Chapter 14
“My name is Ethan Langston,” the man said with a gentle smile. “I’m trained in holistic medicine.”
“That day, I was out foraging herbs in the mountains when I spotted the warehouse engulfed in
flames. I ran inside, and you were already unconscious.”
Natalie stared at him, stunned. Her eyes welled up with tears. She hadn’t expected anyone to save
her.
“Thank you…” Her voice cracked with emotion.
Ethan shook his head. “No need. Just focus on healing.”
In the days that followed, Natalie slowly began to recover under Ethan’s quiet, constant care.
He changed her dressings, brewed her herbal treatments, and even cooked porridge for her
himself. His hands were clean and steady, every movement precise and gentle, as if afraid to hurt
her.
She slowly shed her guard and began to trust again.
Ethan was nothing like Colton. He was patient, kind, and never condescending. He didn’t force anything on her. He simply helped–quietly and steadily.
A month later, Natalie was able to get out of bed.
She stood before the mirror, her gaze fixed on the web of scars across her body. Her hands shot up
to cover her face.
“It’s hideous… isn’t it?” she whispered with a bitter smile.
Ethan stepped up behind her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Scars fade. You’ll see. I
promise.”
“But… my legs…” her voice caught.
Natalie lowered her gaze to her once–graceful dancer’s legs, now marred with burns and stiff at the
joints.
Ethan knelt before her, his fingers pressing gently along her knees.
“The injuries are serious,” he said. “But not beyond repair.”
Natalie’s breath caught. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve inherited a treatment method–acupuncture combined with herbal soaks and daily therapy.
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It’s slow, but it works. If you’re willing to try, I think you can dance again.”
Tears streamed down Natalie’s face.
“Really… I could dance again?”
Ethan nodded. “If you believe in it–and yourself.”
From that day forward, Natalie began her long, painful road to recovery.
Each morning, Ethan would administer acupuncture; at night, he prepared herbal baths and
massaged her stiff joints. The pain was excruciating at first, often making her break out in cold
sweats. But Ethan never left her side.
“Hold my hand when it hurts,” he’d whisper.
And she did–gripping his wrist so tightly it left marks, but he never complained. He would simply
wait–silent, steady–until the pain ebbed.
Three months later, Natalie could feel her legs again. The first time she managed to lift her foot,
she burst into tears.
“I can move… Ethan, I can move!”
He grinned and tousled her hair. “This is only the beginning.”
Time passed. Her scars began to fade, and her legs grew stronger with each day.
She started trying out simple dance moves–still clumsy, still hesitant–but Ethan stood beside her
with admiration in his eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” he said sincerely.
Natalie shook her head. “I’m still far from it.”
“But you’re better than yesterday. That’s enough.”
His encouragement warmed her heart.
Before she realized it, Natalie had started to look forward to seeing him every day. When he left to
gather herbs, she’d catch herself glancing toward the door, waiting.
One night, she jerked awake, heart pounding–fire, screams, helplessness all flooding back at once. Her pajamas were soaked in sweat, and she couldn’t stop trembling.
The door creaked open softly.
Ethan stepped in holding a cup of warm tea. “Bad dream?”
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He sat beside her on the bed and handed her the cup.
Natalie accepted it with shaky hands. He hesitated for a moment, then reached over and gently held
her hand.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly. “I’m here.”
His touch was warm and steady. Something in her chest cracked open. She leaned against his
shoulder, voice barely a whisper.
“Ethan…”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For saving me.”
Ethan was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low, quiet tone. “Actually… I should be the one
thanking you.”
Natalie blinked. “Why?”
“Before I met you, my life was routine. Diagnosing patients, studying medical texts, gathering
herbs.” He smiled. “But you changed that. You made everything… different.”
Natalie’s heartbeat quickened.
Ethan looked at her, his gaze tender and unwavering. “Natalie, I like you.”
She froze.
“I know you’ve been through a lot,” he added gently. “And I’ll wait as long as you need. But I want you to know this–you deserve to be loved. To be treated with care.”
Tears slipped down Natalie’s cheeks. She nodded slowly and leaned into his arms.
“I like
you too…‘
Ethan wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
