was a mixture of pain and pure, unadulterated rage. The cane, my last semblance of indepen

clutching the glass of water. "Maria! Get her out of here! I don't want to hear another sound fr

n her face. Her hands trembled, sloshing water onto the f

. "Do you want to join her, Maria? Or perhaps lose your job? Y

d by Jade' s silent signal, entered the room. They lifted me, not gently, from my wheelchair, ignoring my protests, and car

single, grimy bulb hanging precariously from the ceiling. It was cold, damp, and smelled of mildew and decay. They placed me on a

hunger, my throat parched. I called out, my voice hoarse, but only the echoing silence answered. No food, no water, just the oppress

ll, imposing shadow, her face carefully devoid of emotion, yet her eyes held a triu

t make you see sense. Carter is a very important man, and he needs a wife who understands her place. Someon

ance. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

at, Alayna," she snapped, a hint of desperation in her tone. "You're nothing. You have nothing." She paused,

e, once comforting, now felt alien, a mockery of the life I' d once known. Just as we reached the lan

a little trinket to show you how much I care. You've been so quiet lately, my love." He opened the box, revealing a sparkling diamond pendant, a large, osten

y so calculated, faltered for a moment, a flash of pure, venomous jealousy in her eyes. The

oughtful. But I hardly think this can make up for the way Jade treated me down

ture of annoyance and thinly veiled anger. "What are you talking about, Alayna? Jade woul

t. I... I only tried to help her, to make sure she was comfortable. But she was so angry, so confrontational. I think she misunde

h in her, was sickening. He wanted to believe her. It was

ssurance. "She's just trying to help. You're always so quick to accuse." He tur

le twist of her lips that spoke volumes.

d, my voice flat, refusing to let hi

er one. Why are you so fixated on such trivialities? Jade has done nothing but try to help you. And yo

I asked, a bitter laugh escaping me. "My mobility,

dship. I owe them." He paused, his gaze distant, lost in some self-serving narrative. "When I was a kid, my family was struggling. Her father, Fidencio, he once did me

into an act of noble charity, using a fabricated childhood debt as a shield for his betrayal. He want

criminal because of some fabricated childhood debt to his daughter?" I asked, my voice rising, l

on to help you relax, to manage your pain. You've always been so fragile, so high-strung. This just helps you c

e pieces. It wasn't just a betrayal; it was an active, prolonged torture. He didn't see me as a wife, or even a hum

entire body. It was a sound of profound grief, not for him, but for the beautiful, trusting woman I

ping, trapped in a body that wouldn't obey her, her life stolen by the very man who swore to cherish her. And in that mome

ell empire, had paid the ultimate price for his deception. But he had forgotten one crucial detail. The Bell family does not forg

have no idea what