Chapter 4

I watched the video again and again until Noah returned.

He walked over, and seeing me watching the competition video, a flicker of unease crossed his face.

“Don’t watch these, it’ll just upset you, and I’ll feel terrible.”

His face was full of tenderness, but my heart was filled with mockery.

“Didn’t you orchestrate this? Weren’t you behind all of this?”

The words were barely out of my mouth when Noah, seemingly hurt by my attitude, his voice turned sharp.

“What are you talking about? Aria, I’ve cared for you with all my heart since your accident, and this is how you see me?”

“If it weren’t for me, with your leg broken this morning, your gambling addict father would have already abandoned you for dead, perhaps even selling your remains to cover his debts!”

The more he spoke, the more genuine he sounded, wearing an expression that said, “How could you be so unreasonable?”

“Wasn’t it for Skylar?”

My voice was icy.

“I…”

The color drained from Noah’s face, and all the words he was about to say caught in his throat.

“It’s not what you think.”

After a long moment, Noah spoke, his voice dry.

“When I gave her up back then, I wronged her.”

“That’s *your* wronging of her, what does that have to do with me? Why should my legs be the price of your compensation to her? I’m not some mistress!”

I was losing control.

“Calm down! Look at it from another angle, it’s not all bad.”

“I’ve repaid my debt to Skylar, and now I can fully devote myself to you, with no more ties to her.”

“Even though you can’t walk anymore, you have *all* of me now!”

I literally couldn’t believe my ears.

“What’s so great about having a bastard like you?! I just want my body back!”

After losing my legs, the brokenness of my body wore away all my strength. I couldn’t calmly love anyone anymore.

Noah’s eyes instantly turned cold.

“Looks like you haven’t realized you’ll be living off my charity for the rest of your life.”

Soon, I understood the meaning of Noah’s words.

I wanted a drink of water, but my wheelchair got stuck on the rug.

“You stay here and reflect. Think about what kind of attitude you should have toward me from now on.”

Noah slammed the door shut and left, a smug look on his face.

I felt my mouth go dry, staring at the water glass just within reach. The thirst gradually morphed into a searing pain that scorched my soul.

I don’t know how much time passed, when an uncontrollable urge to urinate swept over me.

My catheter needed changing.

Usually, Noah would change it for me at this time.

I bit my lip tightly, furiously pressing the wheelchair’s control lever.

The wheelchair shook violently, and I tumbled to the floor.

I didn’t even care about the pain. I quickly crawled toward the bathroom.

I desperately tried to arch my body, but still couldn’t resist my body’s needs. A warm sensation soaked my pants.

I clenched my fists, wishing I could just die right there.

The uncontrollable humiliation shattered my self-esteem far more than any verbal abuse.

Not until the next morning, when the caregiver arrived.

The caregiver lifted me onto the bed, deftly pulling off my pants, then unceremoniously wiping between my legs with a towel.

I was turned over and over by her hands, like a dead pig waiting to be butchered.

She looked disgustedly at the soiled items in her hand, constantly complaining, “It stinks! Can’t even control her own piss and crap.”

“If I were you, I’d just die! Living is just wasting air and food.”

I was shaking with rage, my teeth chattering. “This is your job, my husband pays you handsomely…”

Before I could finish, the caregiver shoved my soiled pants into my mouth. The foul smell assaulted my nostrils, making me feel faint.

“Shut up! Still making trouble even in this state! Mr. Noah is just taking pity on you, giving you a meal, just like he’d feed a stray dog on the street!”

“For a rich man like Mr. Noah, money is just a number. His most precious asset is time, and his time is spent on…”

The caregiver sneered, not finishing her sentence.

But I understood what she meant.

Half an hour ago, the dance troupe’s official SnapChat account posted some photos.

Noah and Skylar embracing and dancing on a grand stage, with all eyes focused on them.

That was something I could never achieve again in this lifetime.

Why were my life and love so painful?

I slit my wrist.

As my blood stained the floor, I couldn’t help but wickedly wonder what Noah’s reaction would be.

Sadness?

Maybe he’d feel relieved to get rid of this burden!

I thought death was the end, but surprisingly, my soul floated beside my body.

My colleagues from the dance troupe were the first to come see me.

“Oh my God, how could Aria be so desperate!”