Chapter 1
The Wedding She Can't Remember
The first thing Celeste Kingsley noticed was the blinding sunlight bleeding through unfamiliar curtains. The second was the pounding in her skull.
The third was the gold ring on her finger.
She sat up abruptly in the plush hotel bed, her head swimming. What the hell?
A marriage certificate lay on the nightstand beside an empty champagne bottle. Her name was on it. Alongside someone else's.
Dr. Jaxon Reid.
Her stomach dropped.
"No,no,no... this can't be happening ", she whispered, pressing her fingers to her temples. She barely remembered the medical conference after - party, let alone getting married.
The door creaked open.
Jaxon stood there in grey slacks and an unbuttoned white shirt, coffee in hand like this was completely normal. His dark eyes met hers. Calm... familiar... dangerous.
"You're awake ."
She pointed at the paper . "What is that?"
He stepped closer, setting the coffee down. "That's a marriage certificate. Signed.. witnessed.. filed."
"You're joking."
"I wish I were."
She swallowed. Her mind raced. "We got... married? In Vegas?
He gave a tired half - smile. "You dared me. I dared you back."
"I don't remember---!"
"I do." His voice dropped. "Every moment."
She stared at him, breath caught in her throat.
"We were drunk, Jaxon! This was a mistake"
His jaw tightened. "Then we'll fix it . I'll start the annulment paperwork."
She didn't say anything. Just stared at the ring that somehow fit perfectly.
"Let's go back to being strangers," she murmured.
"Sure,"he replied. "If that's what you want."
But neither of them moved.
Chapter 2
Complications
Back in New York, the world spun faster than Celeste could breathe.
Rounds.. Charts.. Meetings.. Board reviews.
And one giant secret that weighed on her finger everytime she looked down. So, she didn't. She wore gloves. She made excuses. She kept it buried.
No one could know . Especially not her parents. Her father had spent a lifetime building her career track for her - Havard,Johns Hopkins, Manhattan General.
A scandal like this? It would destroy everything.
She sat in her apartment that night, staring at the unsigned annulment forms on her table. Her hand hovered over them with a pen.
Still, she hesitated.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Jaxon.
>You okay? I haven't filled anything yet. Just in case.
She didn't reply.
Because she didn't know how to explain that she hated him for doing this.... and hated herself even more for not regretting it.
Chapter 3
The New Surgeon
Celeste arrived early to the surgical conference meeting. She liked being first. It gave her control.
What she didn't expect was Dr, Jaxon Reid standing at the front of the room, talking to the chief.
Her stomach flipped.
"Dr.Kingsley," the chief beamed. "Meet your new colleague, Dr. Reid transferred from Boston to co- head the trauma unit with you."
Her mouth went dry.
"Pleasure," Jaxon said smoothly, extending his hand. His voice had the same depth, the same heat.
She didn't take it.
"In private. Now"
She dragged him into an empty break room and slammed the door.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Working," he said calmly. Same as you."
"You said you'd stay away. That you'd end it."
"I tried," he said. "But I couldn't.i didn't want to."
"This could ruin me."
"And me staying away would ruin me."
She stared at him,heart pounding. She hated how her body reacted when he was this close. How her pulse betrayed her.
"This marriage is over,"she said. We will annull."
He nodded, but something in his eyes flickered.
"Then why haven't you signed?"
Silence.
She walked away without answering.
But deep down, she already knew the truth- she wasn't ready to let him go.
Chapter 4
Our Little Secret
Celeste stared at the trauma wing's newly mounted nameplate,her stomach tightening
Dr. J. Reid - right beneath hers.
It felt like a joke. He had promised to leave. To keep things clean, quiet and simple. He promised he'd annull the marriage.
Yet here he was. Assigned to her hospital. Her trauma unit. Her domain.
She stormed into the nurse's station and found him casually reviewing a chart,coat pristine, stethoscope slung like he belonged. Like he hadn't married her in Vegas two months ago after too many shots and too many unsaid feelings.
Jaxon looked up, his smirk relaxed but unreadable.
"Morning. Dr. Kingsley"
Her teeth clenched."What are you doing here?"
He straightened, not missing a beat. "I transferred. The hospital board loved my résumé. I told you I was looking for a change."
"You also said you'd annull the marriage."
"I did. I filed the initial papers the week after Vegas. But.... I didn't submit the final ones."
She blinked. "What?"
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You never signed. You said you wanted time."
Celeste swallowed. That part was true. She had asked him to wait - to let her figure things out. But now? Him being here made everything harder.
"I didn't think you'd bring your complications to my workplace," she hissed.He raised a brow.
He raised a brow. "Your workplace? Pretty sure my name's on the door now too."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashback - Two months ago ,Las Vegas
It has started with a shared glance across the gala ballroom. Then wine. Then laughter. Then something magnetic pulling out onto the rooftop balcony.
"You know,"he murmured, handing her a drink ,"we're always orbiting each other, never colliding."
"Maybe we shouldn't", she replied breathlessly.
"Or maybe we should. Just once."
The night spiralled into starlit confessions. At 2.a.m., they stood in front of a neon chapel,hearts racing,hands clasped, breathless from the thrill.
"I dare you", he whispered. "I double dare you", she whispered back.
They laughed. Then they kissed. And then they said 'I do'.
________________________________________________
Back to present.
Celeste staightened,voice low. "I'll sign the papers tonight."
Jaxon's smirk faded. "Sure. If that's still what you want."
But the way he said it - like he wasn't convinced she did - haunted her as she walked away.
Chapter 5
Exposure
Celeste sat in the staff conference room, her back rigid, pulse thrumming. Jaxon was just a seat away, arms folded, his presence making the air feel too tight.
She should have signed those annulment papers already.
Now he was here, in her department, in her life - again.
When the meeting ended,he passed her a folded note.
"Still hiding your ring?"
She didn't reply. Just crumpled the note and walked out.
