âNo, no, youâve got it all wrong!â Quincy waved his hands dismissively, âItâs just that Iâve never seen
anyone with such a severe case of neat freak. I tried to give him a hand the day outside the hospital
room, but heâd rather hobble along in pain than accept help.â
Dorothy knew that was something Everett was capable of.
âHeâs stubborn as a mule.â
Quincy chuckled, âI guess youâre the only one who dares to speak so candidly about the president of
Lopez Corporation.â
Dorothy tugged at the corner of her mouth, remaining silent, not feeling any sense of privilege. An ugly
ducky like her had nothing to brag about in front of the real swan.
Returning to the hospital room, Dorothy checked her phone again â still no reply from Karen.
Looks like she had another allânighter!
Dorothy felt a wave of guilt, fearing Karen was staying up out of concern for her. It seemed like she was
dragging others into her mess again.
âWhat did the doctor say?â
Everett had seized the opportunity of Dorothyâs absence to open his laptop and tackle some work.
Otherwise, sheâd nag him about resting instead.
âYou can skip the shower; Iâll give you another sponge bath in a bit.â
Everett looked at her and pursed his lips in silence.
âWhat? Not keen on the idea?â Dorothy stopped in her tracks, arching an eyebrow, âOr should I find
some other bombshell to come over?â
Everettâs handsome face turned stern. The seriousness of him reminded people of an old fogey.
âI donât like that kind of joke.â
âI was just kidding. I know you canât handle it.â Dorothy turned to wet a washcloth for him, and upon her
return, she sensed Everett really didnât want her fussing over him. âWhatâs the matter now?â
âUncomfortable.â
At that word, Dorothy reacted like a startled deer, âWhere does it hurt?â
Everett looked at her helplessly, âHaving you bathe me is like torture.â
He figured the best way was to wait until he was âwellâfedââ that might lessen the pain when she
helped him. But by that time, Dorothy would be so drained she could barely lift her arms.
It took Dorothy only a moment to grasp his meaning.
Heâd been driving himself to the brink of madness these days as if he was trying to make up for four
lost years in one fell swoop!
So much so that even fresh from sleep, she was worn to a frazzle!
âSo, what do we do? Get a male nurse?â
âNo.â Thatâd be even weirder!
Dorothy could see a rare hint of conflict on Everettâs chiseled features. She couldnât help but smile, âOr
maybe we could ask Jeffrey to help out? Heâs your buddy so that shouldnât be too awkward, right?â
âForget it.â
âWhy?â
Everett flashed a grin, âHeâd be jealous that Iâm tougher than him.â
Silently, Dorothy glared at him.
It seemed that men all had unshakeable confidence in this particular area!
âBy the way, you donât need to worry about finding Karen a tour guide for Swevia Country. She said
sheâs planning to leave after she wakes up today.â
âWhy the sudden change of heart?â
âI donât know.â Dorothy shook her head, âMaybe Kennethâs pressing her.â
Everettâs handsome face froze, darkening at the mention of the name Kenneth.
âSince when did you start calling him that?â He remembered that Dorothy used to call Kenneth âMr.
Nelsonâ with utmost respect!
âI canât remember.â She honestly couldnât!
But Everett, as if seeking torment, pressed on, âWas it during those four years?â
âSeems like it. He helped me a lot.â
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