THE CRUEL CEO IS MY HUSBAND

*The Hospital*

Alex entered the hospital room, his expression somber. He approached the hospital bed, where a woman lay surrounded by life-support machines. Gently, he wrapped his hand around hers.

"Mom, I really hope you survive this," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

*Alex Apartment*

Alex entered his apartment, where his younger sister eagerly awaited his return. "Big bro!" she exclaimed, rushing into his arms.

"Wassup?" Alex replied with a warm smile, embracing her tightly.

"I missed you so much," she said dramatically. "Life with stepmom is so hard."

Alex chuckled at her theatrics, happy to be reunited with his sister.

Alex smiled as he walked into the kitchen. "Well, I'm here now," he said with a chuckle.

"Go freshen up, while I get your food ready," his sister Candice instructed.

"Hmm, I will," Alex replied, heading upstairs.

A short while later, Alex returned, dripping wet with a towel draped around his neck, wearing his nightwear. "Took you long enough," Candice teased, rolling her eyes.

Alex shot back sarcastically, "You'd better be careful, or your eyes might fall off."

The two maids in the kitchen couldn't help but giggle at the siblings' playful banter.

"Weren't they just all lovey-dovey a few minutes ago?" one maid whispered to the other, smiling.

The other maid smiled and nodded in agreement.

Alex's assistant, Daniel, walked into the kitchen, and Alex greeted him with a flourish. "Oh, look who's here!" he exclaimed, pointing dramatically.

"Daniel, have a seat. Come join us in suffering through this...interesting dish Candice has prepared," Alex said with a grin.

Candice's eyes widened in mock offense. "What? My cooking isn't that bad!"

Daniel looked slightly stunned by Alex's carefree nature, but he smiled and took a seat, trying to blend in with the siblings' playful dynamic.

Daniel chimed in, "It's not every day we get to see the boss so carefree, so why not enjoy it while it lasts?"

Alex smiled wryly at the remark.

Candice sighed, "You're right, but I wish big brother Alex could at least be nice."

Alex's expression turned mockingly innocent. "Oh, you know that's not possible. I only act nice sometimes so that when Mom wakes up, you won't say I was completely mean. At least I was a tad nice, wasn't I?"

The room erupted in laughter, with Daniel chuckling and Candice looking stunned, shaking her head at her brother's antics.

As the night wore on, everyone retreated to their respective rooms. Alex settled into his bed, laptop open as he attended to some pressing business matters. However, his focus was soon disrupted by a sudden, intense pain.

Daniel entered the room to find his boss clutching his head, his face contorted in agony. Alex's body writhed in discomfort, his eyes scrunched shut. The pain was so severe that it threatened to unleash a darker side of Alex, one that could turn violent if not carefully managed.

Daniel quickly recognized the signs of Alex's recurring condition and sprang into action, rushing to retrieve his medication. He gently guided Alex to a seated position and handed him a glass of water to take the medicine.

As they waited for the medication to take effect, Daniel's calm demeanor helped to soothe Alex's discomfort. The pain gradually subsided, and Alex's tense body began to relax.

"Thank you, Daniel," Alex said gratefully, his voice sincere, as he settled back into bed.

"It's nothing, Alex," Daniel replied with a warm smile. "I'm just glad I was here to help. You should get some rest; you have a big day tomorrow."

With that, Daniel bid Alex a good night's sleep, leaving him to rest and recover.

*The Next Day*

Alex stood by the door, already dressed and ready for the day. "Candice, hurry up! We don't want to be late," he called out to his sister.

Candice sang out a response, "Coming!" as she rushed down the stairs. She appeared before Alex, slightly out of breath. "And I'm here."

Alex chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Silly girl."

Candice's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Hey, I just brushed that!" She playfully chased after Alex, trying to smooth out her rumpled hair.

Alex teased, "Get in, will you?" as he gazed at Candice's scowling face. She reluctantly slid into the car.

The ride to Candice's school was quiet, with Candice focused on memorizing notes for her upcoming test. When they arrived, Alex said, "Do well on your test, and I have a big surprise for you."

Candice's face lit up with excitement as she asked, "What would that be?"

Alex chuckled and replied, "A surprise, dumbo."

Candice made a mock-angry face at her brother before heading off to school.

*Alex's Office*

Later, Alex arrived at his office, where Sasha greeted him with a "Good morning, sir."

Alex nodded silently as Sasha followed him.

"Here's your schedule for this morning," Sasha said, handing him a sheet.

Alex scanned the schedule, noting his tasks for the day. "Leave it on the table," he instructed, and Sasha nodded before departing.

As Alex entered his office, a woman jumped into his arms, expecting a warm welcome. Instead, Alex greeted her with icy detachment.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked coldly, shrugging off her affectionate gesture.

The woman's smile faltered, and she looked taken aback by his question. "What do you mean what am I doing here?" she asked, her tone laced with offense.

"I'm your girlfriend, and I can come here whenever I want," she declared, expecting Alex to acknowledge their relationship.

Alex scoffed at her claim. "You're not my girlfriend," he stated bluntly.

The woman's eyes widened in shock. "What? What do you mean we're over?" she asked, her voice trembling with surprise.

Alex's expression remained cold and unyielding. "I think you're intelligent enough to understand," he said rudely, settling into his chair.

"We were never a couple. You were just a tool for my entertainment," Alex declared, his words devoid of emotion.

The woman's face fell, stunned by Alex's sudden and brutal revelation.

"Leave my office before I call security," Alex commanded, his voice firm and unyielding.