Chapter 2

　　Before the other side could respond, pain

　　swept through my entire body once again.

　　In a daze, I recalled the past.

　　My father was a race car driver, but he was

　　disqualified from racing due to alcoholism.

　　After that, he became violent and

　　irritable.

　　He would resort to domestic violence

　　against my mother and me at the slightest provocation.

　　Unable to endure it any longer, my mother

　　divorced him and left me behind.

　　It wasn't until I turned eighteen, when he

　　was involved in a car accident, that my world began to brighten up.

　　However, I fell in love with racing, the

　　very thing that had ruined my father's life.

　　It wasn't until I met John in college that

　　things changed.

　　He funded a racing team, claiming he wanted

　　to help me become a world champion.

　　For three years, we worked together

　　tirelessly.

　　Everyone around us assumed we were a

　　couple.

　　To achieve the championship, I had been

　　thrown off a cliff during a race.

　　Three screws were inserted into my knee,

　　which ached severely on rainy days.

　　My body became so weakened that it was

　　difficult for me to conceive.

　　But for both John 's sake and my own

　　dreams, I was willing to endure it.

　　When I finally became pregnant with his

　　child, I wanted to withdraw from the final race.

　　He said he wanted to see me win my first

　　grand slam.

　　I didn't expect that he just wanted to use

　　me to bring glory to his beloved Sharon.

　　He even crippled my leg to prevent me from

　　racing again.

　　Anger and pain stabbed at me like a knife.

　　I was so filled with hatred!

　　I hated myself for being attracted to John

　　's warmth and falling into his trap.

　　I despised my own naivety for being so

　　easily used.

　　Suddenly, John 's voice came from my dream.

　　I jolted awake.

　　John 

　　was frowning at me, holding my hand gently.

　　“Vivian, I'm sorry. I thought your body would be fine.”

　　“The doctor needs to examine you again to see if your leg can still

　　race.”

　　My eyes welled up with tears, and I shook

　　my head.

　　“No need.”

　　“I can't feel anything in my leg.”

　　“I'm already useless.”

　　John 

　　patted my hand, trying to comfort me.

　　“Come on, let the doctor give

　　Seeing his insistent look, I had no choice

　　but to nod.

　　He nodded at the doctor.

　　The doctor, upon receiving the signal,

　　immediately selected the tools.

　　His glance towards me was filled with

　　sympathy and reluctance.

　　“Do we really have to verify it?” I couldn't help but

　　ask again, looking up.

　　John 

　　frowned, his voice tinged with sternness, “Don't be willful!

　　It's for your own good.”

　　Just as the doctor was about to proceed,

　　Sharon pushed the door open.

　　“John, I've studied joint movement abroad. Let me give Vivian a try.”

　　“After all, Vivian is in this condition because of me.”

　　John 

　　immediately released my hand and turned towards Sharon.

　　“Since Sharon wants to give it a try——” John paused,

　　glanced at me, and signaled the doctor to hand her the tools.

　　Sharon, holding a small hammer, slowly

　　approached me, her eyes filled with a hint of malice and triumph.

　　“Vivian, I'll be gentle～”

　　Her movements seemed gentle, but only I

　　knew how hard she was hitting.

　　Dull pain throbbed through my lower body

　　with each strike. I clenched my teeth, determined not to make a sound.

　　Cold sweat dampened my hairline.

　　“Vivian, do you feel anything?”Sharon, with her

　　back to John , looked at me provocatively.

　　“No,” I replied, forcing myself to stay calm despite the pain.

　　“Vivian, let me try with a syringe.”

　　The thick needle was inserted into my thigh

　　by Sharon.

　　I twisted the bedsheet tightly, holding

　　back my scream.

　　I knew that if I made a sound, the pain

　　would become unbearable.

　　“Enough, Sharon. Vivian's leg is probably ruined. Let the doctor

　　handle it,” John  interjected, his lips

　　pressed tightly together.

　　He looked at me with a hint of reluctance.

　　“Vivian, even if your leg is ruined, I'll find you a logistics job.

　　You won't be left out in the cold.”

　　His words were the last straw.

　　I took a deep breath and closed my eyes,

　　trying to ease the dense, needle-like pain.

　　Sharon's sweet yet cruel voice followed:

　　“Vivian, take good care of yourself. We'll need you as a bridesmaid

　　when John and I get married!”

　　After they left, I looked at my lower body

　　and couldn't help but feel a sense of self-mockery.

　　Would I be a bridesmaid on crutches, or in

　　a wheelchair?

　　Sharon knew exactly how to humiliate me,

　　but I no longer cared.

　　I checked the messages on my phone; there

　　were still five days left.