“Just kidding,” I added quickly. “I’m not actually interested in men.”
Still, I proceeded with the routine I’d learned online: massaging his limbs, turning him over, and attempting vagus nerve stimulation. Though I lacked professional skills, I tried my best, fumbling through the steps with clumsy determination.
The entire process took me over half an hour. By the time I was done, I was sweating. Adrian was tall and solidly built, making the task surprisingly labor-intensive.
“How was that? Your wife isn’t too bad, right? Don’t worry, Adrian—I’m taking your family’s money, so I’ll take good care of you,” I joked, brushing my damp hair back from my face.
As I leaned over to straighten his blanket, I noticed something—his eyelids seemed to twitch, almost as though he had been subtly stimulated by the massage.
Startled, I froze and stared at him, holding my breath. Was he waking up?
But no. His expression remained perfectly still, his breathing steady and deep.
I hesitated, then reached out to touch his eyelids gently, hoping for another reaction. There was none.
“It must have been my imagination,” I muttered, disappointed.
Shrugging it off, I left his room and headed downstairs for dinner. Amanda, the head housemaid, had prepared a simple yet delicious meal of soup and rice. She served it with a professional demeanor, her expression neutral.
“Thank you, Amanda,” I said politely as I dug in. “How long has Mr. Winslow been in this state?”
“Almost two years now,” Amanda replied matter-of-factly, not meeting my gaze.
Her cool attitude didn’t bother me; I suspected she had dealt with many prospective daughters-in-law over the years and saw me as just another one in the line.
“How many daughters-in-law have there been before me?” I asked, curious.
“Six,” she replied flatly.
I nodded, unsurprised.
I took a sip of soup and asked, “Don’t you think it’s cruel for him to stay in bed all day? What if he’s aware of his surroundings? Wouldn’t it be better to take him outside for some fresh air?”
Amanda paused, clearly caught off guard. “Take him outside?”
“Yes. Later, let’s turn on all the lights in the villa and bring him out to the courtyard for a stroll. It might do him some good.”