Chapter 2

I bit my lip hard, desperately trying to hold back my tears, but the next second, the floodgates burst open.

"Vivienne, are you really going to treat me like this...?"

A flicker of disgust flashed in her eyes.

"Looks like you still don't know what you did wrong. Do I need to break your other leg too?!"

In that moment, I suddenly realized Vivienne's heart had changed long ago. Now she would only believe Asher's tears.

Asher trembled in Vivienne's arms, his eyes filled with hurt. "Alaric also said he'd been training hard for ten years waiting for this chance. If I didn't give it up to him, he'd cut off my grandpa's medical care and beat him to death to feed the dogs."

Vivienne's eyes blazed red. Without waiting for my explanation, she grabbed my shoulders and dragged me off the bed.

"Alaric, how could you become so vicious?"

"Get on your knees right now and apologize to Asher!"

Asher had lost both parents, with only a gravely ill grandfather as his sole remaining relative.

It was with this backstory that he had clung to Vivienne's legs while begging on the street, pleading for her to take him in.

When I last visited his grandfather, I stumbled upon a shocking scene. He was viciously slapping the old man, shouting, "You old geezer! I'm about to become a star, and I still have to take care of your sorry ass!"

My right leg was pinned down, forcing me to kneel, but my left knee couldn't bend backward. As pressure was applied, the previously injured area snapped.

The wound, not yet healed, burst open again, and my left leg fell straight down.

Hearing the commotion, the doctor rushed in. Seeing the scene, he quickly ran out to call for help.

Soon, a group of nurses and doctors stormed into my hospital room.

Vivienne was visibly shaken. "How did this happen...?"

Asher instigated from the side, "Vivienne, this is his ploy. He's just trying to make his leg fall off to gain sympathy so they'll reattach it!"

Vivienne sneered, "Right, it's just another one of your tricks. Doctor, proceed as I instructed before. We'll consider reattaching it when he shows genuine remorse."

The doctors and nurses exchanged bewildered glances, but since Vivienne funded this hospital, no one dared to defy her wishes.

Just as the doctor was about to administer anesthesia, Asher whimpered, "I wish I had painkillers when I fell down the stairs."

With Vivienne's command, no one dared to give me any anesthesia anymore.

After waves of searing, bone-deep pain, I passed out completely.

When I opened my eyes again, my legs had gone entirely numb.

Asher and Vivienne, unaware I had regained consciousness, were locked in a passionate embrace right beside my bed.

Vivienne's hand had slipped under Asher's shirt, caressing his bare skin.

I had always thought Vivienne merely pitied Asher, doting on him like a little brother. I never imagined they'd do something like this right in front of my hospital bed.

Vivienne fell delicately into Asher's arms.

Asher gazed lovingly at the woman in his embrace. "Vivienne, whose body do you prefer - mine or Alaric's?"

"Yours, of course. You're in such great shape. Alaric's always been like a plank of wood in bed."

As she spoke, Vivienne carefully traced Asher's abs, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Asher faced me, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

This was all for my benefit - he wanted me to see.

He pushed Vivienne away, feigning panic. "Alaric, you're awake..."