​Today is my wedding day, and I am marrying a stranger.

​All I know about him is that he has been paralyzed for a long time, yet he is a highly successful businessman with a lifetime of achievements. Alex Danvers the man who will be my husband in just a few minutes. Am I doing this against my will? No. Then why am I doing it? That’s the question, isn't it? Why would a healthy young woman with no physical issues agree to this?

​There is only one answer: I need the money to treat my father.

​He was paralyzed two years ago after a horrific fall at the construction site of our family's watchmaking workshop. From that day on, our downfall began. We went bankrupt seemingly out of nowhere. My mother and I were forced to shift into a cramped, run-down apartment, and I took every odd job imaginable just to pay the bills and keep up with my father’s medical expenses.

​But I, Cassie Barrett, was not always like this. A few years ago, I was treated like a princess wherever I went. I was born into the Barrett family in the UK, a dynasty that had been crafting luxury watches for centuries, a legacy meant to be handed down from generation to generation. Well, no more. I was my father’s only daughter, spoiled rotten, living a careless life that ultimately led me to a never-ending regret. It is a guilt I am certain I will only ever escape through death.

​She still haunts me. The sweet, innocent girl I ruined. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have become such a monster.

​I only realized I was crying when the beautician cursed under her breath, trying to fix her ruined work. I forced a smile onto my face a smile that would never truly be real again.

​When the time came, I walked into the church. Normally, a bride is led down the aisle by her father, holding his hand. In my case, who did I have to lead me? Aside from the lack of a grand venue, there were only a few guests present, none of whom I even knew. I had taken this opportunity when I was on the absolute brink of shattering completely. It was a chance to pay off all our debts and ensure my father's continued treatment. But the price was my life.

​Erica Davis, the personal assistant to the Danvers Group CEO, had approached me as if she had been waiting for the exact moment I broke. She promised to end every hardship in my life, on one condition: I had to marry Alex Danvers. I had my doubts at first. If he just wanted someone to look after him, why not hire a home nurse? What was the point of a marriage? When I asked her, she refused to give me a proper answer, demanding only a definitive yes or no.

​Well, I never really had the luxury of a choice anyway. I accepted. And now, I was standing at this altar alone, waiting for my spouse.

​The handful of people who came to witness the ceremony whispered among themselves, casting sympathetic looks my way. Suddenly, a man walked up and murmured something to the priest, who sighed and nodded.

​The man then turned to me. "Madam, Sir won't be coming. He is not feeling well, so I will be completing the ceremony on his behalf."

​What an irony. Completing it on his behalf. As if this were nothing more than finalizing a business deal. I let out a bitter smile. Whatever. I only needed to care about the money. That was all that mattered.

​By the end of this surreal wedding with a substitute husband, I was driven to the grand Danvers mansion. Walking inside, I looked around at the royal architecture, feeling a sudden wave of nostalgia. The stark white walls contrasted beautifully with the blinding chandelier hanging in the hall, and a deep maroon carpet covered the floor, surrounded by heavy antique sculptures.

​"Welcome, Madam."

​A rough voice snapped me back to reality. I turned to see a bald man in his late forties.

​"I'm Lenin. I take care of this mansion," he introduced himself. "I assume you are already aware of Mr. Danvers' condition?"

​He looked at me, waiting for verification. I nodded.

​He scratched his left palm with his thumb. "Good. He needs someone with him twenty-four-seven, which is why we chose not to hire a home nurse and sought a suitable wife instead. I know your father is in the same condition as Mr. Danvers, so I am sure you know how to care for a paralyzed person. However, unlike your father, his mind is completely sharp and he can speak perfectly fine. He is in a fully vegetative state physically, is what I mean. But don't worry, Ms. Barrett, he is a very kind man. You don't have to be formal with him. Call me if you need anything. You must be tired from the ceremony; go up and get some rest. His room is on the second floor, the first door on the left corner."

​Lenin spoke so much that my brain discarded half of it while he was talking, and the other half vanished the moment I stepped into the bedroom.

​It was a spacious room adorned with numerous paintings. There, sitting by the window, was a man in a wheelchair. My husband. The man whose sudden illness had prevented him from attending our own wedding, though he looked perfectly stable now.

