Badass in Disguise Chapter 282

Jade's POV:

I heard the sound of paws frantically scrambling across the floor. Before I could prepare myself, the door burst open and Captain rushed in, his dark eyes widening when he spotted me sitting up in bed.

"Captain!" I laughed as Captain froze for just a second before launching himself toward me. His sleek body trembled with excitement, his tail wiggling so frantically it seemed like it might detach.

Captain whined, pressing his pointed muzzle against my chest, circling me with frantic energy before settling his muscular frame against me, his paw resting possessively on my arm as if making sure I wouldn't disappear again.

"I missed you too, buddy," I said, running my hand over his short, glossy coat. "Sorry I was gone for so long."

Maxi stood in the corner of the room, his robotic eyes blinking. "Good morning, Master."

The bathroom door opened at the moment. Ethan stepped out, and I had to do a double-take.

He looked... impeccable. His freshly shaven jaw highlighted the sharp angles of his face, his tie perfectly knotted against a crisp black shirt. The tailored suit jacket emphasized his broad shoulders, and his slacks had creases sharp enough to cut butter. Even his shoes gleamed like they'd been polished by professionals.

"Going to a board meeting?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ethan's lips curved into a subtle smile. "Of course not."

"A date, then?" I teased.

His response was quick, eyes brightening. "You choose the place?"

"Then where are you going?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"Nowhere special. This is just my daily attire," he said, adjusting his cufflinks. "Thought I'd join you for breakfast."

"Old men and their tricks," I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

Despite my teasing, I was touched by his effort.

As we made our way to the dining room, Captain refused to leave my side, occasionally bumping against my leg as if to make sure I was still there.

Breakfast was waiting for us—fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee that smelled strong enough to wake the dead. We'd barely started eating when the sound of footsteps interrupted us.

Connor appeared in the doorway, files clutched in his hand. "Mr. Haxton, I have the quarterly reports for—"

The moment his eyes landed on me, the documents slipped from his grasp, scattering across the floor.

"Ms. Morgan?" His voice cracked. "You're awake?"

I nodded. "I should probably let the others know too."

Rather than calling everyone individually, I created a group chat and added Chris and Night, then initiated a video call. The screen split to show both men accepting simultaneously.

"Shadow?" Night's voice filled the room, his face a mixture of disbelief and joy. "Is it really you?"

"No, it's her ghost," Chris deadpanned. "Of course it's her. When did you wake up?"

"This morning," I replied.

Night bombarded me with questions—how I felt, what I remembered, if I needed anything. Chris was more reserved, but the relief in his eyes was unmistakable.

Ethan came by twice during my call, and both times, Night's voice dominated the conversation. When Ethan approached for the third time, I had finally ended the call.

Ethan cleared his throat, his expression turning more formal. "My parents would like to invite you to dinner, Miss Morgan, if you would honor us with your presence."

"I want seafood," I replied.

I sent quick messages to Ryan and the others, letting them know I was awake, then spent the rest of the day adjusting to being vertical again.

By evening, I glanced at Ethan, who was still impeccably dressed. "Should I be wearing an evening gown or something?"

"You're perfect as you are," he assured me. "My parents are already nervous. If you dress too formally, they'll be even more uncomfortable."

Ethan handed me a coat. "It's cold outside, anyway. A dress would be impractical."

We stood at the door of the villa, and I noticed snowflakes beginning to fall from the darkening sky.

"Should we drive?" Ethan asked.

"I've been lying down too long," I replied. "Let's walk."

"Wait here. I'll get an umbrella."

He returned with a long yellow umbrella, opening it above us as we stepped into the gently falling snow. His arm slipped around my shoulders, pulling me close as we walked toward his parents' home.

Before we reached the door, the butler hurried back inside to announce our arrival. Mrs. Haxton rushed to the entrance, followed by her husband.

As we approached, Mrs. Haxton greeted us with a warm smile. "You're here!"

I hesitated, then removed my hand from my pocket and responded with a simple, "Hello." I nodded respectfully to William Haxton as well.

Mrs. Haxton took my hand, patting it gently. "You must be freezing from the walk!"

"I'm fine," I assured her.

"Let's go inside," Ethan suggested.

Mrs. Haxton immediately inquired about my health, mentioning how frightened they'd been when Ethan had carried my injured, unconscious body from his private helicopter months ago. He had explained it as a car accident.

Once she confirmed I was fully recovered, Mrs. Haxton turned to her silent husband. "Say something! Jade saved your life. The least you can do is thank her."

She seemed distressed by her husband's reticence, muttering, "Ethan's almost thirty-two. If he doesn't marry Jade, where will we find another girl he likes?"

"He already thanked me," I interjected, surprising her.

"He did?" Mrs. Haxton looked confused.

William Haxton glanced at me. "We met this morning."

Ethan seemed equally surprised. "You did?"

I explained the encounter from earlier that day. I had been walking around the villa, stretching my stiff legs, when I encountered William coming in from the cold.

We had stared at each other for a moment before he had broken the silence with a simple, "You're awake."

"Yes," I had replied.

The conversation had been brief and awkward. He'd asked when I'd woken up, and I'd told him I'd just regained consciousness. I'd asked if he was looking for Ethan, and when he hadn't confirmed or denied it, I'd suggested he come back later since Ethan was still asleep.

He'd mentioned wanting to check on my condition, and I'd assured him I was fine. As he was leaving, he'd stopped and formally thanked me for saving his life.

Ethan looked at me with a hint of disappointment. "So my father saw you before I did."

"He's your father, not some other man," I pointed out.

William stood up. "Let's eat."

We followed Ethan's parents to the dining room, where an impressive spread awaited us.

"You mentioned wanting seafood," Mrs. Haxton explained, personally serving me. "I wasn't sure what kind you preferred, so we prepared lobster, scallops, various fish, and specialties from both the Pacific and Atlantic."

She encouraged me to try everything. "Let me know what you like best, and next time I'll prepare it especially for you."

I'd merely mentioned wanting seafood, and a third of the table was covered with it, prepared in American, French, and Italian styles. Mrs. Haxton had even worn the crystal earrings I'd given her.

"Eat more," she urged, piling food on my plate. "You've lost so much weight. We need to build you back up."

Ethan intervened. "Mother, eat your own food. I'll serve her."

The atmosphere was warm and convivial.

"When would be convenient for us to visit your parents?" William Haxton asked.

"The cemetery?" I replied matter-of-factly.

Mrs. Haxton exchanged worried glances with her husband, then looked at Ethan in confusion.

"It's a long story," Ethan said diplomatically.

He gave his parents a condensed version, explaining that I was actually the child of the Sullivan family's eldest son but had been given away.

Learning of my difficult past, Mrs. Haxton's expression filled with sympathy.

William, however, looked angry. "This Sullivan family... what kind of people would do such things?"