Chapter 5
1988 Words
When Anna woke up, she looked around and realized that she was in Ethan’s bed.
“That was quite an act.” The first thing she heard was Ethan’s mockery.
She struggled frantically to sit up on the bed when she saw Ethan glaring at her from his wheelchair.
“Where did you go yesterday?” Ethan demanded when she saw her trying to get up from the bed. “Since you have married into the Larson family, you will die a Larson!”
Anna had been emotionally drained and physically exhausted in the past two days. She did not want to argue and told him the truth. “My nanny passed away and I went to make arrangements for her funeral.”
Ethan looked at Anna suspiciously, with disbelief written all over his face. “Is it all that necessary for a nanny?”
Anna had been suppressing the pain and sorrow of losing Alice and Ethan’s thoughtless remarks triggered her emotions.
Tears poured from her eyes and she said to Ethan with quivering lips, “Of course, it’s necessary, because she’s my dearest kin!”
Anna sensed that she had lost control of her temper and quickly looked down guiltily and said as she sobbed, “If Master has nothing else for me, I have to go to work now.”
Ethan looked at Anna with some surprise, then just turned away silently and left the room in his electric wheelchair.
After arriving at the hospital, Anna resumed her busy work routine so that she would not dwell on losing Alice.
“Anna?! What are you doing here?” A slightly familiar male voice said from behind her.
Anna turned around and it was Andy Spader, a former high school classmate.
They exchanged some pleasantries and when Andy saw Anna wearing the white robe, he said excitedly, “Anna, you’re a doctor here? That’s great!”
“My aunt was hit by a bicycle and she’s still unwell. Her previous doctor could not find anything wrong and said she could just go back and rest. But...” Before Anna could react, Andy had already described what had happened.
Anna thought about Alice and could empathize with what Andy was going through. She readily said, “Don’t worry, bring me over to her.”
Anna followed Andy to the ward and noticed that she looked very pale and weak. She knew immediately that the patient could not be discharged in that state.
She did a preliminary examination of the patient and ordered some scans and tests to be conducted.
Anna signaled Andy to follow her and she assured Andy. “Don’t worry too much, your aunt’s vitals are stable. Let’s wait for the results of the tests and I will establish the cause of her discomfort before we do anything.”
Andy was so grateful that he lunged opened his arms and hugged her. “Anna, thank you so much! My aunt is a very important family member to me, thank you!”
Anna was used to these kinds of gestures. She smiled and gently patted Andy’s back.
Coincidentally, this was seen by Ethan, who was here for a follow-up appointment. He narrowed his eyes jealously and gritted his teeth angrily.
“What a s**t! Looks like she faked the grief of her loss. Flirting around is her strength!”
He steered his wheelchair toward them and shot daggers at Anna with his angry glare.
This morning, his frozen heart warmed up slightly when he was moved by how emotional she was at the loss of her nanny. However, now she was fine enough to be cuddling with another man in public!
Anna was touched by how Andy felt about his aunty. After the hug, she pushed Andy away and was startled when she saw Ethan a few steps away glaring at her gloomily.
Andy also noticed how upset Ethan was and was at a loss for words. He looked awkwardly back and forth at Ethan and Anna, wondering about their relationship.
Anna cleared her throat and explained, “This a former classmate of mine, and the patient is his family member.” After the brief introduction, she knew that Ethan could lash out and make a mountain out of a molehill. She quickly said, “I have to continue my rounds, Andy, take care of your aunty.”
Thereafter, she stepped forward to push Ethan’s wheelchair toward the physiotherapy room.
She had been so busy these past two days that she had forgotten that Ethan was coming in for a follow-up appointment today.
“Don’t touch me, you filthy woman!” Ethan slapped Anna’s hand away with disgust and steered the wheelchair away from her.
Anna followed him quietly to the therapy room. After he began his session, Danzel walked in and tapped her on the shoulder. She followed him to the side and he said, “Anna, you need to pay attention to Ethan’s movements during his rehabilitation and assist him to prevent any injuries.”
“Ethan, the previous rehabilitation program did not go that well, I suggest you readjust your program.” Danzel knew Ethan well and spoke directly to him.
Anna was more familiar with cardiac surgery and had relatively little exposure to orthopedic rehabilitation. She noted down carefully the details of the therapy that Danzel suggested.
However, the new therapy was rather tough and Ethan fell repeatedly. Each time he collapsed onto the ground with a thud, Anna felt like it was a punch to her gut.
Ethan was persistent and did not give up. He picked himself up and started over again and again.
With Danzel supervising the therapy session, Ethan did not lash out at Amma. He simply did the routine repeatedly in silence.
