Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

Dr. Jung's jaw tightened at Max's words. He turned his head sharply toward Melanie, his eyes wide with confusion. But she only leaned back in her chair, her lips curving into a sly smile, and gave him a quick wink as if to say, go along with it.

Inside, his brain began to race. He had never once told Melanie that he liked men. He had never admitted that the only man he had ever cared about in that way was Cadence. He had carried that quiet truth inside him for years.

At the same time, it was also true that he had never been interested in any woman either. Not once. That was why, after a lot of thought, he had accepted himself as someone who was probably asexual—someone who could live with loving Cadence from afar, staying by his side and nothing more.

But the wink from Melanie said enough. He didn't need her to spell it out. She was setting something up. She wanted Cadence to look at her differently, to see her not just as his doctor friend or his quiet listener, but as a woman someone else could desire.

His hands curled into fists under the table. This was foolish, he told himself. Cadence was so straight that even in his wildest dreams he wouldn't bend. Not for him. Not for anyone.

But still… a part of Elias couldn't deny the sharp twist of longing inside him. If Melanie was going to create this chance, maybe he could play along for once. At least that way he wouldn't carry regrets forever.

So, steadying his mind, Elias turned his gaze back to the man sitting next to him. He forced his lips into what was supposed to be a gentle smile, though he could already feel how cold and stiff it came out.

"What should I call you?" he asked quietly.

Max didn't miss a beat. His grin widened, full of confidence. "I'm Max. Just Max."

Elias gave a small nod, polite and careful. "I'm Elias Jung. Most people call me Dr. Jung."

"Good," Max replied easily. "Then I'll call you Elias."

Elias parted his lips to object, to tell him firmly that he preferred to be called Dr. Jung, that formality mattered. But Max didn't give him the chance.

"Dr. Jung sounds too formal," Max continued, his tone playful, his eyes fixed on him like he was enjoying every flicker of discomfort. "Like I've come in for a prostate exam or something."

The words caught Elias off guard. His brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth again, but Max leaned forward before he could form a reply.

The man's voice dropped into a smooth whisper, meant only for him. "Though if you want to play doctor and check it, I don't mind."

Elias froze, every muscle tightening at once. He could feel heat rush to his face, though whether it was anger, shock, or something else entirely, he wasn't sure. His jaw locked, and he forced himself to take a slow breath through his nose.

Across the table, Melanie sipped her drink, her eyes glittering with amusement as though this was all part of her plan. Cadence, however, shifted uneasily, his frown deepening, his eyes narrowing at the strange tension unfolding before him.

She leaned close to the man and whispered," Is Dr Jung blushing?"

But as she looked at the man beside her, she could not help but try to hide her own smile. Poor Cadence Sint was in shock. He had probably never seem Dr Jung as a human...

Without another word, she gestured for the waiter to take their order and shook her head. Adam was right. Maximilan Stone could flirt with a stone and make it blush.

The waiter appeared at their table, holding a small notepad and a polite smile. "Good evening, sir, madam. May I take your orders?"

Before anyone else could speak, Max leaned forward on his elbows, his attention fixed on Elias. "Yes, but only if my doctor here tells me what's best for me."

The waiter blinked in surprise, uncertain whether Max was serious, but Dr Jung felt his throat tighten. He stared down at the menu in front of him, refusing to lift his eyes. "I'm not your doctor," he muttered under his breath, his tone flat.

Max chuckled. "Not yet." Then, with a dramatic sigh, he tapped the menu with his finger. "So, what do you think, Elias? Should I go for the steak, or will you scold me for my cholesterol and tell me to eat a salad instead?"

Dr Jung pressed his lips together, struggling to find the right words. He wanted to ignore him, but the weight of Max's grin and Melanie's amused eyes pressed in on him. Finally, with stiff formality, he said, "The steak is fine."

Max clapped his hands together like he'd won something. "Perfect! Steak it is. And since you recommended it, I'll let you steal a bite."

Elias froze again, his face heating as Max's teasing tone made the waiter look down quickly, hiding a smile. Melanie leaned back in her chair, clearly entertained, while Cadence scowled at the exchange.

The waiter cleared his throat. "And for the rest of you?"

Melanie smiled sweetly. "I'll have the pasta." Then she turned toward Cadence, her voice soft. "What about you? What do you feel like eating?"

Cadence leaned back in his seat, his jaw tight, his eyes still flicking between Max and Elias. "Anything will do," he muttered, his voice low and moody and Melanie's grin widened. Perfect.. This was going to be a perfect play. Shift Cadence's attention to Dr Jung...

She was even sure of her plan when Cadence glared at Max and said stiffly," Dr Jung is a psychologist and an emergency doctor. He cannot guide you much about your cholestrol, etc..."

Max, however, seemed to have selective hearing as he did not turn his head and instead said," DR Jung? You like studying people? Why not make me your case study..."

Melanie almost coughed at that and had to forcefully drink down the laughter with water.