جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

Nicholas's POVThe door closed softly behind Emma, leaving me ensnared in the echoing silence of my room. I stared at the spot where she'd been standing just moments ago, trying to banish the bitter coil of frustration lodged in my chest. I didn’t want to be cruel to her, but it was hard to control the rage that I had inside of me now, and I hated that she pitied me. I clenched my fists, a futile gesture meant to rekindle a sense of the control I so desperately missed.The pile of clothes on my bed taunted me. Getting changed for bed should’ve been a routine task, but now it felt like I was staring up at an unclimbable mountain. The thought of calling Emma back to help rattled in my mind. But my pride dug in its heels. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—admit that I needed someone else to perform even the most basic tasks for me.With a determined grunt, I reached for my pyjama pants, only to have them slip through my fingers and fall to the floor. “Come on, dammit.” I leaned precariously over the e

Emma's POVThe day had been long and exhausting, filled with the usual back-and-forth of trying to assist Nicholas while trying to avoid hitting the invisible landmines of his temper. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue through the large windows, I decided I needed a break—some time to clear my head and regroup my thoughts. Even though I made a promise to help Nicholas navigate this new reality, I had to look after my own mental health, too.Walking down the hall, I tried to summon the courage to face Nicholas one more time today. As I stood outside his office door, I took a deep breath and lightly knocked, waiting for his gruff acknowledgment before pushing it open.Nicholas sat behind his mahogany desk, the room heavy with the scent of leather and paper. His eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, seemed softer, almost contemplative, as he sifted through some documents. His wheelchair was a stark contrast to the powerful image he tried so hard to mai

Emma's POVThe morning sun crept into my room, its warm rays gently coaxing me from a restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I almost forgot the unusual events of last night. But then reality came crashing down, filling my mind with the overwhelming certainty that nothing was normal anymore.I stretched and glanced around my room, still marvelling at its luxurious, if somewhat oppressive, decor. Everything was too pristine, too orderly. This didn't feel like home. It felt like another layer of Nicholas's control.As my gaze swept across the walls, something caught my eye. Or rather, the lack of something. My door—it was gone. My heart pounded as I scrambled out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor as I rushed to where the door should be. I touched the solid wall, disbelief making me laugh incredulously. He really thought he could strip away my freedom that easily?You want to play games, Nicholas? I thought to myself, a fire igniting in my chest. Then that’s what

Emma's POVThe tension between Nicholas and me was clear. Each day, as I navigated the mansion, I found myself tiptoeing around his moods, trying to anticipate the next challenge he would throw my way. Despite everything, a part of me couldn’t help but feel a deep empathy for him. His strength, his command—they were a shadow of who he used to be, and it pained me to see him struggle so much.As the week progressed, I found myself searching for any opportunity to lighten the tension between us. The mansion, grand as it was, felt suffocating with its constant undercurrent of unspoken emotions. I needed to find a way to break through the walls Nicholas had built around himself.Nicholas refused to leave the house, which meant I never got to leave the house. This was something I really struggled with, and every time I brought it up, it would send Nicholas into a fit of rage.One evening, as I was preparing his medication, an idea struck me. It was simple yet bold, something that could eit

Emma's POV I spent the entire night after our dinner replaying our conversation in my head. "It's a date," I had said, and immediately, embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave. Why had I uttered those words? They carried a weight of meaning far too intimate for what Nicholas had proposed. He wanted me there as a form of support and his nurse, clearly not as a date. After a night of fitful sleep, I awoke with a deep sense of nervousness. Tonight, I will accompany Nicholas to the packed event. The thought of the upcoming night loomed over me as I made my way to the kitchen, determined to get a head start on breakfast. I hoped that a well-prepared meal might keep him in a good mood. As I stepped into the brightly lit kitchen, the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon greeted me. But to my surprise, the maid Susan was already bustling about, placing the finishing touches on an elaborate breakfast spread. "Oh, good morning, Miss Emma," Susan greeted warmly.