​He turned toward me slowly. I blinked, caught off guard. I didn't want to judge, but he was a total mess. His hair had grown long and messy, and he wore a full, unkempt beard. He looked like a beggar who had been dressed in expensive clothes. Cassie, don't. He is your husband. Control your thoughts, I reminded myself.

​"H... Hello," I stammered, hesitating.

​He smiled back at me. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Barrett. I was supposed to participate in our wedding ceremony with you, but... yeah. I developed some breathing problems."

​I felt a sudden wave of awkwardness and guilt for judging him so harshly before knowing the truth. I waved my hands dismissively. "No, that's totally fine! I mean, it was a little embarrassing moment in front of a bunch of strangers, but it's completely fine."

​He chuckled softly. "I really am sorry. I would have been there if I were a bit better. Well, Cassie Barrett, you don't have to live your entire life here. One year is all I ask." He spoke with absolute calmness.

​I blinked, entirely confused by his words. I let out a nervous chuckle. "What do you mean by that?"

​"The deal will be concluded within one year, and you can go back to your old life."

​What did these people take me for? If he just wanted a nurse, why go through all this drama? I let out a deep sigh. "Mr. Danvers, do I look like a piece of waste paper to you?"

​His expression seemed confused for a moment, and then a smile broke across his face. "No. I know you have your doubts, and I have my own reasons for wanting a wife instead of a nurse. Just bear with it for the time being, will you?"

​It was incredibly frustrating. Everyone was telling me what to do, but nobody was telling me why. Whatever. Why should I care? I was only here for the money anyway. I forced a wide smile, bowing my head slightly while holding up the skirt of my gown. "Whatever you say, dear husband."

​When I finally managed to pull myself out of that heavy wedding gown, my shoulders ached as if they were broken. As I got into bed, I noticed he was still sitting in the exact same position by the window.

​"What, you're not coming to sleep?" I asked.

​He smiled faintly. "Yeah. I wish I could."

​Shit. I had forgotten. How could I be so careless? I immediately got out of bed and walked toward him. But before I could reach him, he turned his wheelchair around manually and navigated it toward the bed entirely without my help.

​What in the world was actually happening? Was he for real? I stood there, staring blankly at his back.

​He turned to face me again. "Are you going to stand there until morning, Ms. Barrett?" he asked, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

​I nodded, letting out a sharp laugh. You really can't argue with your employer—that was a golden rule. "You tricked me."

​He lifted a brow, that annoying smile still plastering his face. "Did I? I never said I couldn't move my fingers. Now, put me in bed."

​My brows arched, wrinkles spreading across my forehead. "Excuse me?"

​"I asked you to put me in bed," he repeated with a sudden note of authority. Where had that gentle person from moments ago gone?

​I walked toward him. The money matters, Cassie. Just stay cool, I told myself. I gripped his arms tightly, letting all my hidden anger out through my grip. There was absolutely no reaction from him only a cocky smirk.

​"I won't feel a thing, sweetheart. So go ahead."

​I pouted, pulling my bottom lip out, and heaved him upward. "Oh my for the love of god, Heavy ..so heavy...you are incredibly heavy..."

​Suddenly, I lost my balance. We both tumbled onto the mattress, and I landed directly on top of him. I pushed myself up slightly, staring down at his face. He was laughing.

​"What are you laughing at?" I snapped.

"You're cute."

"Why am I cute?"

"No reason," he murmured.

​He blew a gentle breath toward my face, causing my silver hair to fly back. I quickly looked away from him, feeling an intense heat spreading rapidly across my cheeks. Cassie, are you mad? For a disabled person, he is way too much of a tease.

​Looking closely, he wasn't bad-looking either. He possessed a solid physique and a beautiful smile. With a proper haircut and a clean shave, he would easily beat the Beauty of Demon Salvatore. Those dark brown curls suited him, even if they desperately needed to be shortened.

​That night, my thoughts revolved entirely around the mysterious stranger sleeping peacefully beside me until I finally drifted off to sleep.

​"Iris, no! Please don't do that... please, I'm sorry!"

