Chapter 399:

After a moment's pause, Jayden replied in a raspy voice, "I'm okay. Don't worry about what Deborah said." Elyse's fists clenched, and her voice faltered as she insisted, "I mean it. I can help you with a shower." Jayden held her gaze for a long while before turning away. "I don't need pity. Sure, Brook humiliated me, but I had it coming. I'd been messing with him on purpose. Brook's guess was right. Back then, Brook was arrogant and even tried to manipulate Jayden's marriage for his own gain. Jayden couldn't let that slide."

"This isn't about pity," Elyse protested, her cheeks coloring. "I just want to help. Please don't." She had never seen Jayden so downcast; clearly, Brook's actions had cut deep. All she wanted was to boost his spirits, to help him find his footing again. Sensing he might lose such a good chance by rejecting her again, Jayden remained silent, quietly accepting her offer.

Elyse inhaled deeply, removed her coat, revealing a crisp white shirt underneath. "Is that my shirt?" Jayden asked, recognizing it immediately. Elyse's face turned a deeper shade of red as she admitted, "I really like it. It's so comfortable." A slight smile broke through Jayden's solemn expression. "I'm not surprised; it was quite expensive."

Concerned about getting her jeans wet, Elyse slipped into her pajama bottoms, adorned with bunny patterns. "Ready?" she asked shyly. "Sure," Jayden agreed, his voice huskier, his gaze intensifying.

They entered the bathroom together. As Elyse adjusted the water temperature, she noticed Jayden hadn't started to undress. "You should get undressed," she prompted. Jayden just watched her, a calm expression on his face.

Seeing his hesitation, Elyse's resolve melted. She turned off the tap and moved closer. "Never mind. I'll help." In that moment, Jayden understood there was more at play. He secretly relished Elyse's care and concern, grateful for the repaired bond between them. Yet he knew he couldn't remain passive in his wheelchair while she offered such intimate help. What if she discovered his secret? If she truly wished to assist him, he considered postponing the shower until a time when he no longer had to feign his disability.

However, Elyse was quick to act. She efficiently removed his shirt and hesitated momentarily before unbuttoning his belt. Suddenly, his body reacted unexpectedly, surprising them both. Any hesitation Jayden felt evaporated in that instant. He gazed at her intently, pondering the possibility of allowing things to continue.

As Elyse hurriedly removed his trousers, leaving him in his black boxers, she noticed a scar on his thigh she had never seen before. Her fingers reached out instinctively to touch it. Jayden caught her wrist firmly, offering her an escape. "I don't need your pity. Please leave." Understanding his discomfort, Elyse quickly clarified, "That's not about pity. I just want to be here for you."

Jayden looked at her, his voice low. "Are you sure? Even to accompany me in the shower?" Her silence spoke volumes, but her flushed face betrayed her inner turmoil. Jayden, misinterpreting her intentions, expressed his feelings. "I won't be happy with your help. It feels like you're humiliating me."

"That's not my intention," Elyse responded quickly. Jayden, testing her, asked pointedly, "Do you want to make me happy?" She nodded earnestly. "Yes." Jayden gestured toward his genitals with a mischievous grin. "If you truly want to make me happy, then prove it."

Elyse's face registered shock at his bold words. "If you're not up for it, then leave. I don't need your pretense of kindness," Jayden challenged her. However, Elyse interpreted his words differently. She believed Jayden was deliberately making it difficult for her to dissuade her from helping with his shower. "I'm sincere in my offer. I can handle it," Elyse asserted. With resolve, she knelt between Jayden's legs, her actions bold and determined.

Jayden was taken aback. His challenge had been a test, to provoke a reaction, to see her embarrassment, not to compel her to act. He had not anticipated her taking him literally, nor had he expected her to proceed without hesitation.

(The ellipses at the end are removed as they seem to indicate an unfinished passage.)