Chapter Seventy-two Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

“Doctor Ashley Benjamin and Doctor Ameera Rasheed, ladies, meet my… husband; Rolland and Adrian’s dad, Evan Sterling,” Estera said, sounding bewildered.
"So, it is true!" Ashley exclaimed.
"He married you!" Ameera interjected. "I knew it!"
"Ladies!" Estera said, gesturing to me with her chin. The two doctors directed their gazes at me, flashing an overly bright smile, they waved comically.
“G - good evening—” Ashley stuttered.
"It is — um nice, meeting you--" Ameera croaked.
"--again, you mean, Dr. Rasheed and Dr. Benjamin," I said interrupting her.
"Again," they both chorused, nodding their heads. The guilt in their eyes was palpable.
"I hate to run, but I need to get in there before they send Antony’s thug to come get me. Please, keep the twins away from them," I said to the three, settled my gaze on Estera, holding her eyes for about a minute. She looked so beautiful and I missed her dreadfully. Before I could change my mind, I closed the distance between us, framed her chin, and took her lips. She gasped, making it easy for me to dip my tongue inside her mouth to stroke and taste her. The familiar thrill she always kindled inside me, coursed through me. It felt so damn good. I felt her grab a fistful of my jacket, holding on to me. I didn't stop until she moaned my name. Then, I stopped.
Pressing my forehead against hers, I whispered, "I have missed you." Without waiting for a reply, I pulled back, acted as if I didn’t see her friends' stunned gazes, and said, "See you later ladies, and thank you." I walked past them and then I heard one of them squeal.
"He is so hot and intense! Babe, I totally understand why you are so hung up on him!"
A smile stretched out my mouth, and I let out a relieved sigh. 'It's nice to know Estera is still ‘hung up’ on me, cos I’m pretty obsessed with her too' I thought and chuckled. I found it was a good thing I left them the time I did, I saw the bulky frame of Gaius; Antony's henchman, heading out the front door as soon as I got back inside. I called out to him. He stopped, turned around and walked back to meet me.
"Good evening, Mr. Sterling, Mr. Dallas and everyone is waiting for you," he said in his usual bland tone. I gave him a curt nod.
"Lead me to them," I said authoritatively and he walked ahead of me.
I removed my phone and sent a chat message to my mother. A short while later, I entered the spacious hospital room assigned to Mary Antoinette, and I could feel every eye on me.
I avoided looking at Anastasia and Antony Dallas and focused on Mary Antoinette. My mother was by her bedside and thankfully no doctors had entered just yet. My mother gave me a bewildered gaze and I stared pointedly at her. A frown furrowed her eyebrows and then she nodded. I looked away from her and went to drop a kiss on Mary Antoinette's forehead. She smiled up at me, and the tenderness in her eyes unnerved me.
Straightening my spine, I went to stand in a corner of the room where I could see anyone who walked in and also have my mother, Mary Antoinette, and her parents in my line of view.
"You don't think you could have put business off for a few more minutes for your wife?" Antony Dallas said. The side of my lips tweaked. The bastard always tries to make me into some lap dog he could talk to in a condescending tone because in some fairytale world in his head, he figured he had me by the balls. And no matter how many times I prove to him he was nothing but a barking dog, he never stopped. And because I love to provoke a reaction from him, I ignored him, brought out my phone and pretended to be chatting with someone. I saw him move from the corner of my eye, Anastasia tried to stop him, but he swatted her hand away.
"Dad, please don't start," Mary Antoinette pleaded.
"Antony, we are in a hospital!" My mom interjected as she stood up. A shadow fell over my phone, and I looked down my nose at the shorter man, I arched an eyebrow at him and his face turned bright red. His eyes shone with an emotion that wasn't good. And knowing he must be thinking of all the bodily harm he would love to do to me, I smirked
"Do you need something, Mr. Dallas?" I asked in a cool, calm tone. I swore he vibrated. Before he could reply though, the door swung open and a tall man with tanned skin paused in the doorway.
I recognized him immediately as Cole Foster, the fucker on the magazine with Estera. And because I knew Antony was still glaring at me, I schooled my features. It would not be good for me if he sensed my animosity towards the doctor.
The man silently assessed the room and met my gaze, and there was something in his eyes that made me believe he knew exactly who I was.
"Is everything okay in here?" he asked, sounding like the man in charge.
"Is everything okay, Mr. Dallas, the doctor would like to know?" I repeated. Heck! I couldn't resist. It was a hard habit to break. I hated the motherfucker. Every chance I get to take a jab at him I took it.
"Everything is fine, doctor," Antony said through gritted teeth and marched back to his wife.
"Do we need to have this many family members in here? I have about three doctors coming to join me--" Dr. Foster said.
"The place is big enough. Just do your damn job," Antony Dallas snapped in exasperation.
Oh, it felt good to watch the good doctor level a cold gaze at him and then he asked, "Who are you?" In a voice, only I dared to use on Antony Dallas. I almost laughed.
"I'm the one to pay your bills, Doctor Foster," Antony replied in a cold condescending tone.
"That doesn't answer my question…" the doctor replied.
"This is my husband, Mary Antoinette's father," Anastasia quickly replied. Antony Dallas glared at her.
"I see… alright, I'm going to need a few minutes alone with the patient. I want everybody out," Dr. Foster said. Then I laughed. He turned an icy gaze at me and I shrugged.
"Good luck with that," I muttered.
"If you don't leave, I will," the doctor said and despite me hating his gut for whatever relationship the fucker must have with my Estera during our separation, I actually admired his gut.