Aster jolted awake.
Her head throbbed. Her temples pounded like someone had drilled a hole through her skull. "Ugh," she groaned, clutching her forehead. "A freaking hangover... I swear, I'm never drinking again."
She tossed the blanket aside—only to realize she was in her pajamas. Confusion clouded her expression.
Wait. When did I change? Who... changed me?
The thought made her stomach flip. Before she could dig further into the mystery, her phone rang. It was her secretary.
"Aster, you haven't forgotten the welcoming ceremony, right? All department heads must attend. It starts in an hour."
Her eyes flew open. "Wait, that's today?!"
She shot up like lightning and rushed to the bathroom. The cool water helped clear her mind, but the unease remained. Why can't I remember anything from last night?
By the time she arrived at the hospital, the event had already begun.
"You're late," whispered Dane, her colleague, who'd saved her a seat. "Luckily, it just started."
"Thanks," she murmured, slipping in beside him.
The emcee was already onstage, reciting the hospital's history and its list of accomplishments. Aster's mind wandered—until a name snapped her back to reality.
"And now, let us welcome the new president of the Landon Hospital... Mr. Carl Landon!"
Aster froze.
What the hell?!
All color drained from her face as the room erupted in applause. Dane gave her a sideways glance.
"Your husband didn't tell you?" he asked softly.
She scrambled for words. "He just... got back this morning. We haven't spoken yet."
Dane's brows knitted. "But he picked you up from the bar last night..."
Her mouth opened slightly. Picked me up? I don't remember that. At all.
Before she could respond, a pair of suited bodyguards approached. "Dr. Landon, President Carl has requested you sit in the front row beside him."
Aster's stomach twisted.
She stood, trying to keep her face calm. Inside, she was screaming.
She sat beside Carl. His expression was unreadable, as always. Sharp, composed, cold.
She hated how calm he looked.
The event continued, ending with a Q&A session. A reporter stood. "President Carl, why did you choose to manage the hospital now?"
Carl leaned forward slightly, his voice low and steady. "At first, I asked my brother Cane to take over. He refused. And frankly, I had no interest in running a hospital."
He glanced sideways at Aster.
"But then I remembered something important... My wife works here."
The room stirred with whispers. Aster felt her face heat up.
"I wanted to be her boss," Carl continued, "so that when I tell her to rest and spend time with me, she has no excuse. Some of you here may know how it feels to be married to a doctor—they always put others first. But they are our heroes in white. I only want her to rest, even if it means pulling her away."
A stunned silence followed.
Carl added, "Starting tomorrow, Dr. Aster Landon will serve only as a visiting doctor. Her duties will be reassigned respectfully. Thank you."
Aster's mouth fell open. She turned to him, eyes blazing with fury. But Carl didn't flinch.
"We'll talk later," he murmured.
---
Later that Night…
Aster waited in the living room, sitting stiffly on the couch. The moment she heard the car pull in, her pulse quickened.
Carl walked in like nothing had happened.
"Carl, can we talk?" she said, her voice trembling. The faint scent of whiskey clung to his clothes.
"Speak," he replied, tone cold as ice.
"You can't do this to me," she burst out. "I worked so hard for that position. You think I got it because of you? Even if you didn't promote me, I earned that title with blood and sweat! I should've just slept with someone else to get it instead of marrying you! I hate you for this!"
The words flew out before she could catch them.
Carl's face darkened. His brows drew together, and his steps were silent—but lethal.
In one swift movement, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close.
Before she could react, his lips crashed into hers.
The kiss was raw, demanding, hungry. Aster gasped and pushed against him, but it only seemed to provoke him further. His grip tightened. His lips devoured hers like punishment.
She struggled—but part of her stopped fighting. Something about the way he kissed her made her knees buckle. Her hands, instead of pushing him away, tangled into his shirt.
No... don't give in! But her body betrayed her.
Carl's hand trailed down her spine, sending shivers through her. He tugged at the zipper of her dress. His breath was hot against her neck.
"Carl..." she whispered breathlessly.
"Still hate me?" he murmured against her skin.
Her response died on her lips.
He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to their bed. Aster's heart pounded like a war drum. Her mind screamed at her to stop—but the heat between them drowned all reason.
He laid her down like something fragile, but the fire in his eyes was anything but gentle. His lips traced a path from her collarbone down to her chest, igniting every nerve in her body.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered.
But she didn't.
She couldn't.
Her fingers curled around his neck, pulling him closer. His kisses grew bolder. His touch deeper.
When he finally entered her, she gasped—every inch of her body alive under his. He moved slow, deliberate, letting her feel everything.
She moaned his name, over and over, like a broken prayer.
They lost themselves that night.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Until the first light of dawn spilled through the curtains, and they lay tangled together, breathless and raw.