Chapter 003

Claire's heart jolted.

Ethan's poison was acting up again?

She immediately threw on a robe and rushed out.

The reason Ethan's legs were crippled was because someone poisoned him years ago.

The toxin couldn't be expelled from his body. He constantly suffered from its torment. Every time it flared up, he wished for death.

Now, once a month—no, today was only the 24th, and he'd already had seven episodes.

That meant the poison had spread to his cells throughout his body. His life was in danger at any moment.

Max was frantic, pacing back and forth by the door, constantly checking his watch. "Why isn't Dr. Miller here yet?"

Leo said, "Mr. Yost's episode came on suddenly. No one was prepared. Dr. Miller is far away. It'll take at least forty more minutes."

They both looked at the locked door, worry etched on their faces.

Claire strode over quickly. "Open the door. I'm going in."

"Mrs. Yost?"

Leo and Max turned to her simultaneously, shock in their eyes.

But immediately after, they both shook their heads.

Leo said, "No. Mr. Yost's condition is severe right now. He might lose control and hurt someone. You'd better not go in."

Ethan had locked himself in the room alone precisely because he was afraid he'd hurt someone.

Max added, "Besides, what could you even do in there? You'd just be in Mr. Yost's way. Let him have some peace."

Max was agitated and didn't bother being polite with Claire.

Claire was worried about Ethan. She didn't waste time arguing with them. She grabbed the key from Max's hand, quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and shut the door behind her just as fast.

Her movements were so swift that no one could see them clearly or react in time.

A full minute after the door closed, Max finally looked down at his empty palm in bewilderment. 'How did she take the key from my hand?'

……

Ethan's room had no lights on. The windows were shut tight, the curtains drawn. Only a faint sliver of light filtered through.

The room was massive.

Claire couldn't see him. She could only hear the sound of painful, suppressed breathing.

She followed the sound deeper inside. As she passed a large folding screen, she spotted Ethan.

He sat on the bed with his back to her. He must have been in extreme pain—his back was hunched, his hands clenched desperately around his legs, but his body still trembled uncontrollably.

Claire felt like her heart was being torn apart. She walked slowly toward him.

"Get out!"

Ethan didn't lift his head. He growled in a low voice.

Of course Claire didn't listen. She walked to his side and was about to check on him.

But before her hand could touch him, he seized her wrist. "I told you to get out!"

Ethan's grip was crushing, like he wanted to shatter her bones. His usually calm eyes had turned fierce, radiating violent hostility.

Claire winced in pain, but she didn't make a sound. She wasn't afraid.

Ethan recognized her. The ferocity in his eyes froze for a moment. Then he flung her hand away. "Get out!"

"My honey's here. Why would I leave?"

Her voice was soft, carrying a tenderness she showed no one else.

Ethan's heart jolted. He looked at her. "What did you call me?"

Claire smiled sweetly. "Honey. We're already married. What else would I call you?"

Ethan said, "We're not married yet."

She could leave anytime.

Claire replied, "I don't care. I've decided on you. The wedding are just a matter of time."

As she spoke, she began massaging his legs.

Ethan opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly, the tight, splitting pain in his nerves seemed to ease slightly.

Claire looked up at him with bright, shining eyes. "Honey, do you feel a little better?"

Ethan didn't answer right away. His gaze fell involuntarily on her hands.

Her hands were slender and soft. He didn't understand how they could have such strength or how she could pinpoint his pain so accurately and bring him relief.

How was this possible?

Daniel Miller had tried massage before. It never worked.

He looked at her with confusion in his eyes.

Claire withdrew her hands at just the right moment and smiled up at him. "Honey, let me get you some water."

Without waiting for Ethan's response, she picked up the cup from his bedside and walked toward the water dispenser.

The room was dim. With her back to him, she was certain he couldn't see. Claire quickly dropped two pills into the cup.

This medicine was a painkiller Claire had developed herself. Colorless and tasteless, it wasn't specifically formulated for him, but it had remarkable analgesic effects and didn't harm the body. It could temporarily relieve his pain.

Once the pills dissolved completely, she returned to the bedside as if nothing had happened and handed him the water. "Honey, drink some water. It'll help."

Ethan paused for a moment, then took the water and drank.

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but as the hot water entered his body, it seemed like a warm current flowed through him, easing his taut, strained nerves. The pain began to subside.

Was this the effect of a cup of hot water?

The thought seemed absurd.

Daniel had been his doctor for years. He'd tried every method, consulted every doctor. Nothing worked.

A cup of hot water?

Impossible.

But if it wasn't the water, then it was… Claire?

Ethan's gaze snapped to Claire.

Claire smiled sweetly at him. "Honey, are you feeling better? Why don't you sleep for a bit?"

She sat down beside him and patted her thigh, gesturing for him to lie down.

Ethan didn't move. His deep eyes stared at her intently, as if trying to see right through her.

Claire acted like she didn't understand anything. She patted her leg again. "Honey, come sleep."

Ethan's mouth twitched. What was he supposed to do, sleep on her lap?

Just as he was about to refuse, Claire pulled him down onto her lap.

Ethan barely had time to react.

Where did this girl get such strength?

Claire held him down so he couldn't get up. With her free hand, she pulled out a few tissues and wiped the sweat from his forehead and face.

Her gentle, careful manner made Ethan's heart tremble slightly.

He watched her for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "You're not afraid of me?"

Just now, he'd almost lost control from the pain. His veins had bulged, his face and head were drenched in sweat, his whole body radiated hostility. And she wasn't the least bit afraid?

Claire continued wiping his sweat, her tone slow and gentle. "Why would I be afraid of you? You're my honey. You're so handsome, so good-looking. I like you too much to be afraid."

Ethan said nothing.

Was she treating him like a child, talking to him in that tone?

Still, lying against her really was comfortable.

Her body was soft. She had a faint, fresh scent about her. Comfortable. Pleasant.

Ethan hadn't had a good night's sleep in years. Especially in the last six months, he endured the poison's torment daily. He slept less than three hours a night, and even then, never soundly.

In this moment, though, he felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. Before he knew it, he'd actually fallen asleep.

Claire was afraid of disturbing him, so she stayed in that position without moving.

Once she was sure he was deeply asleep, she began examining his body.