, "You can stay in the room upstairs. The housekeeper comes by occasionally to clean. There's a spare key hanging on the wall. If you need anything, just let me know."

Theresa kept her tone polite and formal. "Thank you. I don't need anything right now."

Hansel's gaze was dark, and though he appeared calm, something else lurked behind his eyes. "Get some rest. I'll be going now."

"Alright, take care."

The door closed with a soft click, and Theresa received a phone call from her friend, Anthony Garcia, almost immediately. "Have you arrived in Northville? Are you settled in?"

"Yes, I'm settled."

"Did Hansel pick you up?"

"How did you know?"

"He asked me about you. Since you'll be in Northville for one year and he lives there, I thought it might be helpful to have him around. So I told him."

Theresa panicked a little. "Please don't tell him anything about me next time."

"Why? Don't you like him?"

Theresa felt her heart clench. "Let's drop it…"

"Alright, I won't ask." Anthony added, "By the way, has Kaleb reached out to you?"

The mention of Kaleb Brooks didn't faze Theresa. "No."

Anthony probed gently, "Did you really break up with him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

If Theresa had to give a reason, Kaleb never really cared about her.

It was Kaleb's birthday three months ago. She had thoughtfully prepared a gift and brought it to the party. However, before she could get into the room, she overheard their conversation.

One of Kaleb's friends has asked him, "When are you going to marry Theresa? She's been around you like a puppy dog for so long. It should be soon, right?"

Kaleb had then replied, "Just because she's a simp doesn't mean I want her. She's beneath me."

"Kaleb, that's cold."

His friends had laughed and teased him, while Kaleb remained indifferent as he remarked, "A woman like her is cheap."

"Yeah, she should have more self-respect."

That night, Theresa threw away the gift and sent Kaleb a breakup text before blocking his number. She never reached out to him again afterward.

Before she blocked him, their last conversation had been her wishing him a happy birthday and all his wishes coming true. He hadn't even bothered to respond.

Just then, the door suddenly clicked open, startling Theresa. She turned to see Hansel returning. As though having been caught red-handed, she hastily ended the phone call.

Did he overhear her?

She hoped the walls weren't that thin.

Hansel's expression was as calm as ever. "I came back to grab something."

"Okay." She quickly composed herself, but her eyes betrayed her lingering unease.

Hansel quietly went into the room and, when he came out, Theresa was still standing there with her hands clasped behind her. She was leaning against the wall, nervousness written across her face.

He said sullenly, "Call me if you need anything."

Theresa looked down, avoiding his gaze. "Oh, okay."

He was merely treating her like a younger relative, and Theresa's behavior showed that she was distant from him, even a little afraid.

With that, Hansel gave her one last look before leaving.

Once the door closed, he stood in the hallway and took a slow drag. The pale fog quickly dispersed into the air.

He had heard everything Theresa had said on the phone. As he suspected, she didn't want anything to do with him. Not only that, but she was also making sure to keep her distance.

Chapter 2

Theresa hadn't always avoided Hansel. In fact, she used to be very attached to him.

Several years ago, just a few days before her father was set to marry Hansel's sister, she had gone to see him. But when she arrived at his place, she found him with another woman.

The woman had her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and he leaned down to her with a softness in his eyes that was foreign to Theresa.

Hiding behind the door, she overheard the woman say in a coquettish voice, "Don't be mad at me anymore, okay? I won't make you angry again. Just don't go looking for other girls to upset me."

Hansel asked casually, "What other girls?"

"The girl from the Cohen family. Theresa, I think."

"You're imagining things."

"Then what's going on between the two of you? She's always hanging around you. It makes me jealous."

"She's my future brother-in-law's daughter. Nothing is going on between us."

"I see. So, you're just getting to know your future niece. Well then, when I meet her, she will have to treat me as her aunt, right?"

…

The next day, Theresa reported to the hospital and was assigned under Dr. David Lincoln's supervision. Alongside her were three other medical residents, including a girl named Lucy Reed, and two guys.

