Page 22 of Dr. Lillian Harrington
"Is that Catherine Harrington?" Benji whispered, nodding toward one corner of the ballroom where Lillian’s eldest half-sister stood, elegantly commanding a group of surgeons in conversation.
Lillian’s smile tightened slightly. "Yeah. That’s her."
"She looks intense. Does she ever loosen up?"
"Not really," Lillian admitted, her eyes flicking away from her sister before Catherine could spot her. "Catherine’s always been...well, Catherine."
Benji shrugged, his eyes scanning the room. "At least Roz is here too. I love Roz. She’s always fun."
Lillian laughed. "That’s because Roz doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She’s the only one who ever let me sneak out of Sunday lunches when I needed a break."
"See? She’s your hero," Benji said, laughing along with her.
As they moved through the room, Lillian received more compliments—on her gown, her appearance, even a few admiring glances from surgeons who had never seen her outside of a surgical mask. She was careful to keep the conversation light, smiling and nodding, but all the while, she felt the strange absence of someone she hadn’t seen yet.
Rebecca.
Lillian’s heart gave a little flutter at the thought of her. She hadn’t mentioned the gala during their last late-night rendezvous, and part of Lillian wondered if Rebecca had even planned on coming. But a larger part of her knew Rebecca wouldn’t miss this. It was too important for someone like her, with her reputation and family ties. Rebecca would be here somewhere, and the thought of seeing her in this setting made Lillian’s pulse race.
Would Rebecca notice her tonight? Would she say anything about the dress, about how different Lillian looked outside of the hospital walls? Or would she keep the same cold distance she always did outside of their secret moments?
Lillian’s thoughts were interrupted as another colleague approached her, offering yet another compliment on her gown. She smiled politely, making small talk, but her mind was elsewhere, her eyes scanning the room in search of one face—the one face she wanted to see more than anyone else.
And yet, Rebecca was nowhere to be found.
Benji returned with another glass of champagne for her, his expression mischievous. "Still searching for your mystery lover?"
Lillian nearly choked on her drink. "What? No!" she sputtered, her face flushing.
Benji raised an eyebrow, his smile wide. "Oh please, I know that look. You’ve been scanning the room for someone all night. Who is it?"
"It’s no one," Lillian said quickly, brushing off his comment. "I’m just...trying to survive the night, that’s all."
Benji gave her a knowing look but didn’t press further. "Well, whoever it is, I hope they know they’re missing out. You’re the star of the night."
Lillian smiled, grateful for Benji’s lightheartedness, but her mind couldn’t help but drift back to Rebecca. Where was she?
And when she finally did see her, what would happen next?
8
REBECCA
Rebecca had spent most of the night weaving her way through the crowd, making the necessary rounds to shake hands, engage in polite conversation, and maintain the poised image she had perfected over the years. The Harrington Surgical Research Gala was a spectacle of power and influence, and her presence here was non-negotiable. Every smile, every nod, every glass of champagne raised in toast was calculated, part of the exhausting routine she had come to loathe.
But tonight, something was different. Rebecca couldn’t place it at first—a strange tension in the air that had nothing to do with the usual pressures of the event. She felt restless, her mind wandering despite her best efforts to stay focused on the conversations swirling around her.
It wasn’t until she turned toward the grand staircase that she realized why.
Lillian.
For a moment, Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat. Her usual cool composure faltered as her eyes landed on Lillian, who was descending the staircase, her arm linked with Benji, one of the interns.
But that wasn’t what caused the tight knot of surprise to form in Rebecca’s chest. It washer. Lillian didn’t look like the intern Rebecca was used to seeing in scrubs or the woman she’d met late at night in secret, stolen moments in the hospital. No, tonight, Lillian was something else entirely.
She looked stunning. Breathtaking, even. Like she had that first night at the hotel.
The pale blue gown clung to her figure in all the right places, shimmering softly under the chandelier’s light as she moved. The dress, delicate and graceful, contrasted beautifully with the sharp brightness of her green eyes, eyes that seemed to glow with a confidence Rebecca hadn’t seen before. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and the soft, ethereal beauty of it all struck Rebecca in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
