Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 7: Stockings…

The nurse’s eyes flickered with curiosity, her body paralyzed but with a small part of her muscles still responsive—who wouldn’t be curious about that?

She glanced towards the head nurse.

The head nurse, too, was looking at Ethan, the atmosphere subtly charged.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Scarlett walked in, paused upon seeing the two nurses, then noticed the candles and the unfinished cake, and smiled at them in greeting: “Thank you.”

“No need to thank us, Ethan is a strong kid,” the head nurse said, a flash of embarrassment crossing her eyes, her words disjointed, “We’ll be leaving now.”

After speaking, the head nurse nodded at Scarlett, then hurriedly left with her head down, followed by the younger nurse, who gave an awkward smile.

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, noticing something off about the nurses. She approached the bed and saw Ethan’s condition, understanding the nurses’ embarrassment.

She bent down and began tidying up the room as if nothing was amiss.

Ethan, unable to move, watched his aunt. She had changed into fresh clothes at home—a simple T-shirt and jeans, no black stockings, meaning he couldn’t complete his task today.

Scarlett, head bowed, skillfully began to straighten the bed.

Ethan watched her beautiful face up close, inhaling her faint scent, his mood gradually stabilizing.

He remembered how his aunt had always taken care of him and Blair, cooking, doing household chores, helping him bathe, and holding him when he was scared, a tender sister who embraced all his fears.

That was when he was in his teens.

He had run excitedly to find his aunt once, only to see her slumped over the table, an empty bottle of wine beside her.

“Sorry, Ethan, did you need something?” Scarlett looked up, her eyes red but smiling at him.

“Auntie, are you unhappy?” It was the first time Ethan felt heartache.

“Thank you, you’re such a gentle kid,” Scarlett said, patting his head. “Adults have their own troubles.”

Later, his aunt left with Blair.

Ethan learned from his mother that after his aunt took her sister Blair and left home, their mother finally divorced their father and disappeared.

Their father, due to long-term alcoholism, was critically ill.

She took Blair to see him one last time.

From that day, Ethan often sat at the door, dreaming countless times of his aunt arriving with luggage.

Then, during his middle school years, he studied hard and was admitted to Starlight Academy.

His aunt, more mature and beautiful than he remembered, still treated him tenderly like a child, as if time had reverted to the past.

Yet, his attention often lingered on his aunt’s long legs in black stockings.

His aunt worked in administration at the school, aiming to become a certified teacher, but after several attempts, she gave up.

Ethan felt sorry for a long time and had subtly encouraged her a few times, though without much success.

But life is unpredictable, and soon he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and a congenital heart condition, worsening his condition.

“Happy Birthday,” Scarlett’s voice brought him back to reality as she smoothed the wrinkles from the bedsheet and held Ethan’s hand in hers:

“Time flies, Ethan, you’re an adult now. You were just a little guy when I first met you.”

She recounted funny stories from Ethan’s childhood.

Ethan, unable to speak, listened intently, many events he no longer remembered, and many embarrassing moments she mentioned didn’t match his memory.

Scarlett laughed occasionally as she spoke.

Gradually, she stopped talking, held Ethan’s hands to her chin, and looked into his eyes: “Ethan, don’t worry, no matter what happens, your aunt will always be by your side.”

Ethan looked at his aunt, thinking that if one day his life was to end, having a loved one by his side, holding his hand, death wouldn’t be so frightening.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at her.

Scarlett noticed the tears at the corner of his eyes, put down his hand, took a handkerchief, and came over to wipe them away: “Good boys don’t cry.”

“By the way, Ethan, do you have any wishes you want to fulfill?” Scarlett realized the topic was too somber and tried to change it, but then remembered he couldn’t speak now, her eyes showing regret.

Suddenly, she saw Ethan’s lips move.

She quickly leaned in to hear what he wanted to say.

“Stockings…” Ethan, taking advantage of his aunt’s closeness, tried to speak as clearly as he could, willing to be misunderstood as a pervert if it meant conveying his message.

“What?” Scarlett looked puzzled,Ethan’s voice was too soft and unclear.

“Stockings…” Ethan used his last bit of strength to utter the complete word.

Scarlett, still confused, looked up, not understanding.

Then, she saw a magazine left by the young nurse, and uncertainly asked, “Magazine?”

Ethan glanced at the magazine, open to a page showing Abigaile Johnson in a teacher’s uniform with suspenders and black stockings, holding a riding crop.

Logically, seeing this photo, one might think he liked sexy women in teacher’s uniforms, just like the young nurse earlier.

Now, to fulfill his wish, his aunt would probably cosplay as a teacher, and once his muscles became active, her hands would surely touch the stockings.

Ethan stared hard, trying to express his current excited emotions.

Scarlett looked into his eyes, then at the magazine featuring the cosplaying sexy teacher, and after a long moment, smiled again: “Is this your wish? Don’t worry, auntie understands.”

Ethan felt that his aunt hadn’t really understood, but now, all he could do was pray.

“Get some sleep early,” Scarlett said as she carefully covered him with the blanket.

…

The next day, Ethan woke up early to find two nurses pretending to check on him.

They whispered to each other and left, clearly the head nurse or the young nurse had spread the word about his condition.

Fortunately, these nurses were mostly just curious and hadn’t done anything inappropriate.

In the afternoon, he received unexpected visitors.

The school beauty, Emily, and Blair came to his hospital room, sitting by his bed with a playful look: “Blair said you have a crush on me.”