Chapter 4

Stella looked at me in shock, murmuring:

"How did you..."

"Stella, I don't blame you."

In the prime of my life, I suddenly became disabled, bearing too much psychological pressure. I'm not a strong person; I couldn't ignore my imperfect legs.

Even a stranger's glance could make me dwell on it to this day.

I considered Stella the only person who could understand me, but in reality, she was under even greater psychological stress.

When I learned of Stella's affair, I was briefly hurt and confused, ultimately settling into a deathly silence.

I should let go. I shouldn't use my selfish kindness to bind someone.

"I respect your choice, but likewise, I hope you can respect mine."

I tried my best not to utter the unsavory word 'affair'.

Even now, I don't want to hurt Stella.

After all, ten years of companionship is real and tangible.

"Kael, please don't divorce me..."

Stella was fully aware of her actions. Her pupils constricted, and she shifted from looking down at me accusingly to crouching down and begging:

"You're all I have left. Please don't divorce me, okay?"

She hunched over, vulnerably pressing my hand against her face."Stella, you still have your career, your friends. Without me, you'll have more room to grow."

I knew that in recent years she had been intentionally expanding into overseas markets, but out of consideration for my closed-off nature and limited mobility, she rarely went abroad to negotiate partnerships.

"I'm well aware of how good you've been to me, but I'm equally aware of whether this is love or guilt."

A person's eyes don't lie. Whenever Stella looked at me, guilt always outweighed affection.

The fire trapped my legs, but this guilt trapped my heart.

"Kael, you coward! You'll never have the guts to admit it out loud, always hiding in your shell!"

"I don't care about your legs, so why do you keep pushing me away because of it?"

Stella's eyes were rimmed with red. The usually strong businesswoman now seemed as if she could be scattered by a gentle breeze.

"Do you really not care?"

I looked up, my eyes also moistening.

If she didn't care, why would she never look at my left leg?

If she didn't care, why would she cheat with Caelan?

"I..."

Stella was at a loss for words, unable to even say she didn't care.

"When you've calmed down, just sign the papers."

I didn't want to say anymore and wheeled myself away.I fear that if I stay a second longer, I'll go mad and demand to know why she abandoned me.

I'm afraid I'll stoop so low as to use that left leg to emotionally blackmail her.

The night breeze is chilly. Fall is approaching.

There's a lot to do for the art exhibition. Autumn and I have grown closer.

Since our styles are similar, we work together to communicate with the workers about materials and artwork placement.

Leaving early and returning late each day, life gradually becomes more fulfilling.

Caelan finds me just as I've parted ways with Autumn.

During a break in setup, she shares her new paintings with me. Her sun-facing style exudes a rich vitality, clearly indicating a significant change in her recent state of mind.

I'm genuinely happy for her, leaving with a smile on my lips.

"Seems like you're getting along well with that disabled person, huh?"

Caelan walks up to my wheelchair uninvited, forcefully pushing me towards the alley.

"What are you doing!"

As soon as we enter the alley without surveillance cameras, Caelan lands a solid punch on me.

Blood immediately gushes from my nose, dripping onto my blue suit and leaving dark stains.

"What kind of spell did you cast on Stella? She's been unable to eat or sleep lately, and she's making frequent mistakes at work!"

"Kael, since we're divorced, could you please just get lost!Looking at his enraged face, a wave of bitterness welled up inside me.

Caelan and I grew up in a violent household, relying on each other since childhood.

Our bond was much stronger than that of typical brothers.

Stella, as my sister-in-law, often showed care for Caelan as her brother-in-law, but Caelan felt a maternal glow from her and wanted her all to himself.

From that point on, we gradually grew apart, but to avoid worrying Stella, we maintained the appearance of being close brothers.

"Caelan, if you like her, go for it. What's the point of coming to me?"

Wham—

Another punch landed, jerking my head to the side.

"You cripple, you're shamelessly basking in her love just because you saved Stella."

"But I think soon, she won't like you anymore."

Caelan dropped this cryptic remark before turning to leave.

I didn't take it to heart, dismissing it as nonsense.

But on the day before the exhibition, a trending topic shot to the top of social media.

#Stone Family Group CEO's Disabled Husband Caught Cheating with Disabled Female Artist#