Chapter 236: I’ll Support You
On the top floor of the inpatient wing, in a VIP ward.
The attending physician and a clinical nutritionist were both present. They were discussing Sophie Shaw’s follow-up treatment plan in detail based on her current condition, including dietary adjustments during her therapy.
Lawson hadn’t left yet. She sat on the sofa, diligently recording the nutritionist’s advice on her phone. Meanwhile, Alaric Blackwood sat by the hospital bed, holding a small kumquat. He peeled it slowly and methodically, feeding the segments to Sophie Shaw one by one.
Nina Halloway walked in openly, holding Ethan Austin’s hand.
Seeing their hands clasped tightly together, Alaric Blackwood froze for a moment before a faint smile touched his lips.
’Excellent!’
’One less rival in love!’
He made a "shh" gesture at them, and they took the hint, not interrupting the doctor and nutritionist.
Once the treatment plan was settled, the doctor and nutritionist left the room. Lawson also picked up her food container and departed. Nina Halloway pulled her mask down to her chin, leaned in toward the bed, and asked Sophie, "How are you feeling today?"
"Pretty good."
"The surgery’s done?"
Sophie Shaw nodded. Just as she was about to ask why Nina and Ethan were holding hands when they came in, Alaric interjected, "Hey, superstar, did you go back to the family home last night?"
Nina Halloway shook her head.
"Mom’s still not answering her phone."
"I’ll go back and check on her later, then."
"Why didn’t you go back last night?"
Nina Halloway recalled the previous night’s intimacy and glanced awkwardly at Ethan. Their eyes met, and both of their faces turned as red as a tomato.
The atmosphere instantly grew awkward.
"Something came up last night and held me up."
"What was it?"
"Why are you asking for so much detail?" Nina wanted to brush it off, so she changed the subject, asking Sophie, "How was Anne’s first day at work?"
"I’m not sure. She hasn’t called, so I guess everything went smoothly."
"As long as it went smoothly."
"Nina."
"Hm?"
"You and Ethan..."
"AHEM! AHEM!" Nina coughed twice. With a beet-red face, she changed the subject again. "Didn’t the doctor say you need to rest? I won’t disturb you then."
She made a move to leave. "Jaden is asleep, so this is a good time for me to head back to the family home and see what Mom has been up to these past couple of days."
Pulling her mask back on properly, she grabbed Ethan and tried to make a getaway, but Alaric grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her back.
"What are you running for?"
"..."
"You’ve seen Jaden?"
"Yeah."
"How is he?"
"Emotionally unstable."
Alaric glanced thoughtfully at Ethan, signaling for him to step outside.
Ethan hesitated for a second, then turned and walked out of the room to wait.
He didn’t know what Alaric was discussing with Nina. Through the glass on the hospital room door, he could only see the siblings walk over to the window to speak in hushed tones.
From the bed, Sophie Shaw craned her neck, a gossipy look on her face. She perked up her ears but could only make out Ethan’s name being mentioned in their conversation.
A few minutes later, Nina beckoned to Ethan at the door with her finger.
The young man obediently pushed the door open and strode up to her.
"I’m going back to the family home, and it’s a good time to have you formally meet my parents."
Ethan was completely dumbfounded.
’Meet her parents?’
’So soon...’
Nina straightened his collar. Seeing him dazed, she waved a hand in front of his eyes, successfully snapping him out of it. "What’s wrong? You don’t want to meet my parents?"
"It’s not that. Isn’t this moving a little too fast?"
"Is it?"
"You don’t think so?"
Nina pulled down her mask, looking a bit sheepish. "Ethan, I want to make our relationship official. And if possible, it’d be even better to just go register our marriage."
’Marrying first and falling in love later isn’t out of the question.’
’She didn’t want to be entangled with Jaden anymore. By getting married and becoming a wife, she could rein in her own heart. That way, she could also put an end to any hopes Jaden might have.’
’She had to completely block off any way back for herself and Jaden.’
Ethan stared at her in shock. "Are you sure about this?"
’We just slept together last night, and today she wants to make it official and get married?’
’It’s too fast. Unimaginably fast.’
Ethan couldn’t quite process it. "I just graduated..."
’I don’t have a career, and I don’t have any savings.’ He felt that in his current state, he wasn’t good enough for Nina Halloway.
Hearing him muttering to himself, Nina couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is our age gap making him feel pressured?’
She covered her mouth, channeling her inner drama queen in an instant. Her eyes welled up with shimmering tears. "Ethan, don’t tell me you think I’m too old for you, do you?"
She was twenty-eight, and Ethan was twenty-two—a bright young man fresh out of college. There was a six-year age gap between them.
"I’m six years older than you. You think I’m too old, don’t you?"
Seeing that Nina was about to cry, Ethan said anxiously, "No! When did I ever say you were old?"
They say marrying a woman three years your senior is like finding a gold brick.
Marrying one six years older must be like finding two!
The age difference wasn’t an issue for him. He had always been attracted to older women. He just lacked confidence, feeling he wasn’t worthy of Nina Halloway in any respect.
Alaric could tell at a glance that the superstar was just acting. He didn’t expose Nina, but held back a laugh as he walked over to the bed and sat down. Taking Sophie’s hand, he caressed her long, fair fingers and whispered, "See that? That’s textbook-level acting."
Her emotions were instantly on point, with tears glistening at the brim of her eyes, making her look utterly pitiful and lovely.
Ethan didn’t see any ’acting’ in Nina’s performance and was frantic with worry. "Don’t cry! I... I’ll meet them! I’ll go with you to meet your parents right now!"
He wiped away the teardrop that rolled from the corner of her eye, helped her put her mask back on, and took her hand to leave.
She pulled her hand back. "I don’t want to force you. If you’re not willing, I won’t insist."
"I am willing! I never said I wasn’t."
"But you just hesitated, and you said it was too fast."
"It is a little fast..."
"See? Look! You’re not committed."
Ethan’s head was spinning. "I am committed! It’s just..."
"Just what?"
"I... I have nothing. No career, no money..."
"You don’t, but I do!"
Nina stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around the young man’s neck, her eyes sparkling. "I’ll support you!"
Ethan’s heart started to THUMP wildly. ’How could I let you support me?’ he thought, but he was still incredibly touched. Gazing into Nina’s deep, beautiful eyes, which shimmered with moisture, he felt himself getting completely lost in them.
He thought of last night, of her blossoming like a flower beneath him, and suddenly, as if shot with adrenaline, he swept Nina up and hoisted her over his shoulder.
"Let’s go! Time to meet the parents!"
He strode out, carrying Nina over his shoulder.
Pulling open the door, the young man paused, turned his head, and looked at Alaric. "I’m off, then!"
Alaric didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Then go! Why are you reporting to me?"
"After I meet them, I’ll be your brother-in-law."
Alaric: "..."
’A twenty-two-year-old brother-in-law... who’s four years younger than me...’
He thought about how he was a few months older than Evan Ford, yet ever since he’d married Sophie, Evan—who should have been calling him ’bro’—had suddenly become his senior cousin-in-law. And now he was getting a brother-in-law who had just graduated from college. Alaric suddenly felt like this was all a massive headache.