Adjusting to the new environment left her with no time to breathe. The workload was intense, with constant overtime and never-ending tasks. Even break times were often rushed and irregular.

During this period, Hansel didn't return to the duplex. The hospital provided dorms for the residents, and Theresa was paired with Lucy.

Not wanting to stay at Hansel's place, she moved into the hospital dorm as soon as it was available.

One evening, around 9:00 pm, Theresa received a call while on her way back to the dorm. It was Hansel. She hesitated momentarily before answering. "Hello?"

"Did you move out?"

He must have returned home and noticed her absence. She replied honestly, "Yes, I moved into the hospital dorm."

"I told you to stay at Elmwood Estates," he said, referring to his duplex.

"I didn't want to trouble you."

"Theresa, are you avoiding me?"

His straightforwardness stunned Theresa. He had seen right through her.

She timidly denied it, "No."

There was a brief pause before he asked, "Where are you now?"

"At the dorm."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Theresa quietly explained, "I didn't think it was a big issue. I'm sorry. I'll inform you next time."

"Do you want me to call your dad?"

Theresa became frantic. "Please don't call my dad."

Travis Cohen would no doubt insist that she stay at Hansel's place.

Hansel left no room for negotiation as he threatened, "If I don't see you at Elmwood Estates in an hour, I'll come to the hospital and help you move."

Only Hansel would be able to make her feel this cornered. And he wasn't asking; he was commanding.

Theresa believed Hansel was the type to follow through.

…

A short while later, Theresa returned to the dorm and began packing. She didn't have many clothes, just a lot of books, so it didn't take long.

Lucy, fresh out of the shower, was drying her hair when she saw Theresa packing. She asked, "Where are you going this late?"

Theresa hesitated before saying, "I'm moving out."

"Why?"

Theresa explained, "My family's worried about me and want me to stay with them."

"Aren't you from Lyptus City? You have family in Northville?"

After a brief pause, Theresa nodded. "Yes."

"But do you really have to move out in the middle of the night? Why not wait until tomorrow?"

"It's fine. I don't have much stuff anyway. I'll be done soon."

"Your family really cares about you, huh?"

…

When Theresa returned to Elmwood Estates, Hansel wasn't there.

She carried her suitcase upstairs, back to the room she had only stayed in for a day. Everything was just as she had left it—neatly arranged.

Her heart pounded with anxiety and fear of Hansel's imminent return. As she waited, her nerves frayed with each passing moment.

Then, she heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs, which sent a chill down her spine. She was feeling torn as to whether she should go downstairs.

While she was still debating, there was a knock on her door. Hansel was standing right outside her room.

When he first walked in and saw the shoes at the entrance, he immediately knew she had moved back. Seeing that the light under her door was off, he assumed she was asleep and decided to head back downstairs.

Theresa heard the faint sound of him descending the stairs. In the quiet of the night, even the slightest noise felt magnified.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with an Instagram notification. She checked it and saw a message from Hansel. Although they followed each other on the app, they hadn't communicated through it.

And ever since they "became family," she had restricted his account.

Hansel asked, "Are you asleep?"

Theresa didn't reply, nor did she even open the chat. Instead, she stared at his profile picture for a long time. He seemed to have forgotten about this account, as it was the same profile picture from years ago, and he hadn't posted anything on his feed.

Ten minutes later, he sent another message, possibly to reassure her and make her feel comfortable staying at his place. "I'm heading back to the military base."

Theresa still didn't reply. She lay on her bed, unable to sleep the entire night.

The next morning, Theresa went downstairs and saw two bags on the coffee table in the living room. They were filled with snacks and daily necessities. They must have been from Hansel.

She didn't touch them and instead headed to the hospital.

Several days passed without Theresa seeing Hansel, and she didn't contact him either. The days were exhausting, filled with overtime and sleepless nights, leaving her too tired to rest properly.

By the time she got off work and returned to Elmwood Estates, she was so drained that she collapsed on the couch, too weak to even make it upstairs.

