38. Anouncement !
Before she could ask anything, he was already walking away -
Eva stood near the nurses' station. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, her lashes trembling. She had been quiet the whole round. Too quiet.
Chief's harsh words, the interns' whispers, and that photo of her and Neil-him pinning her against the OT wall after that emergency case-had spread like wildfire.
She waited.
One minute.
Two.
Three.
Where did this man disappear-
And suddenly-
the hospital mic cracked alive.
Everyone in the lounge area turned toward the speakers.
Then came that voice.
Deep. Serious.
"Attention everyone. This is Dr. Neil.
Did anyone see my wife?"
People froze. Heads snapped up. Lexi nearly choked on her juice.
The staff looked at each other like Is he allowed to say that??
He continued, absolutely unbothered.
"She's the most talented resident here.
The best we have.
Eva Morris..."
Eva's soul left her body.
He did not just-
He DID.
"Time to leave. I'll be waiting for you at the parking lot.
Come fast, babe"
There was a beat of stunned silence.
Then-
A sudden thud
A small scuffle
People whispering-
And the mic abruptly cut.
But beneath the embarrassment...
Her heart was smiling.
He confronted openly.
Shamelessly.
Proudly.
Eva's breath was still trembling in her chest when the door flew open.
Lexi: "Eva! Come. Now."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was sharp.
Sharp enough to slice right through the soft, electric bubble Eva and Neil had just drifted into.
Lexi: "Those idiots talking crap inside? I shut them up. Nobody gets to say you slept your way into surgeries-not when you've worked harder than all of them combined."
Lexi: "Eva. Look at me."
Eva looked up, startled, already emotional by gossips of these people.
Eva's eyes watered. She hadn't told Lexi anything about the marriage, she didn't know the truth... yet Lexi was here. Shielding her. Fighting for her.
Lexi squeezed her hand.
Lexi: "Eve!"
Eva: "I-am sorry for hiding."
Lexi: "Eve... you don't have to apologise like you committed a crime."
Her voice was gentle, not angry-just hurt in that honest best-friend way.
Eva swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the floor.
Eva: "But I did hide it. From you. Of all people."
Lexi stopped walking, turning to face her.
Lexi: "You hid it because you were scared. Or hurting. Or protecting yourself."
A small, sad smile tugged at her lips.
"And I'm your best friend, not your interrogator."
Eva's chest tightened, that familiar sting rising behind her eyes.
Eva: "It felt easier to pretend nothing was wrong. To pretend I'm fine. Because if I said it out loud... it becomes real."
Lexi's expression softened even more. She cupped Eva's cheeks with both hands.
Lexi: "And you think I'd ever let you face something real alone?"
Eva let out a shaky breath.
Eva: "I love you."
Lexi rubbed her back in slow circles.
Lexi: "Good. Now let's go meet your husband."
Eva groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Eva: "Ugh-this man. Why did he announce it like it was good news?"
Lexi shrugged dramatically.
Lexi: "Because he has guts?"
She nudged Eva with her elbow.
"And honestly, Eve... I think that man is in full protective mode now."
Eva blinked.
Eva: "Protective? He didn't even ask me-he just-"
Lexi raised a brow.
Lexi: "Exactly. He didn't ask. He decided."
Her voice dropped, equal parts teasing and serious.
"And men like Neil Morris only behave like that when they feel something strong. Threatened. Worried. Connected. Whatever it is... he's not neutral anymore."
Eva's heart skipped a beat-annoyingly loud.
Eva: "...I don't even know what this marriage means."
Lexi smirked.
Lexi: "Oh, we'll figure that out. But first? You're going to stop panicking, lift your chin, and walk in there like the queen you are-because your grumpy surgeon just told the world you're his."
Eva stared at her.
Eva: "You're enjoying this way too much."
Lexi: "Absolutely."
She looped her arm through Eva's.
"Now come on, Mrs. Morris. Drama awaits."
"Don't call me that!" Eva cried.
Lexi smirked all the way down the corridor like she was escorting royalty to a coronation.
