Two weeks later.
The hospital room was quiet.
Sunlight filtered through the tall window, falling across the white sheets and the neatly folded discharge papers resting on the bedside table.
Sebastian Wolfe stood beside the hospital bed, already dressed.
Black trousers.
White shirt.
No tie.
His movements were slower than usual, but the stiffness in his posture was the only real sign he had just undergone major spinal surgery two weeks ago.
A nurse stood nearby holding a clipboard.
She looked nervous.
"Mr. Wolfe," she said carefully, "the doctor has approved your discharge today, but you still need proper recovery time."
Sebastian didn't look at her.
He simply buttoned the cuff of his shirt.
"I'm aware."
"You'll need assistance for the next few weeks. That's why the hospital arranged for a private nurse to stay with you at home."
Sebastian picked up his coat from the chair.
"That won't be necessary."
The nurse blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"I won't need a nurse."
"But the doctor specifically recommended—."
"I don't require supervision."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Final.
The nurse hesitated.
"Mr. Wolfe, your spine surgery was extremely delicate. The rod that shifted had to be secured again. You shouldn't be bending, lifting, or working excessively for several weeks."
Sebastian finally looked at her.
His blue eyes were sharp.
"I'm going home."
The nurse sighed softly.
"Very well."
She scribbled something onto the clipboard.
"But the nurse will still accompany you."
Sebastian didn't argue.
He simply picked up his phone.
The nurse mistook his silence for agreement.
She shouldn't have.
—
An hour later.
Sebastian's black car pulled up in front of his mansion.
The driver stepped out first.
Then Sebastian followed.
The mansion stood tall and silent, its sleek glass windows reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
It looked exactly the same as when he had left two weeks ago.
Cold.
Controlled.
Immaculate.
Behind him, the hospital nurse stepped out of the car carrying a medical bag.
She looked around nervously.
"Mr. Wolfe," she said, following him up the steps, "I'll just get you settled in and make sure you're comfortable."
Sebastian opened the front door.
Walked inside.
Didn't respond.
The nurse followed him into the large living room.
It was just as modern as the rest of the mansion.
Glass tables.
Clean lines.
Everything perfectly organized.
Sebastian walked straight past the living area.
Straight toward his office.
The nurse frowned.
"Mr. Wolfe?"
He opened the office door.
Sat down in his chair.
And immediately opened his laptop.
The nurse's eyes widened.
"Mr. Wolfe!"
His fingers were already moving across the keyboard.
Emails.
Messages.
Reports.
Two weeks of work waiting.
Unacceptable.
The nurse stepped closer.
"You absolutely cannot start working."
Sebastian didn't look up.
"I'm answering emails."
"You just had spinal surgery!"
"I'm sitting."
"That's not the point!"
Sebastian's expression didn't change.
"Miss…"
"Daniels," she said quickly.
"Miss Daniels."
His voice was cool.
"I didn't ask for a nurse."
"You didn't need to," she replied firmly. "Your doctor arranged it."
"And I'm declining the service."
"You can't decline recovery."
Sebastian finally looked up.
His gaze was sharp enough to make most people step back.
Miss Daniels didn't.
"Mr. Wolfe, if you push yourself too hard, you could damage your spine again."
"I won't."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"You need rest."
"I rested for two weeks."
"That was surgery recovery!"
"It was unproductive."
Miss Daniels stared at him.
Then she crossed her arms.
"No."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"You're not working."
"I already am."
She stepped forward and closed the laptop.
Sebastian's eyes darkened.
"Open it."
"No."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The room fell silent.
Sebastian slowly leaned back in his chair.
"You're being insubordinate."
"I'm being responsible."
"You're fired."
"You didn't hire me."
Sebastian stared at her.
Miss Daniels held his gaze.
Then she sighed and picked up her phone.
"Fine."
Sebastian returned his attention to the laptop and reopened it.
Miss Daniels stepped into the hallway.
Dialed a number.
A moment later the call connected.
"Hello, is this Miss Lillian Parker?"
—
Across the city.
Lillian Parker sat cross-legged on Chloe's couch.
Her laptop rested on the coffee table.
Chloe sat beside her scrolling through her phone.
Lillian's phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
She answered it.
"Hello?"
"Miss Parker?"
"Yes?"
"This is Nurse Daniels from New York General Hospital. I was assigned to Mr. Wolfe's post-surgery recovery."
Lillian immediately sat up straighter.
"What happened?"
"Well… I'm currently at Mr. Wolfe's mansion."
"And?"
"He refused nursing care."
Lillian closed her eyes.
Of course he did.
"And he's working," the nurse continued. "Immediately. I tried to stop him but he's… very determined."
"That's one way to describe him," Lillian muttered.
"Miss Parker, the doctor specifically said he should not be working right now."
"I know."
"I was told you might be able to reason with him."
Lillian sighed.
"I'll be there soon. Please try to stop him from working until I arrive."
"I'll do my best."
She hung up the phone.
Chloe looked up.
"What happened?"
Lillian stood up and grabbed her car keys.
"Sebastian."
Chloe groaned.
"What did he do now?"
"He refused nursing care."
"Of course he did."
"And he started working the moment he got home."
Chloe shook her head.
"That man is unbelievable."
Lillian grabbed her jacket.
"I need to go talk to him."
Chloe leaned back on the couch.
"You mean argue with him."
"Probably."
Chloe smirked.
"Try not to fall on his chest again."
Lillian froze.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"That was an accident."
"Mhm."
"It was!"
Chloe grinned.
"Sure it was."
Lillian grabbed her bag.
"I'll be right back."
Chloe called after her.
"Tell Mr. Workaholic I said hi!"
Lillian rolled her eyes as she walked toward the door.
"I'm not delivering messages."
"You totally are."
The door closed behind her.
Outside, the afternoon air was cool.
Lillian got into her car and started the engine.
Her mind was already racing.
Sebastian had barely left the hospital.
And he was already working again.
Unbelievable.
Stubborn.
Infuriating.
But also…
worrying.
She pulled out onto the street.
Driving toward the one place she knew he would be.
His office.
Inside that massive, cold mansion.
Working himself into another hospital visit.
Lillian tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
"Not this time," she muttered.
The city rushed past her windows as she drove toward Sebastian Wolfe's mansion.
And if she knew him at all—
He was already buried in work.
Completely ignoring every medical order he had been given.
Which meant one thing.
Another argument was coming.
And this time…
Lillian Parker wasn't planning to lose it.