On the day I was announced as the company heir, someone barged onto the stage with fake documents, accusing me of embezzling project funds and colluding with competitors. My father tore up the inheritance papers on the spot and expelled me. The hall’s screen repeatedly displayed photos of the new heir, Jasper. As I stumbled out of the building, a black car suddenly lost control and struck me. I collapsed into a pool of blood, overwhelmed by pain. While in a coma, I overheard her talking to an assistant. “Madam, Mr. Nolan has already been completely ousted; why take things to such extremes?” “He’s too brilliant. Only by crippling him can we eliminate future troubles—” “Jasper saved me from a fire five years ago. If he wants the inheritance, naturally I have to help him clear the obstacles.” I gazed at the burn scar below my collarbone, a mark left three years ago when I rushed into the flames to save her. Later, clutching the Certificate of Bravery from the Fire Department, I barged into the Jasper Corporation press conference. My wife was adjusting the cufflinks of her “benefactor,” Jasper. I tore open my shirt to reveal the scar, my voice hoarse but resolute. “Fiona, you said you’d spend your life with your benefactor once he recovered—” “But your benefactor is right in front of you, and you’re the arsonist executioner.”
The assistant looked at me, speaking with resignation. “Madam, you’ve already ordered Mr. Nolan to be hit, and the impact was enough to cripple his legs. But why have the perpetrator repeatedly run him over, leaving his legs as nothing but mangled flesh, necessitating amputation?” Fiona’s eyes were cold, her tone indifferent. “I did it to ensure nothing could go wrong. What if those people didn’t cripple him? Nolan has always been exceptionally capable. It’s not impossible for him to find renowned doctors across the United States to heal those legs.” “With his legs amputated, he’ll forever be disabled. He’s always been proud and ambitious, living a lifetime in the pain of broken legs, and won’t think of fighting Jasper for the inheritance.” The assistant’s pupils contracted, his gaze falling on my bandaged, severed legs. “But what if Mr. Nolan finds out? You were at the scene of the accident too. What if he saw you, even the ambulance was called by a passerby. What if he blames you for life?” Fiona took a step closer, her slender hand caressing the wound on my forehead. “Then make sure he doesn’t remember what happened that night. Aren’t there drugs in those shady clinics that can interfere with memory?” “Use them on him. If he can forget, great. If not, increase the dosage so he can’t even remember who he is.” The assistant couldn’t bear it, his voice trembling. “Those drugs exist, but they’re untested in clinical trials. They might cause permanent cognitive impairment, and severe cases could lead to incontinence, turning him into a vegetable…” Hearing the assistant’s words, Fiona showed impatience. Her eyes flared with anger. “So what? Sacrificing him for Jasper’s career is worth it.” “Since Jasper saved me from the fire five years ago, I haven’t been able to love anyone else. If not for the family marriage, why would I marry Nolan?” “If Jasper hadn’t risked his life to save me back then, I might have died in that fire. Now the opportunity has finally come; I can repay Jasper.” I clenched my wrist tightly, oblivious to the blood from my palm. The wife who had been with me for five years seemed like a stranger. Five years ago, I risked my life to save Fiona. The burn scar below my collarbone is still there. During our five-year marriage, I never mentioned it. I thought she knew I was the one who saved her because she agreed to the arranged marriage without hesitation. I never brought it up, fearing it would trigger painful memories for her. I never imagined she considered Jasper her savior all along. The assistant handed her a necklace, his fingers trembling. “This was tightly clutched in Mr. Nolan’s hand during the car accident. His secretary said it was supposed to be your birthday gift.” Fiona stared at the blood-stained necklace, dazed for a few seconds. It was something I had specially acquired from an auction in Italy. Just because she said she liked it, I went to great lengths to get it, just to see her smile. At the moment of the accident, she was all I thought about. She rubbed the necklace with her fingertips, her other hand caressing my face. “As long as he’s obedient and doesn’t fight, I’ll stay with him forever. He’ll still be my Mr. Nolan, and I’ll still be his Mrs. Nolan.” “Oh, and Jasper just took the heir position. We should celebrate. Help me give him the family heirloom ring.” The assistant’s eyes widened, his tone more forceful. “But that’s Fiona’s family heirloom ring. It’s supposed to be for Mr. Nolan, your husband. How can you give it to—” Fiona immediately interrupted the assistant. “Don’t say so much nonsense. Hurry up, Jasper deserves something so good.” Her words cut like a knife, causing me deep pain. Over these five years, Fiona, have you not loved me at all?
