Chapter 9

Asher woke up.

But he would never be able to get out of bed again for the rest of his life.

High-level paralysis - for someone who loved freedom and extreme sports, this was the ultimate shackle.

Seeing me enter, his eyes lit up. He tried to sit up to greet me, but couldn't move. His eyes dimmed, and he raised the corner of his mouth in self-mockery.

"Aria, why did you bring Garrison with you?"

I peeled an apple, answering a question with a question.

"Vivienne's ski equipment was substandard. If you had worn proper gear, you wouldn't have been so severely injured. Now her company has gone bankrupt due to public backlash. Because of her poor management, the Kim Group has revoked her heiress status."

Asher pounded the bed in regret.

"If I had known it would end up like this, I would never have accepted her request to teach her skiing. Aria... can we go back to how things were before?"

I looked directly into the hope in his eyes.