Lexi: “Chin up. Big eyes confident. Pretend you didn’t just internally combust.”
Eva: “Lexi, stop—”
Lexi: “Nope. You’re married to a fire-breathing surgeon who just roared your identity to the entire hospital. You don’t get to shy away now.”
Eva groaned, covering her face for a second before Lexi forcibly pulled her hand down.
Lexi: “No hiding. You look adorable. And slightly traumatized. Perfect combination.”
Eva: “Lexi…”
Lexi: “Yes, yes, I know. ‘Don’t call me Mrs. Morris.’ But sweetheart—”
She whispered dramatically,
“—you are Mrs. Morris.”
Eva nearly tripped on air.
Eva: “STOP SAYING THAT!”
Lexi cackled and tightened her grip on Eva’s arm.
Parking Lot — Neil waiting
Neil was leaning against his car, arms crossed, looking like the storm after calm.
Dark scrubs.
Sharp jaw.
Eyes that softened only when they found Eva in the crowd.
Lexi elbowed her lightly.
Lexi (whispering): “Look at how he’s staring. Like you’re the only thing he recognizes in this chaos.”
Eva swallowed, heat rushing to her cheeks.
Eva: “Lexi, please—”
Lexi: “Shh. Go to your man.”
Eva shot her a glare and walked the remaining steps alone, trying not to overthink her heartbeat.
Neil pushed off the car, walking toward her with that steady, confident stride of his.
Neil: “You okay?”
Eva blinked.
Out of all things, that was what he asked?
Eva: “I—Yes. No. I don’t know. Why would you announce it like that?”
Before he could answer, Lexi shouted from behind her:
Lexi: “Because he’s obsessed with her! Obviously!”
Eva almost choked.
Neil froze.
Lexi gave a mock salute.
Lexi: “You two have fun. I’ll be waiting for the after-story.”
Eva turned around, mortified.
Eva: “LEXI, GO HOME!”
Lexi: “Never! Drama is my oxygen!”
Neil actually pinched the bridge of his nose.
Neil: “Does she ever stop talking?”
Eva: “No.”
Lexi: “Accurate!”
Neil sighed.
When Lexi finally retreated (winking aggressively the entire way), Eva turned back to Neil.
The moment Lexi disappeared, the parking lot felt strangely quiet.
And his eyes on her felt… heavier.
Eva: “So. About your… announcement.”
She folded her arms.
Eva: “You screamed it.”
Neil: “…I did not scream.”
Eva: “NEIL, IT ECHOED.”
A beat.
His lips twitched.
Neil: “Good acoustics.”
Eva narrowed her eyes.
He took a slow step closer.
Close enough for her to feel his warmth.
Close enough for that now-familiar flutter to take off in her stomach.
Neil (quiet): “I only said what was true.”
Her breath caught.
His gaze softened, lingering on her face like he couldn’t help it.
For a moment… for a tiny, unguarded moment… he looked almost vulnerable.
Neil: “Eva… you don’t have to be embarrassed about being mine.”
And that—God—that hit her heart harder than it should have.
Eva’s voice went soft.
Barely audible.
Eva: “I’m not embarrassed.”
He studied her face.
Slowly. Carefully.
Like he needed confirmation.
Then he opened the passenger door for her.
Neil: “Good. Let’s go home.”
Eva climbed in, her pulse doing cartwheels.
And sat beside him, She felt overwhelmed.
Something soft.
Something she was slowly, helplessly accepting.
Neil started the engine, He felt something warm settle in his chest.
Something peacefull and fulfilling.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Eva slipped off her shoes, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
She wasn’t angry.
Eva: “You know… we actually had rules for this.”
Neil raised a brow, loosening his tie.
Neil: “Rules?”
Eva crossed her arms, trying — and failing — to look stern.
Neil tapped his chin, pretending to think.
Neil: “What contract?”
Eva stared at him like he’d grown an extra head.
Eva: “What do you mean what contract? THE contract! The one we made! Boundaries! Personal and hospital space separate! No one allowed to know!”
Neil tilted his head, acting genuinely confused.