He followed her into the hallway, keeping his voice low. "You can't keep pretending it didn't happen."
"I'm not pretending,"she snapped." I'm protecting what I've built. I told you - my family,my future - none of it can survive a scandal."
"You think I want to ruin that?"he asked. "I offered you the out. I still will. Just say the word."
"You already have. I just haven't signed yet."
He took a breath, nodding. "Okay. But I need to ask you one thing."
"What?
"Was it all a mistake to you? Every second of that night?"
________________________________________________
Flashback - Vegas Hotel Room, Morning After
She woke up slowly, wrapped in expensive sheets. The ring glinted on her finger in the soft light.
Jaxon sat beside her, quietly watching her breathe.
"We should fix this before it becomes a headline,"she said.
He nodded. "If that's what you want, I'll take care of it. But....."
She turned to him.
"I meant what I said last night,"he murmured. "Even if you didn't."
________________________________________________
Back to Present.
Celeste's voice wavered. "That night doesn't matter anymore."
Jason's expression dimmed. "Maybe not to you."
He walked away, not looking back.
But long after he was gone,her hand went to her chest, feeling the hidden chain beneath her blouse.
The ring still hung there.
Chapter 6
Lines We Shouldn't Cross
The air in the hospital lounge was crisp with the scent of antiseptic and espresso. Celeste leaned against the counter, gripping her coffee like it could anchor her to the ground.
She'd barely slept. Not because of the emergency trauma from the night before - she'd handled a gunshot wound and two road accident victims like the professional that she was.
No, what kept her up was the fact that Jaxon Reid, her secret husband,had called her "Mrs Reid" under his breath during surgery.
The scalpel had nearly slipped from her hand.
He did it intentionally. Subtle. Private. But he knew she'd heard.
And now, here he was again - barging into the lounge with his usual composed, commanding presence. His dark hair was tousled from scrubbing in, stethoscope hanging loosely around his neck like he owned the floor.
"You look like you haven't slept,"he said, his tone casual. But his eyes - those frustrating deep-set eyes - searched hers with something unspoken.
"Thanks. Exactly what a girl wants to hear first thing in the morning," she replied, sipping her coffee.
He stepped closer leaning against the opposite counter. "So.... are we going to talk about yesterday?"
"Nope."
"Celeste."
She sighed. "We've been over this. Whatever happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. Or it should have."
"Except Vegas followed us home. And I'm not pretending it didn't happen."
"Pretend harder."
He smirked. "You were the one who pulled me into that chapel."
Her eyes flared. "Because you dared me to! You said I was too scared to do something reckless."
"And you proved me wrong."
She turned away. "You promised to file for annulment."
"I still can."
"Then why haven't you?"
Silence.
His gaze dropped to her hand. She wasn't wearing the ring, of course. But her finger still felt the shape of it.
"You don't want to," he said quietly.
Celeste blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You don't want to end this. Not really."
She forced a laugh. "Jaxon, you think just because we shared one night in Vegas and accidentally got married, we're.,... what? Soulmates?"
He looked at her then, like he could see right through the sarcasm.
"No. I think we're two idiots who rushed into something. But I also think - maybe - just maybe, it happened for a reason.
She stared at him, heart thudding. "This could ruin me, Jaxon. If my parents find out - if the board finds out - I'll lose everything.
His voice softened. " I know. " That's why I haven't said a word."
"I'm serious. My father would disown me."
"I'm not asking you to go public. I'm just asking you to be honest - with yourself."
Celeste turned away before he could read her too much. Again.
But memories crashed into her like waves.
________________________________________________
Flashback - Las Vegas - Four Months Ago.
The Hotel bar had shimmered under soft glowing lights, laughter bouncing off marble walls. Celeste had been wearing a sleek black dress she'd borrowed from a roommate. Jaxon had loosened his tie hours ago, his smile crooked from too many drinks.
"You know what's sad?" she'd said, swirling her wine. " I've never broken a single rule in my life."
He'd raised an eyebrow. "Not one?"
"Not even jaywalking."
He grinned. "You're overdue for a mistake."
She'd tilted her head, buzzed and bold. "What about you? Ever do something completely reckless?"
He leaned closer. "Ask me after another drink."
And they did. They drank. They laughed. They danced. They ended up in a chapel with neon lights and an Elvis impersonator.
"You won't do it." he'd teased.
"I will."
"You won't."
"Try me."
He looked her dead in the eye. "Say yes, Celeste."
And she did.
________________________________________________
Back to Present
Now, standing across from him in the silence of the lounge, Celeste remembered every foolish, intoxicating moment.
She gripped her coffee harder. "This isn't a game anymore."
"I know."
"And it's not just about us. It's about my career. My family. My name."
"I'm not trying to ruin you." he said softly. "I'm just trying to know if - somewhere deep down - you ever felt what I did that night."
She didn't answer.
Because she had.
And it terrified her.
Just then,a nurse popped her head into the room. "Dr. Kingsley,ER consult in Bay 2."
Celeste nodded, grateful for the escape. She brushed past Jaxon without another word, but just as she reached the door,he called after her.
"I'll wait", he said.
She paused.
"For the annulment?"
"For you."
Chapter 7
When Hearts Start To Remember
Celeste pressed a gloved hand to the patient's abdomen, voice calm as she addressed the ER nurse beside her. "Order a full panel, abdominal ultrasound and prep him for a possible CT."
The trauma was straightforward - a possible ruptured spleen. She worked with clinical precision, giving orders with the same confidence that had earn her a fast-tracked residency. But even as she stitched a gash near the patient's side,her mind wasn't entirely on the case.
Jaxon's words echoed in her ears.
"I'll wait - for you."
What was he waiting for? A change of heart? For her to confess that the Vegas night wasn't just a drunken mistake?
Or for her to admit she felt something when he looked at her like she was more than just a blip in his past?
She couldn't afford those kinds of thoughts.
