The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 1166

In the eyes of the Churchill elders, Faye was nothing short of a gem. The fact that she could thrive in a career she adored was a source of immense pride for them, and they wouldn't stand for anyone or anything that might cause her distress.

Faye, however, found their protective nature more of a curse than a blessing. "I had to talk their ears off to finally get them to stop sending someone to shadow me every day. The last thing I want is to give them another reason to worry," she confided, her voice tinged with

frustration.

What Faye didn't realize was that her efforts to gain a bit of independence had inadvertently opened a door for Dr. Abernasy to step closer into her life. With the family's bodyguards out of the picture, he had managed to replace ways to approach her, albeit limited to the hospital and her parents' house, as he still hadn't figured out where she lived.

"All his little tricks, the GPS tracking, the bugs, I've caught them all. I'm safe, so don't fret," Faye assured, sliding a file across the table to Logan. "Besides, I still love my job here at the hospital. It hasn't dampened my spirits yet."

Logan was about to respond when Faye looked up at him, her eyes reflecting his silhouette. She clasped her hands together, mimicking a gesture of prayer. "You'll keep this between us, right?"

Logan's initial instinct was to refuse, but considering he'd be around for a while and could keep a watchful eye on her, he nodded. "But you need to tell me immediately if anything unusual happens. I need to be able to protect you from him."

Faye was taken aback by his earnestness but quickly agreed. "Sure thing."

As they dined together, Logan's phone buzzed with a message from the hospital dean, a picture of the apartment he'd be staying in-fifth floor of one of the hospital's three residential buildings. It looked cozy. The dean's message followed: "Logan, this is your new place. Room 502. Let me know if you need anything changed."

Pondering, Logan casually asked Faye about her living arrangements, wondering if the hospital had also arranged her accommodation.

"Yeah," Faye replied, taking a bite of her lasagna. "I usually stay at the residence here unless I go home for a break. What about you? Staying at the hospital too?"

"I am, actually."

"What a coincidence! Maybe we can carpool or something," Faye chuckled, unaware of the effect her casual remark had on Logan's heart rate.

"And which floor did you say you were on? I'm in the first building, third floor. Hope it's not too far from you," Faye's sparkling eyes made it hard for Logan to look away.

"Not at all. I'm on the third floor too," Logan said, a bit too quickly, earning an excited gasp from Faye.

"No way, that's amazing!"

Their meal continued with light

chatter, and after, Logan sent a message to the dean, requesting a change to the first building to be closer to the medical

staff specifically, to Faye. Thonet

dean, though puzzled, respected Logan's wish and arranged for a comfortable setup in his new apartment.

Later, as Logan escorted Faye back to her department, whispers among the interns about their close rapport began to circulate, though none dared to voice their curiosity. Faye's reputation as a department head made her somewhat

ano

unapproachable for such gossip.

A colleague of Faye's, however, nudged her playfully. "Come on, Faye. That was Logan, wasn't it? What's the deal with him walking you back?"

Faye simply laughed it off, explaining their history as old school friends and nothing more, though her colleague seemed unconvinced.

The rest of their day was swallowed

by the bustling hospital life, each immersed in their duties until late at night. Logan, after finishing his

surgeries, was greeted by Barnet

a

fellow doctor, who brought him a warm meal, knowing he hadn't eaten since lunch.

Logan appreciated the gesture but insisted Barry not wait up for him in the future. Alone in his office, Logan packed the meal away, his mind too weary to eat but grateful for the sense of community around him.

In the hospital, some departments were still bustling with activity. Logan had just finished up for the day and was about to step out into the dark night when he heard footsteps behind him.

Instinctively, he turned around, locking eyes with Faye, who had also just finished her shift.

Neither of them had expected to run into each other here. Faye, recovering quicker, flashed a smile. "Looks like you're just getting off too, huh?"

The sight of Faye's smile seemed to wash away the fatigue of Logan's day. "Yeah, wanna head back together?"

"Sure!" Faye agreed cheerfully to Logan's suggestion.

And so, under the moonlight, they made their way towards the dormitory building, stretching the brief distance into a moment that felt much closer. Suddenly remembering something, Logan handed Faye the bag he was carrying. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"