Chapter Fifteen
Cedar
It had been just over three weeks since Flynn and I returned from our whirlwind getaway to Zanzibar, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.
My entire reality had flipped upside down—though not necessarily in a bad way. Instead of routine patient check-ups at the hospital and lazy weekends in T-shirts and sneakers, I was thrust into a world of private jets, designer gowns, and unrelenting media attention.
Reporters dissected every word I said, cameramen ambushed me at the airport, and tabloids splashed my face alongside sensational headlines. I couldn’t fathom how anyone could feel at ease under such scrutiny.
Still, the one place that felt remotely normal was the hospital. Among the hallways and patient rooms, I could shrug off the glamorous facade and just be Dr. Cedar Rowan.
Sure, I endured constant ribbing from Nurse Katie and Dr. Lee, who loved calling me “Your Royal Highness” or joking that I’d abandon them for penthouse living. But their teasing was filled with genuine affection, and I sensed they were truly happy to see me glowing.
Even so, I couldn’t escape the fact that my private life—especially my relationship with Flynn—was now front-page news.
***
The Cafeteria Whispers
On this particular afternoon, I headed into the hospital cafeteria for my usual lunch break with Katie and Dr. Lee. Something in the air felt off the moment I walked through the door. The noise level dropped, and I sensed eyes on me—more than usual.
A few people gawked openly, while others darted glances my way before quickly looking away. I’d grown accustomed to raised eyebrows whenever I wore a designer watch with my scrubs or answered phone calls from VIP event planners.
But this time, the stares held a sharp edge that set my nerves on end.
I forced a small smile and continued to our usual table. Nurse Katie and Dr. Lee were already seated, but they didn’t greet me with their typical warm grins. Their expressions were tense, almost grim.
“Not you two as well…” I muttered, sinking into my seat. My stomach lurched with unease. “Can someone please tell me what in the world is going on?”
Katie and Dr. Lee exchanged a look so serious, it made my palms start to sweat. Dr. Lee was the first to speak. “You don’t know?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
I frowned. “Know what?”
“Are you kidding?” Katie pressed.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be sitting here looking so clueless,” I snapped, the uneasy knot in my stomach tightening.
With a low sigh, Dr. Lee whipped out her phone and shoved the screen toward me. “This,” she said in a hushed yet urgent tone.
My eyes skimmed the headline, and my heart dropped like a stone:
“FLYNN JEFFERSON’S FAKE FIANCéE CAUGHT IN COMPROMISING POSITION WITH EX!”
A rush of icy panic flooded my veins. The cafeteria chatter seemed to fade as my mind spun.
Fake fiancée? Ex? Who—?
I blinked, trying to process. “But…this is insane. Devan and I never dated. How is he my ex?”
Dr. Lee’s eyes narrowed. “Really, Cedar? That’s what bothers you first?”
A flush of heat crept up my neck. “Of course it does. It’s a blatant lie,” I said, swallowing down a sharp spike of anger.
What if Flynn has seen this already? What if he believes it? The questions pelted my brain, and my hands balled into fists beneath the table.
“Well, you can see it’s not exactly flattering.” Katie prodded the screen closer. “The pictures look real enough—no obvious photoshop.”
My pulse hammered. I could imagine the camera flash capturing me leaning in toward Devan, maybe with an awkward angle that made it look more intimate than it was.
Oh, Gosh. Flynn…
“It’s not what it looks like,” I insisted, forcing my voice steady. “Devan wanted advice for Heather’s birthday. He’s interested in her, not me. We were just talking about gift ideas.”
Katie arched an eyebrow. “And the photo of you two inches away from each other?”
I slumped back, rubbing my temple as a headache bloomed. “I got something in my eye, and he was helping me get it out. That’s it.”
Dr. Lee and Katie traded another look. I hated that silent exchange—it always felt like they were discussing some private suspicion they had about me.
My mouth tasted sour with dread. If my closest friends are this skeptical, what about everyone else?
“All right,” Dr. Lee finally said. “We believe you. But the public? They’ll eat this up, especially since Flynn is so high-profile.”
Unease at Every Turn
At that moment, a man passing our table paused to stare at me with a mix of intrigue and disapproval. Tension boiled in my chest.
Great, so now I’m on display even in my own hospital cafeteria. Katie noticed him too and shot him a glare.
“Keep moving!” she barked. “This isn’t a freak show!”
He scurried away, and Katie huffed in annoyance. “Sorry about that,” she muttered. “But seriously, Cedar, what’s your plan here?”
Dr. Lee tapped her phone. “Flynn was on the news about an hour ago. Sounds like he tried addressing the rumors.”
