Badass in Disguise Chapter 280

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.

---

"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.

Snowmen dotted the campus grounds. Occasionally, conversations about the legendary student Jade Morgan—who hadn't attended classes in so long—drifted through the cold air.

Ethan drove back from his Wall Street office to the Haxton residence with the window down, chain-smoking cigarettes as he watched the vibrant young people along the roadside. Connor, who was driving, didn't dare comment on the smoking.

Upon arriving home, Ethan made sure to rid himself of the cigarette smell before approaching Jade's bed. The moment he saw her, much of his negative energy seemed to dissipate.

The cold wind had aggravated what seemed to be the beginnings of a cold.

Ethan's mood was particularly dark today. Maybe it was the miserable weather, maybe it was smoking too much, or maybe the emotions he'd been suppressing for over half a year had finally reached a breaking point. Whatever the cause, Ethan couldn't calm himself.

Outside, the snow and wind raged. He sat by her bed for a long time, talking continuously but unable to find any peace.

As darkness fell, he finally made his request, his voice hesitant: "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Ethan had given his master bedroom to Jade. He'd moved to the guest room next door, and had been sleeping there for as long as she had been unconscious.

"I'll take your silence as a yes—thank you." He even had the audacity to kiss her cheek, thanking her with genuine happiness in his voice.

"I'll go shower first, then I'll be back," Ethan said, suddenly energized as he stood and headed for the bathroom.

---

After his shower, Ethan climbed into bed beside Jade, turned off the light, and gently pulled her into his arms. He touched his cheek to hers briefly before drawing back.

He sighed softly.

"I don't know what's wrong with me today. I've been in a bad mood all day," he said. Then he quickly added, "But I feel better now that I'm with you."

He wasn't sure if she could hear him, but he spoke anyway.

"My mother went to church to pray for you again the day before yesterday. Last time I hired a medium to try to contact your soul, and it terrified her."

"Now she prays all the time and reads the Bible whenever she's not busy, afraid I'll find another medium. Some son I am..."

"Good thing I'm her own son, and you're her future daughter-in-law. Otherwise, my father would definitely kick me out of the house," Ethan said with a laugh.

"It's getting cold, so I can't take you out for walks every day anymore. I think I'm coming down with a cold myself."

He kept talking, seemingly unable to stop, discussing recent events, the company, Princeton University, people they both knew, their experiences in Crimson Valley, Venezuela...

"Chase Astor came by again today. He actually tried to climb over the wall this time and was nearly caught by security as an intruder."

"I wonder if that kid has fallen for you. He used to look at me like I was a ghost, but now he's brave enough to trespass on Haxton property just to see you."

Looking at Jade's unresponsive face, Ethan felt a flash of annoyance. He playfully bit her cheek as punishment, but couldn't bring himself to use any pressure. After a moment, he released her and planted a loud, apologetic kiss on the same spot.

Sleep finally began to claim him.

He turned off the light.

"Good night."

---

The tree branches outside the balcony swayed in the wind, casting shifting shadows.

Ethan slept fitfully, plagued by nightmares.

He dreamed that Night had taken Jade away, and no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find her, couldn't see her again.

He dreamed that Dusk was still alive, that Jade had been with Dusk all along, and he was merely an insignificant bystander.

He dreamed that Jade's soul had already left her body, and he'd been caring for an empty vessel all this time.

He dreamed that Jade woke up but didn't recognize him, treating him with cold indifference. When he tried to explain their relationship, no sound came from his mouth.

He even dreamed that Jade married someone else. He couldn't see the groom's face clearly, but he knew with certainty that it wasn't him.

Finally, he dreamed of the cliff again, of Jade falling, of failing to rescue her from the sea. The explosion sounded, and Jade was blown to pieces, leaving nothing behind.

Ethan's eyes flew open in terror as he woke from the nightmare. He felt drained, raising a hand to press against his throbbing temple. He blinked, realizing it was already morning.

Suddenly, the hand at his temple froze. His eyes widened, pupils dilating as he became fully alert. He sensed something—and quickly turned his head to look beside him.

The bed was empty.