"Dr. Faye is incredible! She’s solved so many medical challenges."
"Look at her and her brother sitting together—they’re both so good-looking. Honestly, if they weren’t related, they’d make a perfect couple."
"Unlike that pregnant woman sitting beside them… no matter how much she tries to cover up, you can tell she looks old. And I heard her private life is a mess. She was with an old man even though she already had a husband. I don’t know what Mr. Sinclair saw in her."
"She used to be a doctor too, right? Thank God she isn’t practicing anymore. I’d feel disgusted to be treated by someone like her."
The words stung, but I didn’t flinch.
Beside me, Tristan’s expression darkened. With just one cold glance, the whispers died down.
He took my hand, his grip warm and firm, as if shielding me from their words. His voice was filled with tenderness as he said:
"Wife, don’t listen to them. They’re just jealous of our happy marriage."
I looked at him.
For the first time in a long time, I really looked at him.
And finally, I asked the question that had been weighing on my heart.
"Did you give my medical notebook to Faye?"
His fingers stiffened around mine.
For a brief second, guilt flickered in his eyes. But then, just as quickly, he smoothed his expression and feigned ignorance.
"Wife, what are you talking about? Didn’t you lose that notebook a long time ago? Faye is smart—she wouldn’t need to rely on something like that."
In that moment, whatever little affection I had left for Tristan completely shattered.
After the ceremony, I stood outside the garage, waiting for Tristan to bring the car around. The night air was cold, but not as cold as the realization settling in my heart.
Footsteps clicked against the pavement.
I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Faye approached, her trophy clutched tightly in her hands, a smug smile playing on her lips. She lifted it slightly, as if to make sure I saw it sparkle under the dim light.
"Eliza," she said, her tone dripping with triumph. "No matter how smart you are, no matter how talented you were in medicine, in the end, the trophy still belongs to me."
She took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with malice.