Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7: FLOWERS AND A REWARD

“Nexus!” 

I ran to him as soon as I entered his room. He was struggling on the floor, the wheelchair lying above half of his body. 

His eyebrows were furrowed and groaned in pain. 

“Nexus!” I called and shook him slightly to wake him up. 

I was startled for a moment when I saw his bleeding hand. Pieces of broken glass from a bottle of medicine were scattered on the floor. 

I cursed in a low voice and put my palm on his head. He has a fever and—where the hell was his private nurse?! 

Damn it!

I repeatedly pressed the buzzer to get help but no one answered the intercom. 

“Shit!” I tried to lift him up. 

“S-Steph…”

“I need to get you up. Come on, help me will you?” I said, relief that he’s awake. 

I winced as we almost both fell over as I dragged his heaviness towards the bed. He’s really heavy, bulky—damn! I wanna hit this guy!

I was panting heavily by the time I finally settled him against the headboard of the bed. He was whimpering when I got back from getting the first aid kid in his bathroom. 

“Don’t scream,” I ordered when I removed the glass splinter from his wound.

Like a kid, he held back his cries. I didn’t know what to feel when his face and neck turned red and his eyes filled with tears. 

But his being a ‘good boy’ ended when I poured alcohol on his wounds. He cursed crisply and tried to move his hand away from me. I glared at him. 

After I covered his wound, I pushed him back to lie down on the bed. 

“Have you eaten? Where’s Rex?” 

“I-I sent h-him home.”

“What?” my voice rose in annoyance but shut my mouth when his eyes watered again. 

The hell!

I pointed my finger at him. “Stay here. I’ll get you something.”

I couldn’t find any housemaid and I was not sure what I should feed him. I ended up grabbing a glass and filling it with cold water, took a bowl of leftover snacks in the pot, and put it in the microwave oven. 

When I returned, Nexus was lying limply on his bed. His hands were cold and almost not moving. 

I tapped his cheek. When he didn’t open his eyes, I tapped again, harder, almost slapping him. 

God! This hatred of mine will put me in jail for assault. 

He stirred and his brows creased in pain. 

“Get up. I’ll clean you,” I told him and put one of my hands on his shoulder to help him adjust himself on the bed. 

“S-Steph…”

“Turned around.” I rolled my eyes when he didn’t do what I told him. 

Without a choice, I helped him put his back on me and clean him. Afterward, I pulled new clothes and comfortable shorts from his closet. 

I had to hold back from blushing when I undressed him. His body was somewhat thinner than he used to be but his stomach still had abs. 

He looked like a model in his physique. Lean, not too muscular like a bodybuilder. Err…the abs were still six in count…

I cursed myself when I pulled Nexus’ pajamas. Imagine, an ex-wife seeing the bulge again after years. The black briefs he’s wearing don’t give justice to his maleness. It looks like it wanted to get out of that thin cloth. 

Before my eyes could stray, I pulled his shorts up. 

Wait a freaking minute.  Why am I acting like I didn’t see that before?

He could eat soup but still had to follow a diet given by the doctor. 

I sat on his side after he fell asleep. I need to make sure his fever shouldn’t get worse. He groans occasionally that I need to wipe his sweat off with a towel. 

When he woke up for the third time, I went to the bathroom with him. Fortunately, he can move his hand already. No way, I’ll wash him myself. 

We’re not husband and wife anymore and it would be too awkward on my part. Almeradez’s family should give me a separate salary for this!

I helped him again back to bed after he used the bathroom. I put alcohol on his hand to make sure. 

He held my hands and intertwined our fingers before kissing them. 

“T-Thank you…for taking care of me.”

His warm lips brushed on my skin. His eyes were filled with adoration as he looked at me, making my heart skip a beat. 

“Lie down so you can rest.”  I pulled my hand back and coughed gently. 

He obediently obeyed. I sat back next to him but stood up again when I noticed that he’s uncomfortable while looking at his feet. 

I breathed and positioned myself near his feet. 

Rex said it was normal for Nexus to feel numb or uncomfortable. I took both of his feet and placed them on my thighs before massaging them…

Yep, I’ll demand a salary for this!

“S-STEPH, flowers f-for you,” Nexus said softly when he handed me a bunch of red roses—without thorns. 

I was taken aback for a moment before accepting it. 

Nexus’ ears and neck were read, and he was looking down while glancing at me from time to time. 

“He picked those himself, Ma’am. From the garden,” Rex said. 

“D-Do you like it?” my ex-husband nervously asked. 

My gaze went to his hands, which were resting at the top of his thighs. He hid it quickly. 

“Why do you have cuts?

“N-Nothing.”

Rex avoided my eyes when I looked at him. I leaned forward to Nexus and took his hand. At first, he didn’t want to give those to her but she was persistent. 

“What happened with these?” There were small, fresh wounds and still bleeding. I looked at the roses I was holding.

“Did you get hurt because of these?”

They avoided my eyes again. 

“I’ll treat his wound, Rex. You can go,” I said, which made Nexus’ eyes lit up. 

“Alright, Ma’am. Before I forget, Dr. Ramirez is coming today,” Rex reminded and left the garden. 

Dr. Ramirez was the therapist who had been coming here every week for two months now. My ex-husband's therapy sessions were continuing and he has been improving day by day. 

In the first week of his session in Hacienda, Nexus was not cooperating. Miss Yeye told me that he doesn’t want to start without me. That time, I jailed myself in the guestroom to finish tons of my office work. 

I asked the maid to get the first aid kid before settling on the sofa while he was in front of me. 

“D-Did you like the flowers?” he asked doubtfully. 

I nod my head. 

“Dr. Ramirez will be here for your therapy. I want you to cooperate with him.”

“Will you w-watch?”

“Yes.” 

His eyes sparkled with happiness and a small smile appeared on his lips.  

“T-Thank you. Once I-I walk again…we should g-go to the t-tree house.”

I stopped putting a band-aid on his wounds. “You remember the tree house?”

He nodded and his eyes sparkled even more.

“W-We always w-went there, right?”

“What else do you remember?” I began to feel nervous because of anticipation. But it quickly vanished when he looked down and pressed his lips. 

“N-Nothing more.”

I am freaking disappointed. 

When his therapist arrived, Nexus and Dr. Ramirez took place in a room as big as a studio. I sat next to Rex and watched my ex-husband being taught by the therapist how to take steps. I noticed how eager he was to learn. 

It seemed like he was showing off to me. 

He was smiling every time he looked in my direction. My lips rose a bit for a smile…

It was already afternoon when the therapy session ended. Rex assisted Nexus in drinking water and changing clothes. While me, I accompanied Dr. Ramirez on his way out of the Hacienda after eating. He reminded me of Nexus therapy in Manila, next week. I couldn’t go with him because of the work I would leave behind. I’m sure Rex and Alejandro can take care of him.  

“Was I very g-good?” he asked like a child when I went to his room. He rested his chin on my shoulder and I put my hand on the back of his head. His shoulder-length hair was tied in a man bun and I love to ruin it with my fingers. 

“Yes. You did great.”

“I-I want a reward.” 

His hot breath tickled my neck. I let out a soft laugh to shake off the familiar feelings I was having at that moment. 

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I said instead. “I have to go to the office. Do you want to come with me?”

He nodded his head repeatedly so I looked at him. But I did not expect his sudden move. Without a warning, he pressed his lips to mine.