Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: The Eternal Muse

On his first day at work, Ethan arrived at the villa half an hour early. Megan showed him around the villa to familiarize him with its layout and assigned him a guest room—which was even larger than the apartment he had rented before, complete with an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet."Ms. White gets up at 7 a.m. You'll need to help her with washing up, getting dressed, and preparing breakfast," Megan detailed the work process. "She has limited mobility in her legs and feet. A spinal cord injury from an equestrian accident three years ago left her needing a wheelchair for daily activities; occasionally, she can stand for short periods with the help of a walker. She has a slight obsession with cleanliness, so all items she comes into contact with must be disinfected. Her diet needs to be low in fat and sugar, and she requires rehabilitation training at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day."Ethan carefully noted this down in his notebook. His professional background in nursing helped him quickly get into the swing of things. Promptly at 7 o'clock, he knocked on Ella's bedroom door."Come in."When he pushed the door open, Ella was leaning against the head of the bed, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes carrying the laziness of just waking up. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a glow on her fair face—her beauty was breathtaking."Do you need help with washing up?" Ethan tried his best to keep his voice steady.Ella nodded and gestured for him to come over. Ethan gently helped her sit up, assisted her in putting on her slippers, and pushed her wheelchair to the bathroom. During the washing-up process, Ethan did his best to stay professional and avoid unnecessary eye contact, but Ella's composure made him a little flustered—she seemed completely unconcerned about exposing her body in front of him, and even took the initiative to ask him to help fasten the straps of her nightgown."You're very gentle with your movements," Ella suddenly spoke up."Thank you. When I interned at the hospital, I often took care of patients with limited mobility," Ethan replied.For breakfast, Ethan prepared whole-wheat toast, fried eggs, avocado salad, and sugar-free soymilk—and Ella seemed very satisfied with the meal. The morning rehabilitation training took place in the villa's gym. Following the rehabilitation therapist's instructions, Ethan helped Ella stretch her leg muscles and assisted her in standing with the support of a walker."Put in some effort, take your time, don't rush," Ethan guided her patiently.Fine beads of sweat broke out on Ella's forehead, and her face looked a little pale, but her eyes were firm. Suddenly, her foot slipped, and her body lost balance. Ethan reacted quickly, reaching out to catch her. Her soft body pressed against his chest, and a faint scent of gardenia lingered at his nostrils—Ethan's heart skipped a beat in an instant."Are you okay?" He quickly helped her sit back in the wheelchair.Ella shook her head, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "Thank you. You reacted so fast."In that moment, Ethan suddenly felt that this job might be about more than just money. The woman in front of him—beautiful and resilient, like a rose with thorns—made him unable to resist the urge to draw closer.