But it was impossible.
Wilfred quickly snapped out of his thoughts and returned to reality. He knew he could never be Nash. He was Wilfred.
Even if he could not stand by Nina's side as a lover, he could be a friend, a brother. He had dedicated his life to her, and that would have to be enough.
When Nash returned to the bedroom with the medicine, Nina had already finished her bath. Her damp hair fell loosely around her shoulders, filling the room with a faint scent of roses.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNash quickly wrapped a towel around her hair. "Lower your clothes a bit so I can apply the medicine." "Okay," Nina complied, and Nash carefully began applying the ointment, his touch gentle.
He even blew softly on her skin to ease any sting from the medicine. He was so worried that the medication might irritate her wounds, that she might feel pain.
But in truth, this kind of pain was nothing to Nina. She recalled her early days as a war journalist, how clumsy she had been amid the chaos of war.
Once, a piece of rebar had pierced right through her foot. The doctors said it would take six months to heal, but after just over three months, she was back on the front lines. Since then, she had becalmost immune to minor pain. She had learned that once you're in a war zone, there's no room for tears over small things.
"Nina, I'm sorry... for leaving you alone all these years," Nash's eyes welled up with tears, but he held them back, afraid that they might fall onto her back.
Tears that were bitter, tasting of salt.
Nina felt a lump in her throat.
She understood Nash. If he had not been restricted, he would have been there with her, unwavering, just as he was now.
She smiled gently. "Nash, what's done is done. Let's not dwell on the past. What matters now is being there for Orion, no matter what..." She wanted to make a decision with him, but sthings were too difficult to say, even when one was prepared for the worst. The emotions churned inside her, bitter as gall.
"I know. No matter what happens, we'll stay together as a family," Nash reassured her, finishing up the bandaging before pulling her into his arms He held her close for a long moment before finally letting go.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter Nash had showered, they headed to the lab to check on Orion.
To their shock, Orion's face had turned an alarming shade of blue. It was an obvious sign of poisoning.
Nina was horrified. "How could this happen? Isn't the Seven-Leaf Clover supposed to heal him?" The Seven-Leaf Clover was a life-saving herb, and Pharaoh was a skilled healer. How could Orion show signs of poisoning? Could there be a traitor within the Yaren Tribe? Had someone deliberately poisoned him? Pharaoh gently took Nina's hand. "Don't worry. This isn't a reaction to poison It's a normal side effect of taking the Seven-Leaf Clover. fri an hour or two, the color will fade, and his condition will improve."
Tears welled up in Nina's eyes as she whispered, "Are you sure? Please don't lie to me."
"I would never lie to you, especially not about Orion's life. Your brother has kept a tight grip on security, and ever since you brought Orion here we've been on high alert. There's no way anyone could have poisoned him," Pharaoh assured her with confidence. Nash wrapped his arm around Nina's waist and said gently, "Nina, trust your father." At those words, Pharaoh could not help but look at Nash in surprise.
Nina had never acknowledged Pharaoh as her father, yet Nash was doing so now.
The word "father" carried a heavy weight for Nina. In her world, a father was someone loving and kind, like Zion nota Puthless figure like Pharaoh. Yet here was Pharaoh, doing everything he could to save Orion.