Chapter 1

Darling's first love Asher was too scared to go on stage before his performance, so I switched places with him in the lineup and ended up going viral.

But he deliberately fell off the stage and scraped his ankle, then insisted I had pushed him.

To help get revenge for him, Darling Vivienne broke my left leg.

When setting the bone, Vivienne specifically instructed the doctor to position my toes pointing backwards and my heel forwards.

The doctor was incredulous, "Ms. Stratton, your husband is the dancer you've personally nurtured for 10 years until he finally became famous. How will he ever dance again with such a deformed leg?"

Vivienne said: "He hurt Asher, so he needs to suffer a thousand times more pain than Asher did. We have to teach him a lesson."

"Once Asher becomes a superstar and no one can bully him anymore, I'll make it up to him."

Six months later, I received an invitation from the biggest talent agency in the country.

When the contract termination agreement and divorce papers were placed in front of Vivienne, her eyes welled up with tears.

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1

In a hazy state of consciousness, I saw the doctor anxiously approaching me.

When I opened my eyes again, my left leg was twisted with the heel facing forward. The deformed limb made it impossible for me to lie flat on the bed.

I heard voices behind me as Asher and Vivienne came to stand in front of me.

He abruptly pulled back my blanket, covering his mouth in shock.

Asher shrank behind Vivienne, pretending to wipe away tears. "Vivienne, I was just complaining casually. I never meant for Alaric to pay such a heavy price."

"After all, I'm just a minor actor, it doesn't matter. A little foot injury is no big deal."

Vivienne stroked his head sympathetically. "You're just too kind-hearted. How can I not worry when you're always sacrificing yourself?"

Watching Asher's act of playing the victim made me feel sick to my stomach.

A few days ago, the company sent Asher and me to participate in a nationally televised competition.

Right before the competition started, Asher suddenly claimed he couldn't remember the dance moves and hesitated to go on stage.

To prevent a broadcasting mishap, the production team switched Asher's and my performance order.

I gave it my all, and all the judges lit up their approval lights for me. The audience gave me the highest score in the show's history.

Viewers across the country voted for me, and within minutes I was at the top of the leaderboard. With excitement bubbling in my chest, I returned backstage, only to find Asher clutching his scraped foot and wailing.

"Alaric, I know you're jealous that I dance better than you. I'd have stepped down if you'd asked, but why did you have to push me down the stairs?"

Everyone backstage was looking at me with scorn.

"What good is dancing well if you've got a rotten heart? Using such dirty tricks!"

Someone had already whipped out their phone and was filming me.

"You just want to go viral, right? Easy. I'll make you famous right now!"

I'm not a naturally gifted performer. I've busted my ass for over a decade to get to this point. Only I know how much blood, sweat, and tears went into this. I can't let it all go up in smoke like this.

"There are security cameras backstage. You can check the footage!"

Asher cried even harder, playing the victim. "Do I need to see the tape to know who pushed me? Alaric, bro, are you still trying to throw mud on me even now?"

I was at a loss for words. Nobody would believe a dancer would tumble down the stairs right before going on stage.

As my thoughts cleared, I reached out and grabbed Vivienne's hand, begging her to switch my legs back.

"Vivienne, I swear I didn't push him. We've been together for ten years. Don't you know what kind of person I am? Vivienne's eyes flickered with a trace of reluctance, but she ultimately withdrew her hand from mine.

"I understand you. You're kind-hearted, but when faced with fame and fortune, people change."

"Do you really expect me to believe that a pure-hearted boy like Asher would tumble down the stairs on his own, just to frame you?"

All the pent-up frustration exploded in that instant, and I became somewhat hysterical.

"You can check the security footage! Why are you accusing me without regard for the truth?"

Asher immediately shrank into Vivienne's arms, trembling.

"Vivienne, that day, Alaric pushed me down the stairs with that exact same look. I'm so scared. Don't hurt me, please don't hurt me..."

Vivienne hugged Asher close, comforting him.

But her gaze towards me turned harsh.

"Alaric, I know you don't like Asher, but I never thought you could be so vicious! Are you trying to drive Asher to his death?"