Chapter 412: CHAPTER 412

Chapter 412

Christine leaned in with curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “What’s up? Who texted you?”

I turned off my phone screen. “Gregory.”

“Gregory? What does he want now? Wasn’t he snarky enough at the diner last night? Thinks he didn’t get his point across?”

“It’s not that.”

I hesitated before speaking, a bit embarrassed. “He’s got leg pain, probably a leftover issue from that accident last year. I should go check on him.”

Christine glared at me, visibly annoyed. “Just when you promised you wouldn’t choose a guy over your friends, and here you are, proving me wrong.”

I tried to smooth things over by offering a shoulder rub. “Come on, Chris. How could you even say that? I’m just going to check up on him. What do you feel like for late–night snacks? I’ll bring you something on my way back.”

“It’s not about that. Doesn’t he have a girlfriend? What’s your role in this?”

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

I touched my ear. “That’s his cousin.”

“Alright, fine. Go then.”

Christine seemed to let go of her frustration, pushing me out the door with a resigned sigh.

On my way to River Villa, just as I was about to enter the parking lot, the security guard stopped me,

Apparently, there was a new rule that no outside vehicles were allowed in.

I tried calling Gregory, but got no answer.

Left with no choice, I parked my car on the street and borrowed an umbrella from the guard, walking into the complex.

Despite it being summer, the pouring rain had soaked through my high heels, and the hem of my dress clung to my legs.

1/4

09:59

Chapter 412

Entering the elevator, the blast of cold air made me shiver.

“Ding–dong-”

Standing at Gregory’s door, I rang the bell.

After a moment, the door opened, revealing Gregory in a wheelchair, dressed in a black t–shirt and olive cargo shorts.

Under the bright lights, he looked tired, his voice faint. “Mrs. Ferguson, visiting a man late at night might be hard to explain, don’t you think?”

I was taken aback. “Didn’t you text me?”

“I texted you?” He chuckled as if I’d told a joke, his smile cold and sarcastic. “Do you think it’s two years ago when I’d come running whenever you called?”

I looked down. “Then, must be some glitch with the messaging app.”

After a brief hesitation, I said, “If your leg is hurting…”

“Don’t worry.”

He cut me off with a cold, detached tone. “Even if I’m dying of pain, I wouldn’t need someone else’s wife to bother.“.

“Right… I mean, you should just rub it yourself. I’ll be leaving then.”

As I turned to leave, his expression turned colder, and he made a move to

close the door.

But seeing me drenched, he reluctantly said, “Come in and change, or else Mr. Ferguson might come after me if you catch a cold.”

“It’s okay…”

“Jane, you used to having me plead and pamper you, huh? Can’t understand plain talk?” His voice was unusually firm.

I clenched my hands but said nothing, stepping in as he moved aside.

“Your slippers are on the top shelf.”

He said curtly, then wheeled himself to the living room.

I found the slippers in the shoe cabinet, exactly where I left them two years ago after a dinner party.

09.59

Chapter 412

That shelf only had that one pair.

Gregory watched me from a distance, his face stoic. “You can find clothes in Edith’s room. Pick anything; she won’t mind.”

“The bathroom has clean towels,” he added.

“Okay, got it,” I replied, remembering the layout from my previous visits.

I didn’t look too hard, just grabbed a dark green maxi dress from Edith’s room and changed.

Holding my wet clothes, I found him working in his study.

Standing at the doorway, I hesitated before speaking. “Please tell Edith I’ll wash and return her dress.”

He didn’t look up, just uttered a short, “Hmm.”

“I’ll be leaving then. Sorry for the intrusion.”

“Hmm.”

I was about to leave when I saw him struggle to massage his calf, the effort seeming to pain him.

“Let me do it.”

I stepped in. “I’ve learned some massage techniques over the past two years. Want to try?”

It was quite the serendipitous learning experience.

After moving to France, the old lady next door, of Chinese descent and skilled in traditional medicine, took a liking to me. She was always sending over delicious homemade treats.

Once, she saw me struggling with neck pain and helped me out, which worked wonders. She even offered to teach me.

Gregory sneered. “Playing the devoted wife now, are you?”

I crouched down, placing my hands gently on his calf, massaging with controlled strength,

I never thought I’d actually get to use what I’d learned.

09:59

As I massaged, I cautiously asked, “What did the doctors say about your leg? Is there a chance you could stand again?”

“Stand up?”

Gregory paused, then swiftly changed the subject, his words sharp. “Your technique is good. Seems you’ve practiced a lot.”

Seeing he didn’t want to discuss it further, I didn’t press, instead following his lead. “Only on Snowy.”

“Snowy?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, looking up at him with a smile. “My big dog. He’s very well–behaved. Never bites when I massage him.”

Gregory squinted at me with a hint of danger. “Are you saying I’m worse than a dog?”

“No, you’re much tougher than a dog.”

“Jane.” His face was a mix of emotions, finally breaking into a reluctant laugh. “You talk to Bryant like this too?”

“I divorced him.”

I looked down, continuing my massage. “Gregory, I’m divorced now.”