When her best friend, Noelle Chandler, called, Theresa could barely manage a faint greeting.

"Tessa, what's wrong with your voice? Are you okay?" Noelle immediately sensed something was off.

"I'm not feeling well," Theresa mumbled, her head spinning, throat aching, and body weak.

"Have you been really busy these past few days?"

"Yeah, pulled a few all-nighters. I have a day off tomorrow, so I'll just sleep it off."

"But you don't sound well. Maybe you should see a doctor?"

Theresa didn't even want to move. She knew she was probably just coming down with something and figured she'd feel better after a good night's sleep. "No need. I'll be fine after some rest…"

Her eyes grew heavy, and she slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Hey? Tessa?" Noelle called out several more times, but Theresa didn't respond.

…

Theresa had a dream. She dreamed of the time when her parents had just divorced.

Her father had rushed into a new relationship, buying a house and preparing for his wedding, while her mother had been hospitalized, hysterical. She had become a completely different person, screaming at Theresa and calling her ungrateful, heartless, and useless.

Theresa awoke suddenly, tears blurring her vision.

She felt someone gently wiping her tears away. Startled, her body tensed as her mind slowly cleared, and she began to make out the face of the person before her.

Chapter 3
Hansel was sitting on the edge of the bed, his rough fingertips gently brushing against her face. When he saw her wake up, he didn't withdraw his hand but asked, "You're awake?"

Theresa was momentarily stunned. Her face was still streaked with tears, and her voice was hoarse. "What happened to me?"

His tone was somber. "You have a high fever. You've been asleep for a whole day."

Hansel was still in his training gear, his lean frame and sharp features casting a serious, almost intimidating presence. He looked at her with dark, unreadable eyes and a stern expression.

Theresa glanced around and realized she was in a ward of the hospital she worked at.

"Why are you here?"

She remembered falling asleep last night but had no recollection of how she got to the hospital.

Hansel explained, "Zoey tried to call you last night but couldn't reach you. She called me, worried something might have happened to you."

Upon receiving Zoey Zimmer's call, Hansel had rushed back to Elmwood Estates from the military base. As soon as he get in, he found Theresa curled up on the couch.

Initially, he had thought she had merely dozed off. But when he saw her trembling and her cheeks flushed unnaturally, he realized she had a fever. Thus, he immediately took her to the hospital.

After the doctor examined her, she slowly regained consciousness and cried out several times, calling for her mother and apologizing repeatedly.

"I'm sorry for troubling you," Theresa said hoarsely.

Hansel's brows furrowed, his voice tinged with coldness. "Is that all you can say? You're a medical student, yet you didn't think to see a doctor?

"Do you not understand the consequences of a fever? Should I have to teach you that too?"

Theresa knew she had overexerted herself in adjusting to the new environment, constantly staying up late and dealing with jet lag.

She felt terrified and intimidated by Hansel. After all, he came from a military background and was especially fearsome when he wasn't speaking.

Theresa couldn't bring herself to look at him; even breathing felt difficult.

When Hansel moved closer, his presence became overwhelming. His gaze was deep and unreadable.

While keeping her eyes down, Theresa noticed the glint of his belt buckle and felt a tightening in her body. She struggled to speak. "I'm sorry…"

Her fear was palpable, and she gripped her pants tightly.

"From now on, I'll come by every day. Even when I'm not here, the housekeeper will look after you."

Theresa's heart raced, and a shiver ran down her spine. She hurriedly protested, "You don't have to go through all that trouble…"

Hansel's voice was unyielding. "Theresa, do I need to repeat myself?"

The sense of inevitability made her throat dry, and she couldn't make a sound.

Hansel began, "You used to be so clingy—"

"Uncle Hansel!" blurted Theresa.

The room fell into a chilling silence.

Theresa didn't dare look at Hansel's expression. Her eyes were still wet with tears, and a sharp pain twisted inside her. The thought of what he had almost said made her wish she could disappear on the spot.

Some things were better left buried deep inside.