​She was crying, yet laughing at the same time as she stared down at me. "Living a happy life after ruining mine, huh? You'll suffer. Why don't you just die if you feel that much guilt, Cassie? Do you know how painful it was? Do you know how hard my bones broke when I fell?"

​I wiped my eyes with trembling hands, standing on the edge of the high terrace. "Iris, please, I'm sorry! I... I messed up. I'm so sorry. Don't jump, please!"

​She glared at me, nothing but pure hatred left in her eyes, and stepped off the ledge. She plummeted straight down. I covered my ears, screaming a bloody "No!", but my voice wouldn't leave my throat. I sprinted forward, my legs moving as fast as they could, but I couldn't reach her. Why couldn't I reach the edge? Why couldn't I save her? Why did I do that to her? Why did I become such a monster?

​I couldn't breathe. If I died right here, would Iris finally forgive me?

​"CASSIE! WAKE UP! HEY, LENIN, WHERE ARE YOU? COME HERE RIGHT NOW!"

​I could hear the frantic voices and the chaotic sounds from the surroundings , but my eyes refused to open. Maybe I'm finally dying.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. I looked around, my vision blurring slightly as the stark white ceiling came into focus.

"Woke up, finally."

I tilted my head toward the seriously sweet sound of the voice.

Alex was sitting right there beside the bed, looking at me without a single shred of expression. "You had a panic attack. We brought you to the hospital," he stated flatly.

I sat up slowly, clutching the scratchy blanket, feeling a deep wave of embarrassment wash over me. "I'm sorry, I..."

He let out a heavy sigh. "You should be sorry, Ms. Barrett. You are here to look after me. Now what? Do I have to look after you instead?"

I gripped the hospital bedsheet tightly. I was seeing a new face on him every time we interacted. One moment he was relatively nice the next, he was as cold as ice.

"Well... are you suffering from some kind of clinical depression?" he asked after a long, awkward beat of silence. I glanced up at his face. It bore the exact same nonchalant expression neither his previous playful smile nor any visible anger. it's something... something that i refused to knowledge.

I nodded slowly. "Sorry for hiding it." It was the truth. I had been receiving counseling ever since that incident, but even now, there was no real change. The occasional panic attacks and sudden crying still came out of nowhere.

"What else are you hiding, Ms. Barrett? You know you are being handsomely paid for what you are doing, and I don't particularly like people who keep secrets from me."

At his words, my heart began to race all over again. A suffocating tightness gripped my chest, making it hard to even draw a breath. I wasn't ready to talk about it. I couldn't. What should I do? I pressed a hand against my chest, breathing heavily as panic threatened to pull me under again.

"Take your time. I'm not pressuring you," he said, his voice returning to that same eerie calmness. "But we can't move forward while you keep hiding things like this."

Despite his coldness, I felt a sudden wave of gratitude toward him in that moment for sparing me from further interrogation.

Fortunately, I was discharged quickly and thrust right back into my new life as the wife of a disabled man. To be honest, I despised it at first showering a grown man, handling his every intimate need, even feeding him and meticulously remembering his medication schedule. We never spoke like we had that first night, and he never smiled at me like that again. Not that I cared. I reminded myself daily that I was only here for the money.

Today, just like every other day, I was resting in our room after finishing his afternoon routine. Suddenly, the door swung open and Erica stepped inside. This was the one thing I hated most about this place her constant, unannounced interference. She moved in and out of our room as if it were her own private room, and Alex never did anything to restrict her.

"Ms. Barrett, you need to attend a banquet tonight. Get ready," she announced, her voice dripping with condescension. "It's a high-profile business banquet, so please try to exhibit some class."

I had felt her intense dislike for me from the very first day. I set my jaw and stood up. "It's Mrs. Danvers to you, Ms. Davis. And for the last time, you don't need to teach me a single thing about class."

I might tolerate Alex's moods because he was my employer, but I certainly didn't need to take the garbage she was throwing at me.

She arched a single brow, letting out a mocking scoff. "Oh? You think you know about class? A beggar on the street has more elegance than you, Ms. Barrett."

