CHAPTER 9 — The Double Life of Isla Bennett

~ ISLA ~

Just as Alistair’s sleek car disappeared into traffic, I heard a loud gasp behind me.

My heart dropped instantly.

When I turned, Riley was there—my ever-curious, loud-mouthed best friend—frozen on the sidewalk with her jaw hanging open like she’d just seen a UFO land.

Her eyes darted between me and the car, then back to me. “Was that—? No. No way.”

I braced myself for the barrage of exaggerated comments about to come.

“ISLA. Tell me I’m not losing my mind. Did you just—did you just get out of that car? Of Alistair Montgomery’s car?!”

Her voice climbed higher with every word, drawing glances from passersby. My ears burned at the name.

“Keep your voice down,” I hissed, hurrying toward the hospital entrance.

But Riley wasn’t having it. She practically jogged to keep up, disbelief storming across her face.

“Don’t you dare brush me off! That car—I’ve seen it in magazines. That’s the Montgomery limited edition model. And I swear, I saw his face. Oh my God, don’t tell me—” she grabbed my arm, eyes widening dramatically, “—you’re involved with Alistair Montgomery?!”

I froze a second too long. I didn’t know how to answer.

Her shriek could’ve shattered glass. “OH MY GOD, I KNEW IT! You are—”

“Riley!” I clamped a hand over her mouth before she caused an even bigger scene. “Do you want the entire hospital to hear?!”

Her muffled laugh buzzed against my palm. When I finally let go, she was grinning like a maniac.

“This explains so much,” she sang, eyes twinkling with wicked delight. “No wonder you’ve been so secretive lately. And now—Alistair freaking Montgomery dropping you off like it’s nothing! Isla, you’re seriously telling me you’re mixed up with him?”

I groaned, covering my burning face with one hand. “You’re impossible.”

“And you,” she wagged her finger at me with a mock accusation, “are officially dead if you think you can hide this from me.”

Then she smirked, like she’d cracked the case. “So what is it? Are you his secret girlfriend? Or his…what do they call it…arm candy? Mistress?”

She gasped dramatically, grabbing me to face her when I stayed silent. “Isla, are you living a double life and didn’t tell me?!”

“Will you please stop?” I grumbled.

Her grin widened—she thrived on my flustered reactions. “Oh my God, you are!”

“I’m not,” I muttered, frustrated.

She raised a brow, unconvinced. “Then why does the richest, coldest man in the city drive you around like his personal VIP?”

My lips parted, but no words came.

The truth—that my family sold me for a fortune—sat like a lump in my throat. Every time I thought of it, anger and resentment boiled inside me. They had stripped me of my freedom, and I would never forgive them for it.

Riley wasn’t going to let this go without answers. I exhaled and glanced around. The area outside the hospital was still not too crowded.

“Riley,” I began slowly, “if I tell you something, you have to promise to keep it to yourself.”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “Of course! I swear—cross my heart.” She even made an X over her chest.

I hesitated a second longer, then spilled it. “I’m… married to Alistair Montgomery.”

For a moment, she just blinked. The words hadn’t registered.

“What?” Her voice pitched so high, a few heads turned. I shot her a warning look, and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

She mumbled through her fingers. “You—you’re what?!”

“Married,” I repeated more quietly, my chest tightening. “To him. It was arranged. It’s not—” I shook my head. “It’s complicated. And very confidential. You cannot breathe a word of this to anyone, Riley.”

Her jaw dropped again. “Are you telling me you’re Mrs. Montgomery? As in… Montgomery Group, richest man alive, headlines-every-week Montgomery?”

I winced. “Yes. That one.”

“Oh my God.” She dragged her hands down her face, staring at me like she didn’t know me anymore. “Do you realize what kind of bomb you just dropped on me? You—” she jabbed a finger at me, “—you let me run my mouth about you being his mistress when you’re actually his wife?!”

I groaned, covering my face. “Which is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. So please—keep it quiet.”

Her eyes were still wide, her jaw practically dragging on the ground as we started walking again.

“Holy shit… You’re married to the Ice King himself,” she muttered, still reeling.

***

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of the same routine—charts, rounds, and patients.

Around four p.m., my shift had finally ended, but just as I was about to leave, the intercom on the desk buzzed.

“Dr. Bennett,” Dr. Ellis's calm voice came through. “Could you come to my office for a moment?”

My heart skipped a beat. Dr. Ellis rarely called me in unless it was something serious.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and made my way to his office.

I knocked lightly, and his voice answered, “Come in.”

When I stepped inside, he was sitting behind his desk, reviewing a file. His eyes lifted right away, and for a second, something flickered there before his usual professional composure slid into place.

“Please, sit down,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

I obeyed and took a seat—a little anxious.

He closed the file and rested his forearms on the desk.

“You’ve been here only a short while, Dr. Bennett, but you’ve exceeded every expectation.” His tone was even, yet warmer than usual. “The board has reviewed your cases—your performance, your surgical skills. They were unanimous in their decision.”

I blinked, my heart thudding faster. “Decision?”

He allowed the corner of his mouth to curve ever so slightly. “You’ve passed. As of today, you are no longer a resident. You’re officially a permanent surgeon at Northgate Hospital.”

For a moment, I just sat there, stunned. His words echoed in my head, but they didn’t feel real. I was now a permanent surgeon—not just a trainee anymore.

“I…” My voice faltered before I steadied it. “Thank you, Senior. Truly!”

“You’ve earned it,” he said firmly, eyes holding mine a second longer before he leaned back. “You should be proud of yourself. Very few achieve this as early as you did.”

I swallowed hard, holding his gaze only briefly before lowering mine. “I’ll keep working hard. I won’t let you—or the board—down.”

“I know you won’t,” he replied, his tone carrying a quiet conviction that lingered in the air.

When I left his office, I could still feel the weight of his words following me.

My heart was overflowing with happiness from the wonderful news. This was what I had been dreaming of—I couldn’t believe I finally achieved it! Grandma would be so proud.

Right. I had to call her and share this achievement with her.

Just as I was about to dial her number, another call came through. A string of unknown numbers flashed across the screen.

My brows knitted together. Who could this be? Still, I pressed it to my ear.

“Hello?”