Chapter 3

“Uh... I-I'm fine now. I'm feeling much better,” I lied.

His handsome face creased slightly, as though he wasn't convinced by my answer. He raised his hand and pressed it against my forehead to check my temperature.

I gasped at my boss's unexpected gesture.

“You're still running a fever. I brought some medicine. Take it after you eat,” he said coldly.

My eyes darted toward him.

“I... I don't...” I bit my lower lip, unable to bring myself to say what I really wanted to say.

“Is there anything bothering you?” he asked.

Yes! I screamed inwardly.

I wanted to order him to put some clothes on. What on earth had gotten into this man? Why hadn't he even bothered to put on a shirt?

He glanced at the tray of food.

“Don't you like the food?”

I slowly nodded in response. It wasn't that I was being picky. Whenever I got sick, I preferred sleeping rather than eating. I would end up throwing up whenever I tried to eat, especially if the food was soup or anything too watery. That was why I was such a difficult person to take care of.

“I don't like s-soup…”

“Oh, would you like me to cook something else? What do you want to eat?” he asked gently.

The tone of his voice sent a strange ticklish sensation through me.

I couldn't help wondering about Sir Azrael's unusual behavior. He had suddenly become so kind.

Back when I was a new employee, there wasn't a single day when he didn't yell at someone. He was such a strict boss that most of the employees were terrified of him. But right now, it felt as though I were facing an entirely different Sir Azrael.

Could it be because of what had happened between us last night? Was that why he was treating me differently?

I tried to keep my mind away from last night's events, but sometimes, I simply couldn't control my own thoughts.

I shook my head.

“I-I don't want anything else.”

I heard him sigh.

“Guys, yoo-hoo! In case you haven't noticed, I'm still here!” Scaxy interrupted.

I immediately turned toward my cousin. She was standing near the door, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

“You can leave her. I'll take care of her,” Sir Azrael said without even looking at her.

A mischievous smile appeared on Scaxy's lips.

“Okay, Sir. Take good care of my cousin, all right?” She turned to me. “Be a good girl, Couz.”

She even wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Before I could throw a pillow at her, she hurried out of the room.

“S-sorry. My cousin can be a little annoying sometimes,” I told him.

“It's okay.”

I watched him as he picked up some food. He cut a piece of bread and brought it toward my mouth.

I refused to open it.

This was embarrassing. He was treating me like a child who needed to be spoon-fed.

“Open your mouth,” he ordered.

I glared at his hand.

“What do you think you're doing? I'm not eating.” I pushed his hand away.

He let out an irritated breath.

“Fine. You have two choices. You either eat this, or I eat you instead.” His voice was firm, and he was clearly running out of patience.

My jaw dropped as I processed what he was implying. I could feel my entire face heating up.

“Pervert!” I shouted.

“Stop being so stubborn, Ms. Villegaz. You've disobeyed me several times already, and I'm not finding it amusing anymore.” His voice carried a clear warning.

Although I was reluctant, I had no choice but to take the bowl of soup and start eating. I didn't want my boss to lose his temper completely. Dealing with him when he was angry was the last thing I wanted.

A few seconds later, I finally spoke.

“M-may I ask you for something, Sir?”

I wanted to start a conversation to divert his attention. I felt uncomfortable with the way he kept staring at me. The longer Sir Azrael stayed in my room, the harder it became for me to breathe. It felt as though the space around us was shrinking because of his presence.

“I want to resign from my job,” I added before he could respond.

A brief silence settled between us before he finally spoke.

“Isn't that rather sudden, Ms. Villegaz?” he asked, his displeasure evident in his voice.

“I'm sorry, Sir. I've been planning this for a long time, but I only found the courage to tell you now.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“So you've been planning this for a while, and you only decided to tell me now, right after what happened between us? Are you doing this to avoid me?” he asked dryly.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

I hadn't expected him to ask me that. So he remembered what had happened between us!

I swallowed nervously.

“N-no... I've been thinking about it for a long time…”

“Don't bullshit me, Canna. You've planned all of this. Why? Have you decided to get back together with your unfaithful ex-boyfriend?” he accused.

I lifted my gaze toward him.

What did my ex-boyfriend have to do with any of this?

“Don't drag Rave into this,” I said coldly.

“You're still defending him even after he screwed you over?” Irritation was written all over his face.

I could feel my own temper rising.

“My relationship with Rave is over. He has nothing to do with my decision to leave the company.”

“Is that so? Or are you still hoping the two of you will get back together?” he asked mockingly.

My lips parted as I stared at him in disbelief.

“Have you been following me?”

His jaw tightened.

“I know your every move, Canna. I've known about your relationship from the very beginning. I know every damn thing that bastard has—”

I tried to slap him, but he caught my wrist before my hand could reach his face.

“Don't push me to the limit.”

I scoffed.

“No one would push you to your limit if you would just stop interfering in my life.”

“Try pushing me too far, and you'll find out just how far I'll go. Let's see if you'll even be able to walk tomorrow,” he warned.

My face burned with humiliation.

“You're disgusting!”

He gave me a heart-stopping smirk.

“That's not the only thing I'll do to you if you push me too far.”

I felt a surge of irritation in my chest. But instead of answering him, I chose to remain silent.

“I'll sign your resignation letter,” he said, breaking the silence between us.

I immediately looked at him.

A smile spread across my face. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. I had expected to struggle much harder to convince him.

The man stood up and walked toward the glass window. He drew the curtains aside and gazed outside.

The sunlight fell dramatically across his face, and I couldn't help admiring my boss's striking features. I lost myself in the sight of him.

His smooth, sharply defined jawline, straight nose, beautiful gray eyes, and pink lips tempted me to reach out and touch them.

How could someone look so perfect?

He was undeniably handsome. His body was perfectly built, and I could practically make out the muscles of his broad chest.

I had noticed Sir Azrael's powerful presence long ago, but I had always ignored my attraction to him. After all, he was my boss, and developing feelings for him was something I shouldn't even consider.

I silently scolded myself.

There I went again, letting my thoughts wander where they shouldn't.

“So, you'll let me leave the company?” I asked.

His gaze sharpened as he looked at me.

“You can leave the company, but you can't distance yourself from me.”

My eyebrows knitted together.

“What do you mean, Sir?” I asked in confusion.

“I won't let you get away from me, Canna. Especially when…”

He deliberately left the sentence unfinished before lowering his gaze toward my stomach.

Without thinking, I placed a hand over it.

He cleared his throat and looked away.

“Because you're carrying my child,” he said hoarsely.