LOGINShare
Heartbeat 8
Last Updated:
2024-12-20 21:18:40
Related chapters
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 9
The day had been long, the kind that drained both mind and body. It was well past sunset by the time I finally stepped out of the hospital. The cool evening air hit me, a welcome contrast to the sterile, fluorescent-lit halls I’d been pacing all day. For once, I wasn’t in a rush. There were no emergencies waiting, no calls demanding my immediate attention. As I walked toward the parking garage, I allowed myself a rare moment of indulgence, staring up at the stars peeking through the hazy city sky. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stopped to look at them. “Dr. Matthews?” The voice startled me, pulling me back to reality. I turned, and there he was—James Hawke, standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of a tailored jacket. For a moment, I didn’t recognize him. He looked different outside the hospital, less like the arrogant billionaire I’d come to know and more like an ordinary man. His posture was still confident, but there was a certain weariness in his eye
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 10
The morning started like any other—a blur of patient rounds, consultations, and the ever-present hum of urgency that comes with working in a hospital. I was in the middle of reviewing another patient’s chart when the call came through. “Dr. Matthews, we have an emergency. It’s James Hawke,” the nurse on the other end of the line said, her voice tight with worry. My stomach clenched involuntarily. “What happened?” “He collapsed during a meeting. He’s being brought into the ER now. His heart rate is erratic, and he’s in distress.” I didn’t wait to hear more. The chart in my hand was forgotten as I hurried to the emergency department. My mind raced through possibilities, diagnosing and strategizing before I even reached him. When I entered the ER, the sight of James hit me like a punch to the chest. He was pale, his usually sharp features dulled by pain. Wires snaked across his chest, connecting him to the monitors that beeped frantically, warning us of his unstable condition. “Wha
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 11
I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, adjusting the collar of my blouse for the third time. Dinner with friends was supposed to be a relaxing affair, but tonight, my mind felt anything but relaxed. The text invitation from Maya earlier that afternoon had been persistent. Maya: “Dinner. Eight. No excuses, Dr. Matthews. You need a break.” Her enthusiasm left no room for negotiation, and honestly, I could use the distraction. Between James’s increasingly frustrating demeanor and Rachel’s thinly veiled suspicion, the walls of the hospital were starting to feel suffocating. I grabbed my bag and headed out, hoping a night with familiar faces would help me recalibrate. --- The restaurant was one of those trendy places downtown with exposed brick walls and Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Maya had secured a table near the back, and as I approached, I spotted her chatting animatedly with Dr. Eric Holland, one of the hospital’s surgeons, and Dr. Nina Patel, a fello
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 12
Stress is a silent predator. It sneaks in unnoticed, coils around you, and refuses to let go until something breaks. I’ve seen it countless times, lurking behind the eyes of patients who swear they’re “fine.” It’s a liar’s word, that one. “Fine” is the mask they wear until their bodies can’t take it anymore. James Hawke, with all his wealth and influence, wasn’t immune. If anything, his lifestyle made him more vulnerable. Over the last week, his condition had worsened. His blood pressure crept higher with every checkup, his heart rate seemed perpetually uneven, and his once confident stride had turned into a tense, deliberate shuffle. Yet, he still refused to slow down. I sat at my desk, poring over his latest test results. The numbers were alarming, to say the least. Each spike, each deviation from the norm, painted a clear picture: James was pushing himself too hard, and his body was paying the price. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling as I tried to think of a way
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 13
The hospital’s fluorescent lights buzzed softly, a constant hum that had become the soundtrack of my days. It was nearing 6 p.m., but my shift was far from over. I shuffled through patient files at my desk, the weight of the day pressing on me. There was always one more test to review, one more chart to update, one more decision to make. Just as I leaned back to stretch my aching shoulders, the door to my office burst open. Maya Torres, my eager and ambitious mentee, stood in the doorway, her face pale and her hands clenched at her sides. "Dr. Matthews," she said, her voice trembling. "I need to talk to you. Now." My stomach dropped. Maya was many things—determined, bright, and a bit overzealous—but she wasn’t easily shaken. Whatever had happened, it wasn’t good. "Come in," I said, gesturing to the chair in front of my desk. She didn’t sit. "It’s about Mr. Graham in room 304," she began, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I... I think I might have made a mistake." A thousa
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 14
I’ve always prided myself on maintaining control—control over my emotions, control over my actions, control over my professional relationships. In this line of work, especially as a cardiologist, I can’t afford to get too personal with my patients. And with James Hawke, the billionaire tech mogul, that was even more essential. There was something about him—his presence, his intelligence, his stubbornness—that made him impossible to ignore. But I always kept my distance, both physically and emotionally. It was better that way, for both of us. But today… today was different. It started as a routine check-up. He’d been in a good mood recently, or at least he seemed less irritable than usual. I don’t know if it was the change in his treatment plan, or perhaps the slight improvement in his health that he seemed so keen to maintain. Maybe it was just that, despite his need for control in everything else, he had to relinquish some of it when it came to his health. Regardless, he was slig
