Chapter 77: Healing and Hope

Chapter 77: Healing and Hope

Ethan's brow twitched slightly, his dark eyes betraying a glimmer of expectation.

"What else?"

Emily lifted her arm, wrapped in a thicker bandage. "Looks like I can't take any more photos."

She batted her lashes with a smile, "I can head home early now! Aren't you happy, Ethan?"

Ethan: "…"

For a moment, Ethan's eyes went vacant, his heart sinking with the realization that his anticipation for something might have been greater than he had thought.

But perhaps this wasn't the right time.

Ethan maintained his composure, merely raising an eyebrow.

"Of course, you should go home. Given the situation, do you think I'd let you stay?"

He gently flicked her forehead, "Behave and come home with me!"

Emily winced and covered her forehead with a pout.

So fierce. Hmph, Ethan.

**

On the surface, Ethan was ensuring his wife's return home, but in reality, he took care of her injury with as much dedication as if he were serving a queen.

After a couple of days of pampering, Emily became somewhat lazy. Her arm, still unable to reach certain spots, left her feeling helpless.

Her wealthy husband once again became her personal assistant.

"I need water, but my arm hurts too much to hold the jug."

"Oh, I want to wear the new bathrobe, but my legs hurt and I don't want to go to the fitting room."

"Honey, I need the remote."

Ethan looked around. "Isn't the remote in the bedroom?"

Emily pointed to the nightstand, "It's right there."

Ethan stared at the remote, just ten centimeters from her fingertip.

In less than two weeks, Emily's wounds healed.

Since it was only a superficial injury, Ethan took her to a private clinic again after returning from abroad to ensure everything was properly treated.

He even discreetly instructed the doctor not to leave any scars.

Her skin, as smooth as milk, was flawless. Any blemish would make him uneasy and pained.

The day the bandages came off, Emily received another piece of good news—her photo "Egrets in Pairs" won first place in the nature category at the National Geographic Photography Competition in the US.

Few Chinese photographers had won this award, with Alisa being the only Asian face among the winners, which spoke volumes about the award's prestige.

Moreover, Annie's photo of Emily saving a young boy also won an award in another competition's news category.

Emily's recognition in two major photography contests highlighted her success in transitioning from fashion photography to a new realm.

The photo, taken by Emily and Annie after two days of waiting in the wetlands, was initially meant to capture elk but instead caught a pair of egrets.

The egrets stood by the water, closely gazing at each other, their long necks forming a heart shape.

The affectionate egrets spread their wings, causing droplets of water to sparkle. Emily decisively pressed the shutter.

The work was not only charming but also had a deeper message about wetland conservation.

In fact, wetland environments had improved over the years. With ecological recovery, various wildlife, including these egrets, had returned to their habitats.

The title "Egrets in Pairs" was Ethan's choice, playing on the phrase "White Dew Becomes Frost" from a classic Chinese poem. Though he hadn't seen Emily photographing the egrets, he imagined it was his beloved by the water.

His beloved, who had never read the poem, didn't understand the romantic naming, but it didn't affect Ethan's enthusiasm for sharing in his wife's success.

The day after the award news, Creston Media Enterprises eagerly tweeted:

[Celebrating with pride: Congratulations to our boss's wife for winning the award! You're the most beautiful for all your hard work [picture].

Additionally, @Alisa has donated her $70,000 prize to the wetland where the egrets were photographed, thanking nature for such exquisite scenery.

@EthanxxChairman Harrison has also added $700,000 in donations for wetland conservation and research. Let's work together for more beautiful landscapes [heart]]

The comments were full of hearts:

[It's National Geographic! Amazing!! Congratulations, sis [heart]]

[Alisa wanted to focus on her work rather than her background and personal life. Now, her talent has earned her the recognition she deserves. Congrats on your 200th day of silence! [heart]]

[Sis closing her studio was for this reason—she truly wants to focus on photography. Staying true to your original intention, you've earned this [heart]]

[The egrets are so cute! Thanks to the photographer for capturing such beautiful photos. Let's protect nature and hope for more wildlife sightings [heart]]

[Haha, man, stop riding on the coattails [dog face]]

[The rich man is not just riding on the coattails; he's flaunting his love! Our couple is the sweetest in the world!!]

[Chairman Harrison adding $700,000… It seems like a donation, but really, Chairman Harrison, you're just cheering for your wife]

[+1, like a fan who's going all out for their idol [dog face]]

[The billionaire fan, @Alisa, you deserve this~]

[Dropping $700,000… The top wife fan is clearly Xu Xun. Please be rational [dog face]]

**

Once Emily's hand healed, the unscrupulous capitalist started "collecting debts."

Previously, considering her injury, Ethan had been restrained despite his intense feelings. But this time, he went all out, setting a new record.

Emily barely rested, her voice hoarse from exhaustion. After drinking some water, Ethan carried her into the bathroom, somewhat dazed.

