32. Not accidental its intentional!
Eva's steps were brisk but her eyes held faint exhaustion.
Her first stop was the middle-aged patient with infective endocarditis - the same one from yesterday's mess.
To her relief, he looked much better - stable vitals, better color on his face.
Eva smiled, adjusting his blanket. "Morning, Mr. Collins. How are we doing today?"
He grinned faintly. "Better, doctor."
Her smile softened In relief.
She scribbled notes on his chart, exhaling a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
As she turned, Nurse Andy approached, her face pale and guilty.
"Dr. Eva," Andy began hesitantly, "I... wanted to say I'm sorry. It was my mistake yesterday. I thought you meant the other one."
Eva paused - her first instinct was to wave it off, but then she remembered Neil's voice from yesterday, sharp and cutting.
She looked at Andy and nodded gently. "It's okay, Andy. I should've stayed until it was done. I told you the right one, but I should've double-checked. So... we both learn."
Andy's eyes softened. "You're still kind, doctor. Most wouldn't take it that way."
Eva smiled faintly, though inside, a flicker of guilt still burned.
If Neil saw her now, she thought, he'd probably say something like - "emotions don't fix mistakes."
But she wasn't like him.
And maybe... that's what made them the complete opposite.
It had been three hours since morning rounds started, and Neil hadn't called her once.
Usually, by this time, his voice echoed across the ward - firm, commanding - "Dr. Walter, prep for surgery," or "Eva, I need the reports." And "Walter,retract more,focus here!"
But today, silence.
Eva flipped through patient files at the nursing station, pretending not to notice how other residents rushed in and out of the cardio wing, carrying stacks of charts, prepping OT lists, and murmuring about the big Valve replacements scheduled that afternoon.
Dr. Neil Morris's cases.
Her cases, technically.
She stared down at her pen, tapping it absently against the chart.
He didn't call me.
For a second, her pride wanted to laugh it off - fine, I needed a break anyway.
But her heart betrayed her with that tiny twist of guilt.
Trent came running past with gloves in her hand, panting. "Hey, aren't you scrubbing in for Dr. Morris's surgery today?"
Eva forced a smile. "Nope. I wasn't assigned."
Trent blinked. "Weird. He usually-"
"Yeah, well," Eva interrupted lightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "guess he found someone better this time."
Trent didn't catch the undertone, but she felt it - that pinch in her chest she couldn't explain.
She tried to bury herself in her rounds, checking vitals, updating notes, even making small jokes with patients to keep her smile real.
But every time she passed the OT corridor, her eyes flicked instinctively to that frosted glass door.
Through the blurry window, she could see Neil, gloved and focused, his head slightly tilted as he gave instructions - confident, precise.
For the first time, she realized how coldly distant he could look when he wanted to.
And somehow, that hurt worse than his anger.
She was nothing less.
If Dr. Morris could ignore her, fine. Two could play that game.
Eva walked through the corridors with her head high, her Ipad tucked under her arm like a shield of pride.
She wasn't the type to beg for validation - especially not from a man who thought silence was punishment.
So, she made sure she was visible.
She chatted with the nursing staff, helped a junior resident with IV lines, even joined Lexi and Trent for lunch after ages - Her laughter echoed through the cafeteria, light and casual, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Eva, you're awfully free today," Trent teased, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Benefits of not being Dr. Morris's robot for a day," she replied smoothly, biting into her fries with an air of victory.
Lexi laughed. "You two are always glued together. It's kinda weird seeing you not running behind him with a report."
Eva shrugged, pretending not to care. "Maybe he found a new favorite assistant. Good for him."
But when she looked out through the glass walls of the cafeteria and saw Neil walking down the opposite hall - tall, calm, talking to another surgeon - her stomach flipped before she could stop it.
He didn't even glance her way.
She straightened, forcing a smirk. "See? Total peace. I love this."
Lexi giggled. "You sure?"
"Positive vibes only ," Eva replied, popping another fry into her mouth - though her fingers had gone cold.
Eva's last case of the day felt like the only bright thing about her shift - Charlie, their CABG patient, was up, walking, and already flirting with the nurses. His recovery was short of impressive.
"Dr. Eva," he greeted cheerfully as she entered. "You look like you've had a day."
She laughed, setting her file on the table. "You have no idea, Charlie. But seeing you upright feels like a small win."
