Stalker: Love

The next morning, Edward sees Alayna waiting for the elevator. The elevator begins its ascent, and her serene expression remains unchanged. She stands gracefully, her hands clasped in front of her, radiating poise and grace. She has the image of a beautiful doctor, an epitome of professionalism and elegance, standing silently in the elevator. She steps out of the elevator, her lab coat billowing slightly behind her, and strides down the hallway with purpose.

At first glance, he fell for her, but she wasn't paying attention to him. Whenever they'd perform an operation together, she'd just quietly observe him and learn from him without asking any questions. He noticed it many times, but he didn't get why she was behaving that way.

In a bid to gauge Alayna's attentiveness, Edward would often pose questions to her during the midst of their surgical procedures, and she would consistently respond with accurate answers. Intrigued by her competence, Edward sought to learn more about Alayna by inquiring with her colleagues, but he found that not much was known about her among her peers.

Edward wanted to know more about Alayna, and he asked many times using excuses like coupons or extra tickets to hang out with her, but she rejected all of his invitations.

One day, Edward noticed Blayke, who was a friend of Alayna's and also a resident at a different hospital, coming to visit her. Intrigued, Edward decided to approach Blayke and asked if she had a moment to talk. Blayke agreed, and Edward introduced himself to her, mentioning that he had been working alongside Alayna for over two months.

Edward had noticed that Alayna seemed to keep to herself at work, rarely taking breaks or socializing with others. He became curious about her background, family, and relationship status, and considered asking Blayke for more information. When he broached the subject with Blayke, she inquired why he was interested in Alayna and if he had feelings for her. Edward clarified that he wasn't sure if he liked her, but he was genuinely concerned about her well-being. Blayke, however, explained that Alayna's personal matters were private, and she couldn't divulge any information. She suggested that if Edward truly cared for Alayna, he should ask her directly.

While out buying groceries, Edward unexpectedly bumped into Alayna, who was shopping with a child in her cart. The kid had stunning features - blonde curly hair, ocean blue eyes, and an adorable smile. Edward was taken aback as he had always assumed that Alayna had a toxic boyfriend who discouraged her from interacting with colleagues. He never imagined that she was married and had a child. Despite his curiosity, Edward felt hesitant to ask Alayna about her marital status and the child's father. He didn't want to pry or invade her privacy. He greeted her with a friendly smile and engaged in small talk, but refrained from delving into personal matters.

The following day, Edward had been contemplating the situation all night and finally decided to call Alayna to his office to discuss it. However, before he could ask her anything, he saw her in the corridor, meeting with Max, whom he assumed was her boyfriend. Edward hesitated to inquire further and decided against it. Instead, he chose to focus on his work, and he began working more closely with Alayna in his role as her senior.

Edward occasionally assigned Alayna challenging cases to see how she would handle them and overcome the difficulties. He anticipated that she might come to him for help, but he was impressed to see her manage the cases with ease. Whenever she encountered obstacles, she proactively sought solutions by conducting research, reading medical literature, and consulting relevant resources such as research articles, books, and medical magazines. Edward admired her resourcefulness and determination to find solutions independently, which further highlighted her competency and dedication to her work.

Edward often noticed Alayna diligently checking in on patients in the hospital, paying attention to even the smallest details. He also observed her spending time in the library, engrossed in reading. As he observed her activities, he realized that Alayna was an incredibly hardworking and intelligent individual. He became convinced that she had the potential to become a skilled surgeon in the future. Her dedication to her work, attention to detail, and thirst for knowledge were evident in her actions, and Edward respected her for her commitment and competence. He felt proud to have her as a colleague and was optimistic about her bright future in the medical field.