Devoted Love:The Billionaire's Precious Wife
Chapter 690

Chapter 690: Chapter 690

Rosemary prodded gently at several spots, each eliciting a grimace of pain.

"There’s significant swelling, indicating muscle tissue damage. As for any fractures or ligament injuries, it’s best to get an X-ray of the lumbar spine at the hospital for a clearer picture."

Though her experience hinted at no fractures, caution prevailed, and she recommended a hospital visit.

"How long would he need to rest if it’s a muscle injury?" Eunice, hovering at the edge of the room, couldn’t help but interject.

Surprised to see her aunt had joined them, Rosemary answered truthfully,

"Typically, bed rest for three to four weeks is necessary. He’ll also need some pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication. But given Grandpa’s age, it might take four to five weeks for a full recovery. Plus, there might be conflicts with his heart medication, so we’ll have to adjust his prescriptions accordingly."

Serena, sitting at the bedside, murmured with concern,

"How could that be?"

"If it’s a fracture, the duration of bed rest could extend to eight weeks for a minor one. A severe case might even require surgery. Could you please step out and find someone to help? I want to help Grandpa change his clothes."

Lying in discomfort was no small ordeal.

"I can help," Eunice stepped forward confidently.

As Serena reluctantly moved aside, she couldn’t help but overhear their exchange.

"Just coordinate with me," Rosemary, who had often helped her Grannie Grace with such tasks, was adept at it.

Eunice, observing Rosemary’s expert movements, felt a pang of sympathy. How many times had this child repeated such tasks to perform them with such ease?

Changing clothes for an immobile person, especially a man, required both skill and strength.

Rosemary noticed the emotion in her aunt’s eyes and explained lightly,

"I used to do this for the Harris family’s old lady, so I’m experienced."

"Your foster parents’ mother? Why were you, a child, doing this? Where were the adults? Didn’t the adults care?"

"They weren’t as good at it as me."

Rosemary’s simple response hinted at more to Eunice, who felt a deeper ache for her.

Thankfully, it was winter, and Darren’s outer garments were the only ones damp. The inner layers were spared.

After changing him, Rosemary and Eunice helped shift him to a more comfortable position.

That was when Bard rushed in, seeing his wife and niece tending to Darren on the bed, with Serena standing aside.

Bard hurried to assist, and after a moment asked,

"Rose, your granddad’s alright, isn’t he?"

Rosemary summarized the diagnosis for him and then called for a basin of warm water.

"Granddad can’t use this ointment. It’ll react with his current medication and could cause an allergy. We need to clean it off and apply something else."

"I’ve got it," Bard said, taking the towel, soaking it in the warm water, wringing it out, and then gently wiping off the liniment from his father’s lower back.

Rosemary lifted her gaze to the servants nearby.

"Who applied the ointment to Grandpa? Why didn’t you consult me first?"

Now, the servants could no longer keep silent, one of them sheepishly admitting,

"Serena instructed us to. She said a little ointment would suffice, and there was no need to alarm everyone."

Serena panicked, her internal alarm blaring. She thought, "Weren’t you instructed to keep quiet? And yet you spilled the beans, you coward!"

Rosemary’s gaze once again settled on Serena.

"I heard Grandpa groaning in pain, so I just wanted to apply some ointment on him," Serena scrambled for an excuse.

"Wasn’t Uncle Bard looking for a word with you? I didn’t want to disturb you two, so I didn’t ask."

Darren, worried that his granddaughters would start arguing over him, quickly interjected,

"I’m fine, no need to worry. It’s just a scratch."

"I’ll go grab some medicine from my room."

Rosemary didn’t continue to argue with Serena. Once she returned with the ointment, she instructed her uncle,

"Apply this three times a day. A thin layer should do. It’ll help with the swelling and the pain."

"Pain relief sounds good. Good."

Darren could hardly move with the pain. The medicine was just what he needed.

"Come with me." Rosemary shot a glance at Serena.

Serena followed, her pride slightly bruised.

"Go ahead and apply the ointment to Dad. I won’t watch. I’ll wait outside." Eunice found an excuse and quietly followed them.

Rosemary led Serena to the adjoining parlor and regarded her coolly.

"Was it your idea to take Grandpa out for a walk in the garden?"

Her chilly demeanor intimidated Serena, who murmured defensively,

"What’s it to you?"

Rosemary’s eyes flashed with displeasure.

"Haven’t learned from last time, have you?"

"I already explained last time, it wasn’t on purpose. I just wanted to take Grandma out to enjoy the snowscape in the garden. I didn’t anticipate the icy path, the wheelchair slipping. None of that was expected. If I had known it could’ve caused Grandma to fall, I would never have taken her out!"

Rosemary replied icily,

"Last time, Grandma hadn’t even fully recovered, and you insisted on taking her out into the cold. The staff warned you, but you did as you pleased. Now, with the temperature below zero, you suggest Grandpa go for a walk outside. And in non-slip-resistant slippers. What were you thinking?"

"I didn’t think it through. I just wanted to relive the old days, walking with Grandpa, that’s all."

"Did the adults really let you walk in a blizzard when you were a child?"

Serena fell silent, unable to respond.

"You should be grateful Grandpa didn’t get as hurt as Grandma did. Last time, she fell face-first from her wheelchair, rolled over twice, and hit a decorative rock. She was covered in bruises. Though not life-threatening, those injuries meant days of suffering for someone her age. Thank goodness that slope wasn’t longer, or the consequences could have been dire!"

"I’ve said it wasn’t intentional! Why do you speak to me with such accusation? As if I deliberately harmed Grandma and Grandpa!"

"Because you act without thinking. You’re just trying to close the gap between yourself and our grandparents, aren’t you? Afraid that with me back, all their love will shift to me, leaving you out in the cold, right? You could have spent time with them indoors, had a cup of coffee, chatted, and they would have been happy. Instead, you dragged them outside into the cold to get hurt."

Serena retorted angrily,

"I told you it wasn’t on purpose! When it suddenly began to snow, I just wanted to hurry Grandpa back inside."

"On a snowy day, you rush an elderly man? Really smart."

"Rosemary!" Serena clenched her teeth in fury.

"Don’t think just because you are my sister, you can lord over me. You’re not in charge here!"

"Don’t forget who allowed you to stay in this house! I finally help heal someone, and you manage to get them hurt—twice."

"I said it wasn’t on purpose!" Serena was seething, wondering if Rosemary was incapable of understanding her.