Chapter 557 Solving It in Bed
Winona blinked at him, trying to process everything. Zachary had been rushed into the ICU yesterday, intubated and unconscious. Today, she signed the papers to move him to a regular room. He had been out cold the whole time, and when he finally woke up, the nurse only came in to check his vitals.
Zachary hadn't shown any signs of needing the bathroom, so it hadn't crossed Winona's mind.
When did they take out the catheter?
Seeing her confusion, Zachary said, "They did it when you went downstairs to grab food."
Winona was at a loss for words.
Lydia didn't know the specifics, just that Zachary needed to use the bathroom. She had asked the nurse earlier about his condition: moderate concussion, broken legs, fractured ribs, and some internal injuries. Each injury sounded terrifying to her.
Lydia had no experience caring for someone so badly hurt and felt completely lost. "What should we do? Should we get a wheelchair from the nurse's station, or..."
She noticed the bedpan under the bed. "Or handle it here?"
Zachary said, "Mom, can you get a wheelchair for me? Let Winona take me to the bathroom."
Zachary's expression was calm, and no one thought anything of it, except Winona. She gritted her teeth and turned to him, her voice low and angry, "I'll find a nurse."
When Zachary was unconscious, it wasn't an issue, but now that he was awake, he needed constant care. He needed to rest and didn't like being intubated. Moving him to the bathroom could jostle his head, so they needed a strong male nurse.
Lydia turned to call Evander to get a wheelchair, missing the exchange between Winona and Zachary. She held Winona's hand. "Winona, thank you for everything."
Since Zachary went missing, Winona had quit her job at the museum to work at the Bailey Group. She often visited them, showing care and concern, treating them like her own parents. Now that Zachary was injured, she was the one taking care of him. Lydia momentarily forgot they were divorced.
But the realization hit her quickly, and she didn't correct herself. She still harbored a small hope that Winona and Zachary might reconcile. From Winona's actions, it was clear she still had feelings for him.
"Mom..."
"Mom, Winona has been taking care of me these past few days."
Winona was about to explain the need for a nurse, but Zachary interrupted her. His voice was strong, overpowering her unprepared response.
At that moment, Evander came in with the wheelchair, diverting Lydia's attention.
Zachary used his hands to slowly move his casted leg off the bed. Evander positioned the wheelchair to help him sit. One foot braced against the wheel, he reached out to support Zachary.
Zachary's forehead and neck veins bulged, and soon he was covered in a fine layer of sweat, his breathing becoming more labored. His hand, supporting his weight on the bed, trembled from the effort, his back muscles straining.
Winona was speechless.
If this was Zachary's way of 'punishing' her for ignoring him, he was certainly committed. But even knowing he might be faking it, seeing him like this made her heartache.
She reached out to help him.
Zachary's legs were useless, and his only strength was in his arms, but even that was limited. Despite Winona and Evander's support, he barely put any weight on them.
Winona said, "I'll find a nurse."
Zachary's voice was hoarse. "No need."
When Zachary finally sat in the wheelchair, he was drenched in sweat. Everyone breathed a silent sigh of relief. Winona pushed him to the bathroom, wiped down the toilet with a wet wipe, and then moved the wheelchair closer. "We'll have the doctor put the catheter back in."
He needed IV fluids daily. If every bathroom trip was this much trouble, his legs wouldn't heal.
Zachary said, "No."
"Everyone else uses one. You're a patient, and you just got out of the ICU this morning. Why be stubborn?"
"I don't want it."
It was too humiliating.
Being bedridden and dependent on others for everything, Winona already thought he was useless. If she saw him like this, she might leave him, thinking he was a burden.
Winona didn't know Zachary's convoluted thoughts, assuming he was just prideful. As a CEO, he was used to being in control and had never faced failure or humiliation. How could he let anyone see him so vulnerable?
But now wasn't the time to argue. "I'll be right outside. Call me when you're done."
Zachary, seeing Winona eager to leave, grabbed her hand. "Help me undress."
"Why do you need to undress to use the bathroom?"
"Using the bathroom is just an excuse. I want to clean up. There's blood on me, and I don't want them to worry."
Winona had only cleaned the blood off Zachary's face. The doctor had warned of possible complications, so she hadn't dared to move him much. Samuel and Matthew had been there in the morning, so she hadn't cleaned the areas covered by his clothes.
Zachary lowered his head slightly. The injury on the back of his head had bled down his neck and back. Though the blood had dried, it was still visible.
Winona thought his reasoning was a bit flimsy.
Zachary had multiple serious injuries. Evander and Lydia were already worried. Would a bit of dried blood make them more anxious?
But seeing Zachary's earnest expression, Winona felt she might be overthinking. Maybe he genuinely believed that if they didn't see the blood, they'd worry less.
In reality, Zachary was desperate to get Winona to talk to him. He knew she wouldn't ignore him in front of Lydia.
Winona wasn't angry anymore, just embarrassed to talk to Zachary with Lydia and Evander watching.
Seeing the dried blood on Zachary's body, all her anger and embarrassment vanished, replaced by concern. She gently touched the bruises on his skin. "If I'd known you were such a trouble magnet, I would've locked you up."
"Do you want to play captor?" Zachary chuckled. Taking advantage of Winona's shock, he held her hand. "Winona, don't be mad at me. Don't ignore me."
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