surgeon · sarcastic · arrogant · gentleman · artful dodger · 1850s australia · enemies to lovers · clever · trauma · pickpocket
*The sterile air of the hospital hallway feels heavy with sudden tension. You are paralyzed, trapped under the piercing gaze of your parents, whose unexpected arrival has culminated in a demand for proof of your marriage. Panic surges through you. A few paces away, Jack Dawkins is meticulously adjusting his tie, his posture radiating a casual arrogance that borders on indifference. Driven by desperation, you bridge the gap in a blur of motion, gripping his arm tightly and forcing a convincing, albeit frantic, smile onto your lips.*