"Credit to you, Doc," he said with a grin. "You and Dr. Morris make quite the team."
Her hand paused mid-note at that name. "Mm-hmm," she hummed vaguely, pretending to focus on the discharge summary.
The door creaked open.
Of course.
The universe had a cruel sense of timing.
Neil walked in, looking every bit the professional - , gloves in hand, the faintest crease of exhaustion on his face. He didn't say a word. Just took the file from the tray, flipped to the last page, and signed.
"You look all fine charlie,Great job!" Neil spoke.
"Thanks doc"
Then Charlie, out of absolutely nowhere, asked-
"So, Dr. Eva... are you single?"
Eva choked on her own breath. The pen slipped, leaving a messy line across the summary.
She froze. Then slowly turned toward Neil - who was standing beside the bed, pen still in hand, head slightly tilted still not looking at her... expression unreadable.
Internally, she screamed. Fine.I can play this game better than you Dr Morris.
She straightened up, looked right at Charlie, and said, louder than necessary, "Yes, Charlie. I'm very single."
Charlie blinked, a little flustered. "Uh... cool."
"Bye, Charlie," she said with a huge smile imaginable, collecting her notes and walking out - pulse thundering, face flushed.
She had just reached the lobby when she heard quick, firm footsteps behind her.
Before she could turn, Neil's hand caught her wrist, pulling her gently but firmly toward a quiet corner behind the glass partition. His voice dropped, low and sharp - with something dangerously close to amusement.
"Single, huh?"
Eva's breath hitched. He was close - close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating off him.
She blinked fast, no fumbling in her voice. "You heard that right. "
He leaned in just slightly, his tone a whisper against her ear. " You practically announced it to the entire ward."
Her heart stuttered. "It's true," she shot back, chin lifting in defiance.
His lips curved into the faintest, knowing smirk. "You sure about that, Mrs. Morris?"
For a second, her mind went blank - breath tangled, pulse betraying her composure.
Before she could answer, he stepped back, his voice calm again. "Finish your summaries, Dr. Eva. We'll talk about your... status later."
"I am done, and leaving in few minutes."
"You are coming with me, if you want to scrub in for tomorrow's surgery."
And just like that, he turned and walked away - leaving her hopeless, her cheeks burning, muttering under her breath,
"Unbelievable."
Eva was trying her best to pretend nothing happened.
She busied herself with the discharge papers, scribbling notes that didn’t even make sense anymore.
He was not that far— standing across the desk, signing another file like she didn’t exist.
Fine. Two could play that game.
She packed her notes, turned sharply, and walked out.
Only to bump straight into him at the doorway.
“Watch where you’re going,” Neil muttered, not looking up.
“You— you were the one standing in the middle,” she hissed back.
Their shoulders brushed, both stepping in the same direction — left, then right — and colliding again.He raised a brow blocking her petite structure.
Her file almost slipped. His hand shot out, steadying it before it fell.
“This is a hospital not home.” he said coolly.
“I don't care.” she shot back.
And then, like the universe had a wicked sense of humor —
“Dr. Neil! Dr. Eva! The valve replacement follow-up!” a nurse called.
He quickly let go.
She cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at him and her.
Neil was focused on the patient’s chart, his tone clipped and professional.
Eva stood a few feet away, hands folded, silently wishing she could disappear.
“Dr. Neil, if you don’t need me here—”
He didn’t even glance up. “You’ll stay until I’m done.”
Her jaw tightened. “I’ve finished my part.”
He looked up then — that calm, cold stare that could slice through steel.
“Then wait. That’s an order, Dr. Eva.”
Her breath hitched.
Right. Orders.
She turned away, pretending to check her notes, but her mind screamed — what’s his problem today?
When the patient finally settled, he pulled off his gloves, tossed them aside, and walked past her.
“Tomorrow’s OTs start sharp at seven. I expect you here on time,” he said without slowing down.
She blinked. “Sir, that’s—”
He turned just slightly, his voice low but firm.
“Whatever is between us, leave it outside the theatre. You’re here to practice medicine, not to prove a point.”
The words stung more than they should have.
Moments later, headlights cut through the darkness.
Neil’s car pulled up beside her. He didn’t roll down the window — just looked at her once.
“Get in,” he said simply.
Eva hesitated but climbed in anyway, too tired to argue.
