THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO DOCTOR HATED NURSE

anding behind the nurse's station, Melissa St. Clair couldn't help but feel something had changed. The air seems charged. A new presence had arrived at the

the room turned naturally toward him. Almost right away, the murmurs began. Whispered about in quiet tones among the staff, his reputation preceded him like a bad cloud. The heartles

r the room like a weight ins

fitted suit was clean and polished, the gaze in his eyes kept everyone still. Chilly. C

walked past the nurse's sta

he gap between them shrank. There was an unspoken tension, a recognition. She knew who he was, but what surprised

growling in a low tone. Studying her with

was painf

made herself talk. Mr

t, nearly undetectable grin at the edges of his mouth. But th

d was gone, his departure leaving a ch

seen him in passing, his frigid attitude, and the way everyone appeared to step aside as he walked t

her. Not only who she was but also what she was. T

and seen Alex Blackwood conversing with a group of senior doctors, her breath caught.

oul. A shiver ran down her back. She knew, without a question, that he was aw

assist you? Alex's voic

d nearer, her feet felt like lead. Alex first remained silent when she stood in front of him. He simply looked at her as

uietly, "You'll be mine,

ent she had mishear

on his lips. "I said

f as a perverse joke, but the chill in his gaze revealed to her he wasn't joking. His st

rberating down the corridor, he turned and went away,

om's deep stillness. Startled, Melissa looked up.

light. He did not grin. For a time, he said nothing. He only looked at her

emed like an age, he s

able. The instant he walked in, she could sense his presence bearing

osture was stiff and under control.

haps too quiet. A contract for marriage. You will be tied to me. In

kept her stuck for so long was the cause she had not been able to leave his shado

marry you? she

a choice: either accept my conditions and leave the past be

d combined with a peculiar sense of interest. Could she truly pull this off? C

I?" the words escaping her lips bef

ssa, you always have an option. You always have a choice, M

apers were like chains in their weight. Her hand flo

the chaos your father left behin

tood the significance of this. She was b

I will guarantee your release. Refuse and you wil

ly a second before

od's words sliced through the stillness in her head: "You'll be mine." His voice had never sounded so definitive to her. Not after everything she had suffered due to

d possibly understand made her fingers shake. Victoria,

riendly, there was a hint of worry th

" she murmured. Alex Blackwood... he seems to be offering me a decision b

rstand your fear." You have to question whether you want to be free

ackground, but could she actually walk into a marriage founded on manipul

"I don't want to be controlled." "But..

remaining will bind you for all time. You will

ns binding her in position. She looked at the kitchen table's contract lying

r future, not onl

ood by the window gazing down at the city lights. In the still chamber, t

the last. Years of bondage from her family's history had passed; Alex Blackwood's offer, albeit harsh, was the wa

r. Alex had been clear: sign and you will be free. Refuse it and yo

nearly hear his voice in her

ensnared. It made her stom

floated ab

said softly, her voice echoing in the vaca

, the gravity of the choice felt like a thousand po

hquake, rocking the very basis of her world. Pushing the

comfort. Just the frigid trut

voice from the entrance. A

he remarked quietly, nearly sarc

made her

was unable to. She had only