The lab fire was sudden and violent. My boyfriend instinctively raised his hand to shield me, losing a layer of skin in the process. On the day we broke up, I deliberately aimed for his deepest wound. "Every time I look at those hands, I feel physically sick." Years later, he became my father's attending physician. Before discussing the prognosis, he asked with a calm expression: "Miss Miller, will my hands cause you any physiological discomfort?" 1 Yesterday, a friend called to say there might be hope for my dad's condition. A doctor named Dr. Vance had just returned from studying abroad at their hospital, specializing in exactly this rare disease. But I never expected this "Dr. Vance" to be Julian Vance. "Dr. Vance is so handsome. If only his hands weren't burned like that, he'd be perfect!" "I heard from Dr. Reed that his ex-girlfriend caused it. She even broke up with him because of it." "What? That's disgusting." Passing the nurses' station, I overheard their chatter while they prepped medications. My steps faltered, then I forced myself to continue down the hall. With every step closer to that door, my heart pounded faster and faster. My hand was trembling as it touched the doorknob. But the moment I saw that familiar figure, everything went quiet. The man in the white coat stopped writing and looked up at the sound. Our eyes met, and my heart seemed to stop. My whole body went rigid. To be honest, I was prepared for Julian's mockery. Because— I was that disgusting ex-girlfriend. 2 But as long as he could give my dad a fighting chance, I would take anything. In a flash, he looked away. "You must be Mr. Miller's family. Please, have a seat." His voice was cold and distant. I remembered he had this unapproachable aura when I first pursued him, too. He gestured to the chair opposite him with his chin, then... Went back to writing. Was he— Pretending not to recognize me? The thought flashed through my mind but was instantly dismissed. How could he pretend in front of someone he loathed? He was proud. When he got tired of my chasing back then, he would just turn and leave without a word. But thinking about it, maybe he really didn't recognize me. I was wearing a mask, and I had bangs now. So many years had passed. My heart, suspended in my throat, slowly settled. After sitting down, my eyes involuntarily drifted to his terrifying hands. The raised scars from the burn were stark against his pale skin. My heart clenched. The pain buried deep inside resurfaced. Back then, a girl in my lab group caused a flash fire due to improper handling. Flames erupted instantly. Julian was right next to me. His reaction was lightning fast. He shielded my face with his hands. In that instant, his skin burned away, revealing horrifying red flesh. It was terrifying. I cried and asked him why he did it. He lowered his head, wiped my tears, and looked straight into my eyes. "Because it's you, I'd do anything." Those scars made me certain about Julian. So much so that on the day I broke up with him, I used those very scars to end it. The vicious words still echoed in my ears. "You know, every time I see your hands, I feel sick to my stomach." "I can't stand it for another day." He must hate me to death. The scars he bore for me were met with such cruelty. ... "Miss Miller?" I didn't know when Julian had looked up, but his gaze was fixed on my face. "Yes." He raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, noticing where I was staring. "My hands won't cause you any physiological discomfort, will they?" 3 I shook my head awkwardly. "No." How could they? He got them for me. I only felt heartache; how could I feel disgust? He curled his lip slightly and explained patiently. "That's good." "Everyone has different sensitivities. I have to ask beforehand." "Have the blood count and bone marrow biopsy been done?" "Yes." "When was the last transfusion?" "Two months ago." "What is your relationship with Carter?" Carter was the friend who referred me to Julian. But what did that have to do with my dad's illness? The answer stopped at my lips, suspicion creeping in. "Do... do you need to know that too?" He glanced at me calmly. "Of course. It's protocol." He was the doctor; I was the patient's family. Naturally, I answered whatever he asked. "College classmates." Those dark eyes suddenly stared straight at me, scrutinizing, as if trying to discern something. Before I could speak, he pulled out the prepared files, switched to a professional demeanor, and began outlining the treatment plan. A while later, the door opened. "Julian, what do you want for lunch?" 4 Behind the sweet, light voice was a face that was adaptable and soft-featured. I recognized her almost instantly. It was Sarah Reed! She was the girl who made the mistake in the lab. Luckily for her, her injuries back then weren't severe. It really is a small world. She stared at me, too. Slowly, the smile on her lips began to fade. A deep, magnetic voice cut off the name Sarah was about to say. "Whatever you want." "Or that Thai place downstairs." "You go get a table. I'll be done in a minute." They spoke across me. From this angle, I could clearly see Julian's sharp jawline, and... The gentle look in his eyes, devoid of any guard. That look used to belong to me. In high school, Sarah was in our class but wasn't close to Julian or me. Many times during breaks, I would go to Julian. Sarah sat behind us. I always saw her sitting quietly at her desk, alone. Maybe it was awkwardness, unable to join our conversation. Sometimes when our eyes met accidentally, she would immediately look away. Now the roles were reversed. I had become the outsider. Sarah looked at me one last time before closing the door, her expression back to normal, nodding politely. Once again, it was just me and Julian in the office. He naturally exuded an oppressive aura, suffocating the space around us. I lowered my eyes, resting my elbows on the edge of the desk, heart still racing. Suddenly, the light in front of me was blocked by a shadow. His broad frame leaned forward, looming over me. Almost instinctively, I leaned back, creating distance. His hand froze in mid-air, his face turning completely cold. "What are you hiding from?"
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