Evan gently patted Max's head, smiling warmly as he whispered, "Max, don't worry. I'll figure out what's bothering you." Max let out a soft "woof" and wagged his tail, looking at Evan with a mix of trust and reluctance, as if he understood.
Leaving the exam room, Evan walked back through the dog quarters, ready to return to his room, when Lucas approached and said quietly, "Dr. Evan, Mr. Damian would like to see you."
Evan was slightly surprised to hear that Damian wanted to meet him, but he quickly composed himself and followed Lucas down the long hallway to Damian's study. As he entered, he saw Damian seated behind his desk, sunlight casting a faintly distant glow across his sharp profile. When Damian saw him, he gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Standing before Damian, Evan felt a bit more serious than he had with Max. He spoke earnestly, "Mr. Damian, about Max… I do believe he's feeling some discomfort, though I haven't identified the exact cause yet." He paused, studying Damian's reaction.
Though Damian's face remained impassive, Evan sensed a hint of disappointment flicker in his eyes. After a moment, Damian gave a slight nod and said in his usual detached tone, "Perhaps I was just being overly concerned, Dr. Evan. No need to worry too much."
Evan hesitated briefly but decided to share his observations. "Mr. Damian, I have noticed something unusual—specifically, Max's bone density and skeletal structure don't seem quite typical for a dog. I thought focusing more on that aspect might yield some answers. Rest assured, I'll continue observing him closely."
He thought his comments might just come off as an excuse for not having clear results yet, perhaps softening Damian's disappointment. But to Evan's surprise, Damian was silent for a moment before something unexpectedly warm and pleased sparked in his eyes. He even smiled slightly, his tone approving. "Very good, Evan. You didn't let me down. Please keep researching in that direction, and if you need anything, just let me know."
Evan hadn't expected this response, but he realized Damian truly cared deeply for Max. With a bit more understanding of him now, Evan nodded confidently. "Understood, Mr. Damian. I'll do my best."
After that moment of excitement, Damian quickly returned to his usual calm and asked, "Evan, are you comfortable here? If there's anything you need, feel free to let Lucas know, and I'll make arrangements."
Evan smiled slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Damian. The accommodations here are wonderful. I may need to head home soon to pick up a few personal items and briefly check in with my colleagues at the clinic."
Damian nodded, his gaze still calm and composed. "From now on, just call me Damian. It's simpler." He paused, then continued, "As for your clinic…I've arranged to acquire it entirely. I know you might not care for this, but I'll send our best vets over to assist, and we'll even expand the facilities. This way, your time here won't affect the clinic's operations, nor will it compromise the health and safety of the animals."
Evan felt a rush of surprise at Damian's words. This man truly had an astonishing amount of power, his every action decisive and grand. Evan could already envision how his clinic would transform with Damian's resources. Yet, he also felt a subtle hint of pressure—though it seemed Damian did this for his convenience, Evan couldn't shake the feeling that his life was now somehow firmly under this man's control.
But Damian's next words made Evan pause, a faint warmth filling his heart. "As for the future, whether you choose to keep ownership of the clinic or remain as its doctor, that decision is entirely up to you."
That single sentence eased some of Evan's unease. Not only had Damian avoided making demands, but he had returned the power of choice to him. This respect and thoughtfulness were rare and precious, coming from someone with Damian's cold, distant demeanor. Evan looked at Damian quietly, feeling an unexpected wave of emotions. He suddenly realized that Damian was more than just a cool-headed billionaire; his kindness seemed to emerge in subtle ways, catching people off guard.
Pushing down the flutter in his chest, Evan nodded and said softly, "Thank you…Damian. I'll give it some thought."
He gently closed the door and walked away. A few steps down the hall, he couldn't resist glancing back. Through the small gap, he caught a glimpse of Damian still standing there, watching him with a deep, inexplicable look of quiet expectation. Evan quickly turned away, his heart racing slightly, unable to explain why he felt so unsettled.
Back in his room, Evan lay on the soft bed, his mind swirling with thoughts of the day. He replayed Damian's concern for Max, the brief flash of disappointment when he heard the test results, and then that rare moment of joy when Evan shared his findings. This man might seem cold and distant on the outside, but his sensitivity was unexpectedly delicate. Thinking of this, Evan couldn't help but smile, finding himself feeling just a little warmer toward Damian.
As these thoughts lingered, Evan finally relaxed and drifted off to sleep. However, as he dozed, he suddenly felt something unusual, as if his vision had dropped closer to the ground and the room seemed unusually large. Dazed, he opened his eyes, only to find himself still surrounded by the night—but the scene was oddly oversized.
"What? It's still night? Why does everything seem so…low?" He looked down instinctively, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight of two furry white paws.
"Wait… Am I Leo again?!"