Only after Sebastian Lockwood and his group stepped out of the elevator did he ask in a low voice, "You're at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
Although his tone was polite and distant, the two people beside him sensed something unusual from those few words. The male doctor, in particular, stared intently at Sydney Sawyer, his scorching gaze threatening to burn right through her mask.
"I think it's an allergic reaction."
Sydney Sawyer pursed her lips. 'I just boasted so shamelessly in the car about how I never get allergies, and now here I am at the hospital, where he, of all people, had to see me.'
"A lot of people have been coming in with allergies lately. I bet you'll have to wait in line over there. Why don't you just go to your uncle's office and have him take a look? He's not a dermatologist, but he can definitely handle minor issues. If it's not serious, he can just get you some medicine, and you'll be fine in a couple of days."
The speaker was the male doctor. Sydney Sawyer glanced at him again.
He looked to be around thirty, a classic handsome man with strong, defined features. Unlike Sebastian Lockwood's refined yet roguish vibe, he had a more casual, carefree air about him—sunny and cheerful. The name tag on his chest read:
Anesthesiology, Donovan Sheridan.
"I've already registered, and my uncle is probably busy…" Sydney Sawyer didn't want to interrupt their work.
"Not busy at all. We just finished a meeting and were about to head home." Donovan Sheridan smiled at her. "Why be so formal with your uncle? You're all family, right, Sebastian?"
Sebastian Lockwood only gave him a faint glance before turning back to Sydney Sawyer. "Let's go. To my office."
Sydney Sawyer was more than willing. She followed behind him, took another elevator, and then entered a room.
**
The office was neat and clean, with a few patient files on the desk. Sydney Sawyer secretly looked around, her gaze cautious and tentative.
"You can take off your hat and mask," Sebastian Lockwood said.
"Okay." Sydney Sawyer did as she was told, then reflexively smoothed out her hair, which had been flattened by her hat.
Because of the allergy, she hadn't even dared to use any skincare products, let alone makeup. Her face was completely bare. Perhaps from being under the mask for so long, her cheeks were flushed, and her breaths came out warm.
"I didn't expect you to be working at this hospital," Sydney Sawyer said, trying to make small talk.
"I'm not a resident doctor here. I came from Aethelgard for other matters," Sebastian Lockwood answered simply.
Sydney Sawyer nodded. 'No wonder. With his credentials, he was a top-tier doctor even at the military general hospital. Even if he left that post, plenty of other hospitals would be scrambling to hire him. Why would he suddenly come to a hospital in Keston?'
"Do you have any history of allergies?" Sebastian Lockwood asked, studying her.
"I don't think so."
"How does your skin feel? Is it painful or itchy?"
"A little itchy. It's mainly my neck. There are some red spots."
Sydney Sawyer was wearing a shirt with a slightly high collar today. As she spoke, she pulled the collar down an inch, tilting her head back slightly so he could get a better look.
Her neck was long and slender with an elegant line, but a red rash had already appeared around her collarbones and neck. Against her fair skin, the redness was all the more striking and vivid.
Sebastian Lockwood leaned down, moving closer. He carried the faint scent of disinfectant.
His sudden proximity made Sydney Sawyer's heart stop.
It felt as if she could feel his breath, light then heavy, even through his mask. It landed on her skin, making it… itch.
And feel a little hot.
In that instant, Sydney Sawyer's heartbeat suddenly grew heavy and loud.
Sebastian Lockwood was probably just examining the condition of her neck, but she felt his gaze moving slowly, deliberately, as if it were roaming across her face, sweeping inch by inch from her temples to the tip of her nose.
All of a sudden, she felt a light touch on her neck.
His finger brushed over one of the red spots.
The tip of his finger was warm. When it touched the skin on the nape of her neck, her body instinctively stiffened.
The neck… It was the most private, and also the most…
Sensitive.
It was as if her vital point had been seized. Even her breathing deepened. Sydney Sawyer felt her face grow redder and her body hotter. 'My allergic reaction seems to be getting worse.'
Sebastian Lockwood didn't seem to notice her strange reaction. "Besides your neck, is there a rash anywhere else?"
"My arms, too."
Sydney Sawyer pulled her collar back up and then rolled up her sleeves.
After examining them, Sebastian Lockwood turned around, sat at his desk, and picked up a pen to write her a prescription.
"It's an allergic reaction. I'll get you some medicine to start. Try to avoid going out for a while, and if you do, make sure you're protected. You also need to watch your diet. Avoid foods that are too rich or inflammatory…"
Sydney Sawyer mumbled an affirmative reply and pulled her sleeves down.
"Don't eat anything spicy or irritating. It's also best to avoid beef and mutton."
Sydney Sawyer listened intently. Just then, a knock came from the door.
"Sebastian, can I come in?" From the voice, it was the same male doctor.
"Come in."
After Sebastian Lockwood handed the prescription to Sydney Sawyer, Donovan Sheridan pushed the door open and entered. He had changed out of his white coat and was now dressed in casual clothes.
"Looks like it really is an allergy," he said, glancing at Sydney Sawyer's neck. "It's not too serious. A few days of medicine should clear it up."
"Thank you," Sydney Sawyer said with a grateful smile and nod.
"You're heading to the pharmacy, right? I'll go with you."
'He's being too enthusiastic; he must be after something.' Sydney Sawyer remained vigilant. "No, thank you. I can go by myself."
"The hospital is huge; I'm worried you'll get lost." Donovan Sheridan gave her a completely harmless smile. "You call Sebastian 'Uncle,' and since I'm his colleague and good friend, you can call me Uncle, too."
Sydney Sawyer's lip twitched. 'He's only a few years older than me, and he wants me to call him Uncle? I've never met someone so shameless.'
"Go get your medicine. Don't mind him. Wait for me at the south entrance later, and we'll go home together." Sebastian Lockwood said it so naturally. That, combined with the weirdly enthusiastic man telling her to call him Uncle, made Sydney Sawyer nod and quickly flee.
"There's something going on with you," Donovan Sheridan said, crossing his arms as he watched the man change his clothes.
"Is there?"
"We've been colleagues for so long, from Aethelgard all the way to Keston. You think I don't know your family? Since when do you have a niece this old? And you're going home together? Do you two live together? Has any woman besides your mother ever been in that car of yours? Even the stray cat you picked up was a male. You're not acting normal."
Sebastian Lockwood's tone was placid. "Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
"If there's really nothing between you two, what do you think of me becoming your nephew-in-law?"
"You don't have a chance." His reply was firm and certain.
"Does she have a boyfriend? Or did she get married young?"
"She has someone she really, really likes."
"Then there's still a chance," Donovan Sheridan said with a laugh.
Sebastian Lockwood glanced at him. "She likes me."
Donovan Sheridan froze for a second, then a knowing look spread across his face. "Then what's with this whole 'uncle' and 'niece' thing? Are you two role-playing? You've got some interesting games."
'Someone she "really, really likes"? What the hell? Why are you emphasizing that to me?'
Sebastian Lockwood ignored him and started to leave after he finished changing.
"Wait, where are you going?" Donovan Sheridan blocked his path.
"Home."
"You're trying to run off before you've explained yourself? I've never seen you so eager to leave work before."
"I don't want to make her wait for me. So I'm going to wait for her."
Donovan Sheridan was clearly taken aback by the man's smooth words. 'And to think those nurses at the hospital call him an unattainable prize,' he thought, 'Pfft! He acts all prim and proper, a total straight arrow on the surface, but behind the scenes, he's a master of these games!'