After the assistant left, Fiona stayed by my bedside. She occasionally wiped my body, sometimes whispering stories of our past in my ear. Every action was so gentle. If I hadn’t just heard the brutal truth, I would’ve thought she loved me deeply. Soon, a female doctor came over with two forms. Judging by the voice, it was her best friend, Hazel. Fiona glanced at her coolly. “So? Are the results out?” Hazel handed a form to Fiona. She opened it, her eyes instantly brightening. Even her tone became cheerful. “I knew it. They’re half-brothers; the kidneys are definitely compatible.” “Prepare for surgery, the sooner, the better.” Hazel looked troubled, clutching Fiona’s hand with a tremor. “Fiona, do you really have to do this? Look at what Nolan has become, and you still want to take his kidney?” “Besides, Jasper’s kidney doesn’t have much of a problem. Last time you brought him in for a check, it was just a mild infection, cured with some meds.” Fiona pried her hand away, her gaze fixed on my pale face. “You don’t know. Jasper has exhausted himself preparing to become the heir, not eating or drinking well.” “I read online that overworking like this can cause kidney issues. I can’t gamble with Jasper’s health. This is the only way to ensure everything’s fine.” “Anyway, during this accident, we’ll take his kidney. When he wakes, we’ll tell him the crash injured his kidney, forcing us to remove one. He won’t suspect a thing.” Hazel tried to wake her, grabbing her hand again. “But Nolan’s current condition isn’t suitable for this surgery. The crash caused blood clotting issues. Forcing a kidney removal might cause shock, endangering his life.” Fiona locked eyes with Hazel. “Hazel, aren’t you the best in your hospital? I trust you can handle this minor surgery.” Hazel gritted her teeth, staying silent. Sighs echoed in my ears. Tears streamed down my face like broken pearls. My legs have already been amputated, and now my wife wants to take my kidney for my half-brother. I wanted to get up from the bed and demand why she was doing this to me. But my limbs felt like they were filled with cement, immovable. Hazel handed Fiona another form. “Fiona, your check-up from last week is out too. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.” Fiona froze, staring at the pregnancy test words for a long time. But the final words were cold. “Schedule an abortion for me.” Hazel was clearly surprised, her voice tinged with confusion. “Fiona, you’ve been married for five years. It’s not easy for this child to come! Why abort?” “Nolan’s in this state now. Who knows if he can have kids anymore.” “And you’ve taken so many contraceptives before that your body’s already damaged. If you don’t keep this one, you might never conceive again!” Fiona’s cold hand gripped mine again. Her voice pierced my soul, given the closeness. “I never planned on having kids with him. You know I’ve always loved Jasper. If I were to have a child, it should be Jasper’s.” She suddenly kissed my forehead, her voice choking. “As for Nolan, I’ll find hundreds of ways to compensate him.” Memories flickered through my mind like a movie. Five years of marriage, I always wanted a love child but never succeeded. I thought it was my body’s issue, seeking medical help and drinking bitter herbs. Fiona once comforted me, saying, “Don’t rush; we’ll have kids eventually.” The truth was, she never wanted a child.