Back then, when she said those words to him, they had nothing serious going on between them. Her parents hadn't divorced yet, and she could say whatever she wanted without consequence.

But everything had changed.

"Forget what I said before. I was young and didn't know any better," she said, feeling Hansel's intense gaze bored into her. She could barely keep her eyes open, afraid to meet his stare.

Just when she felt like she might suffocate, the ringing of a phone broke the heavy silence.

Hansel glanced at the screen, stood up, and went out to take the call. As he left, the tension in Theresa's body finally began to ease.

Chapter 4

Theresa didn't dare to dwell on what Hansel was about to say earlier, afraid of crossing an invisible line, particularly when he mentioned that he would come to see her every day.

Just the thought of it made her insides twist uncomfortably. It was worse than being sick.

Hansel was taking a call in the hallway. Jesse Gilbert asked, "Hansel, how's your kid doing?"

Jesse was his subordinate. The night before, Hansel mentioned that his little girl was missing, and Jesse called to check in since the situation hadn't been resolved.

"It's fine now," Hansel replied.

Jesse then reported on matters regarding the military base, mentioning some important plans for the day. When he finished, Hansel said, "We'll talk more when I get back."

"Sure, take care."

After hanging up, Hansel didn't rush back to the ward. Instead, he called Zoey.

"How's Tessa doing?" Zoey asked.

"She just woke up, the fever's gone."

"That's good. Tessa's health has always been fragile. Northville's climate is different from Lyptus City, so it's not surprising she's having trouble adjusting. If you can, keep an eye on her—she's Travis' only child."

Zoey sighed. "Besides, she just went through a breakup…"

Hansel paused. "She was in a relationship?"

"Yeah, it's been a few years now. Travis and I both met him—he's from the Brooks family, three years older than her, a good guy. We're not sure why they suddenly broke up. I didn't want to push her for details and make her feel worse."

"What's his name?"

"Kaleb."

"Got it."

When Hansel returned to the ward, Theresa grew uneasy again. He pulled out a chair and sat by the bed. "Are you hungry?"

"No," she replied, still avoiding his gaze. Her stomach was still unsettled, and eating was the last thing on her mind. She asked, "How much are my medical expenses? I'll transfer the money to you."

A private ward like this wasn't cheap. She didn't want to owe him anything, and thus, it was best to settle accounts where she could.

"It's not necessary."

Theresa insisted, "I have to pay you back."

"You really want to keep things so formal between us?"

"It's not that," Theresa explained. "I just know you've got a lot on your plate, and it's not right for me to add to your expenses."

"I'm not worried about the money. Just focus on getting better."

"I have income—"

"Are you getting paid a lot as a resident?"

Theresa couldn't say that was the case. Since starting college, she hadn't asked her family for money. She had worked part-time to support herself, and if she was careful with her spending, she could stretch what she had until her residency ended.

Theresa didn't reveal how much she earned, and Hansel didn't pry.

Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Theresa glanced at the time and said, "I'm feeling much better now. You can leave if you have other things to do. Don't worry about me."

Hansel seemed to see right through her, his gaze piercing. "You really don't want me around."

Theresa shook her head but didn't explain further. Even though she didn't want him around, it seemed the more she resisted, the more it happened.

"You're under my care now, so you'll follow my arrangements," Hansel stated, his voice firm and clear. "Unless you decide to leave Northville."

…

Theresa was silent the entire way back to Elmwood Estates, and Hansel was even quieter, moving so silently like a ghost.

He unlocked the door and walked inside, with Theresa following close behind. She stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do next. Her head was still a little dizzy.

Hansel told her to go upstairs and lie down, and she obediently complied.

Not long after she got into bed, Hansel came upstairs carrying a bowl of chicken soup. He knocked before entering.

Theresa had considered locking the door but decided against it. This was his house, after all.

"Eat something to fill your stomach," he said.

Theresa felt uneasy. She hadn't even change her cloth before lying down, and now she was glad she hadn't. She pulled the covers back, ready to get out of bed, but Hansel stopped her.