A sharp, dangerous smirk curled onto my lips as I walked directly up to her. "You truly have no idea who I was in the past, do you? Not that I care to flaunt it, but my lineage is infinitely better than that of a desperate slut like you."

Her face twisted, turning a violent shade of red. "You... how dare you!"

"And remember, it's Mrs. Danvers, not Ms. Barrett," I driven the point home, my voice dropping to a whisper. "For someone who equates a person to a beggar, I don't think you have the authority to teach anyone about class. Whatever petty hatred you have toward me, drop it. You won't win."

Furious, she raised her hand to strike me. But my reflexes kicked in. I caught her wrist mid-air, swinging my other arm aggressively toward her face to slap her. She flinched violently, squinting her eyes and trembling in terror.

But as I looked at her cowering face, a horrific hallucination flashed before my eyes.

"Cassie, please leave me alone! I'm sorry... I won't do it again, please!"

My eyes flew wide open. I stumbled backward, completely letting go of Erica, and slapped my hands over my ears to escape the phantom voice echoing in my head. My heart hammered violently against my ribs. What am I doing? How dare I raise my hand to someone's face like that? Why did I speak so ruthlessly?

No, no... I wasn't that cruel person anymore. I refused to be. Tears began to flood my eyes against my will. "I'm sorry, Ms. Davis... I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry..." I collapsed to the floor, my gown pooling around me, just as the door opened and Alex wheeled himself into the room.

Erica swallowed hard, her expression a mix of confusion and pure panic. "Alex, I..."

He didn't let her finish. With a single, piercing glare from his dark eyes, he silently ordered her out. She scrambled out of the room immediately.

I frantically wiped at my streaming tears, my voice breaking. "I didn't mean to... I'm not that person anymore. I promise I won't be that person. I didn't think she would do that... Forgive me, God, I didn't mean to..." I began to chant the apologies like a mantra, completely spiraling.

"You're okay. I know you didn't do anything wrong. Stop crying."

His voice washed over me like a sweet, grounding melody. I snapped my head up, looking at him through bleary eyes.

"I... I'm sorry," I said, scrambling frantically to my feet. "Do you need something?"

"Take some rest," he murmured, his gaze softening slightly. "You don't have to come to the banquet tonight."

A knot of confusion tightened in my chest. "Why? I'm okay. I can attend. I... I just.."

He let out a quiet sigh. "You're not okay, Cassie. I can see that. So why don't you just.."

"Why? Do I look like a madwoman to you?" I interrupted, the raw emotion bubbling over before I could stop it. "Or do you also think I don't have any class? Fine. I understand. I'll stay home." I didn't know why I was getting so defensive and emotional, but for the first time, I couldn't mask it the way I usually did.

He stared at me in absolute silence for a long moment, evaluating my outburst. Finally, he broke the silence. "We'll leave at eight." With that, he turned his chair and left the room.

I covered my burning face with my hands, feeling incredibly annoyed with myself. Why did he always have to see me at my most vulnerable? I was absolutely certain he thought I was completely losing my mind.

By the time eight o'clock rolled around, I had changed into a stunning, strapless yellow gown that hugged my curves perfectly. I actually despised the color yellow, but satisfying my employer's preferences was part of the contract.

Now came the difficult part: changing him into his formal suit. But before I even touched the clothes, I decided to execute a little plan of my own. Armed with a razor and a can of shaving cream, I knelt directly in front of his wheelchair. I completely ignored the intense glare he was shooting down at me. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he just couldn't take his eyes off me because of how good I looked in the gown.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice dripping with annoyance.

I glanced up at him innocently. "Cutting my nails. Can't you see what I'm doing? I'm giving you an upgrade."

"I don't need an upgrade. We're already late. Just put the suit on me, that's all I need."

"I'm sorry, I can't hear anything. I think I'm going deaf. Did you say something?" I fired back playfully, forcefully slathering the white shaving cream all over his stubborn chin.

"Cassie Barrett, mind your own business," his voice raised, a rare flash of genuine anger breaking through his calm facade. "Do you think just because I give you a little freedom around here, it means you can interfere in my personal matters? Do the exact job I am paying you for."

