Chapter 2 - The Accident That Changed Everyone
Seven months earlier, Adrian's car had gone through a guardrail on a mountain road.
He survived.
Barely.
His legs were temporarily paralyzed by swelling around the spine.
Doctors believed recovery was possible.
Vanessa did not wait to find out.
At first she played the devoted partner.
She cried beside his hospital bed.
She promised she would stay forever.
Then Adrian's doctors mentioned months of rehabilitation.
Her visits became shorter.
Her affection became colder.
Finally, she began spending time with Julian Pierce, Adrian's cousin and chief financial officer.
Adrian noticed.
He said nothing.
Then something else happened.
A rehabilitation specialist named Dr. Marcus Hale found inconsistencies in Adrian's original medical records.
“The damage doesn't match the crash.”
Adrian frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your spinal injury explains the temporary paralysis.”
Marcus pointed at another report.
“But these blood results don't.”
Adrian had been given a medication after the accident.
Supposedly for pain and muscle spasms.
Marcus discovered that several doses contained an additional sedative compound that prolonged weakness and interfered with rehabilitation.
Someone wanted Adrian recovering more slowly.
Then the police reexamined the vehicle.
The brake system had been tampered with.
The crash was not an accident.
Adrian told only three people.
Marcus.
His attorney.
And his security chief, Thomas Reed.
They devised a plan.
Adrian would continue using the wheelchair publicly even after recovering.
If someone had tried to disable him, that person might become careless believing they succeeded.
It worked.
Julian started pushing for temporary control of Blackwood Holdings.
Vanessa began discussing Adrian's mental fitness with family lawyers.
Several board members received anonymous reports claiming Adrian would never walk again.
Then Emma entered his life.
She had been hired shortly after the accident because Adrian refused professional nurses.
She was supposed to handle household tasks.
Instead, she became the only person in the mansion who treated him normally.
She argued when he skipped meals.
Ignored his bad moods.
Refused expensive gifts.
And never once asked what she would receive if his condition became permanent.
That frightened Adrian in a different way.
He began trusting her.
And because trusting someone had nearly gotten him killed, he hid the truth.
Now Emma stood beside the staircase realizing every difficult day had contained a lie.
“You let me believe you couldn't walk.”
Adrian lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
“I helped you dress.”
“I know.”
“I carried things because I thought standing hurt you.”
“I know.”
Emma's voice broke.
“And you watched me worry.”
Adrian had no defense.
Vanessa suddenly turned toward the ballroom.
Adrian noticed.
“Where are you going?”
She stopped.
“Home.”
“No.”
Vanessa looked back.
Adrian's expression hardened.
“You just pushed a wheelchair toward a staircase.”
“You're standing.”
“That doesn't change what you intended.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“You can't prove I meant to hurt you.”
Adrian looked toward the ceiling.
A security camera faced directly toward the platform.
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“That was your second mistake tonight.”
“Second?”
May you like
Adrian nodded.
“The first was being surprised that I could walk.”
