Chapter 15 - The Call from Switzerland
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The spring melted into a joyful, peaceful summer. Ethan had formally adopted Micah, and the penthouse was filled with the sound of an eight-year-old boy’s laughter. The phantom pains that plagued Ethan’s nights were soothed by Grace’s constant, loving presence.
They were happy. But the universe has a way of testing perfect happiness.
It was a rainy Tuesday morning. Ethan was in his home office, deep in a video conference with his European division, when a private, encrypted call came through from Geneva.
Grace was reading a book on the sofa when Ethan rolled out of the office. He looked pale, his hands gripping the joystick of his chair with white-knuckled intensity.
"Ethan? What's wrong?" Grace asked, instantly dropping her book and rushing to his side.
"That was Dr. Aris," Ethan breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "The neurosurgeon in Switzerland I consulted with two years ago. The one developing the experimental nerve-regeneration procedure."
Grace’s heart skipped a beat. She knew about Dr. Aris. Ethan had abandoned hope for the surgery years ago because the risk of fatal complications during the spinal operation was nearly fifty percent.
"He finalized the clinical trials," Ethan said, looking up at her, a terrifying, desperate hope burning in his dark eyes. "He said I am a perfect candidate for the final phase. He believes he can reconnect the severed pathways."
"Ethan..." Grace gasped, covering her mouth.
"He thinks I could walk again, Grace," Ethan choked out, tears finally springing to his eyes. "He thinks I could walk you down the aisle. I could teach Micah how to play baseball standing up."
"But the risks," Grace cried, dropping to her knees in front of his chair, grabbing his hands. "Ethan, the mortality rate of that procedure is massive! If they hit the primary artery near the spinal column, you could die on the table!"
"I have to try," Ethan pleaded, gripping her hands fiercely. "I love you so much, Grace. I want to give you a whole man. I want to give you everything."
"You already are a whole man!" Grace sobbed, resting her forehead on his knees. "I don't care about the chair, Ethan! I care about you! I would rather spend the rest of my life pushing this chair than spend a single day in this world without you!"
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Ethan leaned down, lifting her tear-streaked face.
"I am not doing this because I think you need me to walk," Ethan said softly, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I am doing this because for the first time since the accident, I have a future worth fighting for. Let me fight for it, Grace."