Neil: “Hmm… nope. Doesn’t ring a bell.”
Eva: “You’re playing dumb aren't you?”
She huffed in a very un-threatening way.
“It was a proper agreement! Typed, printed, signed! You literally said ‘this is essential for boundaries,’ remember?”
Neil: “Did I?”
Eva glared… but her smile was tugging through.
Eva: “You totally did.”
He shrugged lightly, walking past her into the living room.
Neil: “Well… things change.”
Eva blinked.
"Got you Dr.morris"she muttered to herself like she was up to something.
She dropped her bag on the couch and spun toward him again.
Eva: “Babe,So… you were waiting for me at the parking lot?”
She said “babe” with full dramatic emphasis, eyebrows raised.
Neil froze for half a second — then he laughed.
Not loud.
Just that quiet, warm laugh she rarely heard from him.
Neil: “You liked it. Don’t lie.”
She even leaned forward, hands on her hips, eyebrows dancing up like she’d caught him red-handed.
Neil blinked.
Honestly blinked.
Like he needed a reboot.
Then it happened—
that soft, quiet laugh.
The one that made Eva feel like she’d won a trophy.
Neil: “…You’re being a little too much.”
Eva gasped dramatically, hand over her chest.
Eva: “ME? Too much? Not more than you sir..”
Neil: “Hm?”
Eva: “Answer the question, BABE...?”
She pinched the bridge of his nose, smiling.
Neil: “You came home ready for a full investigation, didn’t you?”
Eva: “Oh absolutely. I prepared a whole speech.”
Neil: “I can tell.”
She straightened her posture, lifted her chin, and lowered her voice into a dramatic Neil-impression:
Eva (deep voice):
“Did anyone see my wife?”
She flung her arms up.
“WIFE??”
Neil’s soul left his body.
Neil: “Eva—”
But she wasn’t done.
Oh no.
Eva: “You didn’t just say it. You projected it. The entire cardiology block knows I’m your wife now. I bet even the security guard knows.”
She squinted at him.
Eva: “So tell me, Dr. Morris… was the mic working fine? Should we get you a podium next time?”
Neil covered his face with his hand.
Neil: “I didn’t sound like that.”
Eva gasped dramatically.
Eva: “Did you just say you didn’t sound like that?”
She switched voices again.
Eva (dramatically):
“EXCUSE ME, EVERYONE, IF YOU’VE SEEN MY WIFE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, SHE’S SMALL AND CUTE AND MINE—”
Neil actually groaned.
The kind of groan that said:
please let the earth swallow me whole.
Neil: “Eva. Stop.”
Eva: “Why? This is so fun for you just an hour before!”
Neil: “oh god!” he groaned.
She poked his chest lightly.
Eva: “Admit it. You made a whole announcement speech.”
Neil: “It was not a speech.”
Eva: “Neil. You used your ‘surgery voice.’”
He froze.
Because yes, he did.
Eva: “And stop pretending like you forgot the CONTRACT. ”
Neil schooled his expression.
Completely deadpan.
Neil: “What contract again?”
Eva stepped forward, pointing index finger to his face.
Eva: “Shut up you lier!”
Just in time ,Her phone buzzed.
She read the notification…
and froze.
Eva: “Oh no. Oh no no no.”
Neil’s teasing expression vanished instantly.
Neil: “Eva?”
Eva: “…My exam notification. It's scheduled Next month.”
Eva stared at her phone like it had personally betrayed her.
Eva: “next month… I’m DEAD.”
Neil watched her meltdown for a solid five seconds.
Then his expression shifted — dangerously calm, smug even.
Neil: “Relax, babe.”
Eva blinked.
Babe again?!
This man was getting bold.
Neil: “It’s okay,”
he said, stepping closer, hands coming up to rest on her shoulders.
Neil: “I’m all yours to help.”
Eva’s brain: error. system failure. cannot compute.
Before she could respond, he gently turned her around and guided her toward her room.
Neil: “Now go. Freshen up.”
Eva: “Huh?”
Neil gave the softest push between her shoulder blades.
