Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 553

Hiram had finally cried himself to sleep on the hospital bed.

I had thought about leaving while he was asleep but just couldn't bring myself to do it. That was until I got a call from Russel Dawson. He asked, in a deep, concerned voice, "Where are you?"

"What's up?" I remembered arranging for a nurse for him and making sure his medical expenses were fully covered.

"With my current situation, shouldn't you be coming over to take care of me, or at least visit more often?" Russel countered.

He had a point. After all, he was injured saving me and now he was laid up in a hospital, barely able to move. I knew I should visit and take care of him, but it was Russel, and I really didn't want to be alone with him.

Didn't Karina know about his injury? Why hadn't she helped out? And what about the Dawsons? Didn't they know about this?

I was full of questions but didn't voice them. Instead, I made an excuse, "I'm really tied up right now, I'll come see you when I can."

"The nurse you hired is a woman. It might be awkward for her to help me shower," Russel added.

Without thinking, I blurted out, "So, what? You want me to come over and help you shower?"

There was silence on his end for a few seconds before he calmly replied, "Yeah."

I was speechless. Did he forget I was a woman too?

"I'm not comfortable with that either. Maybe you should get a male nurse?" I suggested.

"That's fine, but you'll need to come over to arrange that. I'm the patient here," Russel said, managing to make it sound like I had no choice but to visit the hospital.

Checking the time, I realized it was already late. "I'll come by tomorrow. Just bear with it for tonight."

"I need to shower tonight. There's blood on me. Just come over, would you?" Russel was a bit of a clean freak, and not letting him shower was undoubtedly torture for him.

Calculating the time it would take to get there, deal with the situation, and return, it would be well past midnight.

Hiram's crying had left a mark on me. Despite everything, I decided to stay with him for a bit longer. He really shouldn't be all alone here.

"I'll come now," I finally told Russel before hanging up and rushing out.

—

When I arrived at the suburban hospital, Russel wasn't resting in bed as expected. Instead, he was standing at the door of his room, wearing a hospital gown with blue and white stripes. The gown did little to hide his handsome features.

Anyone, especially women, passing by couldn't help but give him a second look.

The nurse I had hired was nowhere to be seen.

"I let her go," Russel said as I approached him.

"Okay, I'll arrange for a male nurse to come over," I said without any hint of annoyance. It was something Russel could have easily sorted out himself, yet here I was.

It was my responsibility, after all.

Russel sat back down in his room while I called the nursing service to request a male nurse, emphasizing an immediate need and agreeing to a higher pay rate.

Russel listened quietly to my phone conversation without any comments.

"Just help me change the dressing," Russel said through gritted teeth.

"Call a nurse for that," I replied coldly.

"I don't like strangers touching me. You just hit me there, it might be bleeding again. You should take responsibility," Russel used that as leverage.

Though upset, I hadn't intended to hurt him further. The bullet wound on his shoulder was serious, involving stitches and a damaged bone.

Russel didn't call for a nurse. Instead, he awkwardly began to unbutton his gown with one hand, revealing the bandaged shoulder, now stained with fresh blood.

The room was stocked with medical supplies, likely requested by Russel himself. He gestured for me to get moving.

Suppressing my anger, I went over to remove the bandage. My movements were far from gentle, causing Russel to wince several times, though I pretended not to notice.

"Apply the antiseptic," Russel instructed after the bandage was off.

I didn't say a word, just grabbed the antiseptic and started dabbing it on the wound. I wasn't exactly gentle, but Russel didn't stop me. He broke the silence, "If you're mad, go ahead and press harder. If my pain can ease your anger, it's not a bad trade."

"What you did is unforgivable," I replied coldly.

"Yeah, I know." Russel didn't deny it. He even managed a wry smile. "But sometimes, you have to play dirty to get what you want. It's a necessary evil."

"Which part was necessary?" I challenged him.

"Starting from when I helped Karina fake her own death, everything that happened between us since then was a matter of necessity," Russel said, his tone tinged with resignation.