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Meanwhile, Preston's gaze was fixed on the girl, who right now was barking orders at the nurses to carry them out. Aria did not even see him, her focus completely directed at the patient, who she was trying to resuscitate. He had suffered a major cardiac arrest and had lost consciousness immediately. His face was utterly pale, resembling nothing less than a dead body. If not was the slow rise and fall of his chest, one would assume him to be dead.

Preston watched Aria performing CPR on the patient. But it did not work. The man was completely gone, and his heartbeat was now moving towards the midline. Aria tried again to revive him. Again in futile. His heart had stopped beating, and eventually, all that they could hear was the flat beep from the ECG.

Aria pulled back and wiped her forehead, staring at the now dead man for a few seconds before she turned towards the nurse behind her. "Inform the patient's family. He is no more. Prepare for the next procedure."

Aria walked out of the ward only to find Preston waiting outside, and she was pleasantly surprised to see him here. He just pursed his lips, not knowing what to say in this situation. Although it was just a patient, to any doctor, every life mattered, and it would be a lie to say that their death did not affect them.

Aria too let out a helpless smile before she walked towards the washroom. "I will be right back." She uttered before she vanished behind the doors while Preston just stared at the door. He took a deep breath, sympathizing and commending Aria and all honest doctors for their stressful job. It was not easy to be a doctor, and even more so if they were a surgeon. 

Preston paced back and forth as he waited for Aria to come out. Although he did not know why, he wanted to be with her at this time and comfort her. Barely five to ten minutes had passed when Aria emerged from the bathroom, pushing a strand of wet hair behind her face. She looked better than how she had before she had entered the washroom, and Preston was glad that the patient's death had not affected her much mentally.

"Are you alright?" He handed her a bottle of water which Aria took gratefully.

"Yeah, I am fine. It's just that even though we are senior doctors who have seen and been accustomed to patient's death, we still feel the guilt of not being able to save them." She let out a deep breath before she chugged down the water and wiped her lips.

"Woah, Woah, Woah, calm down, Doctor. That bottle is yours. I have no intentions of stealing it from you." Preston tried to lighten the heavy mood, and it worked. Aria smiled at him and rolled her eyes.

"I didn't know it. You never mentioned that you did not want the bottle back. I assumed that you too wanted a sip from it." Aria too teased back, and Preston could only chuckle at her words.

"You have a weird sense of humor," Preston mumbled and although he had not intended to, Aria still heard it.

"Hey, Mister." Aria stopped walking, forcing the man beside her too to stop walking. "I have a good sense of humor. Alright? It's just that people don't appreciate it."

Aria had no idea why but she was enjoying the conversation she was having with the man who had once shoved her aside. He was smart and charming and quite amicable too. He gave her a sense of security and a vibe she was all too familiar with. Even though she was not that experienced in romance, she could read people, and Preston's eyes alone conveyed his liking for her.

'But why does he like me? We did not even have any conversation until today? Was it love at first sight?' Aria mused and as soon as the thought occurred to her, she shook her head. 'It cannot be love at first sight. He was blatantly annoyed by my presence. In that case, what is it?' She wondered, taking a peek at the not so oblivious man.

Though Aria wanted to clear her stance and reveal about her having a boyfriend so as to stop Preston from having any lingering feelings for her, she did not know how to bring up the topic without him starting the conversation. Despite her speaking to him this much for the first time, she had long learned that Preston was a good man, and she did not intend to lead him on and give him false impressions.

An idea popped up in her, and she pulled out her phone immediately. "Blimey, I forgot to call my boyfriend. He had asked me to call him after I finished dealing with the patient."

As soon as Preston heard her, he stood frozen in his spot while his eyes were fixed at the girl beside him. His smile slipped, and it was as though someone had punched him hard in the gut, forcing all his breath away. His lips parted in shock, and more in despair as he stared at the girl he had slowly come to like over time.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He queried, his voice hoarse and completely low.

It was so soft that Aria wondered if she had even heard it. But Preston's expression confirmed that she had and she now pitied him. 'Maybe,' She wondered. 'Maybe, if I was alone and not with Noah, I may have given you a chance. But now....' She let out a sigh and nodded at him, crushing all his feelings for her.

Though guilty, she was relieved that Preston would now not harbor thoughts for her anymore, and given his character, he was not the one to pester her and obsess over her for her love.

"I guess I was a little late," Preston mumbled to himself, and even though Aria heard it, she did not comment about it.  "Is he a good man?"

"Yes, he is. He is amazing. I just love him and he loves me more than I do. I am fortunate to have met him." Her words completely shattered all his possibilities with her. Preston had to force a smile to face Aria.

Even though he was in grief, Preston was glad that Aria was honest with him and had divulged about his relationship. His feelings for her were still not that deep to fall into depression over her indirect rejection. He could get over it and he knew he would. 

"I am happy for you," Preston stated, and Aria sensed the sincerity in his words. They were neither superficial nor were they filled with jealousy. He was genuinely happy for her, and she smiled at him warmly, her appreciation for him growing ten folds. He truly had an excellent character.

"Well thank you. I am sure you will find someone she would eventually love too, and I hope it happens soon." Aria too wished with all sincerity.

"Do you think so?" Preston bent his head a little, enquiring her with a questionable gaze.

"Definitely. Any single lady would be an idiot to reject you if she learns how good you are."

"I see. I wonder where that girl is."

"You will meet her soon. You can trust your friend on this." Aria patted her chest, and Preston let out a chortle.

'At least, I still have your friendship.' He let out a sigh. "In that case, I will hold onto your words, friend. If I am unable to find someone I like, I will pester you to find me one."

"Definitely. But be aware that once you do so, you might find your details on all dating apps and matrimonial websites. Be sure to keep your phone on alert and fully charged. You might end up with a lot of girls attacking you right away. After all, who wouldn't want such a delectable boyfriend or a husband? The competition will be fierce and more bloody than an actual war. It is once in a lifetime that they will find a fine and decent man." Aria winked at him as they neared the ICU.

"Why are Valerie and Ivy here? Did something happen?" Preston, who was looking ahead, was the first one to detect them, and Aria followed him towards them with a perplexed expression.