Hazel had just left when a young nurse entered the ward with an injection. She inserted it into my skin, and any regained strength vanished. Beside me, Fiona’s voice was clear, comforting me. “Nolan, it’s okay, it’ll be over soon.” “I’ll be waiting outside; you have to hang in there.” Then, I seemed to be wheeled into a surgery room. Fiona once tried to comfort me, saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll think about kids in the future.” But the truth was, she never wanted children. 3. Hazel had just stepped out for a moment. A young nurse entered the ward with a syringe. She injected it into my arm. The small strength I had mustered drained away. Next to me, I could clearly hear Fiona’s voice trying to reassure me. “Nolan, it’s alright, it’ll be over soon.” “I’ll be waiting outside; you have to hang on.” Then I felt like I was wheeled into an operating room. Several people in white lab coats wielded cold surgical scalpels. I could vividly feel my skin being cut and my kidney being removed, yet I was utterly helpless. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I have no idea how long I was in the operating room. When I woke again, Fiona’s beautiful face was in front of me. In the past, that face brought me immense joy, but now it only brought a chilling coldness. Seeing me awake, she seemed genuinely happy, embracing me tightly. “Nolan, you’re finally awake! You have no idea how worried I’ve been about you.” “If the heir status is gone, it’s gone. I just want you to be okay.” Seeing her eyes red with tears made my heart ache. Fiona, I could have been fine, but isn’t it all thanks to you that I’m like this now? Instinctively, I glanced at my legs, amputated below the knees. The 20-centimeter scar on my abdomen still ached. I didn’t need to guess to know the surgery was to remove my kidney. Fiona, do you really not care about me at all? Do you have to be so heartless? Seeing my indifferent expression, she hesitantly asked, “Nolan, do you remember what happened back then?” I shook my head without speaking, but everything from that day was etched into my bones. Hearing my response, she softened her tone and feigned concern. “Nolan, that day you lost your heir status, you were so heartbroken you drank heavily and got into a serious car accident… Your legs were amputated, and one kidney was damaged, which is why it was removed.” “Don’t worry, no matter what you become, I’ll be by your side. I don’t care about any heir status; I only want you.” She had the audacity to say this, probably because she gave me memory-altering drugs, allowing her to distort the facts. Listening to her lies felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, making it hard to breathe. She didn’t suspect my lack of enthusiasm at all. She probably thought I was not yet recovering from the car accident. She busied herself around my hospital bed, playing the role of a devoted wife. 4. After a while, someone brought a wheelchair. She quickly set aside the fruit she was cutting for me. Diligently, she pushed the wheelchair in front of me. “Nolan, try it out. I had it custom-made just for you. I believe it’ll make things much easier for you in the future.” Her eyes, like peach blossoms, looked at me with innocence and hope. Thinking about spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair made me resent her. But I also loved her so much that I couldn’t bring myself to say a harsh word. I was about to ask, Fiona, why are you so cruel to me? I even kept convincing myself that she still loved me. Telling myself the things I had heard were mere hallucinations. But the words got swallowed back down, turning into a single word. “Okay.” Maybe I really needed to adapt to it. She pushed me outside to enjoy the sun, just like our old promise. When we grow old, we’ll push each other to walk in the sunset. The early autumn wind carried a chill, making me cough uncontrollably. She immediately stopped, squatted down, and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?” She quickly stood up, but I grabbed her hand. “No need, it’s just an old cough that comes with the changing seasons.” She patted my head, giving me a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Nolan, you don’t have to act strong in front of me. I know everything that’s happened lately has been hard on you.” “From the moment it happened, you haven’t shed a single tear. If you want to cry, just cry. Keeping it bottled up will only hurt you.” Her words showed no pretense, only concern. We’ve been together for five years, and I’ve never doubted her. But how did two people so in love end up with her as the demon pulling me into an abyss? I tried to suppress my inner pain, calmly saying, “I want to go home.” She hesitated, trying to reason with me. “Nolan, you just had surgery. I’m really worried about your health if you go home now.” “How about we wait until you’re a bit better before going home?” Of course, I needed to go back; Jasper Corporation’s product launch event was in a couple of days. I wanted to give them a big surprise. I forced a smile, even though bitterness lingered at the corners of my mouth. “Don’t worry, didn’t you say you’d always be with me? You’re my best medicine; nothing will happen with you around.” “Besides, I really can’t stand the smell of the hospital’s disinfectant.” After my repeated insistence, Fiona finally agreed. Once we reached an agreement, she pushed me back to the ward. The phone in my pocket suddenly rang. Jasper’s voice came through the receiver. She deliberately stepped away to answer the call, and soon rushed back to me. “Nolan, I’m sorry, I have an urgent matter to attend to.” “Try to get used to the wheelchair and head back to the ward yourself, okay?” Without hesitation, she let go of my hand, leaving me in the empty hallway. As she turned away, my heart felt like it was bleeding. Suddenly, I remembered all those times she took calls and left abruptly over the years. It dawned on me. She left to see Jasper every time. 5. After Fiona left, I awkwardly maneuvered the wheelchair to hail a cab home. I carefully observed the home we had shared for five years. Everywhere bore the marks of our love, but now it all seemed so ironic. I went to the study room, intending to retrieve the Certificate of Bravery I received for saving her. Instead, I found a diary in a nearby drawer. Opening the front page, it was filled with her handwriting. “October 2020, someone braved the flames to save me. He is the light of my life. He gave me life, and one day, I will marry him.” “July 2016, I finally found the person I owed my life to. He was as handsome and gentle as I remembered. I needed to find the right moment to let him know how I felt.” “October 2016, I had to bury that love deep inside. Due to a family arrangement, I ended up marrying his brother, but it’s always been him I truly loved.”
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