Chapter 118 This Is Awkward
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In the hospital room, Zev lay motionless, trapped in his bed. His injuries were far too severe for him to move. The catheter that had been inserted was a constant reminder of his helplessness. For a man used to being in control, it was a humiliation he couldn’t bear. His temper flared as he demanded that the doctors remove it.
“Zev, you need to calm down!” Kelly’s voice was firm as she entered the room.
The two doctors were struggling to keep him still.
But the moment Zev saw Kelly, something in him seemed to shift. His angry posture softened, and he looked at her like a wild animal that had just been tamed.
“Honey… it hurts,” he whispered, his voice full of frustration and helplessness.
His body was broken–his legs were shattered, and his arms were wrapped in bandages, leaving him unable to help himself.
The reality of being confined to a hospital bed, unable to do even the simplest things, weighed heavily on him.
-And then there was the catheter. For a man of his pride, it was more than just an inconvenience–it was a
deep blow to his dignity.
“Zev, you’ve been seriously hurt,” Kelly said, her voice soft but insistent. “You have an infection. You can’t just ignore it. Do you want to make things worse, or will you cooperate?” She tried to soothe him.
His ears turned crimson, and he turned his head away, furious at his predicament.
He had never felt so small in his life.
“I might as well be dead,” Zev muttered, barely above a whisper.
Kelly’s eyes went wide, her heart aching as she fought back the sting of his words. She stood beside his bed, her voice trembling with emotion.
“Zev, don’t you ever say something like that again.”
He had fought so hard to stay alive–he had survived surgery after surgery, each one more dangerous than the last. And now, here he was, talking as if it hadn’t mattered.
Zev turned his gaze toward her, guilt rising in him like a wave. His bandaged hands, stiff and clumsy, reached for her, touching her fingers as gently as he could manage
“Honey … I’m sorry. I won’t say anything like that again
Kelly quickly wiped her eyes, turning her face away to hide her tears. She grabbed a clean towel and began gently wiping his face, trying to ease his discomfort.
“Does it still hurt?” she asked quietly, her fingers brushing over the bruises and scabs on his face. The worst of the bruising had faded, but the healing process was far from over.
Zev’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his head shaking slowly. “No…
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“Then stop making things worse for yourself,” she said slight smile playing on her lips as she carefully placed a warm towel on his body, like a small gesture of care.
He sat quietly, as still as a dog obediently waiting for its next command.
The doctor, watching the interaction, let out a heavy sigh. “Kelly, if you don’t mind, I’ll speak with your supervisor. Maybe you can take some more time off to stay with him. Honestly, when you’re not around, he…”
The doctor pointed at Zev, frustration etched across his face. “He’s like two different people!”
It was like watching someone flip between two identities, depending on who was in the room.
“Mr. Zilch, thank you. I’ll apply for some time off tomorrow,” Kelly said, her tone a bit sheepish. “I’ve got this under control, but please apologize to Hope. He’s a bit shy about things like this. Changing a catheter… that’s not something he’d be comfortable with anyone else doing.”
Kelly had to stifle a laugh.
The nurse had come in earlier to change Zev’s catheter. She had left with tears in her eyes.
The doctor gave Zev a small pat on the shoulder. “You’re doing well, Zev. You’re recovering quickly because you’re in good shape. But you need to ease up on Kelly. She needs a break. Listen to her, alright?”
Zev just grunted in response, his arm still clutching the blanket tightly as if it were his last line of defense.
When he wasn’t fully aware of his surroundings, it was one thing. But now that he was awake, the thought of anyone else helping him in such a personal way felt unbearable.
The room fell silent, save for the sound of Kelly’s breathing and the soft rustle of the sheets.
She looked at Zev for a long moment, then couldn’t help herself–she broke into laughter.
Zev’s face turned bright red. He buried his head in Kelly’s lap. “You’re laughing?”
Kelly’s laughter echoed through the room, her stomach aching with the force of it. She didn’t mean to laugh, but the whole situation was just too ridiculous.
After a few moments, she managed to compose herself enough to speak. “Well, if I weren’t a doctor, who would be here to help you?”
Zev’s face reddened even more, his voice low and tight. “I… I’m not clean anymore.”
“You’re perfectly fine,” Kelly said, stifling a grin as she donned her gloves. “Now, lift the blanket.”
“I won’t…” Zev stubbornly refused, pressing the blanket down as if it could protect him.
Kelly didn’t want to touch him either, but as a doctor, she had no other choice.
“I’m a doctor. I won’t hurt you,” she said, trying to hold back another laugh.
Zev’s breathing grew shallow, his face still glowing with embarrassment.
Even without sunlight for a month, his sharp, striking features had only intensified. His skin, once a healthy bronze. had naled, and his deep–set eves made him look like an animal on edge. ready to snan.
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“Honey… I’m still young. This… this won’t, you know, affect anything, right?” Zev asked, the concern in his voice unmistakable.
Kelly’s face flushed bright red.
“Zev, what on earth are you talking about? It’s just a catheter. It’s not going to affect anything,” Kelly replied, her words a bit sharper than intended. But despite herself, she couldn’t stop the heat rising in her cheeks.
Zev wasn’t convinced. “Well, when I get out of here, I’ll have to test it out.”
Kelly’s patience snapped. She raised her hand, ready to smack the back of Zev’s head, but hesitated, worried it might hurt him. Frustration simmered in her.
She glared at him, then turned back to disinfect her hands. “Shut up already, or I’ll call Hope in here.”
Zev’s anger flared, his voice rising. “You! No wife of mine should let another woman touch me like that!”
Kelly’s eyes narrowed, her tone unwavering. “Lift the blanket. Now.”
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