Taming the Bitch (COMPLETED)

Chapter LXV - NAPPY MISSION

"Leave!!!" Again, his hand slammed against hers, turning it red instantly before he put his weight on the armrest of the wheelchair and lifted himself up.

"Vince, let me—"

"I can do it!!! I'm not as invalid as you'd like me to be!" he snapped, standing on wobbly legs. He reached for the edge before sitting down again, Gabrielle quick to guard him should he fall.

"I said leave me alone!!!" Before I lock you up here... and not let you leave forever, he added mentally, frowning deeply, turning his face away from her.

"What's your problem... Vince...?" Her voice was soft, and he heard her sigh before feeling her warm palm on his shoulder.

Finally, he looked at her and wished he didn't. Seeing her misty eyes looking back at him pulled at something deep inside, tempting him to cup her perfectly chiseled cheekbones and feel her warmth and beauty in his hand. Of course, he did his best not to. Instead, he placed his hand on top of hers before taking it away from his shoulder.

"I hate it when you touch and talk to me this softly... it disgusts the hell out of my stomach," he said, throwing her hand away.

"You're not this soft and gentle woman; we both know that, Gabrielle. Just stop. You're making me feel more useless and disgusted when you act this way," he said through gritted teeth, mentally slapping himself when he saw how her eyes were tearing up. She was trying not to let the tears fall as she too gritted her teeth.

"I was never soft and gentle... but you were. At some point, you were. I just wanted to keep hoping that this side of you is just because of the accident... and that's my biggest mistake..." she whispered, bowing her head to hide her tears, her eyes fixed on her fingers.

"'Cause you've been WORST even before the accident... so much worse than this, and I wonder why I'm so stupid to accept that just now." She looked up at him for one last time before turning away and leaving him alone, gently closing the door behind her.

Vincent threw his anger into the pillow, punching it as though he wanted himself to be hit instead.

He wanted to follow her, but he couldn't. He'd overworked himself too much today and had ended up collapsing on the cold marble floor of the bathroom before Gabrielle came to his rescue, struggling to bring him back to his wheelchair. She had been meticulous, checking for wounds, scratches, or anything else as he sat in the chair, her hands scanning him with a professionalism that both soothed and humiliated him. But the intensity of it—her concern, her control—was too much to handle, and that alone pushed him to resist her help when she insisted on assisting him to the bed.

Throwing his head back in frustration, he cursed loudly as her sad face lingered in his memory.

Just this afternoon, they had been having fun with Nic, watching a movie together. Nic had fallen asleep beside him while he enjoyed the live-action version of Cinderella, Gabrielle curled up against their daughter. Vincent had never seen a more beautiful picture—his wife and daughter hugging as they drifted into dreamland.

After dinner, he had tried to practise walking alone again, moving five steps forward and back with the walker. He had felt confident enough to go to the bathroom, only for his knees to buckle. Gabrielle had arrived just in time to lift him, carrying his six-foot frame with a petite strength that left him feeling guilty. She had always divided her time between Nic and him, and he hated himself for being the weak link, needing care when he should have been protecting his family.

Out of anger, he flopped onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. He had to get well. He had to get them out of this hell. He knew it.

The next morning started like any other, though Vincent had barely slept, consumed by thoughts of the woman who mothered his angel of a daughter. He had expected Gabrielle to be around, but it was only Robert assisting him with his routines. He had even prepared an apology for her today.