When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 88

Ethan

I was eating my breakfast sandwich while Noah rambled on about his latest conquest. My appetite was already gone, and his noisy chatter made it even harder to swallow.

Michael sat quietly in the corner, sorting through paperwork with his usual efficiency. The hospital room felt almost... peaceful.

Until the door swung open.

Amelia walked in, dressed in her white coat, clipboard in hand. The moment I saw her again, my heart still skipped a beat. I stopped mid-chew, my body tensing instantly. With a subtle nod to Michael, I watched him swiftly clear away my breakfast tray.

I couldn't take my eyes off her. I searched her face desperately for any sign of emotion, but all I found was the cool, professional demeanor of a doctor. I knew my own eyes must be betraying me, revealing feelings I couldn't suppress.

Noah's head swiveled between us, his confusion evident. "Wait, aren't you an OB-GYN? Why are you checking on Ethan?" His brow furrowed as he processed this information, then his eyes widened dramatically as he pointed at my midsection. "You... you're not pregnant, are you?"

"Shut up, Randall," I snapped, shooting him a glare that could freeze hell.

Amelia's expression didn't change. Not even a flicker. "I've been assigned to a cross-departmental rotation. I'm temporarily Mr. Black's attending physician."

'Mr. Black.' The formal address stung worse than the stitches in my side.

Noah, apparently oblivious to the tension crackling in the air, continued his verbal diarrhea. "Speaking of life changes, Ethan, the Randall family's been on my ass lately about finding a suitable wife." He sighed dramatically. "You know how it is—the family needs heirs, and my father's already compiling a list of potential candidates."

I noticed Amelia's hands pause momentarily as she checked my bandages.

I then caught a glimpse of vulnerability in her eyes, as if the weight of unspoken words pressed down on her. It made my chest tighten, a strange mix of hope and fear swirling inside me.

"Noah, maybe focus on your own love life instead of what your family wants," I said, desperate to change the subject. The last thing I wanted was Amelia hearing about marriages and heirs.

She completed her examination with methodical precision, her touch clinical yet somehow still gentle. The careful distance she maintained between us felt like miles.

"Your test results look good, and the wound is healing properly," she said, making notes on her clipboard. "Would you like to be discharged?"

I should have said yes. My condition certainly didn't warrant continued hospitalization. Instead, I heard myself say, "I still experience dizziness when I move my head. I'd prefer to stay under observation for a few more days."

A blatant lie, but I needed more time with her, even if it was just this sterile doctor-patient relationship.

Amelia looked up briefly, then returned to her notes. "Please maintain bed rest, minimize unnecessary movement, and follow medical advice strictly."

"Wait," I said, as she was about to head out, "can you help me change my arm bandage? It’s pretty itchy."

"Sure, I’ll come back later. Just don’t scratch it."

"Understood, Dr. Thompson," I responded with uncharacteristic politeness.

She hesitated for a split second, seemingly thrown by my respectful tone. I'd never been known for my courtesy, but for her, I was willing to change everything.

After she left, Noah whistled low. "Holy shit, was that really Ethan Black just now? Since when did you become so goddamn polite?"

I shot him a warning look, which he completely missed.

"By the way, why hasn't James come to see us yet?" Noah complained, sprawling back in his chair.

"He's busy with the Blue Note expansion project," I explained, adjusting my position to ease the dull ache in my side. "Besides, no one's forcing you to camp out in my hospital room. You could be chasing after your Olivia instead of wasting time here."

Noah shifted in his seat. "I'm trying, man, but Olivia... she's too headstrong. I'm not sure I can handle her."

"Maybe the problem isn't about handling her, but understanding and respecting her," I said, gazing out the window. "You two actually make a good pair, Noah. You just need more patience."

"That sounds weird coming from you," Noah shook his head in disbelief. "The old Ethan Black never gave relationship advice."

I didn't respond. He was right. The old me wouldn't have cared.

My thoughts were interrupted by the harsh ping of Noah's trading app. He stared at his phone screen, his face lighting up. "Yes! Apple stock just jumped another two points!"

I winced as a sharp pain shot through my temple. "Could you not scream about stock trades in my hospital room?"

Noah set his phone down, studying me with uncharacteristic seriousness. "Ethan, I have to say, apart from your handsome face and obscenely large bank account, what other qualities do you have that might attract women? Your personality is just so..."

"So what?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Lacking in charm," he finished bluntly.

I started to argue, but moved too quickly, causing a wave of dizziness. When it passed, I surprised even myself by asking, "Am I really that difficult to deal with? What should I do to seem more... human?"

Noah and Michael both stared at me in shock, as if I'd just announced my intention to donate my fortune to charity.

"W-what did you just ask?" Noah stammered.

"You heard me," I said firmly. "I want to change."

Noah recovered from his shock, suddenly excited as he pulled out his phone. "I know the perfect solution! There's this high-end relationship counseling app called 'Perfect Timing'—it's designed specifically for successful people like us."

He scrolled through his phone enthusiastically. "It has marriage repair, dating advice, emotional communication modules—all kinds of features. All the Wall Street elites are using it. They say it works wonders."

The old me would have mocked such a ridiculous suggestion. But now, I found myself actually considering it.

"Send it to me," I said.

Noah's eyes widened. "What?"

"Send me the app information," I repeated. "If it really works, I'm willing to try."

Perhaps it was time for Ethan Black to learn how to love, how to win back what he had lost.