CHAPTER 58: ENTRANCE

Outside of the ballroom, Lina stood beside Devon, the cool evening breeze whispering through the manicured gardens, carrying hints of jasmine and distant cigar smoke.

She was a vision in a gown that screamed audacity, a statement piece of sapphire silk that shifted colors like a peacock’s feather under the lights, hugging her curves with a daring asymmetry, one shoulder bare, the fabric cascading into a high-low hem that revealed strappy silver heels and a thigh-high slit that teased with every step. Delicate crystal beading traced swirling patterns across the bodice, catching the light like captured stars, making her look like a goddess descended from the night sky.

It was the kind of dress that turned heads not just for its beauty, but for its bold declaration.

I’m here to be seen.

Devon, by contrast, was a masterpiece of dark elegance, his black suit a bespoke creation that elevated tailoring to art. The jacket was woven from midnight wool with subtle diamond threads embedded in the lapels, forming intricate geometric designs that shimmered like a starry void extraordinary and hypnotic, the stones catching light in a way that made him seem almost ethereal.

The top layer featured a faint embossed pattern of neural pathways, a subtle nod to his talent, while the pants were tailored to perfection, slim and sharp, with a faint sheen that moved like liquid shadow. Paired with a crisp black shirt unbuttoned just enough to hint at the chiseled chest beneath, and polished loafers that clicked with authority, he looked like a king ready to claim his throne.

Lina stared up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and uncertainty. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur laced with doubt. It wasn’t just the gala’s grandeur weighing on her, it was the implication of being on his arm, her nurse status was elevated overnight, now parading as the date of the hospital’s untouchable star.

Devon turned to her, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement, a teasing smile curling his lips as he adjusted her gown’s strap with a casual intimacy that sent a shiver down her spine. "Sure about what? This is your moments, I say, you enjoy it and stop worrying about silly things."

Lina’s cheeks flushed, a laugh bubbling up despite herself, her hand brushing the gown’s fabric as if to confirm it was real. "This dress... Devon, it’s incredible. I couldn’t afford this if I saved every paycheck for five years. Thank you, really. But parading me around like this? You’re playing with fire."

He chuckled, low and rich, offering his arm with a flourish. "That’s the fun part. You ready to light it up?"

She nodded, slipping her arm through his, her heart racing as they stepped forward. "Let’s do this."

As they crossed the threshold into the ballroom, the world seemed to hold its breath. The quartet’s melody faltered for a split second, a violin bow scraping just off-key, as if the music itself had been stunned. Conversations halted mid-sentence, glasses paused halfway to lips, and the hum of the crowd dipped into a collective gasp. Every eye snapped to Devon Aldridge, the luminary Doctor, the man whose name was perhaps the most sought after in the field of medicine.

He moved with effortless grace, his diamond-embossed suit catching the chandelier light like a black hole devouring stars, drawing all attention inward.

Women, married or not, stared unabashedly, their faces a canvas of yearning, lips parted, cheeks flushed, eyes wide with lust and adoration.

A socialite in a ruby gown leaned into her husband, her voice a breathy whisper that carried, "God, look at him, Dr Devon even more magnetic in person. I’d donate my fortune just for a dance." Her spouse shifted uncomfortably, but beside her, another wife murmured to her friend, "Forget the auctions; I’d bid on him. That suit... those eyes. My husband’s right here, and I don’t care, Devon’s a dream."

Even couples couldn’t hide it, spouses glancing away as their partners gawked. A tech mogul’s wife tugged at her necklace, her gaze locked on Devon, sighing, "He’s unreal. The way he moves... I’d trade my villa for a night." Her husband cleared his throat, but she didn’t flinch, nor did she care that he reacted, her adoration was plain.

The men, meanwhile, glared with barely veiled envy, their tuxedos suddenly feeling ill-fitted, their postures stiffening as Devon passed. "Who does he think he is?" muttered a board member to his peer, his fist clenching around a champagne flute.

"Walking in like he owns the place. Stealing the spotlight and the looks from our wives." His companion nodded, eyes narrowing. "Bastard’s got everything, genius, looks, now the arm candy too. Makes you want to punch that smug face."

And then their eyes shifted to Lina, and the air turned sharp with jealousy. She was stunning, her sapphire gown shifting like liquid night, the crystal beading twinkling like stars against her skin, but in Devon’s shadow, she became the target. Women whispered venomously, "Who is she? Some nurse? How dare she cling to him like that." One socialite sneered to her friend, "She looks good, I’ll give her that, but next to Devon? She’s out of her league. I should be on his arm."

The hatred was palpable, a wave of green-eyed daggers, yet Lina held her head high, her arm linked with Devon’s, a secret smile playing on her lips as the room’s envy washed over her like a crown.

The host, a charismatic emcee in a velvet tux, spotted them from the stage, his microphone crackling to life amid the hush. "Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome to our evening’s specialist, Dr Devon Aldridge, the genius behind so many miracles at Blissville hospital!" Applause erupted, forced from envious throats, as Devon guided Lina to their designated table at the front, a prime spot laden with crystal stemware and name cards etched in gold.

He pulled out her chair with a flourish, whispering, "See? They can’t take their eyes off us." As they sat, the host beamed, raising his glass. "With Dr Devon here, let’s dive back into the magic, bids are flying for those auctions, tours of our rehab wing are filling up, and our special performance is just around the corner. Let the night unfold!"

The gala resumed, a whirlwind of laughter and bids, but the energy had shifted, charged, electric, with Devon at its core, the room orbiting him like planets around a sun.