Shards of a Cold Heart

That afternoon felt longer than usual.Ailine lay staring at the ceiling of her hospital room, listening to the clock ticking mercilessly. Her body was recovering, but her mind was running wild. Last night’s dream about Owen still clung to her—too vivid, too real.

Julian returned with a cup of coffee, his expression gloomy since morning.

“Ai, are you bored?”

“Of course. It feels like I’m trapped inside an aquarium. The only scenery I have is this room and the medical staff who come and go. I need some fresh air!”

Julian sighed softly. “Do you want me to take you to the rooftop with a wheelchair? You can see the city from up there.”

“Is that allowed?”

“Yeah. I stopped by the nurses’ station earlier and asked if there’s a quiet place where patients can get a change of atmosphere without disturbance. They recommended the rooftop.”

Ailine’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really?”

“Yes. I already suspected you’d be bored, so I asked around to find a place to take you.”

A sweet smile bloomed on her lips. 

“You really are the best friend ever, Julian!”

Julian smiled back. He could never bring himself to resent her—not even once. No matter how painful it was to love a woman who never returned his feelings, her gentle smile always brought him peace.
Loving Ailine was like carrying a beautiful wound.

It sounded dramatic, but to Julian, it was simply the truth. He was rational enough to know that Ailine had every right to reject his feelings. She had every right to choose the winner of her heart. Even if that man was… Owen—the man who broke her heart so deeply ten years ago.

“I once promised myself that if I ever met Ailine’s ex after seeing her cry her heart out years ago, I’d punch him. And now that I know she still loves that man… I’m even more eager to punch him. Tch…” Julian muttered in his thoughts, watching Ailine brighten at the idea of leaving the room.

A few minutes later, Ailine sat comfortably in the wheelchair, wrapped in a light jacket. Julian had borrowed the wheelchair from the nurses’ station.

“Promise me, if something feels off—pain, dizziness, anything—you’ll tell me immediately. Okay?”

“Roger that, Big Boss!”

Julian pushed the wheelchair toward the elevator, taking her all the way to the rooftop. The cold air greeted them the moment the door slid open. But it felt refreshing. Calming, even.
Not long after, Julian’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression stiffened.

“Our agency?” Ailine asked.

“Yes… seems important.” Julian swallowed hard.

“Probably because you insisted on staying overnight to watch over me, right?”

Julian grimaced. He also suspected the same. Things had gotten wild online, even though he’d already ordered his agency to take down the crazy rumors.

“Just deal with it… I’ll help explain if needed.”

“Tch, seriously… Emma and Manager Layla are going to lose their minds!!”

Ailine flashed a sheepish smile and held up a peace sign, complete with a playful pose.

“I’m still in patient mode, okay? Hehe. Emma and Manager Layla already told me to relax and let them handle everything.”

“Haishh, fine. I’ll take the call. I won’t be long. Will you be okay if I step away for a minute? I won’t go far…”

“Go. I’m just sitting here enjoying the breeze. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t go anywhere!”

“I won’t… go already, you nagger!”

“I’m serious—don't move!”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

“If you feel dizzy even a little bit, call me right away. Don’t be stubborn, okay?” Julian had to repeat it because 

Ailine tended to forget.

She stuck her tongue out. “Yesss~ go, First Brother!”

What? First brother? Good grief…

Julian walked to the far corner of the rooftop, trying to speak quietly so she wouldn’t hear him. His expression was tense—yes, it was clearly a serious call about the rumors.

Ailine glanced at him.

“Julian, fighting!” she whispered encouragingly.

Then she exhaled and slowly stood up, dragging her IV pole along.She rose from the wheelchair.

“Just for a moment… I’ll return before 

Julian comes back,” she murmured. “I want to see the other side of the rooftop…”

She walked past a row of dried plants and humming air-conditioning units. The breeze ruffled her hair. For a moment, there was peace—until the faint scent of tobacco hit her nose.
Why would anyone ruin such fresh air with smoke?

Ailine froze.Her heart thumped.

“W-Why is he here?”

Owen stood in the farthest corner of the rooftop, his back facing her. His doctor’s coat was draped over his arm, his white shirt slightly messy, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was tousled by the wind. One hand held a nearly-finished cigarette.

Ailine could barely believe her eyes.

“Doctor Owen… smoking?” she whispered numbly.

