Chapter 53
<Chapter>Chapter Fifty-Three: Chirping Birds, Blooming Flowers </Chapter>
Gianna had heard this refrain so often she could have recited it in her sleep. With an indifferent tone, she assured, "Don't worry, I know exactly where I rank in your heart."
The conversation ended there, leaving a suffocating silence to spread throughout the living room.
She stood up and looked toward Felix. "I'll tidy up the kitchen. Let's order delivery. What are you in the mood for?"
"Whatever. I need to get some work done in the study."
After Felix left, Gianna cleaned up the kitchen, chose one of her favorite takeout spots, placed the order, and then casually scrolled through her phone while waiting for the food to arrive.
In less than an hour, the delivery was at the doorstep. She set the table and called Felix down for dinner.
The sight of the dishes on the table made Felix's face cloud with displeasure.
"Gianna, are you doing this on purpose?!" he asked with barely concealed irritation.
With her bowl in hand, Gianna looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"You know I can't handle spicy food, and here we have a feast of it!"
A lover of all things spicy, Gianna had always catered to Felix's sensitive stomach by preparing only the mildest of dishes.
She raised an eyebrow, remaining unfazed as she responded, "Didn't I order you some stir-fried veggies and steamed eggs?"
He had said "whatever" earlier, and now here he was nitpicking—some people are just impossible to please!
Felix's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold.
With each bite Gianna took, Felix's stare seemed to grow even icier.
A few minutes later, Gianna set her chopsticks down and looked at him. "Just make do for tonight. Starting tomorrow, I'll hire a housekeeper to cook."
They sat in silence before Felix finally nodded, albeit reluctantly.
After dinner, Gianna cleaned up while Felix watched her with a detached expression. "I'm going for a shower," he stated. "Help me."
Gianna's expression flickered between disbelief and incredulity. "Can't you manage on your own?"
His face darkened when he spotted the resistance and disdain in her eyes. "Do I look like I'm in any state to do it myself?"
She pressed her lips together and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing, "All right."
Pushing him into the bathroom, Gianna faced another dilemma.
"You can take your clothes off, right? I'll go run the water."
Without waiting for his response, as if fearing his refusal, she quickly turned her back to him and busied herself with filling the tub.
Ten minutes later, she glanced back and saw Felix had only removed his shirt. She couldn't help but frown, "Why haven't you taken off your pants?"
"I can't undress myself. You've got to help me."
Gianna was speechless.
If she'd known she'd wind up in such an awkward situation, she never would have agreed to look after Felix.
Noticing Gianna's hesitation, Felix's patience started to fray.
"You've already seen it all. What's there to be shy about?"
Gianna nervously bit her lip before replying with defiance. "Who said I'm shy?"
A glint of mischief flashed in Felix's eyes as he casually remarked, "If you're not shy, then come and help me."
With hesitation evident in her every step, Gianna reluctantly approached Felix and tentatively suggested, "How about I find a male nurse to come help you with bathing? I'm not really good at this, and maybe a man is better suited to—"
Before she could finish, Felix had grasped her wrist.
In the next instant, he pulled Gianna into his embrace.
She gasped in surprise, instinctively pushing against his chest.
Feeling the force of his heartbeat and his muscles tense with potential, Gianna's face flared red.
Though she and Felix had been married for three years, their physical intimacy had been limited to their wedding night and one other occasion.
She had little experience with matters of intimacy, a blank slate as it were.
Sensing her stiffness, Felix guided her hand downward, his voice husky, "I'll teach you."
His palm was hot, the heat seeming to travel through Gianna's hand, causing an involuntary shiver.
Suddenly, a cool sensation struck her palm.
Click!
Felix's belt buckle came undone, and Gianna's heart skipped a beat.
"Pull my belt out," he instructed.
As the atmosphere between them grew more charged, Gianna frowned deeply.
When she made no move, Felix's amused voice echoed above her.
"You're not really shy now, are you? If you are, just admit it—I won't tease you."
Gianna's frown intensified as she locked eyes with Felix's mocking gaze, feeling a pang of mishandled embarrassment.
"Shy? Me?"
With that, she yanked his belt free and tossed it aside, then swiftly removed his pants.
"The underwear stays on, right?"
"If you prefer it, I won't object."
Gianna let out a mocking laugh. "I'd rather not risk getting an infection."
Since Felix's wounds were still healing, he couldn't take a shower, only sponge baths.
As she began to clean his body, Gianna regained her composure.
After she was done, she wrung the towel and dropped it in Felix's lap, nonchalantly saying, "You can get the rest. I'll be waiting outside. Just call me when you're ready."
Felix didn't give her a hard time. After all, pushing her too far might lead to her just packing up and leaving, given her current disposition.
After tidying up after Felix, Gianna was soaked in sweat.
The clammy feeling all over her skin was uncomfortable. She grabbed some clothes and headed to the shower. When she emerged, Felix was on a call.
Gianna towel-dried her hair too damp, and waited for Felix to finish his conversation before she started blow-drying.
By the time she finished, it was already past 10 PM. She pulled two blankets out of the wardrobe, intending to make a bed on the floor.
A chill flickered in Felix’s eyes at her actions. He clenched his teeth and commanded, "Gianna, put the blankets back. You're sleeping on the bed!"
Gianna frowned at him. "Mr. Clinton, we're getting a divorce. It's not right for us to share a bed."
"You think I'm in any shape to do anything to you?!" he retorted.
Gianna pursed her lips, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?! Rest assured, I'm not interested in you!"
"It has nothing to do with you. I'm just used to sleeping alone. Having someone beside me keeps me awake."
Felix gave her a cold look. "You slept just fine at the resort last time."
That comment brought a flash of displeasure in Gianna’s eyes. "I was coerced, Mr. Clinton. Agreeing to stay in the same room with you was already pushing it for me. If you insist on more, I'll have to sleep in the next room!"
Ignoring the chilly atmosphere from Felix, Gianna spread blankets on the floor for her makeshift bed. After preparing her sleeping area, she turned off the lights and went to sleep, passing the night without any dreams.
The following day, when Gianna woke, Felix was already up, sitting on the bed with a grave expression, evidently still upset about last night.
Gianna didn't mind him. After she changed his clothes, she took him to the bathroom to freshen up.
By the time she was finished, it was almost time for her to leave for work, leaving no time to make breakfast for Felix.
"I’ll order you breakfast in a bit, and the housekeeper should be here by noon to cook," she mentioned offhandedly.
Felix replied with a brief grunt, his expression void of emotion.
Rushing to the door, Gianna called out while slipping on her shoes, "I'm heading to work. Call me if you need anything."
As she stepped out of the villa, she bumped into Sophia, who was accompanied by a man dressed in caregiver’s attire.
Spotting Gianna, he smiled and said, “Miss Redstone, off to work?”
"Yeah. Is this the caregiver you’ve arranged for Mr. Clinton?"
Sophia nodded. "This is the caretaker who was assisting Felix at the hospital. You can just call him Lee. He took yesterday off because of a family matter, but I brought him over today. Don't worry. He'll come after you leave for work and head out before you're done so that he won't be in your way."
Gianna had greeted Lee and then turned to Sophia, "Does the caretaker usually help Mr. Clinton with his baths?"
The mortifying situation from last night was not something she wanted to experience again.
"There's a bathing service included, but Felix prefers to bathe on his own. During his hospital stay, he washed himself, and Lee was only there to help run the bathwater."
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