Even the Coldest Heart Can’t Resist Her

Ailine’s Inpatient Room…

“Thank you, Julian…” Ailine said after he helped her lie back down on her hospital bed.

“Yes, you're welcome. But seriously, why did you get up from your wheelchair? You’re not fully recovered yet. Stop underestimating your condition,” Julian scolded.

“I know, I’m sorry…”

“Good. As long as you know. From now on, stop making people worry about you, okay?”

Ailine nodded firmly. She knew she had acted a bit recklessly earlier because of Owen’s presence. It was beyond her control.

“Yes, First Brother!”

“Tch, what do you mean ‘First Brother’? Hahh, you…” Julian sighed.

He sat down beside her and peeled an apple, then handed it to her. Meanwhile, Ailine looked busy on her phone. As usual—probably checking all the sensational news about herself and Julian.

“Stop thinking about it too much. Our agency is already handling everything. You don’t need to worry.”

“I know. I’m just… looking.” Ailine shifted her gaze to Julian. “Oh right, do you think… maybe the people of this country don’t love me that much?”

“Hah? What kind of question is that?”

“I mean… this is my third day in the hospital, but aside from you, Manager Layla, and Emma, no one has visited me.”

“Sorry, that’s my doing. I asked the agency and the hospital to limit your visitors. I just wanted you to really rest. You understand what I mean, right?”

Ailine nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you mad?”

“No. Why would I be mad? It’s for my own good.”

“Good!” Julian held out the apple he had finished peeling. “Eat this. You like this kind of apple, don’t you?”

Ailine accepted it and took a bite. The first bite was sweet, cold, and slightly watery.

“It’s good… Sweet.”

“Eat slowly…”

“Mm…”

Julian kept watching her. There were so many things he wanted to talk about with the woman he had loved for so many years. But his lips refused to open.

Yes… it was about Ailine’s encounter with Owen on the hospital rooftop.

“When I saw them together, I just dragged her away without thinking… I’m sorry, Ai. I couldn’t control myself when you were with him. I know exactly how you feel about him. But right now… it was too painful for me. I still can’t handle this kind of feeling…” Julian kept it all inside.

---

Later in the afternoon, Emma came to replace Julian. Julian actually tried to refuse—he still wanted to stay with Ailine—but this time the agency didn’t allow it. They had stepped in, so he had no choice but to go home.

“The news circulating outside is crazy. Wild and exaggerated. Actually, many articles praise both of you, but it seems your haters are having fun stirring things up too,” Emma said.

“Not everyone has to love me and Julian, right? What we sell here are our talents and our work, not our private lives. I don’t want to entertain them. Even if we’re right, people who dislike us will still say we’re wrong. So just ignore it…” Ailine replied.

“Miss Ailine, you are incredibly mature when it comes to these things!”

“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for ten years. I’ve learned a lot.”

“The world needs to know how amazing you are. I hope you recover quickly so you can leave this hospital soon.”

“Thank you. If I don’t get a fever tonight, I’ll probably be allowed to go home tomorrow evening.”

“Really?”

“Yes…”

“Thank goodness. I’m so happy to hear that!”

The evening was filled with lighthearted chatter. Emma was indeed very talented at creating a cheerful atmosphere. That was why Ailine chose her as her personal assistant.

Time passed, and night arrived. This time… Ailine chose to pretend to be asleep. She wanted to finally catch Owen if he dared sneak into her room again like the previous nights.

“I’m sure that first night wasn’t a fever hallucination—he admitted coming on my second night here. So tonight he’ll definitely do the same, right? … Owen, I’m catching you red-handed tonight!”

The main lights were turned off, leaving only a warm, dim bedside lamp. It wasn’t bright, but enough to see faintly.

It was already midnight, and Emma was fast asleep.

“It’s already late… Is he not coming? Don’t tell me he has surgery again? No… surgeons don’t operate at midnight, right? Ugh… this is annoying. Why isn’t he coming?”

Just as Ailine was about to give up, the figure she longed for finally appeared.

Ailine smirked.

Time to pretend.

Owen’s footsteps were quiet—far too quiet. His breathing was steady, calm, infuriatingly composed.

Tch, Owen is always this silent. No wonder I thought I imagined it the first night.

