Chapter 37 Who Would Have Thought?
Chapter Thirty-Seven
For the next few days, Lucian concentrated on his rehabilitation. It was really a grueling task and he really did not think that he would be able to walk after two weeks.
But Aria was always by his side cheering him on.
She scolded him every time he tried to say something negative about the rehabilitation process.
“What exactly is your problem?” She would pout, “This is for your own good! Do you want me to be married to a lame husband for life?”
Lucian scoffed, even as he continued with his work, “You say it’s for my own good, but then immediately mention your own benefit.”
Aria flipped her long black hair behind her shoulder, “Well, my own benefit is still your own benefit,” she answered innocently, “I don’t get a lame husband, and you get to walk on your two feet. Voila! Everybody’s happy.”
This analysis made everyone around to laugh, including Zach and the hospital staff.
Lucian chuckled again but not too much. Sweat poured down his back and glistened on his forehead, making his long hair stick to his face.
The rehabilitation process was really taking a toll on him, but he resolved not to complain anymore.
The main reason why he’d been complaining that much was because he did not want to get his hopes up. But every single time, Aria was there to cheer him on and now, he could also see some improvements.
“Maybe I can really walk in two weeks,” he thought to himself, grunting with exertion.
Lucian had never thought of what blessing it was to actually be able to move your limbs, to feel your nerves and muscles contract. He had not thought how blessed the average man who could walk was.
Until now.
He was stunned whenever he tried to lift his leg and walk but the limb would never move.
It was like though the leg was not receiving any signals from his brain. Most times, he would be filled with panic, thinking he would never be able to walk after all because he was paralyzed.
Then he would be filled with frustration after trying for a long time, and then try to give up with complaints.
But Aria would stop him, reminding him of how much he loved his legs and how convenient it would be for him to walk.
She would hold his hands and soothe him, sometimes he would lean on her as he did his rehabilitation.
Lucian found that whenever he held her hand, it seemed as though he would receive a new burst of strength and he would be able to go through the process that day with ease.
He made it a point to complain every single day, just so she could hold his hand and then they would speed up the process.
Everyone noticed this too, and they were all really pleased, especially Madam Graves.
“She is our miracle,” she would whisper, looking at Aria reverently as though she was divinity.
It never failed to creep Aria out, but she would smile and let the elderly woman continue. After all, it was for a good cause.
And it did seem like she had some miraculous effect on Lucian, she mused to herself.
Lucian focused on his rehabilitation process and soon, he was able to start using a wheelchair by himself in just four days.
In a week and a half’s time, he was using crutches and coming to the breakfast table by himself.
Madam Graves almost wept for joy at seeing this accomplishment. Everyone was overjoyed at his bravery and Aria’s help.
Well, everyone except Nathan and Monica.
They tried their best to go along with the congratulations and well wishes but inwardly, they were burning with a panic and frustration that belies every other emotion.
Lucian watched them surreptitiously, a muscle tucking dangerously in his jaw.
There was nothing he wanted more at this moment than to throw them out of the Graves family, but he could not do anything at the moment.
He had no evidence, and Nathan had the protection of the Matriarch of the family.
The Chairwoman Graves, who was the Chairman’s mother as well as Lucian’s grandmother.
She was the one who supported Nathan’s being raised in the family when he’d been brought there by his mother at just two years old.
Unable to give up the little child, she’d commanded her son to take in the little boy and raise him as hers.
She completely disregarded Madam Graves feelings in the matter, making the woman raise her husband’s mistress child.
Lucian had been four then and he did not quite understand what was going on. All he knew was that he suddenly had a brother who followed him around in the house.
He had not thought much of it, however, and thought it would be cool to have a little brother.
But then, Nathan had started showing some peculiar attitude even at such a young age. He was scheming and very cunning, making use of his smaller features and cuter face to garner the favour of their grandmother.
Many a times, Lucian was scolded for not taking care of his younger brother. This was when Nathan got into trouble that he deliberately set up for himself.
Like falling into the pool on his own volition while looking at Lucian straight in the face, or suddenly throwing himself on the floor whenever he saw that an adult was coming around.
Soon, Lucian was termed by everyone around, including the maids, as the cold, scheming, heartless boy who hated his stepbrother,
The matriarch would always bring up the fact that Nathan was his brother whether he likes it or not, so he should not always act high and mighty.
Lucian had always wondered why Nathan did the things he did, and of what use it was.
Furious, he’d told Nathan to go back to where he’d come from. This earned him another scolding from his grandmother, but his parents defended him.
Saying he had not yet adjusted to suddenly having a sibling.
All in all, Nathan was allowed to stay on in the house. For years, they had stayed away from each other and he’d stayed on his lane, only interacting with him on a surface level.
“Who knew he would rear his ugly head once again, using this accident?” Lucian mused, his face hard as he ate his salad.