Dr. Liam's Pursuit of Love

Claire Stone, in a pristine white wedding gown, was being helped into the venue.

This was the wedding she'd always dreamed of.

Looking at her reflection, Claire felt uneasy. Her father walked her down the aisle where the guests were already seated.

The officiant stood at the center of the stage, smiling broadly, but no sign of Liam Maxwell.

"Let's welcome the bride and groom!"

Claire's father noticed something was wrong but kept quiet. Claire scanned the stage, feeling anxious.

She stepped onto the platform, but the space beside her was empty. The room fell into an awkward silence.

The groom was a no-show?

Claire's face grew pale, her fingers clenching her dress.

Whispers started to ripple through the guests, growing louder.

"Why hasn't the groom arrived yet?"

"Haven't you heard? Miss Stone was caught doing something scandalous before the wedding. If I were him, I wouldn't go through with it either!"

"Looks like the Maxwell family won't show up. Serves her right, to try to cheat right before her wedding. What a disgrace!"

The officiant's smile turned awkward. He couldn't control the situation.

Claire stood there, the malicious gossip hitting her like slaps to the face.

Her nails dug into her palms, but the pain was nothing compared to her anguish.

It hurt so much, she was becoming numb...

Liam was so cold; no matter what she did, she couldn’t warm it. Now, she was facing the consequences.

Liam's grandfather, Richard Maxwell, looked furious. With so many people present, both the Stone and Maxwell families were being humiliated.

Claire clutched her dress, feeling like the cruel whispers would drive her to flee.

If she ran now, would she escape this humiliation?

She lifted her skirt, ready to bolt, when suddenly the grand doors swung open. Liam Maxwell, in a luxurious dark suit, strode in confidently.

Claire's eyes lit up, but her hope was dashed when she saw the woman in a wedding dress behind him.

It was Sarah Stone!

The hall erupted in astonishment.

Isn't that the second miss of the Stone family?

Liam's cold gaze swept the room as Sarah gracefully emerged, her long hair cascading as she laughed softly.

"Sorry for being late. Liam and I had too much fun last night and overslept."

Sarah's elegant smile was a clear challenge to Claire.

It was as if Claire was the true outsider at her own wedding.

Bitterness filled Claire's throat. She knew Liam was punishing her for last night.

"Liam, let me explain, it was Sarah who set me up..."

Liam's deep-set eyes were as cold as ever. His mocking response cut Claire off, "You don’t need to say more. Even if you tricked Grandpa into making me marry you, I’ll never love you. So today’s bride can't be you."

The deep hatred in his eyes pierced Claire's heart, suffocating her since yesterday.

Tears welled up in Claire's eyes and fell. She felt overwhelmed with grief but couldn’t let go.

Loving someone hurts so much... so much...

The murmurs and laughter around her grew louder. Richard's face turned a shade of fury. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, shouting angrily, "This is outrageous! You..."

Before he could finish, he coughed up blood and collapsed.

"Grandpa!"

Claire dashed off the stage in a panic, the sight of Richard collapsing making her heart leap into her throat.

"Call an ambulance!"

She screamed, rushing forward with tears in her eyes to perform CPR on the old man.

The crowd around them was in chaos, and the servants frantically dialed the hospital.

Sarah clutched tightly onto Liam's sleeve in fear. How could things have escalated like this?

Liam, unable to focus on anything else, dispersed the onlookers with a stern face. He watched Claire, desperately trying to save his grandfather, with a complex mix of emotions.

Despite everything, she seemed genuinely kind-hearted at this moment.

Liam frowned, almost willing to change his opinion of her. But then, the image of last night's scandalous scene flashed in his mind.

This woman had been out carousing with another man on the eve of their wedding!

His eyes turned cold, finding the sight of Claire saving lives irritating.

The ambulance arrived quickly, and Claire went along to the hospital.

But once they reached the hospital, fate took a cruel turn.

"I'm sorry, Miss Stone. Without an appointment, all our emergency doctors are currently in surgery."

The nurse, holding the diagnostic report, spoke apologetically, each word increasing Claire's anxiety.

What now? What should she do now?

Claire's head throbbed. Grandpa's condition couldn't afford any delays!

"Claire? What are you doing at the hospital?"

A familiar, gentle voice suddenly sounded, like sunshine, warming Claire's heart.

She looked up, startled, and met a pair of amber eyes.

It was... Ethan Williams! Her senior from medical school, and a renowned doctor ranked globally!

Claire clutched the medical report in her trembling hands, her face pale.

"Ethan, I..." Claire choked up, her thin shoulders shaking.

Ethan's handsome brow furrowed. "Are you sick?"

His gaze fell on the white wedding dress she wore, and his heart skipped a beat.

She... got married?

"Ethan, please save my grandpa, I..." Claire, like a drowning person grabbing the last straw, clutched Ethan's sleeve desperately.

Before she could finish, Ethan had already taken the report from her hands.

Understanding the situation, he looked at Claire's helpless state and patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I can perform your grandfather's surgery."

Claire looked up gratefully, repeatedly thanking him. Ethan chuckled softly at the sight of this delicate girl, a surge of emotions stirring within him.

He couldn't help but gently pat her head. "Don't worry, I'll take care of your grandfather's surgery."

The medical staff, now re-assigned, began preparations, and after registering the necessary information, they moved Richard to the operating room.

Claire's anxiety lessened significantly. Just as she was about to release her grip on Ethan's sleeve, a cold voice sounded behind her.

"Claire!"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly let go. Liam approached, his face stern.

His dark eyes scanned their intimate posture, and his lips curled into a cold sneer.

"The wedding isn't even over, and you're already cozying up to another man? Claire, can't you live without a man for a moment?"

Liam's cold words pierced Claire's already fragile heart, and she immediately let go.

She instinctively stepped away from Ethan, trying to explain, "Liam, you misunderstand. This is my senior, Ethan Williams. I asked him to help with Grandpa's surgery..."

The righteous title only made Liam laugh angrily. He looked at Ethan's famous face with disdain.

"Senior? Claire, you've really outdone yourself. My grandfather's surgery done by your scandalous boyfriend?"