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 15
There are moments in a doctor’s life when the patient’s condition isn’t the only thing that weighs on them. Sometimes, the complexity of the person sitting in front of you—what they’ve been through, what they’ve become—can be just as difficult to diagnose. With James Hawke, the battle was always a little bit more than the heart problems I was treating. It was his pride, his stoic resolve, and his unrelenting control over everything in his life. But as I learned over time, that mask of power wasn’t built from nowhere. There was a history behind it. A history that had shaped him into the man I saw today. It was an afternoon like any other when James’s past began to surface. We were sitting in my office, reviewing his latest test results. His condition had plateaued, which was a small relief, but it was clear that the mental and emotional toll of his illness was starting to catch up with him. As we sat there, his face as unreadable as ever, something shifted—something in the way he held
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 16
There are moments in a doctor’s life when a patient becomes more than just a patient. They’re a person you get to know, slowly, through every exchange, every piece of their history they choose to share with you. And then there are moments that make you question the entire dynamic you’ve carefully constructed, where things suddenly shift, and the lines blur between professionalism and something else entirely. It was one of those moments that came out of nowhere, and I should’ve known better than to be caught off guard. After all, James Hawke wasn’t the type to ask for opinions unless they were critical to his business. His empire, his power, everything he had built was based on making decisions that he believed no one else could make for him. He was a man who valued control, who thrived on it. And yet, there I was, watching as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the desk, an almost imperceptible frown on his face as he glanced at me. “Olivia,” he said, his voice smoo
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 88
There are moments in life when time feels like it stands still—when everything falls into place, and the weight of the past fades into the background, leaving only the present. As I stood in the quiet of our living room, watching Noah play on the floor, I realized that this was one of those moments. The world around us, the worries, the challenges, the sleepless nights, had all brought us here—together, as a family. And I wouldn’t change a thing. James was beside me, a rare moment of stillness between us, the only sound the soft hum of the refrigerator and Noah’s giggles. He had always been the one to take charge, to handle things, to drive forward. But now, watching him sit beside me as a father, I saw the softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. The way he looked at Noah, with such love and tenderness, made my heart swell. "You know," he said softly, breaking the silence, "I never imagined this—this life we’ve built, this family. It’s everything I never knew I needed."
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 87
The sound of baby laughter filled the room, a sound that still had the power to make my heart flutter. Our son, Noah, was sprawled out on the blanket we had set up on the floor, surrounded by colorful toys that I’d picked out, each one carefully chosen with his future in mind. Every moment with him felt like an awakening, a deep-rooted understanding that nothing could matter more than this life we were building. James was sitting across from me, his laptop open, fingers flying across the keys. Even now, after everything we’d been through, after the whirlwind of pregnancy and parenthood, he remained the tireless, driven man I’d always admired. His mind never stopped working, always calculating, always strategizing for the future. But there was a softness to him now, a tenderness that made it clear that no matter how much he worked, Noah and I were always his priority. I watched him for a moment, taking in the way the sunlight filtered through the windows, casting golden hues across t
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 86
The room was quiet except for the steady beep of the machines and the soft rustle of nurses moving in and out. The air was thick with anticipation, but there was something else in the atmosphere—something undeniable. Something raw. I was here, in this hospital room, about to give birth to the child James and I had been dreaming about for months. The excitement, the fear, the overwhelming love—it all felt like a rush, crashing over me in waves I could barely catch. The contractions had started in the early hours of the morning, slow and spaced out, but now they were coming faster, harder. And I couldn’t stop shaking. James was right by my side, holding my hand, his presence anchoring me to the present. His face was calm, but I knew him better than anyone. I could see the tension in his jaw, the worry in his eyes. He wanted so desperately to ease my pain, to make everything easier for me, but there was nothing he could do but be here with me. And that was enough. His support was all I
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 85
