Chapter 1: The Woman Who Refused to Let Me Fall
"LET HIM FALL! HE'S NOTHING BUT A USELESS CRIPPLE NOW!""
Vanessa's scream echoed through the marble hall of my family's mansion.
For one terrible second, I watched the staircase approaching.
Then I heard Emma scream my name.
"ADRIAN!""
Her hands slammed against the back of my wheelchair. She grabbed the metal frame just as the front wheels reached the first step. Her shoes slipped across the polished marble, and her right knee struck the floor with a sickening crack.
But she didn't let go.
She pulled until the wheelchair stopped.
I sat perfectly still, my fingers gripping the armrests.
Vanessa stood behind us, breathing heavily. Her expensive diamond earrings glittered beneath the chandelier, and the engagement ring she had refused to return caught the light.
She looked annoyed.
Not frightened.
Not guilty.
Annoyed that Emma had ruined her attempt to get rid of me.
"Are you out of your mind?"" Emma shouted.
Vanessa straightened her black designer dress.
"Don't be dramatic. I barely touched him.""
"You pushed him toward the stairs!""
"He's already ruined his own life. Why are you acting like I did something extraordinary?""
Emma stared at her in disbelief.
I looked down at Emma's bleeding knee.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
Seven months earlier, those same hands had been wrapped around mine during our engagement party.
Seven months earlier, she had promised to love me forever.
And now she had nearly sent me down a staircase because she believed I was worth less than the furniture in this house.
"My name is Adrian Blackwood," I said quietly.
"And I think you've forgotten whose house you're standing in.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Your house? Look at you. You can't even stand up without someone helping you.""
Emma reached for my shoulder.
"Adrian, don't listen to her.""
Vanessa pointed at Emma.
"You're the pathetic one. You've spent months playing nursemaid to a man who can't give you anything.""
"That's enough," Emma replied.
"No, it isn't. Someone needs to tell her the truth. Adrian is finished. His company is being managed by other people, his future is uncertain, and his family is only keeping him around because they feel sorry for him.""
I watched her carefully.
She knew far too much about my business affairs.
And she had no idea how much I knew about hers.
"Why are you still wearing my ring?"" I asked.
Her expression changed.
She twisted the diamond around her finger.
"Because I paid for half the wedding.""
"You paid for nothing.""
"Excuse me?""
"The ring belongs to my family. The jeweler has the purchase records.""
Her cheeks flushed.
"You're unbelievable.""
"No, Vanessa. What's unbelievable is that you came back after six months and expected me to welcome you.""
She glanced toward the dining room, where several relatives had stopped eating.
My aunt Margaret slowly lowered her wineglass.
My cousin Daniel stood near the fireplace, looking uncomfortable.
Vanessa noticed the audience and immediately changed her expression.
Her voice became softer.
"Adrian, sweetheart, I think we're all emotional. I came here because I still care about you.""
Emma let out a bitter laugh.
"Then why did you try to push him down the stairs?""
Vanessa ignored her.
She crouched in front of me and reached for my hand.
I pulled it away.
"Don't touch me.""
Her eyes hardened.
"Fine. Have it your way.""
She stood and picked up her handbag.
"But don't expect me to walk away without what I'm owed.""
"What exactly do you think you're owed?""
"Half the Blackwood fortune.""
I almost smiled.
"You're not my wife.""
"We were engaged!""
"An engagement isn't a business contract.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You think you can humiliate me in front of these people? I know things about you, Adrian. Things your family wouldn't want getting out.""
Emma moved between us.
"Leave.""
Vanessa stared at her.
"Enjoy your little charity project.""
Then she walked toward the entrance.
Just before reaching the door, she turned around.
"Oh, and Adrian?""
I raised my eyes.
"You should be careful. Accidents happen.""
The words hung in the air.
My aunt Margaret gasped.
Vanessa smiled and disappeared into the hallway.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Emma knelt beside my wheelchair.
"Are you hurt?""
"I'm fine.""
"Your hands are shaking.""
I looked down.
She was right.
Not because I was frightened of Vanessa.
Because I recognized the threat.
I reached for Emma's hand.
"Let me see your knee.""
"It's nothing.""
"Emma.""
She sighed and showed me the injury.
Blood had soaked through the fabric of her trousers.
I felt something tighten in my chest.
"You shouldn't have done that.""
"Shouldn't have stopped you from falling?""
"You could have been seriously injured.""
Emma looked straight into my eyes.
"I would rather have a broken knee than watch someone push you down those stairs.""
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
She had stayed when Vanessa left.
She had sat beside my hospital bed when I couldn't remember the accident.
She had brought me meals, helped me through physical therapy, and never once complained when I needed assistance.
But there was something Emma didn't know.
I wasn't helpless anymore.
Three months ago, my legs had recovered enough for me to walk independently.
I had deliberately kept that information from everyone.
Including her.
I gently removed the blanket covering my legs.
"Emma, there's something I need to tell you.""
She frowned.
"What is it?""
I placed both feet on the marble floor.
Then I pushed myself upward.
Emma's mouth fell open.
I stood.
Without a cane.
Without assistance.
Her hand flew to her lips.
"Adrian?""
I looked toward the staircase where Vanessa had tried to send me.
Then I turned back to Emma.
"I can walk.""
She stumbled backward.
"Since when?""
"Three months.""
Tears filled her eyes.
"Three months? You've been able to walk for three months?""
I nodded.
She stared at me as if she no longer recognized the man standing in front of her.
"Why would you hide something like that from me?""
I swallowed.
"Because my doctors discovered something about the accident.""
"What?""
I looked toward the security cameras above the entrance.
"Someone deliberately damaged my brakes.""
Emma's face went pale.
I reached into my jacket and pulled out a photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside my car at the underground garage seven months earlier.
But the photograph wasn't what made Emma gasp.
It was the person standing behind Vanessa.
Someone I had trusted with my life.
Someone who had visited me in the hospital almost every day.
May you like
Someone who was still inside the mansion.
And that person had just walked into the room.
