He Traded My Trauma for Her Redemption - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Gabriel stopped the car and turned to face me, his expression serious.
"Nadine, don’t think I’m just being polite. Or that Professor Zane took you back out of pity. You’re here for one reason only—because this research project needs you."
"Even after ten years, your knowledge is still there. You are still the most brilliant senior we’ve ever had. You have to believe it—you are worth it."
His certainty, his sincerity, hit me like a tidal wave.
For a moment, I couldn’t speak.
'Was it possible? That someone actually needed me?'
Not as a caretaker. Not as a cook. Not as an accessory to someone else’s life. But just for who I was. Tears fell uncontrollably.
I met Gabriel’s expectant gaze and nodded with absolute conviction and say, "I believe it too. I can do this. I am worth it."
He grinned. "Now that’s the Nadine Xander I know. I’ve organized all the research materials in your apartment. You can catch up while you recover. And if you have any questions, ask me. Don’t even think about worrying that you’re bothering me."
Outside the car window, the once unfamiliar cityscape started to feel familiar again.
I remembered the time, back when we were PhD students, when I dragged Gabriel to the tallest building in the city.
Looking down at the dazzling skyline, I had asked him, "Do you believe I can change the world?"
Before he could answer, I had shouted into the night sky, "I will do it!"
And now, the time had finally come to make that promise real.
***
Days passed in a blur of catching up on research and learning new developments.
It was exhausting, but I never once felt tired.
After Gabriel caught me staying up late too many times, he moved into the apartment next door—just to keep an eye on me.
"Nadine, if you keep this up, how is your leg supposed to heal?"
I had no choice but to listen to his strict schedule. He even dragged me outside for walks in the park.
Gabriel also had his reason, “Breathing fresh air helps inspiration to arise.”
Even the three meals a day were all taken care of by him. As if that weren’t enough, he took over cooking all my meals too.
I had expected nothing more than instant noodles and maybe a fried egg. But every meal he placed before me was a full, home-cooked spread—four dishes and a soup. And they were all my favorites.
I was surprised, but I didn’t overthink it. Food options were limited overseas, after all. Even I had only learned to cook properly because I had to survive while studying abroad.
Back then, Gabriel would show up at my place every day, shamelessly mooching off my cooking. He must have learned from those meals.
Under his careful watch, my leg healed quickly. In just over a month, I was walking again.
Still, Gabriel insisted I use a wheelchair whenever I wasn’t in physical therapy.
"It takes a hundred days to fully recover from bone injuries," he reminded me.
"Your injury was serious. You have to take your time healing."
I didn’t argue. Because, for the first time in a long time, I knew what it felt like to be cared for.
No wonder David hadn’t wanted to let me go, even after Yvonne came back. For ten years, I had taken care of his every need.
This thought surfaced briefly—before I shoved it away.
I had no time to waste on the past. There were still so many academic materials to read.
I had research to do, a future to reclaim.
David and his world no longer deserved even a passing thought.
***
Seeing that I had prepared everything, I was about to officially return to the institute that day.
David, however, blocked the door out of my apartment. Beside him, Tyler was sobbing uncontrollably. The moment he saw me, he ran forward and threw his arms around me.