After the session, Danzel patted Ethan’s shoulder and said, “You did great today. We have all the time in the world. There is no need to rush, take your time!” He then turned to Anna and said, “Anna, remember the critical points. You may guide him through the exercises at home. I have a patient waiting for me, I’ll leave first.”
After Danzel left, only the two of them remained in the therapy room.
Anna noticed that Ethan was exhausted by the session. She went to help him with the wheelchair and this time he did not object.
“Master Ethan, do you want to...” Before Anna could finish her sentence, Ethan interrupted her and said, “The driver is waiting outside.”
Anna quickly pushed Ethan to the entrance of the hospital and the driver, who had been waiting, immediately ran forward and took over the wheelchair.
Anna was about to say something when the hospital pager rang. It was code blue. One of her patients must be having some complications.
“Master Ethan, go home first and get some rest. I’ll be back later.”
“Come back with me,” Ethan said wearily.
Anna knew that she should not refuse Ethan at this time, but there was a patient who was waiting for her...
She squatted down and cautiously said, “Sir, I still have to go and examine the patient later.”
“Ah!” He grabbed her hair without warning and snarled, “It looks like I had not set the rules clearly enough. Look, I wouldn’t be in this position if it were not for you! You will do whatever I say. Understand?”
He tugged her hair so hard that her scalp hurt and Anna immediately teared up.
Ethan lifted his chin and gestured to the driver, who immediately pushed Ethan toward the car. Ethan did not let go of his grip. Instead, he dragged Anna to the car, and he said coldly, “Get in the car. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Anna covered her head, held back her tears, and got into the car. She knew that it was impossible to change his mind.
Inside the car, Ethan looked coldly at Anna who leaned away from him as if she was both terrified and upset by how he treated her. When he saw her sulk, he said disdainfully, “What’s with that expression? Who are you trying to impress?”
When Anna ignored him and continued to look out the window, he leaned over, pinched her chin, and said, “You’re sad that I scared away your old lover?”
Anna swatted his hand away and said angrily, “Mr. Larson, please don’t accuse others without proof!”
“Accuse?” Ethan sneered when he saw her tearing eyes and said scornfully, “Are you telling me that you did not hit me? Didn’t stay out all night or rub your chest with another man publicly?”
“I told you that I was handling my nanny’s funeral and there is nothing between Andy and me!” Anna sobbed sorrowfully due to the injustice she was experiencing.
She turned her head away and looked outside, unwilling to let Ethan see her like this.
Before they could argue any further, they had already arrived at the villa. Anna dried her tears and followed behind Ethan silently.
Just as she reached the entrance, she heard a burst of laughter coming from inside the villa.
“Ethan! You’re back!” Kate looked over happily and pointed to a young woman, “Look who’s here! Nina came to see you as soon as she got back!”
Ethan nodded politely at them and said that he needed to wash up and change.
Anna, who had always kept a low profile in the Larson residence, remained silent and was about to follow Ethan to his bedroom when she heard Kate say, “Hey, you, come over and serve Nina a cup of coffee.”
Anna was about to say something, but Ethan had already left by himself. She nodded obediently and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee.
Just as she served the cup of coffee to Nina and was about to leave, Kate said, “Just wait at the side.”
Anna had to stand on one side like any of the other maids.
“Nina, you used to hang out with Ethan so often. You must be so capable after studying abroad! A man would be very lucky to marry you! Unfortunately, I’m not lucky enough to be your mother-in-law!” Kate said and rolled her eyes scornfully at Anna.
Then, her phone rang, and went outside to take the call.
“I heard you’re Ethan’s wife?” Nina asked Anna.
At that moment, there was no one else apart from Nina and Anna in the living room. Nina picked up the cup of coffee and sniffed it with a disgusted look.
“Perhaps, I should say that you’re the one who caused Ethan to be like this?”
In two short sentences, Anna knew that Nina was coming on strong.
“Hey, are you deaf? I asked you a question,” Nina raised provocatively and raised her eyebrows.
Anna knew that Nina was trying to stir up some confrontation. She responded calmly, “Miss Nina if there is nothing else, I’ll go to do my chores.”
After saying that, Anna left hastily toward the stairs.
Nina was not about to let her go so easily. She rushed forward and grabbed her arm and then whispered to her, “Just watch yourself. Don’t think that just because you’re married to Ethan, you’ll always be a Larson. A b***h like you is unworthy of Ethan!”
Anna could not believe what she heard and had enough of her. She was about to shake her arm free when Nina smiled smugly and then leaned backward on her own!
Thud... tumble... crash!
Nina rolled down the stairs on purpose!
“What are you doing?!” An angry roar came from behind Anna.
- Writer
