Chapter 211
“It’s okay,” Jaden insisted, though each step down the hill seemed to be a struggle. His legs were clearly stiff and pained him with every move.
Ella was sweating from the effort of helping him down.
“Mr. Griffin, you really need to get checked out. Your leg seems worse than before. Let’s head to the hospital,” she said firmly.
“I don’t need to go,” he protested.
“You do need to go,” Ella said, her concern unwavering. “Your leg was fine earlier, but now it’s clearly causing you trouble.”
She was determined, feeling a strong sense of duty towards him.
He was an old friend of her parents, and even though he wasn’t her real family, Ella had come to think of him as family after spending so much time together.
A guy in his fifties, feeling lonely and old. He’d built up his fortune, but now it was just him and the prospect of ending up in a nursing home.
No kids or spouse to share life with, and it made her heart ache thinking about it all. If his health took a turn for the worse, it’d be even harder to bear.
Ella guided him back to the hospital, where the doctor examined his leg thoroughly.
The X–rays revealed that both of his calves had signs of previous injuries that were still healing. His calf wasn’t just hurt from a fall; it looked like it had been crushed by something heavy. The doctor couldn’t determine much from the X–ray, so they turned to traditional medicine.
After acupuncture and a thorough assessment, they found out his leg had been seriously injured before and wasn’t treated properly. Though the bones had healed, the injury left lasting damage.
His leg couldn’t handle stairs well, and in cold weather, it felt like ants were crawling on his bones.
The man was also really sensitive to the cold. The nerves in his feet were a bit messed up, sometimes making him feel weak and unsteady.
Ella was shocked by how serious it was. “What can be done now?” she asked.
“It’ll require long–term rehab, but there’s no guarantee of how much improvement he’ll see. Given the damage, every winter, rainy season, and even hot weather must have been really tough on him. He’s likely been in a lot of pain,” the doctor explained.
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“Couldn’t rehab fix it completely?” Ella asked.
“Not entirely. The nerves are damaged, and the motor function in his calf is compromised. It might even get worse over time, possibly leading to paralysis,” the doctor said.
“Ella!” Jaden’s irritated voice rang out from inside the room.
Ella quickly wrapped up her conversation, adding the doctor on WhatsApp so they could discuss things later, then hurried back inside.
“The doctor said you need to take it easy,” she said.
“I don’t need you to remind me about my own body. I know it better than anyone.” Jaden was clearly frustrated.
He didn’t want Ella to know that he was on the brink of becoming crippled.
Even if she didn’t realize that this stubborn 50–year–old man was actually Jaden, she understood that men–no matter their age–had their pride.
Jaden forced himself to his feet, determined to leave.
Ella moved to help him, but he pushed her away. “I’m not so weak that I can’t walk! I don’t need your help.”
He stubbornly tried to walk on his own, each step clearly causing him pain.
The old injuries in his bones throbbed as he staggered forward, but eventually, his strength gave out, and he collapsed onto one knee with a dull thud.
Ella’s heart ached hearing him struggle.
When she tried to help him up, he shoved her away. His eyes were wild with frustration, and his voice was rough. “I’m nothing but a failure. Just leave me alone.”
““Mr. Griffin, I don’t see you that way,” Ella said softly, though his harsh stare was hard to bear.
Jaden didn’t answer. He stubbornly tried to brace himself against the wall, but his legs kept giving out. He fell once, twice–by the third attempt, he finally managed to stand, leaning heavily on the wall.
But just as he tried to move, he collapsed again.
Ella couldn’t watch any longer. She caught him firmly, pulling his arm over her shoulder.
“Let me go!” Jaden snapped, his fury rising.
It was bad enough that she saw him like this–needing her help to even stand felt like the ultimate
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At this moment, Jaden’s pride felt like it was being roasted over an open flame, inching closer to turning to ash.
Ella, too, was starting to get frustrated.
“Mr. Griffin, I’ve never looked down on you. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you’ll only make things worse. I’m not here to judge you, laugh at you, or make you feel worse. We may not have known each other long, but I can see you’re a good person, even if you try to act tough. And I may not seem like it, but I’ve got your back.
“So please, don’t push me away. Don’t be so stubborn.”
Jaden’s face flushed, his lips pressed into a thin line. How could she think he was nice? He wasn’t, not to most people–just her.
After getting him to the car, Ella asked where he was headed.
“The hotel,” he muttered.
“Are you staying alone? Do you have someone to take care of you?” she asked.
“I have a secretary,” he replied.
“And that’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Then stay at my place. You need someone to keep an eye on you, and a busy secretary isn’t going to cut it,” Ella said.
“Your place?” Jaden asked, a bit surprised.
“Yeah, why not?” Ella replied, not thinking much of it.
Jaden wanted to decline, but part of him longed to be there.
Without another word, they arrived at the entrance of the Willow family villa.
As Jaden stood at the door, it felt like a lifetime had passed since he’d last been here.
Ella, unaware of his pause, led him inside. The house looked the same, with the garden still thriving, especially the flowers under the old, withered tree.
She took him upstairs to the guest room and arranged for some toiletries to be brought in.
“These are my boyfriend’s things. If you don’t like them, just let me know, and I’ll swap them out,”
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she said.
Jaden’s mood shifted instantly. “I don’t like them. Get rid of it all.”
“As expected, older folks aren’t into the trendy stuff,” Ella teased as she swapped out the mouthwash, electric toothbrush, and other toiletries.
“Not that one either,” Jaden said, gesturing toward the shower gel in the bathroom.
“I’m keeping this one. It’s a family favorite,” she replied.
That made Jaden feel a little better. He picked up the bottle, catching a hint of mint. “Do you like peppermint?” he asked.
“Not really,” she said lightly. “I’m just used to it and never bothered to switch.”
The truth was, someone else had loved that minty scent, always carrying that crisp, cool fragrance.
She had a preference for stronger scents but ended up sticking with mint out of habit.
Ella finished tidying the room and left, giving him some space.
Jaden sat there for a long time, taking it all in.
There were no traces of him left in this place.
He was still the same person, and the place looked the same. Yet, it all felt different.
When Zack got back, he sensed something was off–there was someone else in the house. Instantly on edge, he worried Ella had found someone new and would leave him behind.
Spotting her on the second floor, he rushed over.
“Ella, did I do something wrong? Please don’t leave me. I can be even better, I promise. Just don’t leave me,” he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
Hearing his heartfelt plea, Ella couldn’t help but feel like a bit of a villain. Like she was juggling one uncertain relationship while potentially diving into another.
But these were just arrangements she’d set up, investments she’d made. They were much more reliable than the messy emotions that came with a real relationship.
Everyone got what they needed, and it was mutually beneficial.
She playfully pinched his cheek. “Silly, you’re still too good to get tired of. Don’t worry, it’s not some other guy. It’s Mr. Griffin. You’ve met him before.”
“The weird guy?” Zack asked, raising an eyebrow.
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