His words stung, cutting straight through my playful mood, but I refused to back down. "I am doing exactly what I was brought here for," I retorted, leaning in close. "Taking care of you is my duty, and hygiene is the absolute first step. Your beard is practically longer than my hair. I'm just kidding, but it's still way too long. So shut your mouth and let me do my job, dear husband."

He opened his mouth to snap back, but the moment I leaned in and positioned the sharp razor near his jaw, he quickly thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut. I let out a malicious little hum of satisfaction. "Want to say something else?"

He stayed completely still. I began my work carefully, scraping away the rough hair until he was given a perfectly clean shave. Holy mother... I stared at him. I knew it. I had always known beneath the mess that he was incredibly handsome. But I didn't stop there. I grabbed a pair of scissors to trim his overgrown hair. Even though he started swearing and muttering curses under his breath making my ears practically bleed—I finished the haircut anyway.

Finally, I dressed him in his sharp black suit and pushed his wheelchair toward the full-length mirror.

He stared at his reflection as if he were looking into an entity from different universe. I leaned over his shoulder, a proud smile breaking across my face. "Shall we go, my handsome husband?"

His lips tilted up into a faint, genuine smile. "Cassie..."

"Hmm?" I hummed, distracted as I reached for my clutch and packed it with his emergency pills.

"Thanks for being here with me," he said softly.

The words were spoken almost soundlessly, but I heard them perfectly clear. A smile tugged at my lips against my will, and a sudden warmth rushed to my cheeks. No, don't you dare blush, I scolded myself. I truly had no idea what this man was doing to my sanity.

We arrived at the banquet incredibly late. I was fully prepared to brace myself for the elite guests' judgment, but to my surprise, Alex remained completely unfazed and calm. He immediately engaged in smooth business talk with people I didn't know. I remained dutifully by his side. Honestly, I shouldn't have come,the party was incredibly boring. However, I always enjoyed observing people, so I focused my attention on the crowd.

Nearby, a lady was talking to a man. She looked absolutely furious, and the man looked completely terrified, sweating through his collar. Definitely husband and wife, I thought. It was almost cute to see how much power she held over him.

"Found something appealing to your eyes?"

I tilted my head up to find a pair of intense eyes staring down at me.

I smiled quickly. "It's nothing."

"Want to go out?" he asked, his gaze drifting over to the bickering couple I had been watching.

"No, of course not. I'm perfectly fine here, we don't have to leave on my account..."

"It's not for you. I want to go out," he clarified, keeping his eyes fixed on them.

A few minutes later, we left the stuffy hall. As we began walking down the quiet, brightly lit street, a dull ache started radiating through my legs. My feet were becoming completely numb and sore from the high heels I was wearing, and I could already feel the straps scratching painfully against my skin.

"Can't walk?" Alex asked, suddenly halting his automatic wheelchair and looking back at me.

I looked down at my painful shoes. "It's nothing. I'll manage."

He let out a soft, melancholic smile. "If I were able... I would have lifted you up so you wouldn't have to walk on sore legs."

I tilted my head toward him, a playful chuckle escaping my lips to hide how touched I was. "Why, Mr. Danvers. Why so romantic today?"

"If I'm not romantic, who else is going to show love to my wife?"

"Do you love me?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them. It was a complete mistake born from a stupid, thoughtless tongue.

Alex froze, staring at me for a long, heavy second without saying a word. Great. I had officially made him uncomfortable. What a brilliant thing to ask, Cassie, I chided myself, quickly averting my eyes to hide my embarrassment. "Haha... well, you said you would have carried me if you could walk, right?"

He let out a slow sigh. "Yeah. But what can we do..."

Before he could even finish his sentence, I stepped forward, turned around, and sat down directly onto his lap. I kicked off my painful heels, catching them in my hand, and wrapped my other arm securely around his neck. "This counts too, right?"

Alex's eyes widened. "Cassie, what are you..."

"What's wrong, Mr. Romantic? Do I feel too heavy?" I teased, leaning into his shoulder. "But I think you explicitly said before you can't feel anything from the waist down anyway. Now, let's go!"

He let out a defeated sigh, though a tiny smile played at the corner of his lips as he gave up arguing. He pressed the joystick, and the automatic wheelchair began moving smoothly down the street. I let out a bright scream of laughter, holding onto him tightly as the wind caught my silver hair.

