Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 44: That’s even more thrilling!

After that night, with Blair’s help, Ethan was doing rehab every day and was looking better and better. He went from needing help to eat to being able to get out of bed and take a few steps on his own.

The hospital called it a miracle and ran all sorts of tests on him.

The final verdict was that his condition was still there, but his physical health was improving.

It could only be chalked up to a medical miracle.

Scarlett watched Ethan smile in the sunlight, and while she was happy, her feelings were incredibly mixed.

According to their agreement.

After Ethan got out of bed, she had promised to accept his confession.

“What on earth did I agree to!” Scarlett covered her face, her head pounding. She had thought about brushing it off or outright rejecting him.

But she hadn’t expected the critically ill kid to fight off his illness for her sake.

Any woman would find it hard to resist a man who did that for her.

But whenever Scarlett thought about not accepting the relationship, a strong sense of shame washed over her.

Just the thought made her want to crawl into a hole.

“Auntie!” Ethan, hands on his walker, slowly made his way over, his legs trembling slightly but each step firm.

The sunlight streamed in from behind him.

The young man’s smile was bright and refreshing, his frame slender yet seemingly filled with endless strength.

Scarlett had just been thinking about accepting his confession, and suddenly her heart started racing.

“Auntie?” Ethan noticed her zoning out and asked, puzzled, “Is there something on my face?”

Scarlett snapped out of it and, avoiding his gaze, said, “You look especially handsome today, Ethan.”

“Oh, then…” Ethan suddenly raised his voice.

“Ethan, are you done with your rehab for today? I’ll push you back to your room.” Scarlett quickly brought over the wheelchair, feeling nervous around Ethan now.

Afraid he’d bring up their agreement.

“Oh, okay.” Ethan, seeing her momentary panic, obviously knew what she was thinking, but he understood that these things couldn’t be rushed.

His ultimate goal wasn’t just to date his aunt.

These things needed a long-term plan.

His eyes briefly dimmed, but he quickly put on a carefree smile and sat in the wheelchair, “Auntie, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Scarlett saw the flash of disappointment in his eyes, and it tugged at her heartstrings.

A strong sense of guilt welled up inside her.

This kid wasn’t making a fuss, and he hadn’t even brought up that night again.

But the more mature Ethan acted, the greater her guilt grew.

Scarlett pushed the wheelchair, taking him back to his room.

Blair was already waiting outside the hospital room after school.

“Blair, I’m leaving Ethan in your hands,” Scarlett said, feeling a heavy pressure, and handed over the wheelchair to Blair. “I’m going to rest at home tonight.”

“Okay,” Blair took over the wheelchair, his movements practiced.

“Auntie, see you tomorrow!” Ethan, sitting in the wheelchair, waved goodbye cheerfully.

“Yeah… see you tomorrow.” Scarlett, unable to meet Ethan’s eyes, quickly said goodbye and hurried away with her head down.

As the sun set, the neon lights of Capitol City streets flickered to life.

In a small bar in the west side of town.

Jessica, in her police uniform, pushed open the bar door, scanning the seats until she spotted a familiar figure at the bar.

“Scarlett, I just got off work and you rush me over here? You better be treating me to a feast or I won’t forgive you!”

She sat down next to Scarlett.

“You made it.” Scarlett was slumped over the bar, her eyes lifeless. Seeing Jessica, she picked up her glass and gulped down her drink in one go.

Then she slammed the glass down on the bar: “Barkeep, another!”

“Rough day, huh?” Jessica sighed, signaling the bartender for a lemon water.

The two had an understanding.

When Scarlett drank like this, it usually meant she wanted to get plastered, and she only did it when Jessica was there to watch her back.

“Yeah.” Scarlett downed another large drink, her cheeks flushing as she turned to Jessica. “Jessica, have you ever thought about meeting a man who would give up everything for you, even his life?”

The alcohol made her voice louder than usual.

“You’re drunk,” Jessica said, sipping her lemon water. “You’ve been watching too many prime-time romances. In real life, no man would sacrifice everything for a woman.”

“What if there really was one?” Scarlett held her drink, staring into the swirling colors in her glass, her expression complex.

“Then the next step would be him asking you to invest,” Jessica put down her lemon water, giving her a sidelong glance. “Scammers these days target women just like you—over thirty, desperate, and lonely.”

Scarlett rested her chin on the bar, silent, then took another big gulp of her drink.

She coughed from drinking too quickly.

“Slow down, what’s going on?” Jessica could tell something was off and put an arm around her shoulder, concerned.

“What happened?”

She had her suspicions. Last week, she had followed Scarlett and witnessed a scene she would never forget.

It had haunted her dreams ever since.

But that was her best friend’s secret, and with her new job at the police station, she hadn’t pried.

Seeing her best friend like this, she had her guesses.

“That person you mentioned…” Jessica ventured cautiously. “Is he someone you can’t be with?”

Scarlett shivered and turned to look at her in disbelief.

“Don’t be shocked.” Jessica spread her hands. “Any man who would go that far would surely get a yes without any fuss, right?”

Scarlett lowered her head and took another drink.

“Talk to me.” Seeing Scarlett tipsy, Jessica knew her best friend needed to vent.

Scarlett’s face was flushed as she murmured, “His name is Ethan, he’s family…”

She finally spilled the secret, fueled by the alcohol.

The pressure had been too much for her lately.

“This…” Jessica looked baffled and astonished. “Do you have feelings for him?”

“How could I have that kind of romantic feeling for him! I raised him since he was a child.” Scarlett shook her head. “Would you fall in love with a child you raised?”

Jessica’s eyes lit up. “Raised him yourself, huh? That’s even more thrilling!”

“You!” Scarlett threw her drink at her.

“Hehe, just kidding.” Jessica grabbed her arm, serious now. “His life isn’t going to last much longer, right? Really, you only need to consider one thing. If you reject him, after he’s gone, will you live the rest of your life with regret or guilt?”