Chapter 146 146

Chapter 146 146
EVA

TWO WEEKS LATER

I stared at my leg that was stretched out on an exam table, my leg looked like some tuber laid out that way in front of me, but with a cast around it. I watched with squinted eyes as the doctor peeled away the cast.

It's been so itchy these past few days, uncomfortable, and I can't really count how many times I've attempted to get it off with a spoon or knife, but then someone catches me and warns me otherwise.

So I could only settle for scratching the itch with Lily's pencil.

The plaster was rough and so uncomfortable. It was undoing everything it was supposed to do.

I winced as the saw buzzed close to my leg. The noise was loud, high-pitched, and I had to resist the urge to pull my leg away as it got closer.

What if he missed?

What if it accidentally slides to the wrong side? What if he cuts in too deep and breaks the bones my body just fixed. 

He's a professional unknown but they don't foresee mistakes? They're not seers or magicians, they're humans, and if you know humans you know the number of mistakes they make in a day is higher than the number of times they blink. 

Contrary to me, the doctor was suspiciously calm, focused, his hands not shaking one bit as he did his thing I didn't trust. He brought the saw closer, fixed his glasses that only heightened my doubt that this is going to go well and piece by piece it did its thing until the cast fell away in chunks.

"There you go," he said, setting the saw aside. “How do you feel?”

“Relieved…?” That he didn't ruin the leg further. “Now it won't itch anymore.”

He nodded with a wide smile. "The bone has healed well, but you'll need to take it easy for a while. No running, no long-distance walking, and don't put too much pressure on it unless you want to go back to this."

I flexed my ankle, testing it. It felt stiff but not as painful as I thought. I wiggled my toes, watched them move, and felt a small sense of relief. "How long until I'm back to normal?"

I can't say the ridiculous ways I've slept and moved around. I don't even go out. It went from pain to discomfort to full blown embarrassment.

The things I've done to just get this thing off me! Who knew a cast could be this inconveniencing, uncomfortable, embarrassing. 

Walking is literally everything, how am I supposed to walk with just one leg, and not pant like a dog halfway, or cry from back pain.

Put a cast anywhere else!

The uncomfortable tickles that just makes you want to cut your leg off. For that moment being amputated sounds less excruciating. It's like being thrown into a lake with your hands and legs tight very tightly behind your bag.

It can't get worse.

"A few weeks. You'll be able to walk fully by then. Just don't rush it. Listen to your body. If it hurts, stop."

I nodded, relief flooding through me. My birthday was next week, and I couldn't imagine spending it limping around trapped in that heavy plaster prison.At least now I can move around.

He handed the saw to one of the nurses, wiped his hands and slowly began massaging my leg. It was as uncomfortable as it was relieving. "The muscles have atrophied a bit. You'll feel weak for a few days. Stretch it gently or massage it like this."

“You don't say.” 

He finished and went to wash his hands while I swung my legs over the side of the table, my bare feet touching the cold floor. I stood slowly, testing my weight on my newly freed leg. I took a tentative step, then another. It felt strange, like I was learning to walk all over again.

The doctor returned a second layer. "You'll be fine.”

The nurse handed me a prescription right after, and a list of exercises to do at home. I took them, folded them, and shoved them into my bag. She also handed me a small pamphlet about physical therapy and told me to follow up in two weeks.

It was strange to see it without the cast. Stranger to feel the air on my skin. The skin was pale, almost white, and my calf looked thinner than the other one. I made a mental note to start walking as soon as I could. I hated feeling like this.

"Thanks," I said, hopping off the table. "I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome. Take it easy."

The past two weeks were the worst two years ever. I stopped going to work, took a long leave that would’ve and should've been a vacation. Sasha handled everything in my stead, fielding calls and emails, keeping the foundation running while I recovered. I spent most of my time at the estate, trying to avoid the constant barrage of questions from Chloe and Mira. 