After closing the laceration, she handed off the patient, scrubbed out, and returned to the locker room to change. She peeled off her surgical cap, her curls tumbling down,damp from hours under the hospital lights.
But the second she opened her locker,a small folded paper fluttered out and landed on the bench.
Her heart skipped.
She opened it carefully.
"Conference Room B. 7.p.m. Don't make me send a code blue." - J.R.
She sighed. He was relentless.
But so was she.
--------
🕖 7.03 p.m.
She walked into the empty conference room cautiously, the faint hum of the vending machine the only sound. The blinds were drawn. A bottle of water sat at the head of the table, along with a wrapped sandwich.
"Did you think feeding me will win me over?" she asked dryly.
Jaxon looked up from the far side, where he was sketching notes on a medical flow chart. "Worth a try."
She pulled out a chair. "You have two minutes."
"That's not nearly enough time to unpack our mess."
"Then stop unpacking it. Let's seal the box and bury it."
He ignored the jab. "I was thinking about the chapel earlier."
Celeste stilled.
"Do you remember the vows?"
She blinked. "You think I remember what was said while half-drunk and laughing through it?"
"You weren't laughing when you said 'for better or worse.' You were looking straight at me."
A lump formed in her throat.
She hated that he remembered. Worse - she hated that she did too.
"It didn't mean anything." she said quietly.
His voice lowered. "Then why haven't you signed the annulment papers?"
"Because you haven't given them to me."
He leaned forward. "You could have asked."
Her lips parted - but no answer came.
Because deep down, maybe she didn't want to sign them. Not yet.
________________________________________________
Flashback - 3.17.a.m, Las Vegas Strip
Celeste and Jaxon had stumbled out of this chapel, hand in hand, barefoot on the sidewalk with her heels in one hand and and his tux jacket draped over his shoulders.
The city sparkled around them, alive and reckless.
"That was insane." she'd whispered, laughing as he twirled her under a streetlight.
"You looked beautiful." he murmured.
She stopped laughing.
Then he kissed her.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't because of the champagne. It was slow and deep and dangerous. The kind of kiss that made you forget who you were and remember who you wanted to be.
They didn't go back to their separate hotel rooms after that.
They didn't talk about morning.
________________________________________________
Back to Present
"I kept the ring." Jaxon said suddenly.
Celeste snapped back to reality. "What?"
He reached into his lab coat pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. "You left it on the bathroom counter. I thought maybe you'd want it back someday."
She stared at the box, her chest tightening. It was just a simple band, nothing extravagant. But seeing it again made it real.
"I don't want to." she whispered.
"Okay." He set the box gently on the table between them. "Then I'll keep it until you do."
She rose abruptly, chair scraping the floor. "This isn't helping." This - whatever this is - it's only going to make things worse."
Jaxon stood too. "I'm not trying to make things worse, Celeste. I'm trying to understand why something that felt so right ....has to be erased like it never existed."
She paused at the door. "Because life doesn't care what felt right. It only cares what's appropriate."
He stepped closer, voice low. "And is it appropriate that I still want you?"
She froze.
He was so close that she could feel the heat of his breath against her hair.
And suddenly, the polished walls of professionalism she'd built began to tremble.
"Don't do this." she said, barely audible.
His voice dropped to a whisper. "I already did. We both did."
Before she could respond, her pager buzzed.
She looked down - ICU emergency.
Saved by the bell. Again.
But as she hurried away, the echo of his words chased her down the corridor.
"Is it appropriate that I still want you?"
She didn't have an answer.
Not yet.
Chapter 8
Diagnosing Denial
Celeste pressed her fingertips to o her temples as she sat in the on - call room, the cold air doing little to calm the storm building in her chest.
The emergency in the ICU had been handled - a young girl with type 1 diabetes and dangerously high blood glucose. Celeste had stabilized her in time, but now, hours later, she was still wide awake.
Not because of the patient.
Because of him.
The velvet box still burned in her memory. She hadn't taken the ring, but the memory of wearing it - the weight, the way it sparkled under chapel lights, the smile Jaxon had given her when he slid it onto her finger - was impossible to ignore.
She groaned softly and leaned her head back against the wall.
"Dr. Kingsley?"
The voice jolted her upright.
A young intern poked his head in. "Doctor Reid said to inform you there's a board meeting at nine. He said you might want to come prepared."
She frowned. " Prepared for what?"
"I..... don't know. He just said, trust me, she'll want to be here."
Great. Another surprise.
-------------
🕘 9.00.a.m - Boardroom A
Celeste entered just as the senior board members were taking their seats. A hush fell over the room as Jaxon stood at the far end, sleeves rolled,tie loose, looking infuriatingly confident.
She took the only empty chair - next to him, of course.
He passed her a file without a word
She opened it - and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
"Pediatric Surgical Outreach Proposal - Kingsley Reid initiative."
She glanced at him sharply. " What the hell is this?"
He murmured under his breath. "A chance to do something meaningful. Together."
She whispered back," without even asking me first?"
"I knew you'd say no. So I made it too good for you to ignore."
Before she could argue, the meeting began.
Jaxon stood and addressed the board.
"Many of you already know about the rural surgical crisis in upstate clinics. This proposal aims to create a mobile surgical unit for pediatric trauma cases,led by Dr. Celeste Kingsley and myself."
Murmurs swept through the room.
Celeste's jaw tightened. Her name... first?
Jaxon continued,"we'll handle triage,minor surgeries, and post - op care for undeserved areas. With board approval, the hospital will sponsor the first three-month rotation."
The medical director leaned forward. "And Dr. Kingsley, you support this initiative?"
All eyes turned to her.
She felt heat crawl up her neck. Support? She hadn't even read it fully.
But the data in the file was airtight. The funding was possible. The patients needed it.
And Jaxon..... well, he knew exactly how to play her professional heartstrings.
"I do." she said finally, lifting her chin. "It's ambitious. But important."
Applause broke out around the table.