"Eat in bed. No need to get up."

She lay back down as instructed, carefully taking the bowl and spoon from him, making sure not to touch his hand. She was determined to avoid any physical contact.

"Thank you."

It was already after four in the afternoon, and daylight still streamed through the windows. She wore only a tight black sweater, which clung to her figure.

Noelle used to tease her, saying that all her curves were in the right places and that it was a waste not to become a lingerie model.

She'd always told Theresa that with a body like hers, she should flaunt it while she was young.

Theresa never thought much of her figure, but the memory of Noelle's teasing made her hunch her back and lower her head, offering Hansel only the top of her head to look at.

As she ate, Hansel's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he looked away, his expression darkening.

When she finished, Hansel took the bowl and spoon and then brought her some medicine and a glass of water. "Take the medicine, then get some rest."

Theresa did as he asked, reaching out to take the pill from his hand. His palms were calloused, hardened from years of military training, making her delicate hand seem even more fragile by comparison.

She quickly swallowed the pill with a sip of water.

As she tilted her head back, her curves were fully revealed.

"Thank you, Uncle Hansel."

Hansel frowned at the way she addressed him, clearly displeased. But considering she was sick, he didn't say anything. He stood up, turned off the lights, and left the room.

Theresa only allowed herself to close her eyes and drift off to sleep once his footsteps had faded entirely.

Downstairs, Hansel washed the dishes and put them away. He then sat on the couch and called a friend in Lyptus City.

When the call connected, he spoke slowly, "Wade, it's me."

"Hansel, what's up?"

Wade Fabian was Hansel's childhood friend, and they had always been close.

"I need you to look into Kaleb Brooks for me."

Chapter 5
Wade echoed, "Kaleb Brooks? From the Brooks family?"

Hansel had been away from Lyptus City for a few years and wasn't as familiar with the local affairs there anymore.

He didn't know much about Theresa either—he'd always thought of her as a little girl, not someone who would be in a relationship. Now he realized she'd grown up, no longer the child he once knew.

"Yes."

"So why the sudden interest in checking him out?" Wade was curious. There was no connection between the two of them, so it seemed odd that Hansel wanted to investigate Kaleb.

"Theresa was dating him."

Wade understood immediately. "I'll look into it. By the way, is Theresa really in Northville?"

"Yes."

"And you…"

Wade knew Theresa through Hansel. Back then, Hansel would take her everywhere, claiming she was his teacher's daughter.

Over time, all of Hansel's close friends got to know Theresa as well.

"What about me?" Hansel prompted.

Wade hesitated, then said, "Nothing. She's all grown up now, huh? I'll have to visit Northville sometime and see her."

"What for? Don't come here and cause trouble."

With that, Hansel ended the call.

The next morning, Theresa insisted on going to work despite not fully recovered.

When she went downstairs, Hansel had already prepared breakfast, which consisted of various classic dishes from Lyptus City.

Hansel was wearing a gray sweater and black pants. He looked softer than usual. The harshness had faded from his demeanor, and even the sharpness in his features seemed gentler.

But his words from the night before at the hospital had left a lingering dread in Theresa's heart.

"Uncle Hansel," Theresa greeted him.

"Come have breakfast."

After a few seconds of hesitation, Theresa walked over and took a seat. This was the first time she had ever sat down for a proper breakfast with him.

She wasn't sure if it was due to her sickness or his presence, but she felt uncomfortable.

Hansel sat across from her. The table was large, but with his long limbs, it felt like she couldn't escape his presence.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah." Theresa nodded, keeping her head down as she ate her food.

Out of nowhere, she felt a hand reaching toward her. The next moment, Hansel's warm fingers touched her forehead.

She froze, not daring to move as she recalled his previous warnings. Thankfully, he was just checking her temperature and didn't do anything else.

"The fever's gone. Make sure to take all your medicine today."

"Okay."

Hansel noticed Theresa was only eating toast, so he placed some other dishes on her plate. She quietly thanked him, and though her voice was barely audible, he caught onto it.