Neil: “We’re going out for dinner.”
Eva spun around, horrified.
Eva: “NEIL. No. I need to start prep. I literally know NOTHING.”
Neil shrugged, completely unaffected by her doomsday tone.
Neil: “And your exams are next month, not tomorrow.”
Eva: “That doesn’t matter!”
Neil: “It matters to me.”
Eva froze.
He smoothed a hand over her hair — quick, gentle, unfamiliar but… warm.
Neil: “Calm down. You’ll study. I’ll help you. But right now? Wee’re eating.”
Before she could collect her soul, he turned and walked out of the room, very satisfied with himself.
Eva stood there, still holding her phone, staring at the doorway he disappeared through.
Eva (whispering to herself):
“…Did he just… pamper me?”
She looked at the ceiling.
Eva: “Are you for REAL, Neil Morris?”
She shook her head, half-smiling, half-melting.
Eva: “This man is wilding.”
From the kitchen, Neil called out casually:
Neil: “Wifey, you have five minutes!”
Eva: internal screaming.
They settled into a small restaurant booth, warm lights glowing above them.
Eva kept chewing on her lower lip, still thinking about the exam notification.
Eva: “I… don’t even have my books. I need to collect them from the library.”
Neil didn’t even blink.
Neil: “Okay. We’ll go tomorrow.”
Eva stared. Blinking.
Eva: “…We?”
Neil looked up from the menu, completely casual.
Neil: “Yes. We.”
Her heart did that annoying jump again.
She leaned back, exhaling.
Eva: “This doesn’t feel like real life.”
Neil: “It is.”
Before she could argue, he tapped the menu.
Neil: “What do you want to order?”
Eva rubbed her forehead dramatically.
Eva: “Anything is fine.”
Neil lowered the menu, eyes narrowing—playfully.
Neil: “Babe…”
Eva dropped her face into her hands.
Eva: “Exams pressure… and this guy keeps babe-ing me.”
She peeked at him between her fingers.
“I will get spoiled if you keep doing this, Neil!”
Neil didn’t even try to hide the tiny smile forming.
He set the menu down, leaning slightly closer.
Neil: “I want to spoil my wife.”
Eva froze.
Like someone had hit a pause button.
Eva: “You— what?”
Neil shrugged lightly, still holding eye contact.
Neil: “You’re stressed. You’re working hard. You never take care of yourself.”
A beat.
“I will.”
Eva looked away quickly because her eyes were starting to sting.
Eva: “Stop being… like this.”
Neil: “Like what?”
Eva: “Nice.”
Neil: “Too late babe.”
She kicked his foot under the table—lightly.
Neil felt a soft kick to his foot under the table.
Neil: “Ouch…”
Eva immediately straightened, eyes wide.
Eva: “I— I’m sorry! Did you get hurt?!”
Neil shook his head, amused.
Neil: “No. Hungry. Let’s order something.”
Eva snatched the menu from his hands like she was preparing for battle.
Eva (reading rapidly):
“Okay, so… one classic cheeseburger, extra fries.
A plate of chicken tenders.
Nachos with extra cheese.
A BBQ chicken pizza — medium, no large.
Buffalo wings.
Mac and cheese.
A Cheese cake.
And… Oreo milkshake. Large. No, extra large.”
The waiter’s pen froze.
Neil’s eyebrows hit the stratosphere.
Waiter (carefully): “Ma’am… is this for the table or—?”
Eva: “Just me.”
Neil: “Eva—”
She glared, cheeks puffed, full stubborn mode activated.
Eva: “I can eat all of these.”
Neil stared at her.
Then stared at the menu.
Then stared at her again.
Neil: “…Are you sure?”
Eva slammed the menu closed dramatically.
Eva: “Yes. I eat when I’m frustrated.”
Neil leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, lips twitching hard to stop a laugh.
Neil: “So you’re planning to eat the entire American cuisine tonight?”
Eva: “Don’t test me.”
Neil raised both hands in surrender.
Neil: “Okay, okay. Order the whole country if you want.”
The waiter walked away very, very confused.
