Chapter 4
Chloe
"Dr. Reed, someone sent you something again."
Sarah, one of the nurses, walked in with a knowing smile, carrying an elegant thermal container. I had just sat down to drink some water and nearly choked when I heard her.
Again?
This was the fifth time this week.
"What is it now?" I asked with mixed feelings.
"Looks like Wild Salmon Chowder, and this—" Sarah mysteriously pulled out a beautifully packaged bottle of vitamins. "Premium prenatal supplements imported from Europe. Eight hundred dollars a bottle!"
My face instantly flushed. The entire department was watching me, whispering among themselves.
"God, how rich is her boyfriend?"
"I checked—that brand of bird's nest costs two thousand dollars per box!"
"Dr. Reed is so lucky..."
I clenched my fists, anger rising inside me.
Dylan Kane, what exactly are you trying to do?
Just as I was about to return everything, the break room door opened. Dylan walked in wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, his handsome face sporting a heart-stopping smile.
Damn, why does he always look so good?
"Chloe, you're looking well," he said in that deep, magnetic voice that made several young nurses steal glances at him.
"Dylan, we need to talk," I said through gritted teeth.
"Of course. I actually have a proposal," he completely ignored my angry expression. "Are you free tonight? I'd like to discuss the baby's future."
The baby's future? This reason made it impossible for me to refuse, though I suspected he had ulterior motives.
"I don't need these expensive supplements," I pointed at the container on the table. "My colleagues are getting the wrong idea."
Dylan stepped closer, his subtle cologne making me slightly light-headed.
"These are specifically for pregnant women, good for the baby," his tone was so serious it didn't sound like a lie. "Doctors recommend paying special attention to nutrition after the fourth month."
"You don't have to do this..." my voice weakened.
"I'm just concerned about my child." He emphasized the word "my," his deep blue eyes fixed on mine. "As a father, it's what I should do."
Father? The word made my heart skip a beat.
That evening, I never imagined I'd end up at the most expensive French restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, sunset light streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, creating an atmosphere so romantic it felt unreal.
"This place is too expensive..." I whispered, feeling out of place in my simple dress.
"Money isn't an issue," Dylan pulled out my chair with a charm that made my heart flutter.
The waiter handed us menus—all in French with prices that made me gasp. A single entrée cost three hundred dollars, half my monthly grocery budget!
"Let me order," Dylan took the menu, speaking fluent French to the waiter.
Watching his confident demeanor, I suddenly realized how vast the gap between us was. He was accustomed to this luxury, while I couldn't even read the menu.
"Don't be nervous," Dylan noticed my discomfort. "We're just two people about to become parents having a conversation."
Two people about to become parents...
The description filled me with an unexpected warmth.
"Tell me about your childhood," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"I want to know how you grew up, your dreams, your fears," his gaze was so intense I couldn't look away. "Our child will inherit traits from both of us. I want to understand where the other half will come from."
I was touched by his sincerity. Maybe he genuinely wanted to know me?
"I've wanted to be a doctor since I was little," I began slowly.
"Why?" he asked softly.
"Because I thought saving lives was meaningful," I changed the subject.
Dylan seemed to notice my evasion but didn't press.
"What about you?" I asked in return. "What was your childhood dream?"
"To conquer the world," he said half-jokingly, then his expression turned serious. "My father told me from a young age that Kane men were born to control everything."
"Sounds lonely," I blurted out.
Dylan paused, a flash of unexpected vulnerability in his eyes.
"Perhaps," he said. "But now... I'm starting to want something different."
Something different?
Our eyes met, and in that moment, I glimpsed what seemed like a deeper longing in his soul. Not for money or power, but... warmth?
The next morning, I sensed something was off the moment I walked into the hospital.
Colleagues were huddled together whispering, falling silent when I appeared, then giving me strange looks.
"What's going on?" I asked Sarah, confused.
Sarah hesitated before pulling out her phone: "Chloe, you... you'd better see for yourself."
I took the phone and saw a headline on a gossip website:
#Tech Tycoon's Mystery Girlfriend Revealed! Billionaire Kane's Cinderella Romance with Ordinary Doctor#
The article featured photos from last night's dinner. Dylan pulling out my chair, our tender gazes—we looked exactly like a couple in love.
No, no, no!
I quickly scrolled down to find more photos. Dylan picking me up after work, delivering supplements, even us talking in the hospital corridor.
The comments section was exploding:
[Wow! Dylan Kane is actually dating! What makes this woman so special?]
[She's just an ordinary doctor, definitely gold-digging!]
[God, Dylan has terrible taste, she looks so plain!]
My hands started trembling, my face turning pale.
At the end of my shift, I dragged myself toward the parking lot.
Just as I reached my car, a swarm of reporters suddenly surrounded me from all directions, cutting off any escape.
"Dr. Reed! What's your relationship with Dylan Kane?"
"How long have you been dating?"
"Did you get together because of the pregnancy?"
"How do you respond to accusations that you're after his money?"
Camera flashes blinded me as microphones were shoved in my face. I was trapped against my car, completely helpless, with no idea what to do.
"Please don't... please let me through..." my voice trembled.
But the reporters grew even more excited, questions firing like bullets.
What should I do? What should I do?
Just as I was about to break down, a familiar voice thundered through the chaos:
"BACK OFF, ALL OF YOU!"
Dylan appeared like an avenging angel, forcefully pushing through the crowd of reporters to reach my side. His eyes blazed with fury, his entire presence radiating danger.
"Back off, you bastards!" he growled. "What the hell makes you think you can harass her?"
"Mr. Kane, we're just trying to get an interview..."
"Interview?" Dylan let out a cold laugh. "This is illegal harassment! Want to see your media company bankrupt by tomorrow?"
The reporters, intimidated by his intensity, took a few steps back.
Dylan turned to me, his expression instantly softening: "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
He pulled me into his arms and announced to everyone: "She is my woman. Anyone who dares hurt her becomes my enemy!"
With that, he practically carried me to his car and we sped away, leaving the reporters in the dust.
In the car, I was still shaking.
"It's okay, it's okay," Dylan reassured me while driving. "I'll take care of everything."
"Why..." I choked out, "why did this happen? I just wanted to work quietly, live quietly..."
"I'm sorry," Dylan's voice was filled with guilt. "This is my fault."
I turned to look at his profile, feeling a complex mix of emotions. Anger, gratitude, confusion, and... attraction?
"Dylan, what exactly are we?" I looked directly into his eyes.
The car slowly pulled over. Dylan turned to face me, his deep blue eyes intense.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "But I do know I don't want to see you hurt."
I don't want to see you hurt...
Those words struck the most vulnerable part of my heart.
"Chloe..." he gently caressed my cheek. "I want to protect you."
The distance between us grew smaller. I could feel his warm breath on my face.
"We... we shouldn't..." I protested weakly.
"Why not?" his voice was husky and tempting.
The next moment, his lips covered mine.
Boom! My mind went completely blank.
His kiss was both gentle and commanding, as if he wanted to melt me entirely. I tried to push him away, but my body responded honestly. In that moment, all rational thought vanished into thin air.
After what seemed like forever, we separated. My face burned crimson, my heart racing like it might burst from my chest.
"I..." I didn't know what to say.
Dylan's eyes sparkled with something I couldn't quite read.
"Chloe, give me a chance," he said seriously. "Give us a chance."
I looked at him, my heart and mind at war.
Should I trust him? Should I trust this man who once wanted to take my baby away?
