Chapter 116 | What Do Women Want?
Dexter parked the Vanguard V4 in front of the bungalow just as the sun fully set.
He killed the engine and proceeded to revive his finances.
Starting balance: $1,070,000.
Vanguard V4 SUV: -$280,000.
Neural-Linked Wheelchair bundle: -$400,000.
Four mana-infused smartphones: -$8,000.
Fashion Items:- $ 70,000
Remaining balance: $312,000.
The delivery truck from Hextech Innovations was already parked outside the gate, and the installation team was unloading the boxes.
Dexter entered the house, carrying with him the Neural-Linked Wheelchair. He wanted to surprise Mira himself.
Mira was the only one in the living room. She sat in her old, hospital-issue wheelchair by the window, her eyes closed in deep cultivation.
She didn’t open her eyes even when he entered, but her brows twitched, letting Dexter know she knew he was here.
"How are you?" Dexter asked, walking over to her. "I hope you’re doing well."
Mira opened her eyes, breaking her meditation as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "You’re back from playing with your other women?"
Dexter was speechless. "You know jealousy isn’t good for the body, right?"
Mira sneered and was about to deliver one of her usual sharp retorts, when her gaze landed on the object beside Dexter.
It was a wheelchair, but it looked entirely different from hers. It was futuristic, sleek, and quite pretty.
Her crimson eyes narrowed. "What is this?"
Dexter smiled, beaming with pride. "A gift. I got you an advanced wheelchair. I thought this might be more comfortable than the one you’re currently using."
He gestured to the silver choker resting on the seat. "This one can read your mind. It carries your brain waves and determines where you wish to go or what you wish to do. It can even take you to the toilet and bathe you with just a thought."
He smiled proudly, fully expecting Mira to be thankful.
After all, he had spent $400,000 on this ecosystem. It was the ultimate solution to her lack of independence.
Suddenly, Mira’s eyes slowly started to glow until they turned blazingly fiery.
The temperature of the room rose to a drastic degree it was as though a sun was sitting in the center of the room!
Ever since they got the Grand Cosmos Scripture, they could use the star nodes to power their talents without the need to use mana.
A dangerous, burning anger flared in her crimson irises.
Dexter’s smile faltered. He frowned, taking a step back. "You’re... angry?" he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
Mira glanced at him, then at the high-tech wheelchair, and then simply closed her eyes, turning her face away.
’What the hell?’
Dexter stood there, completely confused. He blinked his eyes and looked down at the wheelchair, and then at Mira who was radiating so much heat it was almost unbearable.
’What did I do wrong? I’m obviously trying my best here; how did she manage to turn it around and get angry?’
He scratched the back of his head, wondering what on earth he had done wrong.
He sighed and then proceeded to check the girls in the bedroom.
Lyra was the only one inside. She sat cross-legged on her new fluffy bed, cultivating but Selene wasn’t there. So he assumed she was in the backyard.
Feeling his presence, Lyra opened her eyes.
Suddenly, a melodic voice sounded directly inside Dexter’s mind.
’Don’t you want to take care of Mira anymore?’
Dexter blinked, greatly startled by the question.
’Have you finally grown tired of her?’ Lyra continued as her voice took an accusatory tone.
’Do you consider her and us a burden to you now?’
"What?" Dexter frowned, projecting his thoughts back to her. ’What do you mean, don’t I want to take care of Mira any longer? Of course I want to take care of her.’
’So why did you get her that particular wheelchair that can read her mind and take care of her?’ Lyra asked.
Dexter almost yanked his hair out in frustration. ’I thought she wanted to be independent! After the bathroom incident, I wanted to make her life a little bit easier. That was why I got the advanced wheelchair for her. I didn’t think she wouldn’t like it. Why didn’t she like it?’
Lyra blinked her eyes, gazing at Dexter’s face but seeing he was truly serious. She shook her head slowly, a faint, knowing smile touching her lips. ’She’s really angry. Which allows me access to her thoughts right now. Moreover, it’s loud.’
"So what should I do?" Dexter asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "Explain to her that I just want to make her life easier. That was the exact reason why I bought the wheelchair in the first place."
Lyra shook her head again. ’You should probably return it. She already likes the usual routine. She might not admit it, but she likes you taking care of her. Asking her to change that routine... she doesn’t like that.’
Suddenly Lyra hesitated but then a hidden devilish smile crossed her face.’She doesn’t want a machine to replace you. Maybe she has feelings for you? I can’t tell.’
Dexter froze.
’Replace me? Might have feelings for me?’
[A/N: For conversations with Lyra, do you guys want it bold or italic?]
Dexter stared at Lyra, utterly baffled. He thought Mira disliked the sight of him and hated every second of him bathing her, carrying her, and feeding her.
He thought she was humiliated by her dependence on him, which was why he bought the three machines to surprise her.
But she actually ’liked’ the routine? She liked him doing it?
Dexter smiled bitterly, rubbing his face with both hands. "I really don’t understand women at all," he muttered. "Why are you all so confusing!?"
Lyra glanced at him and let out a faint smirk as she closed her eyes and resumed her cultivation.
Just then, the installation team from Hexatech was about to come in, carrying massive boxes that contained the Self-Operating Human Shower System and the Portable Toilet.
Dexter quickly intercepted them before they could enter the living room. "Hold on, please return the items."
The man in charge of the installation looked surprised. "Sir? We’ve not even installed it yet. Is there something not up to your standard?"
Dexter shook his head. "No, the equipment is perfect. There was just a... change of heart. I want a refund. Please return the items."
The man blinked, stunned. "A refund? But you already paid for the full bundle..."
"I know," Dexter sighed. "Just pack it up and process the refund. I’ll cover any restocking fees."
The man eventually nodded, though he looked highly confused. He signaled his workers, and they began carrying the heavy boxes back out toward the truck.
Dexter stood in the doorway, watching them go.
After the workers left, Dexter went back to his room. He sat on his new fluffy bed, pondering the entire situation.
Everything was so weird. He thought she wanted nothing more than to be free of his help. But the moment he bought a machine that could do it all for her, she got really really angry.
He smiled bitterly, staring at the ceiling. ’What do women truly want?’
He figured he would never truly understand.
Still, his mind wasn’t at rest knowing Mira was angry with him.
He remembered his portion of the pastries he had bought from Tessa’s bakery, which he had heated with his Heavenly Flame.
He also had some of the spiritual tea leaves left. He went to the kitchen, brewed a small pot of the sweet, rich grade-one tea, and plated a few of the warm pastries.
’She should like this right? This should be enough to appease her right?’
He smiled as he carried the small tray into the living room. Mira was still in her wheelchair, facing the window, her eyes closed.
Dexter walked over and set the small table down right in front of her wheelchair.
Mira hearing the noise and smelling the scent of the tea and the pastries, opened her eyes.
She looked at the steaming tea and the warm pastries. Then, she looked at Dexter.
For a fraction of a second, the blazing flames in her eyes reduced slightly, but it wasn’t appeased.
Her face cold and without another word, she summoned her spectral arms, two glowing orange spectral arms materialized behind her.
They gripped the wheels of her wheelchair, and slowly, she turned until her back was turned towards Dexter.
Dexter stood there, holding the tray, staring at the back of her wheelchair.
He sighed deeply.
’Women are really confusing.’