The moment I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. It wasn’t just the obvious shift—the growing belly, the endless discussions about baby names and nurseries—but something deeper, something I hadn’t expected. It was a part of me, a quiet, underlying uncertainty that started to swell within me. The excitement, of course, was there. The joy of knowing that James and I were about to bring a new life into the world was almost overwhelming. But alongside that joy, there were fears—silent whispers in the back of my mind that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard I tried. Would I be a good mom? Could I balance this new responsibility with my career? Would I lose the part of myself that I had worked so hard to build, the part that had always been me—Olivia, the woman who prided herself on independence and strength? As I stood in front of the mirror one night, my hands gently resting on my rounded belly, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the questions pressing against me. I had
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 84
The first thing I noticed when I woke up that morning was the overwhelming sense of change. The air in our house felt different. It wasn’t just the morning light creeping in through the curtains or the quiet hum of the city outside. It was something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But as I looked at James, still sleeping beside me, I knew it was real: we were about to become parents. I had always been independent—confident, self-assured, and, if I was being honest, a little bit selfish when it came to my time and my career. But now, my world was shifting. It wasn’t just about me anymore. It wasn’t just about James and me, either. There was a little person coming into our lives, and everything was about to change. I couldn’t deny the excitement, but there was also a healthy dose of fear mixed in. How would we manage the transition? How would we balance our busy careers and a newborn? What kind of parents would we be? I could hear James stir beside me, and I turned
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 83
I never imagined that the words "You’re pregnant" would hit me like a ton of bricks. And yet, as I sat there staring at the small white stick in my hand, the realization was slowly sinking in, each passing second heavier than the last. I was pregnant. It wasn’t just a fleeting thought or a potential future, but a very real, very present fact. And the truth was, I didn’t know how to feel about it. James was in the other room, finishing up a few things for work. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on me—here I was, trying to process the biggest news of my life, and he was buried under emails and meetings, as if his world wasn’t about to change forever too. I had wanted to tell him in a way that felt special, something we could look back on with joy, but at that moment, I didn’t even know where to start. I took a deep breath, holding the pregnancy test like it was the most fragile thing in the world. After all we had been through together—after the emotional rollercoaster of our relationsh
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 82
It’s funny how life can turn upside down in an instant, how everything can seem perfect one minute and the next, you're standing in the middle of chaos, trying to pick up the pieces. It wasn’t the kind of test I was expecting, but then again, is anything ever really what you expect? James and I had just started to settle into a rhythm—a rhythm where we balanced work, home life, and everything in between. After a year of marriage, we’d finally reached a place where things felt stable, where the worries that once weighed so heavily on my shoulders didn’t seem as daunting anymore. But the universe had a way of throwing curveballs when you least expected them. It started with a phone call. James was in the middle of a meeting when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his face instantly went from calm to tense. I saw it immediately—his usual confidence slipping away as he stood up abruptly and stepped out of the room. I felt that familiar knot of unease settle in my stomach. So
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 81
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year already. A whole year since James and I exchanged vows, promised each other forever, and started this journey together as husband and wife. Time moves quickly when you’re constantly busy, and when you’re deeply in love, but looking back, it feels like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye. This first year has been everything I imagined, and more. We’ve built a life together, not just as a couple, but as partners—personally, professionally, and emotionally. We’ve faced our fair share of challenges, but we’ve always emerged stronger. Sometimes, I still pinch myself when I realize that we’re here, living this life together, making decisions as a unit, and navigating all the complexities that come with being in a relationship like ours. I woke up this morning with the sun streaming through the curtains, and the first thought that crossed my mind was how grateful I felt. Grateful for everything we had been through and for everything we still ha
Your Lips to Mine #4: The Billionaire's Heartbeat Heartbeat 80
The flight to our honeymoon destination was nothing short of surreal. We were finally married, finally embarking on this new journey together, and the weight of everything we had experienced up until this point felt lighter than ever. It was as if the world had cleared itself, leaving behind nothing but us, the quiet hum of the plane, and the promise of a fresh start. James had been by my side through everything—every obstacle, every doubt, every tear—and now, we were heading somewhere new, somewhere just for the two of us. No responsibilities. No distractions. Just us, and the life we had ahead of us. When we landed, I could hardly contain my excitement. We were in the Maldives. The moment we stepped off the plane, the warm, tropical air hit me like a wave, and the scent of saltwater and coconut filled my lungs. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting everything in a golden glow, making it feel like we had entered some kind of paradise. The reality of the wedding st