Jaxon gave her a small, triumphant smile.
She glared at him.
_______
🩺 Later that day
She cornered him outside the boardroom.
"You just hijacked my entire schedule for the next three months."
"Come on. Don't pretend you're not excited," he said, grinning.
"I'm furious."
"You're glowing."
"I'm furious." she repeated, even as her lips twitched at the edges. "Why would you put my name on something without even consulting me?"
"Because I knew you'd say no, then obsess over it for a week, and then say yes - once the opportunity had already passed. So, I skipped a few steps."
"That's manipulative."
"That's insight. Comes with marrying someone, apparently."
Her expression shifted. The teasing tension faded into something heavier.
"You promised," she said softly. "You said you'd handle the annulment. Quietly. You said it was a mistake."
He looked at her, serious now. "Maybe it was. But maybe mistakes don't always mean regret."
She folded her arms, eyes narrowing. "Don't romanticize what happened. We were reckless. And if my father finds out _"
"He doesn't have to."
"You can't keep dodging reality, Jaxon."
"I'm not dodging it." His voice dropped. "I'm living in it. You're the one who keeps pretending we're not still tied together."
That made her pause.
He wasn't wrong.
_______
Flashback - Three Days After the Wedding
Celeste sat in a hotel robe, hair still damp from the shower, her phone buzzing with calls she ignored. She stared at the marriage certificate in her lap. Her name. His. The seal. The signature.
Her heart clenched.
"You want to back out," Jaxon said gently from the doorway.
"I need to," she whispered.
"I'll handle it."
She looked up sharply. "You're not... upset?"
He hesitated. "I am. But I'm not going to make you choose me over your entire future."
And just like that, he kissed her forehead and left the room.
He hadn't pushed. Hadn't argued.
That hurt more than if he had.
________________________________________________
Back to Present
Celeste stared out the hospital window now, watching the taxis blur past.
She'd told herself that silence was mercy.
That his lack of resistance had made things easier.
But now... she wondered if it had just been a delay.
________________________________________________
🌛 That Night
She stood outside his on-call room door, hand hovering over the handle.
She didn't even know why she came.
Her brain screamed at her to turn back. Her career couldn't survive a scandal. And her heart..... couldn't survive a deeper fall.
But then the door opened from the inside.
Jaxon stood there, hair messy, shirt wrinkled, eyes tired - but soft.
"You always do this," he murmured.
"Do what?"
"Run away. Then come back. Then stand there like you're hoping I'll chase you."
She didn't move.
He stepped aside. "You don't have to come in. But if you do..... I'm not pretending anymore."
Celeste swallowed hard.
Then stepped inside.
And for once, she didn't run.
Chapter 9
Nights Like This
The moment Celeste stepped inside his on-call room, the silence closed around them like a secret.
She hadn't come to talk. Not really.
Not to fight. Not tonight.
She just didn't want to feel alone anymore.
Jaxon didn't say a word. He simply moved aside, let the door click shut behind her, and watched as she walked past him, the fabric of her scrubs brushing softly with each step.
She stood near the bed, not sitting, not pacing - just standing there, arms crossed over her chest like she was holding herself together.
"You look exhausted," he said softly.
"I am."
"You didn't have to come here."
"I know."
She turned to him. Her voice trembled slightly, more from the weight of unspoken words than fear. "But I wanted to."
Something flickered in his eyes. "Why?"
"I don't know." Her eyes dropped to the floor. "Maybe I'm tired of pretending I don't feel anything when you're around. Maybe I'm tired of lying to myself."
He stepped closer. "Then stop."
Her gaze snapped to his. "What do you want from me, Jaxon? Honesty? A confession of love? A declaration of love? I can't give you any of those."
He didn't flinch. "I don't need a declaration. I just need you to stop pushing me away like none of these matters."
"I'm scared." she whispered.
He softened. "Of me."
"No. Of what I'll become if I let myself want this too much."
The silence between them thickened with emotion.
She didn't realize she was crying until Jaxon stepped forward and gently brushed a tear from her cheek."
Her breath hitched.
He didn't kiss her. Not yet. He simply held her face in his hands like she was something fragile and precious and completely real.
"Let's not talk tonight," he said quietly. "Just stay."
She nodded.
He helped her out of her lab coat, and they lay side by side on the narrow bed. Fully clothed, barely touching.
But the heat between them could have ignited the room.
And for the first time in weeks, Celeste slept.
________________________________________________
🌞 The Next Morning
Celeste woke up before dawn, curled into Jaxon's chest.
His arm was draped around her like it belonged there.
She blinked, disoriented, as reality crashed into her again.
What had she done?
She slipped from the bed carefully, trying not to wake him. But the moment her foot hit the cold tile, he stirred.
"Running again?" His voice was rough with sleep.
"I have rounds."
"Stay five more minutes."
She hesitated.
"I can't."
He sat up, rubbing his face. "Will you pretend this didn't happen too?"
She looked at him. Shirt wrinkled, eyes soft, lips she remembered too well.
"I don't want to pretend anymore," she admitted. "But I don't know how to stop."
He gave her a tired smile. "Start by saying you don't want the annulment."
She didn't respond.
But she didn't deny it either.
________________________________________________
🩺 Hours Later - Pediatric Wing
Celeste walked into the children's ward with her clipboard pressed to her chest. The mobile surgical outreach unit they'd proposed had passed final board review, and their first trip upstate was scheduled in two weeks.
The logistics alone were enough to give her a migraine. And the fact that she and Jaxon would be sharing hotel rooms, operating side by side, traveling as a unit - it made her blood run both hot and cold.
As she stepped into the patient playroom, a little boy tugged on her lab coat.
"Are you the lady doctor who's coming to fix my cousin's leg?" he asked.
She blinked. "Your cousin?"
He nodded. He lives in Liberty Town. They said a fancy city doctor is coming to operate 'cause the hospital there is too small."
Her breath caught.
