ManyWriters

In the third year of our marriage, after Alaric failed to convince me to agree to an open marriage, he started messing around.
When I barged into the VIP club to confront him for the 99th time, Alaric asked me to dance in place of his new fling who was on her period.
I pointed at my limp leg, "Me? Can I pole dance?"
He smirked disdainfully, "You just had a miscarriage, not an amputation."
"What are you playing at?"
Alaric roughly dragged me to the pole, forcing me to dance.
Until my leg injury flared up, and blood pooled beneath my feet, covering the floor.
He left with his new girlfriend in tow, "If you don't want kids, don't hold others back from living their lives."
That night, I had both legs amputated and ended up in a wheelchair.
His new flame Scarlett, however, sent intimate photos of their vacation together.
Alaric didn't know that I miscarried because I had ovarian cancer.
He was even more clueless that the cancer had already spread to my legs. The lingering limp was actually a blessing in disguise.

The 99th Time Catching Him

The hand in front of me loosened its grip, and the tone softened, "Just give in a little, and I'll arrange a place for you to stay."


I looked up at the now-unfamiliar man before me. He used to despise unfaithful people the most.


"So you're saying I, your lawful wife, should be 'promoted' to mistress?"


Alaric's face showed contempt as he pressed on, "You're an orphan. Where else can you go?"


I snatched the divorce papers and quickly signed them. "That's not your concern!"


As he reached to grab them back, his phone rang.


After a long while, he hung up and frowned, ordering me, "Tomorrow, the Carlisle family has invited us to a gala. You must come with me."


"Also, we can't let news of our divorce get out for now."


The Carlisle family and the Harrington family had a major deal that would benefit both sides.


The Carlisles were also very traditional. If they found out about Alaric's affair and illegitimate child during our marriage, the deal would be off.


But what did any of this have to do with me, now that we were divorced?I handed him the divorce papers, my tone resolute, "I refuse."


Alaric's eyes flashed with anger, then his lips curled into a confident smirk, "I heard Aunt Marjorie's grandson has cancer, and coincidentally, her son just lost his job. If..."


I pressed my lips together, clutching the debit card in my pocket, unable to voice my refusal again.


Aunt Marjorie dotes on her grandson the most. How heartbroken she'd be if there's no money for treatment.


He scoffed, turning to leave, but caught sight of my packed luggage, "You'll never leave me without my permission."


Then, looking at my wheelchair with disgust, he added, "Put that piece of junk away tomorrow. Don't embarrass me in front of others."


The guest room door slammed shut with a thunderous bang.


After he left, I dialed a number I knew by heart, "Can you take me away?"


Only after hearing the response on the other end did I feel at ease.


The gala was held on a small island, attended by dazzling men and women.


When I entered in my wheelchair, wearing casual clothes, the surrounding gazes were filled with uncertainty.


Alaric's face turned as black as coal.He stormed over to me, barely containing his anger. "How long are you going to keep up this nonsense?"


"I'm going to see for myself if your legs are really broken!"


Those large hands reached for my blanket. With nowhere to hide, I closed my eyes in despair.


Scarlett grabbed his hand just in time, soothing him, "Melody must have her reasons. Don't push her."


Alaric's mouth twisted into a sneer, his expression contorted. "You just want my sympathy, don't you? Let's see how long you can keep up this act!"


He moved behind me, pushing the wheelchair until we reached the shore.


The sea breeze carried his slightly unhinged voice, "The tide comes in at night, you know."


The first time we went to Lake Michigan, Alaric wanted to pitch a tent on the beach for a romantic night. I warned him that if the tide came in while we slept, we could lose our lives.


Alaric's face visibly paled then. I quickly added, "But I'm an excellent swimmer. Even if the tide came in, I could save you."


Chapter 4