She only managed to finish a few slices of toast before setting her cutlery down. Hansel said, "Leave it. The housekeeper will clean up later."

Theresa bit her lip. "Thank you, Uncle Hansel. I'll head to the hospital now."

"I'll take you."

"No need. It's close by—just a few minutes' walk."

"I have some business at your hospital anyway. I'll go with you."

Theresa had no reason to refuse.

Hansel looked at her. "Hold still."

Theresa's eyes widened as he reached out and wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

The brief warmth of his touch sent a chill through her body, and she shot up from her chair, the sound of it scraping against the floor echoing loudly.

Caught off guard, she met Hansel's sullen gaze.

"Are you really that uncomfortable around me?"

Theresa's scalp tingled, and her breathing became erratic. "No."

"You've started dating."

Theresa thought for a moment, then nodded.

Hansel was silent for a while before asking, "Did you come to Northville to heal from a breakup?"

She answered without thinking, "Yes."

Chapter 6

Mindlessly, Theresa arrived at the hospital.

Hansel's expression had darkened when she admitted to him that she had come to Northville to mend a broken heart. Yet, he said nothing and went on with his business.

In the office, Theresa changed into her work clothes.

Lucy pulled her aside, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Theresa, you moved in with your boyfriend, didn't you?"

"No." Theresa became alert.

"Don't lie to me. I just saw you arrive at the hospital with a handsome guy," Lucy teased.

"Are you talking about my uncle?"

"That was your uncle?"

"Yeah."

"My bad, I thought he was your boyfriend. He's really good-looking."

There was no denying it. Hansel had always been striking with his sharp, rugged features. Even as a child, Theresa had thought he was handsome.

But now, all she felt toward him was a deep sense of reverence.

Still intrigued, Lucy continued, "Your uncle looks so young. Is he married?"

Theresa's voice was cool as she answered, "Not yet, but he has a girlfriend."

"Why do all the good-looking ones have girlfriends? I guess it's too much to hope for a guy like that to be single," Lucy lamented.

Theresa kept quiet.

Soon, the morning rounds began. The residents were called on one by one to answer questions. Their supervisor, David, was present, and his questions were particularly tough.

When it was Theresa's turn, he was even more demanding. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance and managed to answer, though just barely.

The others didn't fare much better, and David's expression grew stern. Even though he didn't say anything, it was clear he wasn't pleased.

Lucy had an unexpected errand that afternoon and asked Theresa to cover for her. Without waiting for a response, Lucy was already out the door.

While Theresa was busy with her own tasks, a nurse called her over. She was immediately cornered by a patient's family demanding answers.

After learning the patient's pain was normal post-surgery discomfort, Theresa tried to explain, but the family refused to believe her and wouldn't let her leave.

During the confrontation, Theresa was shoved and hit her forehead against the bed's metal rail. The pain was so intense she nearly passed out.

It wasn't until a senior doctor arrived that the situation was defused.

Her senior colleague, Bruce Parker, who had heard what happened, came to check on her.

After an examination revealed only a swelling on her forehead, he chided, "Next time something like this happens, just walk away and get a senior doctor. Don't just stand there."

"Got it," Theresa agreed. She had been frightened—the man was huge and strong, and it was her first time facing such a situation, so she froze up.

"Anyway, go home early today, apply a cold compress, and get some rest."

"Okay."

It was only when Bruce left that Lucy turned to Theresa, feigning innocence. "I'm sorry I asked you to cover for me. I didn't expect the family to get physical. If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked you to help."

Theresa knew it was pointless to say anything, so she prepared to leave. Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket—it was Hansel calling.

She stepped out of the office to answer. "Yes?"

"Are you off work?"

"Yes, I just left the office."

Hansel's tone was low. "What do you want for dinner? I'll have the housekeeper make it."

"I'm fine with anything."

"Alright."

Theresa swallowed and asked, "Will you be home tonight?"

Hansel's response was cold. "Do you want me to be?"

Theresa didn't answer.

