Chapter 4

The sun was beginning to set by the time James finally woke up.

I rushed to his bedside, tears in my eyes.

“Darling, your legs! They’re gone! What will we do now?”

James blinked, looking confused.

I stayed by his side, playing the dutiful wife, just like he had done in my past life.

“Do you need some water, love? Here, let me help you,” I said, dabbing his lips with a damp cotton bud.

“James, your surgery and rehabilitation will be expensive. I’ve decided we’ll sell the house to cover the costs.”

At the mention of selling the house, James seemed to wake up fully. He turned to me, his face twisted in anger.

“Amputation?! Who gave you the right to sign off on that? Are you just waiting for me to die so you can run off with that dog Edward?”

After we got married, James slowly revealed his true nature, replacing the charm and gentleness with insults, belittlement, and even violence.

Even now, with his legs gone, he couldn’t stop himself.

“What does Edward have to do with this? It was your mother who made the decision. She said we couldn’t afford to save your legs.”

I showed him the recording of Margaret refusing to pay.

As I watched his face contort with rage, I couldn’t help but feel amused.

“That’s not possible. I give her money every year! How could she not have enough? It must be at least £50,000 by now.”

James muttered to himself.

Ever since he left school, he had stopped relying on his family’s money. After graduating from university, he began sending monthly allowances to Margaret.

In nearly a decade, it must have added up to £70,000 or more.

And in the past couple of years, after becoming a senior engineer, he was poised to earn six figures as a manager.

It seemed Margaret had her priorities all wrong.

Who would promote a crippled man with no prospects?

“Stop thinking about it. The decision’s been made. Let’s focus on your recovery now.”

“Ahhhhhh!” James let out a silent scream of frustration.

I pressed the nurse call button.

The door opened, and it was Margaret, storming in. She grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me.

“This is all your fault! Why didn’t you protect him? He’s the breadwinner! You’re a worthless cow! Why aren’t you the one who lost their legs?!”

Margaret was strong, her hands yanking at my hair and clothes.

I punched her twice—once in the chin, then in the nose—sending her crashing to the ground.

The shock on her face was priceless. She hadn’t expected her meek daughter-in-law to fight back.

“Mum, everything that’s happened to James is because of you!”

“He crashed because he was driving to pick you up. And you’re the one who decided to have his legs amputated. Did you forget what happened earlier today?”