My Stone-Hearted Billionaire Husband

A few moments later, the stunning redheaded and curvy beauty, nicknamed Woods Corporation’s most gorgeous and sexy staff, Rachael Lind, walked into the CEO’s office. Dressed in a tailored custom-made business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places, Rachael effortlessly combined professionalism with a touch of undeniable sensuality.

Beyond her stunning appearance, the 26-year-old’s reputation in the company was one of unwavering dedication and exceptional competence. She was known for her sharp intellect, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle high-pressure situations with composure.

Her colleagues admired her not only for her beauty but also for her exceptional work ethic and leadership qualities. Everyone, including Sebastian, agreed that she was a significant asset to Woods Corporation.

As she walked into Sebastian’s office, her beauty and radiance were hard to ignore, yet the stoic man behind the desk did not even bother to cast a glance at her. Instead, his attention remained fixated on the pile of paperwork before him, giving her the impression that her presence didn’t matter to him.

Suppressing her disappointment, Rachael straightened her posture and put on a bright smile. Initially, her confidence wavered momentarily in the face of his indifference. However, she reminded herself that this was how he had always been with her and everyone else.

She quickly cleared her throat as if to make him aware of her presence, “Hi, Bastian.”

“Director Lind, I don’t recall having a scheduled meeting with you. What brings you here?” Sebastian inquired, still not bothering to look at her. His tone was cold and curt.

“I apologize for the unannounced visit, Bastian. It’s just that”

“Yes. So? Is there an urgent situation that requires my attention?” Sebastian asked impatiently, cutting her off.

Rachael hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words before responding, “No urgent situation at all, Bastian. Everything is running smoothly. I just thought it’s been a while since I stopped by to greet you or say hello. I thought it would be nice to catch up.”

“Nice to catch up? This is not a social club, Miss Lind?” Sebastian sneered as he continued to flip through the paperwork on his desk. His normally calm demeanor was replaced by simmering irritation.

“You should know this by now. There’s no need to disrupt my busy schedule if there are no pressing matters.”

Rachael’s cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment due to his callous words and nonchalant attitude. She should be used to it by now, but it still stung, especially coming from him a man she was deeply in love with.

Sebastian’s detached demeanor had always been present from the start, along with his insistence on maintaining a rigid, professional facade at all times. It was as if he had built a fortress around himself, leaving everyone on the outside struggling to find a way in.

Just then, her eyes caught a glimmer of light reflecting off Sebastian’s finger. It was a shiny wedding ring on his hand, a new addition that hadn’t been there before. Her heart sank.

‘So it’s true? Did he really get married?’ she thought.

Rachael’s voice quivered as she spoke, “I…I see you’re wearing a new ring.”

Sebastian smiled instantly, his eyes lighting up like stars as they met hers. For the first time since she stepped into his office, he finally looked at her.

“Ah, Yes, Miss Lind. I got married recently. It’s been quite a whirlwind.”

Rachael forced a fake smile in return, though her heart ached. She couldn’t help but notice how his mood changed immediately after she mentioned his ring; even his voice became softer. She’d never seen him look that excited about anything before.

“Well, congratulations on your marriage, Bastian,” she managed to respond amidst the turmoil in her mind.

Even after hearing it directly from him and witnessing the happy grin on his face, she struggled to believe it. “It… it can’t be.”

Rachael’s misty eyes now held a mixture of hurt and frustration. The man she had been waiting for so long was suddenly married. She had always hoped that one day when his ailment subsided, he might become hers. She had even rejected a good number of suitors because of him.

Unable to contain her emotions, she took quick steps toward where Sebastian was seated.

“Can I take a closer look at your wedding ring? It’s really beautiful!”

She feigned ignorance as she moved closer and closer until she was only a few inches away from him. She’d never come this close to him before in all her years of working at the Woods Corporation.

Before Sebastian could even say anything, Rachael was already standing right next to him, leaning forward in a gesture that was both subtle and deliberate. Right now, she had a touch of reckless courage.

Sebastian looked up in alarm as he caught a whiff of the woman’s strong perfume. He was caught off guard, and surprise flickered in his sky-blue eyes, which then changed to a frightening coldness. She was close, too close…

Within seconds of her nearness, his skin began to itch, his eyes started to water, his grip on the pen he held tightened, and his breathing became labored. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his vision began to blur, and the office room started spinning around him.

It was a familiar feeling-one he had experienced countless times before. Sebastian realized with annoyance that he was having an allergic reaction. This was the complete opposite of the calmness and relaxation he felt when with Kourtney.

His face tightened as he stood up abruptly in panic, putting some distance between them before growling, “Don’t come any closer. Get out!!!”

“BBastian, you… you’re not cured yet, so how come you got married?” Rachael asked as the realization struck her.