Liberty Town was their first outreach stop.
And suddenly, this wasn't just about paperwork or avoidance anymore. It was real. Tangible. Kids like this one would depend on her and Jaxon working together like nothing was broken between them.
And somehow, that made it feel heavier.
________________________________________________
⏰ That Night - Celeste's Apartment
She stood at her kitchen sink, staring at the ring box Jaxon had returned to her days ago. She hadn't opened it since.
Now, with a hesitant hand, she flipped the lid.
The simple gold band glinted in the kitchen light.
It wasn't flashy. It wasn't romantic.
But it was theirs.
Her thumb brushed the inside of the band... and she frozed.
There was an engraving.
"--in the chaos, I found you."
Her knees nearly gave out.
When had he done that?
Had it always been there?
Or had he added it after Vegas?
She didn't know. But the words wrapped around her like a whisper.
She picked up the ring and pressed it to her lips.
Then quickly set it down again like it burned.
________________________________________________
☎️ Later That Evening
Her phone buzzed.
She stared at the screen for a full minute before replying.
His reply came instantly.
She hesitated.
A pause.
Another message followed.
She didn't need to think.
She just needed to go find the courage.
Chapter 10
The Things We Don't Say
The clinic's conference room buzzed with quiet energy. Charts were spread across the long oak table, coffee cups half-drunk, digital maps projected onto the screen. It should have felt like just another medical logistics meeting.
But to Celeste, everything had weight now.
Every time Jaxon's voice rumbled across the room, her heartbeat stuttered. Every time his hand grazed a file near hers, the memory of last night pressed hot against her skin.
And he knew it.
He hadn't said a word. Not in front of the others.
But his eyes..... they said too much.
She was seated between Dr. Ella Bates, their pediatric specialist,and Dr. Sam Adegoke,who was already noting down supply lists. The discussion centred around Liberty Town - small rural area, under-equipped, with a cluster of children needing Orthopaedic surgeries. All cases selected by medical NGOs.
Jaxon stood near the screen,pointer in hand. Calm. Brilliant. In complete control.
"Dr. Lorne and I will lead the surgical team," he said, his gaze flickering briefly to her. " We'll perform triage on Day 1, then set up temporary operation stations inside the converted primary school. They've agreed to lend us their assembly hall."
Celeste sat straighter. "We'll need a mobile X-ray scanner on site. And two possible anaesthesia units."
Jaxon gave a half-smile, just a flicker. "Already secured. Delivery team from Lagos gets here a day before us."
The air between them pulsed. No one else in the room seemed to feel it. But she did. Every second.
Dr. Bates cleared her throat. "Any concerns about patient load?"
"Just the opposite," Celeste answered, shaking herself out of the haze. "Some of these kids have been waiting over a year. We won't get a second shot. We have to make this work."
Jaxon nodded. "Then let's make it work."
________________________________________________
🕔 After The Meeting
Celeste packed her things quickly, hoping to escape before he caught her. But she barely made it out the door when his voice stopped her.
"Celeste."
She turned, folder clutched to her chest.
He stood just behind her in the hallway,hands in his pocket,a crooked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're avoiding me."
"I'm busy."
"I know." he stepped closer. "That's why I'm asking again - dinner tonight?"
She hesitated. "Jaxon..."
"No pressure. We'll eat. Talk. Or don't talk. You set the tone."
A beat passed.
She looked up at him. "What if I change my mind again tomorrow?"
He shrugged. "Then I'll take my chances again the next day."
________________________________________________
🍽️ That Evening - His Apartment
Celeste had been here once before.
The night after their wedding.
The night after the Vegas haze had started to clear and they'd stumbled into the terrifying, exhilarating truth: they'd done something irreversible.
Back then, the space had felt like a stranger's home. Now,it felt... lived-in. And somehow still unfamiliar.
Jaxon had cooked - surprisingly well. There were grilled prawns with peppered rice, sauteed veggies,even a bottle of rose chilling in a bucket.
"You didn't have to go all out," she said as he pulled her chair out.
"You don't come over often."
She glanced at him. "You mean 'ever'."
He gave a tight smile. "Trying to change that."
They ate in relative silence, the kind that felt like neither of them wanted to break whatever fragile understanding had formed.
It was only after the plates were cleared that she finally said it.
"I opened the ring box."
He stilled.
"The engraving," she whispered. "" You did that after the wedding,, didn't you?"
His voice was quiet. "Yes."
"Why?"
Jaxon looked at her then, eyes soft. "Because even when you were yelling at me, even when we were pretending it meant nothing, I knew what I felt. I thought..... maybe one day you'd open it again. And know."
Celeste throat tightened. "You promised to annul it."
"I did." his eyes searched hers. "I still will,if that's what you really want."
"But what if I don't know what I want?" she said, barely audible.
He leaned in,so close their knees brushed beneath the table.
"Then we figure it out. Together. Like married people do."
The word 'married' landed like a thunderclap between them.
She let out a shaky breath. "God, Jaxon... We can't do this. You're my colleague. My parents would disown me. My father would kill you if he ever found out."
He arched a brow. "That man already tried to sabotage my career once. I'm not scared of your father."
You should be. "He could end your career in this city."
Jaxon looked at her, unblinking. "He's not the reason I became a surgeon. And he's not the reason I'm married to you."
Silence.
Long... Heavy.... Consuming.
Then---
"Jaxon....." she whispered, standing. "I should go."
He didn't stop her.
But as she reached for the door, he said softly, "when we're in Liberty Town, I won't touch you unless you want me to."
She paused.
"I won't even look at you that way if it makes you feel uncomfortable. But just know..... I never once regretted waking up beside you. Not then. Not now."
She swallowed hard.
And left without a word.
_______________________________________________
🌛 Later That Night - Celeste's Apartment
She tossed in bed, unable to sleep.
The ring box sat on her dresser, still open. Still glinting.
The damn engraving still echoed in her head.
> In the chaos - I found you.