Eva finally relaxed into her seat, exhaled softly.
Neil watched her, fondness slipping into his tone.
Neil: “You’re adorable when you’re stressed.”
Eva: “I’m dangerous when I’m stressed.”
Neil:
“Even better.”
---
Eva was leaning back on her chair, one hand on her stomach, absolutely stuffed. The pile of plates in front of her looked like a food festival had just ended.
Neil just stared at her, eyebrows raised, glass of wine in hand.
Neil: “You… finished all of that?”
Eva gave a tiny embarrassed smile.
Eva: “I was hungry.”
Neil glanced at his own side of the table—
one glass of red wine
and a small plate of rosemary butter shrimp.
Then he looked at her side—
buffalo wings, mac cheese, nachos, cheesy fries, garlic bread, chicken tenders, onion rings, a half-eaten burger and many more.
He blinked.
Neil: “Damn, girl.”
Eva hid her face behind the last remaining chicken wing.
He reached out casually toward her plate.
Neil: “Can I have one? Just one wing.”
She snapped her hand back protectively like he was stealing a newborn.
Eva: “No.”
"Fine" he giggled.
Neil reached for his back pocket to pay—
then froze.
He checked again.
And again.
His jaw tightened.
Neil: “Oh… wait.”
Eva blinked.
Eva: “What happened?”
Neil’s ears went slightly pink.
Neil: “I—uh… I forgot my purse.”
Eva stared at him for a second… and then burst into a tiny giggle she tried very hard to hide behind her hand.
Neil ran a hand through his hair, looking deeply offended by life.
Neil: “This is so embarrassing.”
Eva shook her head quickly.
She pushed her chair back and stood up like a superhero going to fight a villain.
Eva: “Neil, relax.”
Eva: “I will pay, don’t worry.”
Neil looked up at her, surprised.
Neil: “Eva—”
Eva: “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed. If anything, I should be.”
She pointed at the mountain of plates.
He let out a soft laugh, rubbing his neck.
---
Eva was gripping the steering wheel like her life depended on it.
Eva: “Next time you drink even one sip of wine, you’re sitting in the backseat like a child.”
Neil sighed dramatically from the passenger side.
Neil: “Eva… I had half a glass.”
Eva: “Don’t care. I’m driving.”
He smiled to himself.
She didn’t realize how adorable she looked when she was bossy.
Eva: “I’m never eating that much again.”
Neil followed behind her, holding the take-away box she insisted on packing even though she was clearly dying.
He watched her wobble toward her room.
And that’s when it hit him.
That stupid “separate room” decision.
His biggest regret of the marriage.
Neil: “Eva… wait.”
Stopped her by gently catching her wrist.
Neil: “Eva… do you remember something?”
She blinked.
Eva: “What?”
Placing the package side he crossed his arms like he’d been waiting for this moment.
Neil: “You once promised me something.”
Eva frowned, trying to remember.
Eva: “What?”
Neil: “The day we were coming back home from the office and I gave you a leave.”
Eva: “…half-day leave. Big difference.”
Neil nodded, amused.
Neil: “Right. Half-day leave. And do you remember what you said?”
Eva squinted suspiciously.
Eva: “No.”
He stepped closer, hands in his pockets.
Neil: “You said you owed me… and you’d do anything I asked.”
Her eyes widened.
Eva: “I SAID THAT? When?.”
He smirked.
Neil: “You really think I’d lie? I’m a surgeon, Eva.”
She narrowed her eyes.Remembering the conversation they had before dinner where he was clearly lying.
Eva: “Okay, fine. What do you want?”
Neil leaned slightly forward, voice calm and direct:
Neil: “I want us to be in the same room.”
She froze so hard even her blinking stopped.
Eva: “…huh?”
Neil: “Same room.”
Eva: “NEIL.”
Neil, shrugging: “You said you’ll do anything.”
Eva: “I meant like… buying coffee… or backing a cake… not—this!”
Neil: “Eva.”
Smirk growing.
Neil: “You’re my wife. Not my flatmate.”
She swallowed.