As if summoned by her voice from the past, Owen turned. Their eyes met.

Time stopped.

Ailine stood frozen—like someone who had just run into the ghost of her former life.

Owen crushed the cigarette under his shoe without expression. “You shouldn’t be walking by yourself. You still had a fever last night.”

So… Owen knew she had a fever last night?Did he hear it from Dr. Lisa? She tried to stay logical because Dr. Lisa was kind and friendly… But still.

Rumor said Owen and Dr. Lisa were dating.

“Why are you smoking?” she asked quietly, forgetting to stay formal.

Owen looked at her briefly before looking at the sky. “A bad habit that shows up when I have too many heavy surgeries.”

Right… Dr. Lisa mentioned that Owen had a tight schedule of surgeries today and wouldn’t visit her room. Ailine already knew that, but… what was that tone in his voice?

It was flat, but beneath it—a faint tremble only someone who once loved him could notice.

“You used to hate cigarette smoke,” Ailine said softly.

Owen said nothing. Not even a breath escaped him.

“You once said smoking made you feel like you had less time with the people you loved,” she added.

He had told her long ago about his father—a heavy smoker who barely spent time with him.

“Have you forgotten your principles?” she whispered.

This time, Owen’s eyes flickered—just a slight movement, but enough to betray something.

“A lot can change in ten years,” he replied, voice low, almost pained.

Ailine bit her lip.She thought her old wounds had healed—but no. Any memory of Owen tore them open again.

Including last night…

She inhaled shakily. “About that dream…”

Owen turned sharply. “What dream?”

“When I had a fever… I hallucinated. I thought it was a dream. But it felt too real.”

“….”

Her eyes rose to meet his. She wasn’t sure if she should ask… but her heart urged her.

“Did it… really happen? You were there… weren’t you?”

“…”

Silence.

But his silence was the answer.

Ailine gripped the edge of her blanket. “Why? Why are you acting like I’m a stranger when—”

“Please don’t continue,” Owen cut her off gently but firmly. “I’m your doctor now. I can’t—”

“You’re not just my doctor, Owen! I know you haven’t forgotten me!”
Her words struck him—so visibly that he had to close his eyes.

“It’s over, Ailine.”

Finally, he said it. Proof that he remembered her. But also proof of the wall he desperately put up.
His tone was cold, icy even. But his clenched fist… showed the opposite.

“Are you sure?” Ailine’s voice trembled. 

“Because when you held me that night… you didn’t look like someone who was over me.”

Owen opened his eyes.Storms lived in them.

“You had a high fever. You didn’t know what you were seeing.”

So it was real. He had come to her room.

“But I felt it, Owen!”

“Ailine—”

“I felt you calling my name… just like before.”

Owen’s jaw tightened.“…”

Even the dead cigarette in his hand shook.

Ailine stepped closer—unsteady, but determined. “Owen, I want an honest answer. Just once…Is your heart really… truly… gone?”

Owen looked at her. Sharp. Torn. Guarded. Overflowing with everything he tried to bury for years.

He opened his mouth—

“Ai!!”

Julian’s voice shattered the moment.He ran toward them, panting heavily, panic all over his face.

“What are you doing?! I left for five minutes!”

He grabbed her shoulders.“You could faint again! Don’t ever leave the wheelchair!”

Ailine blinked.Too late to react.
Owen stepped back, mask of professionalism falling over him again.

“Take her back to her room,” Owen said flatly. “She’s still weak.”

Julian glared. “I can take care of her without your help, Doctor Young.”
Owen simply nodded. “Watch her closely. Her fever isn’t stable.”

Oh, so he wanted to act professional, huh?How annoying.

“I will watch her—better than any doctor here,” Julian snapped.“Ai, let’s go back.”

“But…”

“The air’s getting colder. It’s not good for you. And we need to talk about the agency situation.”

“…Fine…”Ailine obeyed, even though her heart screamed to stay and finish her words with Owen.

“We’re leaving now, Doctor Young,” Julian added sharply.Ailine only gave a small nod.

“Yes.”

Julian pushed her wheelchair away, but Ailine looked back.

Owen stood there, watching her grow farther and farther away.

Just for a moment. Not long.

But in that single moment—
Ailine understood something.

Eyes never lie.

And Owen Young’s eyes…

Still held her.

Ailine knew—Owen still looked at her the way he did ten years ago.