How did you fall in love with someone you were supposed to forget?
How did you erase a night that had changed the fabric of your life?
She sat up, heart pounding.
Tomorrow, they'd leave for Liberty Town. Side by side.
No more space.
No more pretending.
Only truth.
And Celeste had never been more terrified.
Chapter 11
The Birthday Surprise
The morning air in Lagos was cool and uncharacteristically quiet as Celeste stepped into the hospital. She'd been called in early for an administrative meeting - a change she didn't mind, considering it kept her mind off the chaos of her personal life.
Today was her birthday.
Not that anyone knew. She hadn't told anyone, didn't plan to. It wasn't a date she liked celebrating - not since her mother passed two years ago.
Still,as she stepped into the boardroom,a tiny part of her wondered if someone would remember.
The room was empty except for Dr. Yemi and the new chief surgical resident, Dr. Lina,who nodded politely. No smiles. No balloons. Just charts, patient rotations,and budget cut discussions.
Business as usual.
Exactly how she wanted it.
Or so she told herself.
________________________________________________
By noon, she was elbow-deep in a thoracotomy. The rhythm of surgery was soothing - methodical, precise. She didn't have to think about Jaxon. Or her missing annulment papers. Or the fact that she'd lied to her father when he called this morning and asked if she was spending the day with "friends".
What friends?
Her life was too full of scalpel blades and protocols for that kind of luxury.
Still, she felt the tension tighten across her chest when her assistant nudged her with a whisper mid-surgery.
"Dr. Reid is asking for you. He said it's urgent."
Jaxon.
She clenched her jaw. "Tell him I'm scrubbed in."
"He said he'd wait."
Of course he would.
________________________________________________
She found him three hours later, lounging by the hospital courtyard fountain like he had all the time in the world. He looked annoyingly handsome in dark scrubs, his white coat tossed over one shoulder.
There was a box in his lap.
Not a hospital file box.
A gift box.
"What are you doing here?" she asked warily.
He stood and offered the box. "Happy birthday."
She blinked. "How did you....?"
"You may be a master of secrets, Celeste, but you're terrible at deleting old hospital forms. I saw your date of birth on a staff schedule two weeks ago."
She didn't take the box. "You shouldn't have."
"But I did."
"I don't want a birthday gift."
"You want a divorce."
She flinched.
He offered a soft, almost teasing smile. "You can have both. But open the box first."
Reluctantly, she took it and pried it open. Inside was a stethoscope. Not the basic type - this one was engraved in cursive gold:
»| Dr. Celeste Kingsley - For Hearts That Listen
She ran her thumb over the words, breath catching slightly.
"This is....." she paused, struggling.
"It's not jewelry. It's not flowers. It's something you'll use. Every day. A reminder of who you are."
"I know who I am."
He looked at her gently. "Sometimes I wonder if you've forgotten."
She swallowed hard, fingers curling around the gift.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Because today marks the day the world got a brilliant, stubborn, complicated woman. I may not be on your list of favourite people, Celeste.....but you're still on mine.
The words hit her like a heartbeat skipping. Fast. Then louder.
And just when she thought she couldn't handle more, he added, "if you still want those annulment papers... they're in your locker. Signed."
She stiffened.
"They're dated today."
He stepped back.
"It's your birthday. You should have the freedom to decide what you really want - on your own terms."
She wanted to scream.
Why did he always know how to twist the knife so sweetly?
________________________________________________
🌛 Later That Night
She sat alone on her bed, the hospital stethoscope on the table beside her. The annulment papers rested in her lap. Signed. Sealed. A clean slate.
All she had to do was drop them off at the lawyer's office.
But her hand wouldn't move.
Instead, her eyes drifted to the inscription again.
For Hearts That Listen.
Had she ever really listened? Or had she run from the moment things became real.
From Jaxon. From the possibility that Vegas had meant something more than a drunken detour.
She pulled open her drawer, retrieved her wedding ring - the one she'd tucked away months ago - and slipped it on.
Just for a second.
It felt.... warm.
Whole.
Wrong
Right
The door buzzed, jerking her back to reality.
When she opened it,a small cake box sat at the threshold. No note. No name.
Just a red velvet slice with "happy birthday, firefly" piped across the top.
Her breath caught.
He still remembered the nickname he gave her the first night they met - when her hair glowed in the club lights and she'd laughed so freely it lit up the room.
She sank into her bed, heart thudding.
This man was walking away - again.
But for once,it wasn't because he wanted to.
It was because he thought it's what she needed.
And Celeste Kingsley was finally starting to realise..... she wasn't sure that was true anymore.
Chapter 12
The Lines We Cross
Celeste was used to quiet early mornings at the hospital - the kind filled with stale coffee, pre-round charts and soft footsteps echoing in long corridors. But today, the silence felt charged. Like the world had paused, waiting for her to make a choice.
The annulment papers sat at the bottom of her bag, folded but not forgotten.
She hadn't filed them.
Not yet.
She hadn't even told Jaxon.
It wasn't that she'd changed her mind entirely.
It was that she didn't know what her mind was anymore
All she knew was that she hadn't stopped thinking about his words. Or that engraved stethoscope. Or the damn slice of red velvet cake.
Firefly.
That name haunted her in the quiet.
And she hated how much she missed hearing it from his lips.
________________________________________________
She was midway through rounds when the nurses' station buzzed with quiet excitement.
"Dr. Reid is in emergency", one whispered
"With a trauma case," another added. "Apparently, he rode with the ambulance."
Celeste stomach dropped.
Not from worry - Jaxon was always the confident, controlled type. But the fact that he was there, actively working, meant he hadn't left.
He hadn't taken the annulment and disappeared.
Not yet.
Maybe he was waiting for her.
Or maybe he couldn't let go either.
________________________________________________
She found him in Trauma Bay 3, drenched in sweat, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he barked orders.
A young girl - no older than twelve - lay unconscious on the table with broken ribs and shallow breathing.
