Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 371

Chapter 371

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The morning sunlight was already growing intense as Ethan wheeled Jade back inside from their early garden session. Even though it was barely mid–morning, the summer heat was building quickly, making their usual outdoor time shorter than in previous months.

The sunlight filtered through the partially drawn curtains, casting a gentle glow across her still form. She looked peaceful in the natural light, almost as if she were simply taking an afternoon nap.

He noticed her fingernails had grown. Sliding open the drawer of the nightstand, he retrieved a nail clipper and sat on the edge of the bed. With practiced care, he lifted her right hand into his.

“Your nails are getting long again,” he murmured, positioning the clipper carefully.

The quiet snip of the clipper was the only sound as he worked methodically, trimming each nail with precision. After each cut, he ran his thumb across the edge to make sure it was smooth, checking for any sharp bits that might catch on the bedsheets.

He moved from her right hand to her left, then carefully shifted to trim her toenails.

Though the Haxton mansion had no shortage of professional nurses who could tend to Jade, Ethan insisted on handling most aspects of her care himself.

“There,” he said softly, returning the clipper to the drawer. “Much better.”

Summer was giving way to fall, and the New York air carried the first hints of the coming chill. Ethan lifted Jade carefully from the bed- one arm under her knees, the other supporting her back–and settled her into the wheelchair. He made sure she was positioned properly before pushing her toward the balcony.

He paused, turning back to retrieve a hair tie and brush from her vanity. As he stood behind the wheelchair and began working the brush through her long hair, he remembered their time in Africa, when he’d washed her hair for her.

“You said your hair was too long,” he reminisced. “You wanted to cut it short, but we never found the chance.”

Now her hair reached her waist.

Captain lay in the corner of the room, his eyes tracking Ethan’s movements with a listless gaze. The dog had grown depressed since Jade’s coma began.

Ethan gathered Jade’s hair to one side and began weaving it into a braid, his fingers surprisingly deft. Today she wore a light blue floral dress with a beige cardigan–an outfit he’d selected himself. Even if they couldn’t go out for their daily walks anymore, he insisted that the nurses dress her properly each day.

When he finished the braid, Ethan crouched in front of the wheelchair and adjusted the elastic band, which had a small cartoon character attached to it.

His smile faded as he straightened her cardigan, fingers brushing against her prominent collarbone. Despite his dedicated care and the intravenous nutrition, Jade had grown alarmingly thin. She was almost unrecognizable from the woman he’d first met.

Pushing the thought aside, Ethan began massaging her legs, working methodically to prevent muscle atrophy.

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Chapter 371

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“Thanksgiving is coming up again, Jade,” he said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. ‘I feel like I’m getting old.”

Fall had always been melancholy, and Ethan–whose emotions had become increasingly raw–felt its effects deeply. He looked at her, pain evident in his expression.

“Are you really going to wait until my hair turns white and my face is covered in wrinkles before you wake up?”

The possibility of such a long wait filled him with despair. “What if you find me too old by then?” he asked, trying for humor but failing miserably. That wasn’t what truly worried him.

“All that time… you just lying here like this…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Could you…”

He counted days like a prisoner marking time on a wall, each one passing with excruciating slowness.

“How am I supposed to help you?” he asked, resting his head gently on her lap.

Fall seemed especially long this year, with Ethan frequently slipping into periods of depression. Chris Jensen had visited a few days ago and, noticing Ethan’s concerning emotional state, had stayed for several days out of worry.

Fortunately, Ethan’s condition, while fragile, wasn’t dire enough to require Chris’s psychological intervention. After a night of drinking and sharing stories about Shadow’s past exploits, Ethan’s mood had improved slightly.

New York’s first snow arrived earlier than usual this year, and it was uncommonly heavy. The entire city disappeared under a pristine white blanket.

At Princeton University, students engaged in spirited snowball fights, their youthful energy undimmed by heavy winter clothing. This was supposed to be the most beautiful time of life–yet while some enjoyed their youth on campus, others lay unconscious, time slipping away from them.

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