Ethan, under the guise of cleaning, was restless. Emily lay on the marble counter, covering her face, unable to look at the mirror opposite. For a moment, she even wanted to kick him into the nearby bathtub. :)

Is extreme exhaustion the reason for heightened energy?

Eventually, wrapped in a bathrobe, Emily, feeling refreshed, snuggled into Ethan's arms.

Post-bath, Ethan carried the scent she loved most.

Since her last trip, after using his shower gel, they shared the same fragrance.

Yet, Emily still felt his scent was different—perhaps mixed with his unique hormones, it was alluring to her…

Emily, like a kitten, buried her head in his neck, nuzzling his chin.

"Honey, give me a kiss…"

Ethan embraced her back, his lips gently brushing her forehead.

He noticed she seemed more clingy after their recent intimate moments. He enjoyed her affection and was more than willing to provide her with warmth and security.

Emily, sniffing for a while, suddenly realized something was off:

Ethan used to have a faint smell of tobacco.

Only those close to him could detect it, and she, being intimate with him, was aware of this subtlety.

But now, there was no trace of smoke on him. Even during prolonged kisses, she couldn't detect any.

"Did you quit smoking?" Emily asked.

Ethan replied with a low "Mm."

"When did you quit?"

"Not specifically," Ethan said casually, his voice a bit hoarse but satisfied. "I used to smoke rarely, so it didn't matter if I didn't."

Emily's eyes fell, and she hesitated before asking tentatively, "Do you want a child?"

Ethan's long lashes fluttered. He didn't confirm or deny.

He thought he didn't have such a desire.

But since she moved back home, he had subconsciously stopped smoking.

He told himself it wasn't a deliberate preparation—just that they had been apart for so long, and he often found himself caught up in emotions, perhaps just being cautious.

Moreover, he was increasingly unwilling to use items from the nightstand…

Perhaps, he did want a child.

This thought had entered his subconscious, and he didn't even realize it himself.

Ethan met Emily's gaze, hesitated, and then said softly, "You don't want to, do you?"

Emily bit her lip, seemingly unsure about her own desires.

"I'm afraid of the pain," she pouted. "I heard it's very painful."

Olivia had shared a video called "The Great Mother" in their group last month after giving birth to a daughter. The clip from the delivery room was so horrifying that Jessica nearly cried and left the group immediately.

Emily watched for a few seconds before dropping her phone, deeply shaken…

Emily lowered her eyes to the shallow scar on her forearm, "I'm scared, I'm afraid of the pain…"

Ethan chuckled lightly, understanding her fear.

He knew she was particularly sensitive to pain.

"Apparently, I'm very sensitive to pain but not to anesthesia," she showed him the small scar on her arm.

"The doctor actually stitched me up with two stitches. I asked for anesthesia, but it didn't seem to work…" Emily pouted. "It was the same with my wisdom teeth."

Ethan was surprised to hear this for the first time.

"Is that so."

He tightened his embrace, pausing for a moment, "Then let's wait on having children."

"If anesthesia doesn't work, painless childbirth would be unbearable."

He stroked her long hair, "Forget it."

Hearing this, Emily didn't feel relieved. She tightened her lips, her emotions complex.

Ethan adjusted the bedside lamp, propping his arm under her head as a pillow, and kissed her lightly.

"Sleep now, darling."

Emily turned to snuggle into him, her gaze settling on his shoulder.

Burn scars are different from cuts, and the scar on his shoulder was still

visible even after so long.

But it wasn't overly obtrusive. In fact, it was rather attractive.

As he said, "Sleep now."

It was a cold winter night, but she was warm inside and out.

**

The next day, Ethan was in a hurry to leave for a business meeting. When he woke up, it was already late.

Emily, feeling well, prepared breakfast with all her favorite dishes.

But upon his return, Ethan had to admit, "I was so exhausted that I fell asleep at the meeting."

Emily asked, "Are you still tired?"

"I'm fine," Ethan replied with a smile. "You should rest and stay warm. It's cold outside."

Emily, satisfied with his response, nodded.

The two spent a quiet day at home. They watched a movie together, then snuggled on the sofa, silently enjoying each other's company.

Ethan spent the whole day working on his laptop, and Emily busied herself with knitting a scarf and knitting sweaters.

The evening came, and the warmth of their home was comforting and filled with love.

She felt Ethan's love around her.

The days of caring for each other, the small joys and the comfort of their shared lives, made everything seem worthwhile.

Finally, Ethan stretched out his hand to her, with a soft smile, and said, "Let's have dinner. I'm starving."

Emily playfully refused, "I'm not a chef, you know."

Ethan laughed, "Well, now you are. Just this once."

As they dined together, their laughter and playful banter filled the room.

Emily felt a deep sense of happiness and contentment.

The love between them was the most beautiful thing in the world, and she cherished every moment.