"Her 02 sat is dropping," the resident called.
"Push epi. Set up for an emergent intubation," Jaxon responded without looking up. "We're not losing her."
Celeste stepped in without hesitation." I'll take over the airway."
Their eyes met briefly. A flicker of something passed between them.
Relief. Tension. Maybe something softer.
He stepped aside, trusting her without hesitation.
Their hands moved like muscle memory - flawless teamwork despite the emotional chaos outside the trauma bay.
When the girl was stabilized, Jaxon exhaled. "Nice work."
Celeste nodded, tearing off her gloves. "You too."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The team cleared out.
And the silence between them grew loud.
"You didn't file them," he said quietly.
Her heart stilled.
"How do you know that?"
He gave her a small smile. "You left your locker open yesterday."
"I thought I told you to stop invading my space?"
"I didn't go through your things. I just saw the corner sticking out. No envelope. No lawyer's stamp."
She turned away. "Maybe I haven't decided yet."
He took a slow step closer. "Celeste...."
"I don't want to talk about it here."
"Then let's talk somewhere else."
She looked at him, unsure. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're not the only one confused," he said simply. And I can't pretend I'm okay with just walking away when I still wake up thinking about you every morning."
Her throat tightened.
It was the kind of honesty she'd wanted from him for months - but now, hearing it, she didn't know if she could trust it.
Not yet.
________________________________________________
🌛 Later That Night
Celeste didn't go home.
Instead, she drove across the bridge, windows down, letting the cool Lagos air whip through her curls as the city lights blurred around her.
She needed clarity.
And somehow, clarity led her to the last place she expected-
Jaxon's apartment.
She stood outside the door for almost ten minutes before finally knocking.
When he opened it, he looked... surprised. And tired.
Like he hadn't slept either.
"Hi," she said.
He leaned against the frame, his voice low. "Hi."
"I didn't file them."
He exhaled. "I know."
She hesitated. "But I'm not saying I want this to work either."
"I'm not asking you to."
"Then what are you asking, Jaxon?"
He looked at her for a long moment before stepping aside. "Come in."
________________________________________________
The apartment was quiet,tidy and dimly lit.
She noticed he hadn't taken down the photo by the bookshelf - the one from the conference in Vegas where they'd first met. They were both in scrubs, holding coffee, laughing at something off camera. It was candid, warm, real.
"You kept that?" she asked softly.
"I never took it down."
"Even after we agreed it was a mistake?"
He gave a sad smile. "It didn't feel like one."
They sat on the couch in silence,both unwilling to start and afraid to stop.
Finally, Celeste asked, "Why haven't you left?"
"You asked me to wait. I did."
"I also asked for an annulment."
"I gave it to you."
"But you're still here."
He met her eyes. "Because I want you to change your mind."
There it was.
Unfiltered. Bare.
And terrifying.
Celeste's pulse raced. "That's not fair."
"Neither is pretending we didn't mean anything to each other."
She closed her eyes.
God,why did he always do this?
________________________________________________
She stood and paced,hands in her hair. "You don't get to make this my decision alone. You signed the papers too."
"Because I thought that's what you needed."
"You can't keep deciding what I need."
He stood, voice rising. "Then tell me! What do you want Celeste?"
"I want to not feel like I'm drowning every time I see you." she snapped. I want to stop wondering what it would've been like if we hadn't been drunk and impulsive in Vegas. I want to stop hating myself for not knowing if that night was real or just stupid chemistry!"
Silence.
She was breathing hard.
He didn't move.
Finally, he said, "It was real. At least for me."
The tears came unexpectedly.
Quiet,hot, angry.
He stepped forward, gently touching her arm.
"I'm not asking you to stay married,"he whispered. "But maybe..... we should stop trying so hard to forget."
She looked up at him, her heart breaking all over again.
"I'm scared."
"So am I."
He brushed a curl from her cheek.
And before either of them could talk themselves out of it --
He kissed her.
Softly.
Deeply.
Not like Vegas.
Not like goodbye.
But like maybe, just maybe,they weren't done after all.
Chapter 13
The Uninvited Guest
Celeste hadn't planned on staying the night.
She hadn't planned on kissing him again either - or sleeping in his bed, her head resting against his chest like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But here she was, tangled in warm sheets that smelled faintly of him. Safe. Familiar.
Dangerous.
The morning sun crept in through the blinds, painting soft gold on her skin as she blinked awake.
And reality came crashing in.
She was still married to Jaxon Reid.
Still hiding it from the world.
And now... she wasn't sure she wanted to undo it anymore.
Her fingers brushed against the bare curve of his arm. He was still asleep, breathing steady,face calm. Vulnerable in a way that made her chest ache.
She quietly slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded to the kitchen in one of his oversized shirts.
She needed space to think. Maybe even caffeine.
But just as she reached for the coffee tin, there was a loud knock at the door.
Celeste froze.
Not a neighbourly tap or a delivery driver.
It was sharp. Repeated.
Urgent.
Knock! knock!!knock!!!
She hesitated. Jaxon was still asleep.
Then it came again. Louder.
She crossed to the door, tugging the shirt lower over her thighs.
"Coming," she muttered, unsure why her heart was suddenly racing.
When she opened the door, her breath caught.
There, standing in four-inch heels, tight jeans, and a designer blouse, was a woman Celeste had never seen before.
Tall. Elegant. Sharp eyed.
And clearly not here for friendly brunch.
The woman's gaze swept over Celeste's disheveled hair and Jaxon's shirt before settling on her face.
"Let me guess," the woman said coldly, you're the reason he didn't answer my calls last night.
Celeste blinked. "I.... I'm sorry,who?"
Before she could finish, Jaxon's voice came from behind her, groggy but alert. "Melissa?"
Celeste turned sharply.
He was at the hallway entrance, shirtless,a towel around his neck, looking like he's been startled awake.
