Chapter 3

Linda rushed to the bed and took Annie’s hand. “Annie, are you okay? Are you still in pain? Mom’s here now.”

Wiping her tears, she turned to me and spat, “You just had to marry a deadbeat like him! If he hadn’t crashed the car, would you have had to Uber to your student’s house for lessons?”

“My student… wait, what about Brandon? Is he okay?”

“Brandon? Who’s that?” Linda asked, confused.

I stepped in helpfully. “He’s the one who was driving Annie to her lesson. I heard they were pulled out of the wreck pretty easily since neither of them were wearing clothes.”

“You!”

Linda’s hand trembled as she pointed at me. “How dare you humiliate my daughter like that! I swear, I’ll make sure you regret ever opening that mouth of yours!”

“Enough! I want to see Brandon!” Annie tried to throw the blanket off, but underneath, her legs were gone.

“My legs! Where are my legs?” Annie screamed, her voice filled with despair.

I quickly covered my face, pretending to weep. I didn’t want them to see how happy I was.

“Annie’s legs, where are they?” Linda shrieked, frantically searching the bed. Annie, meanwhile, started smashing everything in sight.

“I knew it! You did this to her, didn’t you?” Annie’s bloodshot eyes locked onto me, filled with accusation.

I waved my hands. “Annie, when you were unconscious, I already explained the situation to Mom. The doctors heard it all, too.”

“You know the state of our finances. After the business failed, you told Mom I wasn’t cut out for it, and she took control of everything. All the money is with her!”

“When they said they needed $30,000 for the surgery, I had to ask her for it. She refused. She’s the one who didn’t save you. Not me! I couldn’t get the money!”

I played the recording again, and that damning busted echoed through the room.

Annie’s face turned dark, and she glared at Linda.

Anyone could tell Linda had spent more time playing cards than taking care of the family. She’d taken all the money under the guise of ‘saving it for Annie,’ and now, Annie’s chance for recovery was gone.

Linda dropped to her knees, wailing. “Annie, you’re my flesh and blood! How could I not care? It’s your husband, this good-for-nothing, lying to both of us!”

“Enough!” Annie was shaking with rage. She pointed at her mother. “Get out!”

“How can you talk to me like that, sweetie?”

Just then, Jim barged into the room, out of breath. “Annie!”

“Dad…”

Jim’s eyes fell on the empty space where Annie’s legs used to be, and his face froze.

He’d spent years bragging about his daughter’s talent, how many awards she’d won. His comfortable life was all thanks to the income she brought in with those legs of hers.

All the city officials who’d sent their kids to Annie for dance lessons, those gifts and favors they’d received—everything was over now.

Her legs were gone, and so was everything else.

“Jim, thank God you’re here! You’ve got to stop Adam! He’s ruining our family!” Linda cried.

Slap!

Jim smacked Linda across the face, hard.