Chapter 1 - The Push
The wheelchair rolled toward the staircase faster than anyone expected.
Adrian Blackwood felt the front wheels reach the polished edge of the marble platform.
For one second, he saw nothing except the staircase below him.
Then—
“No!”
A figure rushed from his left.
Emma caught the wheelchair by the side frame and pulled backward with everything she had.
Her shoes slipped.
One knee struck the marble.
But she did not let go.
The chair stopped inches from the first step.
Emma immediately locked the brake.
Only then did she look up.
“You could've killed him!”
Vanessa Blackwood stood behind the wheelchair in her burgundy gown.
She had been Adrian's fiancée once.
Then his accident happened.
Within weeks, she began avoiding him.
Within months, she stopped pretending she still loved him.
Tonight she had finally said aloud what Adrian already suspected.
“He's a cripple now. He has nothing left.”
Emma's eyes filled.
But she did not release the wheelchair.
Instead, she turned toward Adrian.
Her trembling hand covered his.
“I don't care. I won't leave him.”
Adrian stared at her.
For seven months, people had treated him differently.
But Emma remained.
He had never told her the truth.
Now, with tears on her face and one knee bruised from saving him, keeping that truth felt cruel.
Adrian squeezed her hand once.
Then released it.
He pushed the plaid blanket aside.
Emma frowned.
Adrian placed both feet firmly on the marble floor.
Her eyes widened.
He leaned forward.
Pressed both hands against the armrests.
And stood.
Vanessa stumbled backward.
“You can walk?”
Adrian said nothing.
Her face changed from disbelief to fear.
That reaction interested him.
Emma looked hurt rather than relieved.
“You lied to me?”
Adrian finally spoke.
“I recovered three months ago.”
“Three months?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa's breathing became shallow.
Adrian looked at her.
“I wanted certain people to believe I hadn't.”
Emma slowly stood.
“What people?”
Adrian's eyes remained on Vanessa.
“The person who caused my accident.”
May you like
Vanessa went completely still.
And Adrian knew, from that single expression, that his trap had finally worked.