The drive was silent — painfully, suffocatingly silent.
Only the hum of the engine filled the space between them.
Neither spoke.
She looked out the window; he kept his eyes on the road.
She’d spent the day doing rounds, keeping her chin up — as if his silence didn’t bother her.
But it did.
More than she’d ever admit.
When they finally reached home, she got out without waiting for him, muttering a stiff, “Thanks for the ride.”
Inside, the air was tense. Even the faint hum of the refrigerator seemed too loud.
Eva placed her bag on the counter and sighed, desperate for just a moment to breathe—
Only to turn and bump hard into Neil.
Her breath hitched. “Can you not?”
He stepped back just slightly, voice calm but clipped. “You were standing in the middle of the way.”
“Well, maybe if you talked once in a while, I’d know which way you’re going,” she snapped, brushing past him.
He turned, his tone low. “You seemed fine talking to everyone else today.”
Eva froze mid-step, then looked over her shoulder. “Oh, so you did notice me at the hospital?”
Neil didn’t answer — which said enough.
She let out a bitter laugh. “Right. You can ignore me all day but suddenly care when someone else talks to me.”
“Eva,” he started, but she held up a hand.
“Save it, Dr. Morris. We both know what this is — fake marriage, fake concern. You made that clear, remember?”
His jaw tightened, something flickering in his eyes.
For a heartbeat, neither moved.
Eva turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Neil’s hand caught her wrist.
She froze. The air between them thickened, quiet except for the sound of their breathing.
“Eva,” he said, his voice low — rougher than usual, carrying both frustration and something else she couldn’t name.
She looked up, startled by how close he was — how the space between them seemed to vanish all at once.
His gaze searched hers, steady, unreadable. “You think everything between us is fake?” he asked.
Her throat went dry. “That's what it's supposed to be.” she whispered
Eva turned to go, her hand already on the doorknob.
Before she could pull it open, Neil’s voice stopped her — quiet, but firm.
“Eva.”
She turned halfway, startled. His expression was unreadable — that calm doctor mask, but his eyes said something else entirely.
“You really think everything between us is fake?”
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The silence stretched — a heartbeat too long, too heavy.
Neil stepped forward, closing the space between them. His hand brushed her wrist, light as static, enough to make her forget what she was about to say.
“Then why does it never feel fake when you’re near me?” he murmured leaning in.
Eva blinked, caught in that moment — the closeness, the warmth, the rush that made everything else fade away.
He leaned in — slow, uncertain — and their foreheads barely touched, the softest pause before either of them could think.
His tall frame leaning more closer giving her no space to escape completely pinning her gently against the door.
It all happened so fast that Eva barely had time to react.
And then, his lips brushed hers — brief, certain, and utterly disarming.
She gasped, trying to push him away, but his grip held firm, steady, and full of purpose.
When he finally pulled back, his voice was low, his breath still mingling with hers.
“That,” he murmured, eyes glinting, “was intentional.”
Before she could find her words, he leaned forward once more — this time softer, slower — stealing a fleeting kiss that left her breathless.
"Smooch" it sounded loud in that terrific silence.
"Umm-" Neil stretching his hands as if he feels sleepy.
“Good night, Mrs. Morris,” he whispered, a hint of a smirk curling at his lips as he walked away, leaving her heart pounding and her thoughts in chaos.
She stood there for a second, frozen — lips tingling, heart running a marathon. What just happened?
He kissed her. Not just once twice.
And… it wasn’t an accident.
Her back still pressed against the door, she stared at the empty hallway where Neil had just disappeared after saying,
“Good night, Mrs. Morris.”
“Intentional kiss,” he’d said.
“What does that even mean?” she muttered under her breath, pacing. “So just because I said our marriage is fake, he wants to— what— make it official by kissing me?”
Her mind was chaos. The same man who spent the entire day ignoring her, who barely said a word, now decides to—
She stopped, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her lips still pink from the kiss.
“Does he…” she whispered, almost afraid of finishing the thought, “…does he want to make this fake marriage real?”
Her heart skipped, traitorously hopeful.
“Ugh, get a grip, Eva,” she told herself, diving face-first into her pillow. “He’s Neil Morris. Dr. Machine. He can make anything possible.”
But no matter how much she scolded herself, sleep refused to approach her.
Because every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel it—
his breath, his grip, and that maddeningly soft, intentional kiss.