Chapter 16: Jane's paralyzed Husband
"Right now, let's just get out of here. We can decide what to do next later." Alex said.
Adrian's eyes lit up with a smile. He looked at Layla, "Let's go to my house. You can live with me and my mom." He ignored Elsa.
Elsa and Layla nodded. With no other options, it was best for them to follow Alex. He looked at Elsa, "And you too, cow, but remember to behave, or else I won't hesitate..." He left the threat hanging, but Elsa understood the implied consequences.
She nodded as they began heading towards Adrian's house. After two and a half hours, they reached the outskirts of the village where Jane's house was located.
Adrian couldn't wait and ran, "Mother... Mother!" He raced towards the door. It swung open, and Jane emerged, tears streaming down her face as she embraced Adrian.
She kissed her son on the forehead, her voice sharp with anger. "Why did you have to venture into that dangerous forest? If something had happened to you, I wouldn't have known what to do."
Adrian also wept, but he forced a smile. "I'm sorry, Mother," he choked out, "I just wanted to help... Look, I'm fine now. Big Bro helped me."
Jane patted his hair and looked at Alex with gratitude. Then she glanced at the two girls standing beside him, one human and one with the features of a beast. Puzzlement clouded her eyes.
Seeing this, Alex said, "I'll explain everything later. For now, we need a place to stay. Do you know of any decent inns nearby?"
Alex had his eyes on her but he cannot be direct, Alex's gaze lingered on her, a silent battle raging within him.
He'd first seen her face on his status window, a fleeting glimpse that had ignited a spark. Then, a few hours later, she stood before him, and the memory of her image – the graceful curve of her body, the subtle sway of her hips, the fiery cascade of her red hair – threatened to consume him.
Jane stepped closer to Alex; her gaze unwavering. "You don't need to stay at an inn. There's plenty of room in my house. You're welcome to stay as long as you need."
Despite having enough gold coins to last him for a long time in beginners Village, Alex couldn't resist this opportunity. "Well, if you insist," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. Alex, Elsa, Layla, and Adrian followed Jane into the house.
"The house is small, but it has a big basement," Jane said, leading them to the guest room. "Rest here. I'll bring you something to drink."
As they rested, Adrian hurried into the next room. Seeing this, Layla and Alex followed him, while Elsa remained in the guest room. She didn't care about anything and couldn't wait to return to her home.
Inside the room, a middle-aged man lay on the bed, his eyes open but lifeless. Despite the clear signs of paralysis, it was evident from his broad shoulders and the calloused hands of a man who worked tirelessly as a woodcutter that this debilitating condition had struck him recently.
"Father!" Adrian called out, his voice trembling. The paralyzed man's eyes, glazed and vacant, slowly rolled towards his son. Tears streamed down his face, but no sound escaped his lips, and his body remained utterly still.
"Father," Adrian continued, his voice thick with emotion, "I know you're angry with me, just like Mother.
But I only wanted to help. I'm truly sorry for worrying you. I've decided. I'll become a wizard, or a warrior, just like big bro Alex and I'll find a cure to heal you." Tears welled up in Adrian's eyes, but his voice remained resolute.
"Adrian,"
Layla said softly, coming up behind him and gently patting his shoulder. It was a gesture mirroring the comfort he had offered her in her time of need, a silent acknowledgment of their shared burden of sadness.
Seeing Layla and Alex standing behind him, Adrian quickly wiped the tears from his eyes. "Father," he said, "this is Layla, my new friend." He gently took Layla's hand in his own.
Layla blushed, her cat ears twitching nervously. Seeing this, Alex couldn't help but chuckle. So, a cat in the real world, and a cat woman in this world... some things truly are universal, he mused to himself.
"Oh, and Father," Adrian continued, "meet Big Brother Alex. He's the one who saved me and Layla. And there's also a… a bad woman in the house. Her name is Elsa. We were saved by my Big Brother."
He then began narrating the entire incident to his father, his voice filled with excitement. At that moment, Jane entered the room, her gaze immediately drawn to Alex.
Alex looked at her, his gaze drawn to her graceful movements. He had no intention of doing anything that could jeopardize this family, but he couldn't deny the undeniable attraction he felt towards her.
Without forcing her He decided to enjoy her company, and her beautiful mature body."