As usual, Owen checked her IV line and the machines monitoring her condition.

But the moment he leaned in to fix the blanket around her, Ailine abruptly opened her eyes and grabbed his cold hand.

“Your reaction is way too flat. You definitely didn’t expect me to wake up, right?” she said.

“…” Owen stared at her.

“Tch, at least try acting a little surprised! Fake it or something!”

“It’s late. Get some sleep. You need the rest,” Owen replied, not entertaining her antics.

“I wasn’t even sleeping! I wanted to meet you!”

“You don’t need to do this. We see each other often. I’m still your doctor.”

“You’re too professional when you’re my doctor. At least outside working hours, you’re supposed to act differently toward me, right?”

“Is that what you’ve been expecting?”

“Owen, we used to know each other. We used to date… We used to hold hands… We even… ki–kiss–”

“That’s all in the past,” Owen cut her off.

Ailine’s chest tightened. “I know… everything is in the past.” She bit her bottom lip.

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the air. Owen exhaled slowly before trying to pull his hand back from her grasp.

“Could you let go of my hand?” he asked.

“No.”

“Miss Su?”

“I said no.”

“Please don’t act like this.”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Ailine turned her face away.

Tonight, she would be selfish. She didn’t care if people called her shameless or anything else. She just wanted to stay with Owen a little longer.

Owen sighed again.

“Ailine… let go of my hand, okay?”

Ailine, huh?

That made her smile inwardly. Finally, Owen called her name again. Not “Miss Su,” not that cold and distant address.

She turned quickly toward him.

“There’s a condition!”

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. Owen tried to be patient.

“Say it…”

“Owen… you and her… you’re not… um… together, right?”

Owen raised a brow. “Her who?”

“Don’t play dumb!”

“Hey, speak clearly. What do you mean?”

“You and Doctor Lisa!”

Owen looked at her. “…”

“I asked, you’re not together, right? You’re not dating Doctor Lisa, right?”

Honestly, Ailine hated asking this question. If it weren’t because she desperately wanted his answer, she would never bring it up.

Owen and Doctor Lisa, dating?

Just the thought made her chest tighten.

“…”

“Owen, answer me! Don’t just stay–”

“No,” Owen answered flatly.

“Really?” Ailine’s eyes widened.

“Now can you release my hand?”

Ailine nodded quickly and let go. She had been holding him quite tightly, but she knew very well—if Owen really wanted to pry himself free, it would’ve been easy. She was a weak patient, after all. But he hadn’t tried.

Ailine smiled—extremely satisfied.

Even one word from him was enough.

More than enough.

---

The next day, Ailine received her discharge papers. Another doctor handled the administrative process. Owen intentionally didn’t assist—trying to keep his distance.

But before she entered the elevator, she spotted Owen standing at the end of the hallway.

Tch, he said he had surgery scheduled… but he still came to send me off.

Ailine wore a gray hoodie, her hair tied low, her face still a little pale. But there was a strange light in her eyes—and Owen definitely noticed it.

Determination?

Boldness?

Or that same wild resolve he once saw years ago?

“I’m allowed to go home now,” Ailine said softly.

Owen only nodded. “Take care of your health.”

There was a pause.

Quiet.

Awkward.

Then something happened that made Owen forget how to breathe.

Ailine smiled.

A gentle smile—

not a thankful smile,

not a sad smile,

but one overflowing with confidence.

“I’ll be coming to the hospital often,” she said casually.

Owen frowned. “You don’t need to come that often. Your condition is stable. Just follow the scheduled–”

“I want to come often,” Ailine cut him off. Her smile turned mischievous. “So I can meet… certain important people.”

Owen froze.

His heart slammed against his chest.

He had no idea what to say.

And before he could respond, Ailine whispered:

“Your eyes… they’re still the same, Owen. The eyes of someone who isn’t done with me.”

It felt like someone ripped Owen’s heart straight out.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t blink.

Ailine waved her small hand. “See you later, Mister Doc-Tor.”

She walked away, pulling her small suitcase behind her.

Every step filled with confidence.

And in Owen’s mind, only one thought repeated—

Ailine was going to chase him again.

And this time… he wasn’t sure he had the strength to run.