Hugging Joseph, Kathy’s emotions gradually returned to normal. But she didn’t know what to say.
“Has everything been all right these past few days?” Joseph asked.
“Well enough. You know how it is,” she replied listlessly.
“You’ve still got to take your medication on time,” he said, looking at the bottle of pills. The nurse had
already switched them, as per his request.
“I know, I’ll be good.” She lifted her gaze to meet his, touching her fingertips to his face. “Go get some
sleep.”
“Do you want me to stay?” he asked instead. Immediately he undid the top button on his shirt, his legs
crossing the bed.
Seeing this, the corners of Kathy’s mouth couldn’t help but lift. “Yes,” she said, nodding. He touched her
temple tenderly, and had her lean against his chest, wrapping her up tight in his arms. It had been three
days he’d not dared come.
The first time, he’d had trouble controlling his emotions. He should have protected his girl, but instead
she got hurt again and again. Deep self-blame had led him to want to avoid the problem. But in the
end, he’d suffered endless yearning.
“Joseph, are you unhappy?” Kathy asked, sensing his wandering thoughts.
He shook his head, lying down beside her. “I have a girlfriend, how could I be unhappy.”
Kathy smiled, and seeing his handsome face mere inches from hers, she kissed him spontaneously.
Joseph already had desire, and just that simple action ignited it. He narrowed his eyes to give her a
wolf’s look, ready to devour her.
She loved but was afraid of that expression. “Joseph, I’m still a patient!” she protested.
He shrugged and, seeing her smile, felt helpless. She really was a temptress, and he was under her
spell. “Goodnight, Kathy,” he murmured in her ear. Kathy fell asleep relishing in the perfect moment.
When she awoke, it was already late, and the space beside her was empty. She blinked, and felt
suddenly disappointed. Touching the pillow that still bore Joseph’s smell, she wondered how she could
miss him so much.
Sitting up, she went to wash her face, having accepted that Joseph had left. But when she returned,
she found the person she’d missed so badly had reappeared, sitting on the sofa with her favorite
breakfast on the table before him. Kathy stared, then rubbed her eyes, making sure he was really
there.
He beckoned for her gently, saying, “Come here, I’ll help.”
She went over obediently, hugged him, and kissed him many times, before realizing, “It’s real!”
Later, as they were eating, she asked, “Have you got to go to work soon?”
He was already handling work things. “Yes, I’ll come back to see you later this evening.”
She counted the days. “I’ll be discharged from the hospital the day after tomorrow.”
Warmly he said, “There’s still half a month before the semester begins. Move back in with me, hmm?”
She shook her head. “I’ll go back to the Booth residence.” The next instant, Joseph’s expression
darkened. Kathy felt keenly his displeasure. His hand, gripping hers, began to tighten, to the point
where it hurt badly… Blinking rapidly, she said, “We’re not officially together, we can’t live together yet.”
“We’ll go get another marriage certificate.”
Kathy was speechless. She saw by his face that he wasn’t kidding. Lowly she said, “No, we’ve only just
begun dating again.”
He wrapped her up in an embrace. It was as if he was trying to absorb her. She could barely breathe. It
almost seemed… as if she’d hurt him? But that couldn’t be right. A man as lofty as Joseph couldn’t get
his feelings hurt.
“Fine,” he said grudgingly. “I respect your decision.”
Kathy smiled. She hadn’t expected it would be that easy. “Good boy,” she said, mimicking his usual
tone. It made her smile. They spent a while longer together, and by the time Joseph finally left for the
office, it was nearly noon.
John had been calling him nonstop, and finally Joseph answered. “Yes?”
“Sir, Mr. Mathew has come.”
Joseph furrowed his brow. Knowing Mathew’s temper, he’d not had the patience to stay away. When he
walked into his office, he found Mathew on the sofa, his expression stern. He’d been waiting two hours
already.
“You went to the hospital?” inquired Mathew coldly.
“Yes,” answered Joseph, sitting across from him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming. I’d have picked
you up from the airport.”
Mathew thumped his cane. “I don’t want you to give me a heart attack in the airport!”
“Grandfather, don’t talk like that.”
“So you know I’m your grandfather? Resign from your position at the hospital, and at the university
too!” demanded Mathew. He wanted his grandson to surrender everything to the company.
Levelly Joseph replied, “If I do that, I’ll resign from my position as the CEO.”
“You’ve lost it, haven’t you!” Mathew shouted, banging his cane again and again. When Joseph did not
flinch, he said forcefully, “You must lead the company!”
Coolly Joseph said, “That’s not for you to decide.”
“You’re my successor. Of course it’s for me to decide.”
“Grandfather,” Joseph reminded him, “first sons are meant to inherit first.” As such, Julian should have
been the successor.
Mathew scowled. That rule had been created by Joseph’s great-grandfather, who’d founded the
company. Over the decades, no one had changed it. Even though Mathew was on the board of
directors, even he had no power over that rule.
“Are you sure you want to see the company ruined by that bastard? Your great-grandfather put his
heart and soul into this company!” Mathew shouted, thumping his cane again.
“Grandfather, I won’t let it be destroyed, but the company doesn’t necessarily need me.”
But Mathew wasn’t listening. Though Joseph did officially control the company, he’d been doing so in
every other way for years now. Only he could manage the task. Mathew would not allow anyone else to
interfere.
“Since you won’t listen to me, you can’t blame me for what I’ll have to do.” With that, Mathew stormed
out.
Joseph frowned, gripping a pen tightly in his hand, tighter and tighter until it snapped. John, who’d just
entered, started, but didn’t dare speak. “What is it?” asked Joseph, restraining himself.
John reported on the past day’s events, before reminding him, “Sir, tomorrow night is the launch party
for Mr. Mathew’s new pharmaceutical company.”
“Prepare some formal attire.”
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