Chapter 2303
Chapter 2303 Does It Hurt?
Chatty begged Clayton to go home with them, but he still refused to go back
Nicole thought, ‘Is it because I’m at home? Or is it because there’s someone he can’t forget at the restaurant?’
Nicole did not want to think too much. She turned her head away awkwardly and walked out with Fischer.
She gave the father and daughter pair enough time and space alone.
Julie did not say anything. She only took a look at Nicole and followed her.
When she got on the elevator, she did not close the doors in a hurry and waited for them.
Clayton carried Chatty and walked over unsteadily, only to notice that Nicole and the others were waiting for him in the elevator.
For a moment, he was a little embarrassed, especially when he noticed Nicole’s gaze was fixed on his right leg and cane.
Clayton clenched his cane tightly.
He wished he could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
Instantly, his face turned hot.
He hated himself for appearing in front of Nicole in this state.
It seemed that no matter how much time passed, Nicole did not change. She was still so glamorous and gorgeous.
But what about him?
Clayton felt like he should be in the dark because of his mutilated limbs. What right did he have to approach her again?
While he was in a daze, Fischer took Nicole’s hand and said to Clayton, “Daddy, come quickly!”
Clayton finally returned to his senses.
He walked in with difficulty with a tense body.
Clayton was the closest to the elevator buttons, and he was too proud to ask the people next to him for help.
However, he could not press the elevator buttons while carrying Chatty and holding a cane.
Clayton frantically tried to move his cane to his other hand and use his free hand to press the elevator button, but he suddenly felt severe pain in his right leg as if countless ants were chewing at his bone.
He was a bit unsteady.
Clayton knew that his treatment earlier was not as effective as usual because he delayed it for a long time.
In an instant, cold sweat seeped out of his forehead.
The next second, a clean and slender hand stretched out from behind and gently pressed the elevator button.
The elevator doors closed immediately.
It was quiet as the elevator descended slowly.
Clayton stood up straight. His back was extremely stiff.
He felt like he was running barefoot on a volcano, and he could not outrun the lava no matter what.
His cane fell to the ground and made a dull but crisp sound.
Before he thought about what to say, Nicole spoke nonchalantly from behind.
“Does your leg hurt?”
Clayton was silent for a moment. He clenched his fists tightly and replied, “It’s fine.”
He sounded calm, but Nicole knew that it must not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Clayton was a very forbearing person.
He had been very patient since he was a child.
They opened up to each other after they fell in love with each other, but the earthquake brought them back to the starting point.
Nicole’s heart tightened. Her gaze did not fall on his leg because the elevator walls were mirrored, and they could see each other through the mirror no matter what angle they were in.
They were both faking it.
Nicole never asked Leighton and Camille about Clayton’s recovery.
No matter how advanced their technology was, they could not drastically stimulate human growth.
Cell regeneration technology would take time, and it was impossible for Clayton to look like a normal person in just a few months.
His facial reconstruction surgery was more advanced than the other surgeries.
However, his recovery was unexpectedly fast, especially since he could only sit in a wheelchair or use crutches when he was Jeff Lieberman. Now, he could walk with a simple cane.
Nicole pursed her lips and looked at Chatty. She said in a hoarse voice, “Let Mommy carry you for a while.”
Chatty pouted her lips and thought about it.
Clayton’s body froze slightly because he knew what Nicole was trying to do.
Nicole was afraid that he would not be able to withstand Chatty’s weight.
At this time, Clayton did not want to admit defeat.
He patted Chatty on the back and said casually, “It’s okay. We’re almost at the car.”
After he spoke, the elevator arrived downstairs.
Julie knew that something was wrong between the two of them and they needed some privacy.
Thus, as soon as they left the hospital, Julie looked at Nicole and said, “I won’t go back with you. I have to go to the hospital to see Grant and Aida.”
Nicole nodded and smiled apologetically.
“I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”
“Don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities in the future!”
Julie laughed, waved at her, and left.
Nicole and Clayton drove to the hospital earlier.
Thus, Nicole looked at him and said, “I’ll drive, and you can hold Chatty.”
Clayton did not refuse.
After all, he was happy to spend more time with his daughter.
Fischer sat in the back with Clayton and played with Chatty.
Chatty quickly forgot about the incident earlier now that she was in a comfortable environment.
She smiled and hugged Clayton’s neck as she played hide and seek, thinking that Fischer could not see her.
Fischer was speechless when he saw this.
When they arrived at the apartment, they went upstairs as usual.
Mrs. Zoe, who was at home, happily greeted them when they came in the door.
“Madam, you’re back…”
When Mrs. Zoe saw the person behind Nicole, her expression changed, and she covered her mouth excitedly.
“Mr. Sloan, you’re back too?”
Everyone was excited about Clayton’s return except Clayton himself.
Clayton flashed a smile. He wanted to hand Chatty over to Nicole and leave by himself, but Nicole walked into the house on her own with Fischer in tow.
Thus, Clayton stood at the door awkwardly. He seemed redundant.
The slippers that he used to wear were still on the shoe cabinet, which shocked him.
Mrs. Zoe saw Clayton’s cane and walked over to help put the slippers in front of him.
The past seemed to flood back into Clayton’s mind.
Nothing seemed to have changed in this house.
It was exactly the same as when he left.
Clayton liked to experiment with new dishes in the kitchen, and he liked to see Nicole’s surprise when she tasted his food.
He loved every second they spent in this apartment.
For a moment, Clayton seemed to have returned to the past.
In less than half a year, his life had been turned upside down.
His whole body was tense. He felt that if he stayed for a second longer, he would be reluctant to leave.
Clayton looked at the girl in his arms and was about to hand her over to Mrs. Zoe when he heard Nicole’s calm voice coming from the living room as she looked back at him.
“Why don’t you come in and feed Chatty her medicine first?”
Nicole gave him an excuse to enter the house.
Clayton pursed his lips, changed his shoes, and walked in with Chatty.
Chatty no longer clung to Clayton when she arrived at her own territory.
She twisted her small body, jumped down, and went to play with Fischer.
Clayton’s arms were empty. Thus, he could only walk toward the living room.
The decor in the living room had not changed one bit.
It was clean, tidy, and cozy.
Clayton stared at the family photos on the bookshelf in a daze.
It seemed that time rewound to the day when the photo was taken.
Every day after their marriage and before the earthquake was warm and splendid.
Clayton did not dare to take another look and turned his head away.
