Third wheel?

She answered the call.

[“Silas why didn't you pick up? I just finished up with Daddy; let's meet at Sweet Dine’n’Wine. You like that place right?”] Fiona asked.

Wanda sat there with the phone to her ear. She had already answered and had to say something.

[“Um. Hello”]

There was a short pause before Fiona yelled out [“Who the fuck is this!? Who are you? What are you doing with Sila's phone? Where's he? Did you steal his phone? Why aren't you speaking up? What are you doing with-”]

[“Please calm down ma’am”] Wanda said hastily

[“Who the hell are you calling, ma’am, you cheap pickpocket? Where's my baby!?”] Fiona ranted.

Her baby? [“Listen..um..Fiona Hart, Dr Deane is in the operating room right now, and he can't speak to you.”] Wanda bit her lower lip.

Fiona kept ranting on [“You lowlife of a woman, you dare lie to me!? You're trying to steal Silas away from me aren't you, you gold digger”]

Her insults were getting a bit too much. [“ I'm not a golddigger and I'm not stealing anyone. Dr Deane is busy at the moment and can't speak to you. There's no reason to call me names”]

[“You daft woman! Do you know who I am!? I can-”]

Wanda ended the call mid-Fiona's statement and muttered angrily, “I don't care who you are, but that's no way to talk to a person.” She dropped the phone aside, “Crazy woman.” how was Silas even acquainted with such a rude person?

After five rings, the phone went off. Seemed like the phone also had had enough of Fiona's disturbance.

About an hour later, Silas walked out of the room. His expression was neither sad nor happy so Wanda was unable to tell if the surgery went well or not.

He collapsed on the chair right next to her and closed his eyes with a deep sigh. He could feel her longing stare but he wasn't bothered by it.

He looked at her and they locked eyes. Her desperate look was somewhat satisfying for him.

“How…was it?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Silas paused for dramatic effect before sighing out, “Successful.”

He watched how her face lit up and her eyes gleamed. She grinned happily, relaxing her tensed shoulders.

Silas couldn't help the smile forming on his face. Seeing her happy made him happy.

He arrived back at his office after Andy was taken back to ward 21. He couldn't get Wanda's smiling face off his mind and it made him smile nonstop as well. She even thanked him up to fifty times.

“The last surgery must have been a success; you're looking awfully cherry,” said John after dropping a few documents on his table.

“I look cherry?” Silas asked in disbelief, even John noticed that he couldn't stop smiling.

John nodded, “Yeah, I don't think I've seen you this smiley before. Did something good happen?”

Silas pondered and answered, “As a matter of fact, yes.”

John left, smiling as well.

Silas's gaze fell on the food Wanda brought him. It looked like she had prepared it herself, packaging and all. He hasn't even checked what she made yet.

He opened the bag, and the fresh aroma of home-cooked meals hit his face like a truck-kun hitting his targets in the Isekai world.

He took a deep breath; thankfully, the food didn't go bad, but it was cold. He heated it with his office microwave and sat back on his table.

He inhaled deeply again and exhaled happily. “Mhmm, rice and beef curry,” a simple yet tasty meal.

It tasted even better than it looked, forcing Silas to savor every morsel of the meal. Just the thought of going home to something like this instead of a plate of nagging and questions of ‘Do you love me, Silas?’ made him ponder.

In no time, he finished the meal only to find himself yearning for more.

He decided to use the return of the empty meal box as an excuse to see Wanda.

Reaching there, the door, once again was left ajar. Silas peered and saw the back of a man.

He frowned.

“Andy will be okay,” he heard the man assure Wanda who was sitting. Not only did he assure her but pat her hair as well.

Silas's frown deepened. Wanda said she had no husband, so who was this man?

Intending to break any alone time they had together, Silas walked in and cleared his throat.

Wanda looked at him and stood up immediately. “Dr Deane,” she acknowledged him. The man next to her looked back as well and smiled upon seeing Silas.

Wanda thought of introducing the two but the man beat her to it. He walked up to Silas in a friendly manner.

“The miracle doctor in the flesh, I must be lucky to have encountered you today.”

“James, Dr Deane is Andy's cardiologist,” said Wanda

James? Thought Silas. James extended his hand for a shake and Silas accepted.

Silas narrowed his eyes at him as he spoke, “The name's James Frost, but you can call me James”. James dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out his business card.

Silas accepted it, his eyes still narrowed. Who the hell is James Frost, and what did Wanda want with him?

“Are you here to check with Andy?” Wanda asked

“No. Just to return this” he held up the package.

“Oh that,” Wanda moved to take it but James took it instead, “let me,” he told her

“Thanks, James”

Silas couldn't stand what was going on with the atmosphere. Something was definitely wrong somewhere. Silas’s insides gnawed with an unshakable feeling.

He couldn't explain the sudden anger he felt. Who is James, and why was Wanda being friendly to him? At that moment, Silas developed a natural resentment towards James.

Without a word, he turned to leave. He clenched his fists, frowning as he walked back to the office. ‘Who the hell is James? And why did he pat Wanda's head?’ he asked inwardly.

Seeing his boss pass by, James hurried to meet him “Boss Deane I-”

“Not now” Silas gritted with unspoken anger.

Surprised by his boss's sudden change of mood, he held his tongue. Earlier, he had never seen his boss so happy, and now he has never seen his boss seethe before.

“You gave him a meal?” James asked, tilting his head at Wanda.

“I had to thank him for saving Andy,” said Wanda in response, her green eyes glistening in the light.

James dropped the empty bag, “That was not necessary; it's his job to save Andy; your money is already giving thanks. Don't waste your cooking like this, you'll make him misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?” Her brows knitted

“Never mind.”

In the next moment, Wanda's mind snapped. She just recalled and immediately left to find Silas.

“Where are you going?” James asked as she sped through the door.

Thankfully he hadn't gotten to his office yet. “Dr Deane!” She called out loudly and he immediately turned around at the sound of her voice.

She quickened her pace to reach him.

“Wanda,” he said, relishing the word. And like that, his anger dissipated.

“I forgot to tell you, a woman called your phone earlier” Wanda started, recalling her encounter with the arrogant woman.

“What?”

“Her name was Fiona Hart. She was really angry that I answered in your stead I hope I haven't caused any trouble yet again for you”

Fiona called. He thought and then realization dawned on his face. They were supposed to have lunch together but Andy had a seizure. He probably would've been able to give the surgery to another doctor, but if he had, would Wanda have smiled at that doctor as well?

The thought of it was annoying.

Seizing the opportunity, he lifted his hand and ruffled her hair. You haven't caused any trouble, Wanda, don't worry”. If James can do it, then he can as well.

With that, he turned and left.

Watching his back as he left, Wanda frowned. First, it was James and now the doctor; what is up with them and patting her head like she was a child?

Exiting the Sweet Dine’n’Wine after a sumptuous dinner, Silas drove home. He was a nonchalant man and always thought rationally; perhaps that's why he hadn't anticipated what awaited him on the other side of those doors.