After a moment, Hansel added, "I have business at the base tonight."

She exhaled quietly. "Alright, then. I won't bother you."

She ended the call and returned to Elmwood Estates. As she entered, the housekeeper walked out of the kitchen. "You must be Ms. Cohen. I'm Mr. Zimmer's housekeeper. You can call me Margot."

As long as she wasn't facing Hansel, Theresa felt more at ease. "Hello, Margot."

"Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."

"Thank you."

After the meal, Margot cleaned up the kitchen and left. Theresa sat down to reply to Noelle's text, filling her in on how she'd been sick the day before.

Chapter 7

Just after sending her message, Theresa received a call from Anthony. She answered the call and heard Anthony's hesitant voice. "Tessa, do you have a moment?"

"Yes, what's up?"

Anthony stammered, "Um, Kaleb's here. I'll let him talk to you."

Before Theresa could react, Kaleb took the phone and spoke. "Theresa."

"Yeah?"

"What's going on?"

Theresa fell silent.

Kaleb pressed on, "Why are you throwing a tantrum? Going missing without telling me, moving to Northville, and blocking me? What on earth is going on with you?"

"I sent you a message about the breakup. Didn't you see it?" Theresa replied calmly.

"And exactly why the sudden breakup?" Kaleb demanded.

"I overheard what you said to your friends at the birthday party a few months ago."

Kaleb went quiet for a moment, seemingly recalling what was said that day. After a few seconds, he responded, "It was just a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

Theresa felt a pang of discomfort. How could he dismiss it so lightly as a joke?

"Theresa, I'll be in Northville in a few days. Let's meet and talk."

"No need. I don't want to see you, and I'm very busy. Sorry, but please don't contact me again."

Theresa ended the call before Kaleb could say more.

In the past, she would always wait for him to end the call.

Kaleb was shocked. He had never expected the usually gentle and ever-compliant Theresa to end things so decisively. Being dumped for the first time in 28 years was a blow to his pride, especially with his social status and reputation on the line.

While observing Kaleb's reaction, Anthony figured out most of the situation.

He took back his phone and said, "Don't be fooled by Tessa's sweet demeanor. Once she's made up her mind, it's impossible to change it. It's best to part on good terms."

Anthony knew Theresa well. He had never thought highly of Kaleb, primarily because of Kaleb's poor reputation in their social circle.

When he heard Kaleb mention going to Northville, Anthony grew concerned for Theresa and decided to send Hansel a text.

…

Meanwhile, as Hansel read Anthony's message, he received a call from Wade with an update on the investigation.

"I couldn't find out why they broke up, but Kaleb's reputation has always been bad. He used to be quite the ladies' man, but he seemed to have toned it down while he was with Theresa.

"Turns out, though, he's been involved with his ex-girlfriend, Jasmine Young, again recently."

"Jasmine's the illegitimate daughter of the Young family. They've had an on-off relationship for a long time," Wade added, choosing not to dive into the Young family's background in detail.

Hansel scowled and grunted in acknowledgment.

"Speaking of which, when do you plan on coming back? You've been in Northville for too long. Hasn't your family called you back yet?"

Ignoring his question, Hansel asked, "How far were they into the relationship?"

"They've met each other's families and were planning to get engaged after Theresa graduated from college. But from the looks of things, that's probably off."

…

Theresa was taken aback to learn that Kaleb was actually coming to Northville.

When a nurse came and told Theresa that someone was looking for her, she was in the middle of getting reprimanded by Bruce, a common occurrence for medical residents.

However, noticing the time and remembering that she had injured her forehead the day before, Bruce waved her off exasperatedly and let her leave for the day.

Theresa had been struggling with stress and sleepless nights lately. The pressure from Hansel added to her anxiety, and her eye bags became increasingly visible.

After talking to the nurse, Theresa was directed to the consultation desk where the person was waiting.

At around seven in the evening, the ward was still busy. It took Theresa a while to spot a familiar figure amidst the crowd. It was Kaleb.

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