You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 83

Her voice was incredibly soft, yet he recognized it instantly. There was a subtle closeness in her tone—a warmth Sylvia never used with strangers.

Ashton's fingers froze. He lowered his hand, letting the cigarette ash fall to the floor. After a long, suffocating silence, a dark chuckle escaped his lips. His tone turned predatory.

"Fine. Dr. Zane is currently in Silverport on a business trip. Go find him. Consider it a favor."

Julian hadn't expected him to cave so easily, but he didn't question it. "Thank you. I'll remember my promise regarding Reina."

A man like Julian Sterling always kept his word.

But Ashton Wyatt was a different breed entirely.

He had been a ruthless, untouchable tyrant since childhood. Without his parents around, only his grandfather, Arthur Wyatt, could keep him in check. With Elder Wyatt gone, Ashton answered to absolutely no one.

The moment the call ended, Ashton ordered Finley Harris to get Dr. Zane on the line.

"Stay in Boston for the time being," Ashton commanded the doctor. "Don't go anywhere. If anyone asks, you're away on business in Silverport."

It was a perfectly believable lie, considering Ashton's parents had just returned from overseas and were currently residing in Silverport.

Luke Zane immediately recognized the malicious game Ashton was playing. "Hey, what if the guy actually has a medical emergency? Isn't it a bit messed up to string him along like that?"

Ashton took one last drag of his cigarette and crushed it violently into the ashtray, his eyes glinting with a dangerous, untamed energy.

"Like I give a damn," he sneered.

Luke knew that temper well. As the sole heir to the Wyatt empire, Ashton was used to having the world at his feet. He had never tasted defeat, and he didn't need a reason to ruin someone's day.

Ashton had looked into Julian's background recently. Luke had heard the whispers, too. The guy was infuriatingly perfect—a brilliant scholar from childhood, Ivy League educated, a double-doctorate graduate, and completely scandal-free.

He was the golden boy everyone envied.

But Ashton didn't waste his energy on golden boys. The only reason he was gunning for Julian was undoubtedly Sylvia. Rumor had it they were getting close.

Following Ashton's strict orders, the butler welcomed Julian but conveniently left out the parents' departure, insisting they would return soon and asking him to wait.

Julian waited. From noon until past seven in the evening.

When he tried Dr. Zane's number again, the line was completely dead.

The realization hit him like a physical blow. Ashton had played him for a fool.

Returning to the hotel, Julian carefully masked his frustration. "It seems Dr. Zane won't be able to make the time," he told Sylvia softly. "This is my fault. I was so focused on getting you the absolute best specialist that I didn't consider his availability."

"Let's head back to Boston. I have other trusted colleagues there. They are more than capable of performing the surgery."

Seeing the exhaustion lingering in his eyes, Sylvia nodded. "Whatever you think is best."

Just as Julian turned to leave the room, she called out to him. "Julian."