Jenna Roland pushed open the private room door. Ethan Roscente and Nathan Watson entered one after another.

Liam Melford and his assistant Zoe Macmillan were already seated. A table of exquisite dishes emitted tantalizing aromas, yet no one had touched their chopsticks.

"Dr. Melford, you're early." Nathan deliberately raised his voice with a bright smile.

Liam lifted his gaze calmly. "Just arrived."

Jenna motioned for them to sit and stood to pour wine. When she reached Ethan, his slender fingers covered his glass. "I have a meeting this afternoon."

"Understood." Jenna set down the bottle and picked up a juice glass. "Dr. Watson, thanks to your referral to Dr. Melford, my brother's surgery went so smoothly. Let me toast you both with tea."

Nathan hastily stood. "You're too kind, Ms. Roland. Mr. Roscente and I are old partners."

Liam raised his wine glass, his deep eyes resting on Jenna's face. "Just doing my job."

The crisp clink of glasses echoed. Nathan stole a glance at Ethan's expression. He swallowed the burning liquor, his heart pounding—would drinking during work hours cost him his bonus?

"Please, everyone, don't stand on ceremony. Dig in." Jenna warmly urged.

Hearing himself addressed last, Ethan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He directly picked up a piece of steamed sea bass and placed it in Jenna's bowl.

Nathan's eyes widened, his chopsticks nearly slipping from his grasp.

Zoe couldn't resist asking, "Ms. Roland, are you two...?"

Under Ethan's scorching gaze, Jenna cleared her throat. "He's my husband."

Clatter—

Nathan's chopsticks hit the floor. He mechanically bent to retrieve them, his mind blank.

"Surprised, Dr. Watson?" Jenna offered him a fresh pair.

"O-of course!" Nathan stammered. "Out of all of us, only Mr. Roscente is married..."

Liam ate quietly, as if deaf to the conversation.

When Nathan took the chopsticks, Ethan's icy stare sent chills down his spine. He wished he could vanish—had he known this would be such a battlefield, he'd never have come!

Midway through the meal, Jenna turned to Liam. "I heard you've returned to Johns Hopkins Hospital?"

"Yes." Liam set down his chopsticks. "My parents are getting older. They insisted."

His voice was as calm as stagnant water, revealing no ripples.