Asking if I'm married now. You'd think they’d be worried about the vandalism and my house being broken into, but no, misplaced priorities.

Which was more life threatening? 

They've been blowing up my phone, asking about the engagement, and what his announcement was about.

I was just glad Lily was okay. She was still at the estate, recovering, I don't think her and Dante have ever met. When she was awake, he was away, when he was around, she was asleep. It's almost like they promised not to ever see each other.

Every time I visited her, she looked at me with those big eyes and asked, "Mommy, can we go home now?" and I had to tell her not yet. It broke my heart every time.

I flexed my fingers, rolling my wrist in a slow circle. It felt good. Normal. I made a fist, opened it, made a fist again. Everything worked. The cast was off, and I could use my hand again. I could write, I could hold things, I could finally do simple things without needing help.

A nurse came in soon and removed the cast on my hand. That one came off easier, just a few snips and the plaster fell away. I watched the pieces drop onto the paper-covered table, and I can already feel the relief washing over me. My wrist looked thin, pale, but it moved. I could flex it, rotate it, clench my fingers.

The nurse smiled at me. "You'll have to build the strength back up, but you'll be fine. Just do the exercises they gave you."

I nodded, rubbing my wrist. "Thank you."

My phone suddenly buzzed. I grabbed it and saw Mira's name on the screen.

"Hey," I said, pressing it to my ear.

"I'm leaving for a bloggers' only event tonight. I don't know when I'll be back. I want to see you before I go. Can you meet me at Chloe's place? We can do an early birthday party."

I smiled. "Sure. I'll be there soon."

"Don't be late. I'm already packed and ready to leave."

"I won't."

I grabbed my bag and made my way out of the exam room, down the hallway, to the front. Nico was waiting outside the hospital, leaning against the car. He opened the door for me without a word, and I climbed in. I gave him Chloe's address, and he pulled away from the curb.

Halfway there, I stopped by the mall to get Maya things she'd need for her trip. A last-minute gift maybe. 

“Sure.” Nico replied to my request and pulled up in a spot near the entrance. I climbed out and walked toward the building, still getting used to my leg.

The second I stepped inside it felt like I was dragged into a whole new planet. 

There were so many lights and people it's almost like a festival.

I haven't been in a mall in weeks, everything I needed was either at the mansion or Dante would send someone. I found a small shop and picked up a travel-sized perfume set and a journal. She never really was a gift person anyway, this would do. She brain storms a lot, and well, goes out a lot. Pretty much needed. 

I paid quickly and made my way back toward the exit. The second I walked through the doors, flashes of light went off, not stopping even for a second.

What the–?

I shield my eyes with my arm and only then was I able to make out the figures gathered in front of me. A group of paparazzi, clustered near the entrance, their cameras pointed at the door and not for a second moving away.

"Eva Bishop!"

"Is it true you work for Dante DeLuca?"

"Who is Mr DeLuca dating?"

"Have you met this mysterious lady?"

“Ms Bishop, look this way, look this way!”

When…

When did I become a celebrity?

What the heck is happening?

My hand tightened on the bag as I racked my brain to make out what was happening.

Mr DeLuca dating?

“Is Mr DeLuca really calling off the engagement with the Beaumont's?!”

Engagement?

Suddenly it clicked. 

How long did it take for the article about the engagement to reach them?

Two weeks? And of all the legible people to bombard with questions and harass they chose me?

They surged forward, shouting questions over each other, their cameras flashing in my face. I took a step back, then another to avoid getting into their midst, there would be no way out. But they kept coming. One of them even pushed closer, his camera almost touching my face.

"Are you sleeping with him? Is that how you got the job?"

What the fuck?

How the heck did it go from questions to confrontation?! 

What's knowing Dante's ‘girlfriend’ got to do with me sleeping with him.

"Step back," I yelled but my voice was drowned by theirs and the cameras going off. "Fucking step back."

Nico suddenly came between me and the cameras. He grabbed my arm. "Let's go."