Sebastian’s jaw clenched and his scowl deepened. He clutched at his throat, his voice was now reduced to a raspy wheeze. “Why do you care? It’s none of your business.”

“I care because…,” Rachael hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage, “… because I like you, Bastian. I’ve liked you for a long time, and I thought maybe you felt the same way about me.”

Sebastian’s stony expression hardened with irritation as he heard the woman’s confession. “Rachael Lind? Have you lost your damn mind?”

“No, I haven’t. I… I’ve always thought that you also liked me.” Rachael retorted with a trembling voice.

“Miss Lind, it seems like you’ve completely misunderstood my kindness towards you. I’ve never liked you and I never will.” Sebastian said with scorn.

He had no business being nice to her anymore. His breathing was so hard to come by now, and he held his desk to steady himself from falling. He couldn’t believe the audacity of this woman for putting him through this.

“But… but”

“But what? You thought I liked you only because I treated you better than other staff members?” Sebastian sneered with disgust in his eyes.

“Aren’t you aware of what happened between me and your father, as well as my great relationship with him? How else I’m I suppose to treat my friend’s daughter? Are you so dumb?” he added coldly, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

Anger was coursing through his veins as he struggled to maintain his composure. His body felt like it was on fire, and his throat was constricting further with each passing moment.

Meanwhile, Rachael was taken aback by his words and she blinked back tears. Yes, she knew about his terrible accident seven years ago. And her father, Richard Lind was the famous doctor who saved his life.

But, all this time, she didn’t know that was the only reason he was being extra nice to her compared to the rest of the female staff. She felt wronged and the revelation felt like a knife to her heart. She had built a castle of hope in her mind, and now it was crumbling down. It left her feeling tongue-tied.

“Miss Lind, you shouldn’t have come here with such absurd notions. I thought you were wiser than that. Furthermore, your father’s influence is the sole reason I am refraining from firing you for this mishap. But I won’t tolerate it a second time. Now get out!”

“Bastian I” Rachael tried to say something but couldn’t find the words.

“Enough!!! I ordered you to get out!!!” He snapped, his voice tinged with anger and agony.

“I… I’m sorry if I came too close, Bastian. I… I didn’t mean to. I just thought that… that you’ve been cured.”

“It’s ‘President Woods’ to you. GET OUT!” Sebastian roared. His patience was wearing thin as he felt like he might collapse anytime soon.

Rachael’s heart sank even further at his harshness. Even now, he was stopping her from calling him by his nickname. She had been doing that for a long time now and he didn’t seem to care. Over time, she had grown accustomed to calling him ‘Bastian’, considering it a small yet meaningful way of bridging the gap between them.

She considered it her own way of feeling closer to him like an actual friend or acquaintance. But now…..

“I understand, President Woods. I’ll leave now.”

As Rachael walked out of his office, a mixture of humiliation and heartache consumed her while tears blurred her vision. She had worked tirelessly well to get noticed by him all these years, yet she found herself facing his anger and rejection instead.

She felt a lump in her throat, struggling to hold back her emotions as the door closed behind her with a resounding thud.

After she left, Sebastian leaned heavily against his desk, struggling to catch his breath.

He reached for the small container of calming pills in his drawer, desperation in his eyes as he shook out six tablets. Swallowing them all at once, he hoped they would finally bring him some relief. However, minutes passed and his symptoms persisted, leaving him increasingly alarmed.

“That bitch,” he rasped with choked breath.

His allergic reaction seemed unusually severe today because of that woman coming too close on purpose. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, his throat constricted as if an invisible hand was tightening around it. His smooth skin was now flushed and mottled with red patches all over.

The walls of his office seemed to close in around him, and the familiar surroundings now felt like a cage. The relentless pounding in his chest intensified, each beat resonating in his ears like a drumroll of impending doom.

Even the calming pills he had taken weren’t making a dent in his distress. Realizing that he couldn’t manage this on his own, Sebastian picked up his phone and dialed his assistant’s number.

Within seconds, Jamie rushed into Sebastian’s office and found him visibly struggling. Sebastian’s breathing was labored, his face flushed, and his skin clammy. Jamie has seen this same scenario play out many times before. Without hesitation, he took charge, his experience kicking in.

“President Woods, let’s get you to the doctor right away,” Jamie said firmly, helping Sebastian to his feet and supporting him as they made their way out of the office.

“Get the cars ready. President Woods needs urgent medical attention,” he instructed the bodyguards situated outside the door.

That was the last words Sebastian heard as his vision blurred. Right now, he was losing consciousness. The world around him seemed to spin before fading into complete darkness.

************

Author’s Note: Hi, Bestie. This was a long ass chapter, right? Lol. If you love the story, please don’t forget to vote with gems and also give it a nice review. I know we’re just starting out but please tell me what you like about the story so far. I’ll be waitingMaterial © NôvelDrama.Org.

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