Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 42: For you, Auntie, I’ll definitely get better

Scarlett had been carefully watching Ethan’s expressions, choosing her words with care, afraid of hurting this young man who had just come of age.

After all, no matter how many excuses they made, the fact that they had shared some physical intimacy recently was undeniable.

She was worried that referring to Ethan as a child might make him feel guilty.

Scarlett was a bit taken aback when she noticed Ethan’s eyes suddenly light up.

“Sorry, Auntie, I didn’t realize you still saw me as a child,” Ethan said, realizing he had let something slip. He quickly tried to make amends, his face filled with embarrassment.

“It’s okay.” Scarlett smiled, realizing it was probably just her imagination. She reached out and took Ethan’s left hand in hers, the first time they had shaken hands this week:

“Ethan, you can think of me as your mom, so don’t worry about anything, just focus on getting better, okay? I believe you’ll be fine.”

This was the solution she had come up with over the past few days.

Their relationship had always been like that of siblings, or even a mother and her child.

She wasn’t lying,looking at Ethan really brought out a maternal instinct in her, especially since she had been taking care of him since he was two.

This confirmed their relationship.

She figured he wouldn’t bring up those kinds of requests anymore.

“It’s okay, Auntie, you don’t have to comfort me.” A look of melancholy flashed in Ethan’s eyes as he prepared himself, his expression resigned as if he had accepted his fate:

“I know I might not have much time left, and I’m not afraid.”

As he spoke, Scarlett felt the hand she was holding begin to tremble slightly.

Her eyes welled up with tears, realizing Ethan was just putting on a brave face.

“So don’t worry about me, Auntie, Blair. The happiest thing would be to have family by my side when I die, holding my hand, telling me not to be afraid.” Ethan forced a smile, though his eyes were reddening.

Scarlett turned away, secretly wiping the tears from the corner of her eye. “What are you talking about, silly? We are family.”

“I really don’t have any regrets…” Ethan’s voice broke as tears started streaming down his face. He quickly closed his eyes, trying to stop them.

Anyone could see that he was just putting on a brave face, lying.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Scarlett’s maternal instincts were fully triggered now, and she pulled him into a hug, patting his head gently.

“I just… I’m just not ready to go yet, I’ve never even been in love.” Ethan cried, revealing his true feelings.

If he had stated his real intentions outright, he knew his aunt would have flatly refused.

So, he took a step back.

Starting with love.

Scarlett didn’t say anything, just held his head, fighting back her own tears, her hand stroking him soothingly. She could understand this young boy’s fixation on love.

Because everyone has been through that stage at his age.

But clearly, she didn’t feel the same about helping Ethan fulfill that particular wish.

Ethan lay in his aunt’s arms, soaking in the faint scent of her body, rubbing against her for a while, yet she remained silent.

When he looked up, he met her eyes, full of maternal warmth.

“Uh.”

Ethan’s expression turned awkward, the words stuck in his throat. Under such a gaze, the idea of asking to date his aunt brought a strong sense of shame.

They remained in that position for three minutes.

He struggled to pull away from her embrace, personally wishing he could stay a bit longer, but the close contact, feeling her against his cheek, made it complicated.

Ethan was afraid that if he lay there any longer, it would just be embarrassing.

After all, he thought to himself, he was kind of a weirdo anyway.

“Tired?” Scarlett, wiping the tears from her eyes discreetly, forced a smile. “I’ll be done with the massage soon.”

“Auntie.” Ethan’s expression was serious. He knew he couldn’t wait any longer, the atmosphere was just right, and he fixed his gaze on Scarlett:

“I want to experience love with someone I like.”

His look was intense, filled with genuine emotion, no acting involved.

He just needed to look at her openly, without any disguise.

Everything was conveyed in his gaze.

He was confident she would agree,after all, dating was just a title.

“No, that’s not possible.” Scarlett didn’t hesitate at all, immediately rejecting him while looking at him tenderly: “Ethan, I understand your regrets, but you’re like my child, I can’t watch you go down the wrong path.”

Her expression was very firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

It was a failure.

Ethan’s heart sank. It seemed that what had happened a few days ago had really scared her.

Scarlett, as a family member, wouldn’t allow him to continue on a path of weirdness.

“Yeah, I… understand,” Ethan said reluctantly.

“Good boy.” Scarlett patted his head. “Let me help you with the massage.”

She placed her hands on Ethan’s legs and began to massage skillfully.

Soon, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Ethan saw it all. Plan A had failed, but fortunately, he had prepared a Plan B.

It would put a lot of moral pressure on him.

“Sorry, Auntie.”

Watching Scarlett massage him earnestly, Ethan felt a strong sense of shame. Once he got better, he resolved to treat her well.

That night, everything between them was as usual, with no abnormalities.

The next day, Scarlett was at work at the school when she suddenly received a call from the hospital.

“What?! Ethan’s condition has suddenly worsened!”

She felt as if her soul had been sucked out, stumbling her way to the hospital.

Dr. David, whose head injury had finally healed, was still very afraid of this woman and spoke cautiously: “It was our nurse who found out. Ethan’s body is rapidly deteriorating. Here’s the report.”

He handed her a form: “His condition is very bad.”

“How… how much time does he have?” Scarlett’s voice was hollow as she looked at the report.

He had been fine just the night before, and now he was suddenly dying. It was too much for anyone to accept.

“It’s unclear, typically half a day to a day,” Dr. David said cautiously. “It mainly depends on his will.”

Scarlett didn’t take the report, her high heels clacking as she staggered back to the ward.

Seeing Ethan lying on the bed, his eyes closed, an oxygen mask over his mouth.

Just then, his eyes suddenly opened, and seeing her, a smile formed under the oxygen mask, his voice weak: “Auntie, you’re here.”

“Yes.” Scarlett’s eyes reddened, she tried to smile, but tears streamed down her face.

“Don’t worry about me,” Ethan said weakly, trying to smile. “For you, Auntie, I’ll definitely get better.”

He needed a stronger reason to fight the illness, to overcome the subconscious view of him as just a child, fueled by a more intense emotional impact. For love, he would battle his sickness.