"Melissa?" Celeste repeated, her voice cracking.
Jaxon's jaw tightened. "Celeste, this is what it looks like."
The woman - Melissa - arched a brow. "Really, because it looks exactly like what I warned you about, Jaxon."
Celeste stepped aside as Melissa pushed past her into the apartment like she owned the place.
"Excuse you -" Celeste started, but Jaxon lifted a hand.
"It's fine," he said quietly. "She was my fiancee."
Celeste's world tilted.
"Was?"
"Until Vegas," Melissa said with a brittle laugh. "Or did he not mention that part?"
________________________________________________
🕰️ Flashback - 6 Months Ago, Vegas.
"You sure this isn't just the tequila talking?" Celeste had teased as they stumbled out of the hotel lounge, her cheeks flushed with laughter.
Jaxon had grinned , twirling her in the middle of the sidewalk. "No tequila could make me imagine you looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm the only man in the world."
She giggled, heart pounding. "You're ridiculous."
"Maybe. But I know what I want."
The noen lights above them blurred like watercolours as they ducked into a small chapel on the Strip.
Neither of them noticed the woman in the parking lot - red lips pressed together in fury as she watched the man she loved twirl another woman toward forever.
________________________________________________
📍 Present
"You were engaged?" Celeste's voice was sharp now, full of disbelief.
"I was going to break it off," Jaxon said. That trip.... Vegas was supposed to be the moment I ended things with Melissa. We hadn't been working for months."
Melissa crossed her arms. "But instead, he married someone else while still wearing my ring around his neck."
Celeste staggered back like she'd been slapped.
"Wait," she said quietly. "That ring on your chain - was that hers?"
Jaxon looked gutted. "It wasn't like that."
Celeste turned towards him, every nerve raw. "Then what was it, Jaxon?"
"Complicated!" he snapped. Then softened. "I didn't love her anymore, Celeste. I was trapped in something out of obligation. With you.... it was the first time I felt free."
Melissa snorted. "Spare me."
Celeste shook her head, anger burning. "And you didn't think this was something I deserve to know? Before we got married?"
"I didn't plan on marrying you either!" he exploded. It just..... happened. And yes, I should've told you. But I was scared that if I did, you'd never look at me the same way."
"You were right," she whispered,hurt dripping from every syllable.
Melissa grabbed her purse. "Clearly, I'm no longer needed here. Congratulations to both of you. Hope it works out better than it did for me."
She slammed the door behind her.
Celeste stood frozen.
"I was going to tell you," Jaxon said quietly. "I was waiting for the right moment."
"There is no right moment to admit you left someone at the altar," she said bitterly. "You should've told me before we ever crossed that line."
"I didn't want to lose you."
"You may have already," she said, walking past him, heart breaking all over again.
Chapter 14
The Walk Away
Celeste didn't wait for an explanation.
The moment she saw Melissa in Jaxon's living room - hair perfectly tossed, eyes filled with smug recognition - something inside her cracked open. That slow, aching trust she had begun to rebuild with him over the past few weeks collapsed like a house of cards.
She didn't shout. Didn't cry.
She simply walked to the coat stand, grabbed her bag, and left.
Jaxon's voice chased her. "Celeste - wait, it's not what you think."
She didn't stop. Not until she was at the elevator. The doors slid closed just as he stepped into the hallway, barefoot and breathless.
________________________________________________
Outside, the cold morning air bit into her skin, but the burn in her chest was worse.
She kept walking, each step echoing with memories - memories she'd buried so deep she'd almost believed she was past them. Vegas. That chapel. The way they laughed, drunk on tequila and reckless chemistry. The way he'd looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.
"I'd marry you again if it meant we could have one more night like this."
That night had felt real. And then he'd promised to annul it.
And now... he had Melissa.
She hailed a cab, slumping into the seat and giving her address on autopilot. Her apartment felt cold when she walked in, untouched since she left in a rush the day before. She dropped her bag and curled onto the couch, the weight of disappointment sitting heavy on her chest.
Was she foolish to believe this thing between her and Jaxon could survive?
________________________________________________
Flashback - Three Years Ago,Las Vegas
The neon lights outside the chapel blurred as Celeste spun in her heels, laughing breathlessly. Jaxon held her hand, eyes glassy but heart pounding.
"You sure about this?" the officiant asked for the second time.
Celeste had looked at Jaxon, feeling the thrill of danger and something deeper - a connection they hadn't dared speak aloud.
"Sure," Jaxon said. "Let's make a beautiful mistake."
They kissed before the words were finished. She remembered his arms around her, his whispers against her ear: "This doesn't have to mean forever. Just tonight."
But a part of her had hoped it could.
________________________________________________
Back in the present, Celeste buried her face in her hands. She had work in two hours. Rounds, meetings, reports .... but her mind couldn't focus on anything but him.
The way Melissa looked at him. The way he hadn't told her she might show up.
A knock jolted her upright.
She hesitated. Her heart begged for it to be him. To have a reason to believe again.
But when she opened the door,it wasn't Jaxon. It was Dr. Tasha Akande, her colleague and friend.
"I was on call last night," Tasha said. "Heard there was drama. You okay?"
Celeste didn't trust herself to speak.
Tasha gave her a long, understanding look. "Want to tell me why Jaxon Reid showed up to rounds this morning looking like he'd been hit by a truck?"
________________________________________________
Celeste sat across from Tasha later that evening in her tiny kitchen,a mug of untouched tea between her hands.
"He told me he wanted us to work," Celeste said softly. "But now I'm wondering if I was just convenient. Familiar."
"You don't believe that," Tasha said.
Celeste looked up. "What if his ex being there wasn't an accident?"
Tasha hesitated. "You think he planned it?"
"I don't know. But it felt ... rehearsed. Like she knew what she was doing. And he didn't look surprised to see her."
Tasha folded her arms. "You're falling for him again, aren't you?"
Celeste didn't answer. She didn't need to.
.
.