A wave of guilt swept through me, tangling with fear. He’s on national TV defending me? Again? My stomach churned. I felt a prickling concern that maybe he’d grown tired of damage control. What if this scandal made him question everything?
“You should respond too—fast,” Dr. Lee said gently. “Before it spirals into a bigger mess.”
Nodding, I whipped out my phone. My hands shook as I dialed Flynn’s number, biting my lip so hard I almost drew blood. Please pick up. Please.
It rang and rang, then clicked over to voicemail. My heart dropped. A swirl of desperation welled up, and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe. What if he’s so angry he can’t talk to me?
Katie set a soothing hand on my arm. “Hey, it’ll be okay,” she said softly.
“It doesn’t feel okay,” I whispered. I stood too quickly, making the room spin. I have to find Flynn. That single thought drummed in my skull. I lurched forward, and Katie caught me.
“Easy,” she said, her voice firm yet comforting. “You’re going to faint if you keep pushing yourself.”
I swallowed, ignoring the dizzy spell. “I can’t just sit here while this blows up. I need to find him—”
Dr. Lee’s eyes flickered past me, and her mouth parted slightly in surprise. “I think you just did.”
Flynn’s Arrival
I turned too fast and nearly lost my balance again. My heart thundered the instant I spotted Flynn striding into the cafeteria, his gaze fixed intently on me. In two long steps, he was there, pulling me into a crushing hug.
A trembling sigh escaped my lips, and I clung to him like a lifeline. He’s here. He’s not furious. He came straight to me. Relief warred with the anxious pounding in my chest.
We stood like that for a moment, ignoring the stares and hushed gasps of everyone around us. He finally eased back, pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, and studied my face with open concern.
“Hey,” he murmured. “Are you okay?”
My throat tightened, and I managed a wobbly nod. “I am…now.” Despite the swirl of tension, warmth flooded my heart. My sanctuary wasn’t just the hospital anymore—it was him .
Flynn’s gaze flicked briefly to Dr. Lee and Nurse Katie. “Thank you both for keeping her company,” he said smoothly. “I’m sorry to barge in like this, but I need Cedar for something urgent.”
I blinked, confused. “I have a meeting with the CMD soon.”
Dr. Lee waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll cover for you. Don’t worry.”
Flynn offered her a grateful nod. “Thank you.” Then he turned to Katie. “Thanks for looking out for her.”
Katie responded with a mischievous grin. “All in a day’s work, Mr. Jefferson.”
Flynn’s expression hardened slightly as he turned back to me. “The press is outside. I tried to calm things down, but it’s not letting up.”
Nelly, Flynn’s unflappable assistant, stepped into view, having apparently slipped in behind him. “Ms. Rowan, we’ve got to do a press conference,” she said quietly. “They’re already assembled.”
Press Conference Pressure
My stomach twisted. I could almost hear the shouting reporters, feel the blinding flashes as soon as I stepped outside. Part of me wanted to flee, to hide in the supply closet until this frenzy died down. Yet I knew that would only confirm their lies. I need to face them head-on.
“When?” I asked, my voice shaky.
Nelly checked her watch. “Right now, ma’am. We can’t keep them waiting.”
I fought the urge to look for an escape route. No. I have to show everyone the truth. My heart hammered so loudly I worried people could hear it. “Should I…change? Or—”
“No,” Nelly replied gently. “Your scrubs will reinforce that you’re a doctor and aren’t hiding anything. It’s perfect.”
A burst of uneasy laughter escaped me. “Right. Okay.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder. “Remember, you don’t have to answer every question. You’re not on trial. If someone tries to bait you, you can decline to comment.”
I nodded, inhaling a breath that felt too thin. “Okay.”
Flynn’s fingers brushed mine in reassurance, and he leaned in close. “Most important thing is, I’m right beside you,” he said, softly enough that only I could hear. The warmth in his voice steadied the tremors in my stomach.
Despite the headache pulsing at my temples, I squared my shoulders. I’m a doctor. I’ve handled emergencies far more terrifying than a horde of reporters. Maybe reminding myself of that could help me breathe.
“All right,” I said, louder this time. “I’m ready.”
Flynn offered his arm, and I slipped mine through it. Just as we turned to leave, the weight of every eye in the cafeteria bore down on us. My headache flared, but I refused to show weakness.
This might define us, I realized with a tight twist in my chest. We either face it together or let it tear us apart.
With one last supportive nod to Dr. Lee and Katie, I allowed Flynn to guide me toward the exit. A rush of adrenaline surged in my veins, and I prayed it would steady my voice when the cameras rolled.
The moment we stepped outside, I knew the real test would begin—and I could only hope our truth would be stronger than any scandalous headline.