The few street vendors we passed peeked out from their stalls, likely staring Maybe because they had never seen a sight like this before. Well, it was a first-time experience for me too.

I felt incredibly close to him that night. I realized then that you don't need a long time to grow close to the person who is truly meant for you. And Alex... he was someone who noticed absolutely everything about me, without me ever having to say a single word.

​For the next couple of days, we went to a lot of places together. We visited an art gallery where he liked staring at luxurious paintings as if they held deep, hidden meanings. I did not really understand the art, but I think he did. Casual coffee shop dates, going to an amusement park and spending a long time talking about random things, our dreams I should've met him way before is the only thing that came into my mind each time we spent together.

​one day we went to an orchard garden that belonged to him. I loved it there. I ran through the rows of trees, plucking fruit until I found a perfect apple. I ran back and showed it to him, asking if he wanted a bite. He smiled and nodded.

​I bit my lower lip, smiling and panting from the running as I walked closer to him. "I'm tired. Where can I sit?" I looked around the open space, and then I simply sat down on his lap. "Uhm, comfortable."

​He was no longer uncomfortable with me doing things like this. I cut the apple in half with my own hands and asked, "Do you like orchards that much?"

​He smiled faintly. "My sister liked them."

​That was completely new information for me. I had never known he had a sister, and I wondered why she never came to see him. "Oh, I have never seen your sister. Why doesn't she ever come to visit you?"

​"I was wondering that too," he said casually. "Maybe God is not allowing her to come out of heaven."

​I blinked, feeling a sudden wave of guilt for even asking. "Alex, I am so sorry."

​"What, are you feeling sympathetic?" he asked, chuckling. "Come on, Cassie. I never saw a sympathetic look on your face when you first saw me."

​He was laughing, but I could see right through him. It was completely forced. Without thinking much further, I put a piece of the apple into his mouth, and then I leaned forward and crushed my lips to his.

​His eyes widened in shock. He stayed completely still for a long moment, and then he kissed me back. It was slow and deep, as if he had been craving this just as much as I had. His tongue entwined with mine, and the sweet taste of the apple flooded my mouth. In that exact moment, I knew for certain that I was deeply in love with this man.

​After that day, things became incredibly awkward between us. He constantly made excuses to leave whenever we were in the same room, and I only ever got to see him at night. Unlike him, I was not feeling awkward. I was just annoyed by his behavior. I knew exactly what I had done, and I had done it because I wanted to. I wanted to confront him, but for some reason, seeing him look so panicked was actually cute.

​After a week of his running away, I finally cornered him in the bedroom. "Why are you hiding whenever you see me?" I sat down on the edge of the bed, staring directly at him, but he refused to make eye contact.

​"Did I hide?" he muttered. "Maybe you are just imagining things."

​I stood up and knelt down right in front of him, resting my head close to his. "Yeah, sure I am. Come on, Mr. Romantic. Don't be such a scaredy cat. It was just a kiss, and I am your wife. Why does it matter? I enjoyed doing it, and didn't you enjoy it too?"

​He finally stared back at me. "What a foul mouth you have, Mrs. Danvers."

​"Guilty as charged," I retorted with a smirk. "So now tell me, did you like the kiss?"

​He smiled faintly. "Yeah, I did. You are always one step ahead, doing unexpected things."

​I giggled, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in a very long time. "Guilty as charged again."

​I wrapped my arms around him and helped him into the bed, laying down right beside him. We tangled ourselves together closely. I took his limp arm and placed it gently over my shoulder, resting my head against it. "Goodnight, husband."

​I drifted off to sleep incredibly fast. It had been days since that horrific nightmare had bothered me. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I had finally found a place that could save me from my past.

​"Cassie, throw the eggs at her face! Yeah, she deserves to be treated like that. What a weirdo!"

​"Was your family raised on the street? Why do you always dress like a beggar?" I laughed out loud, shoving her head forcefully into the school closet.

​She was panting heavily, scratching at my hands to break my grip. I pulled her out by her hair and slapped her face hard. "You fucking piece of shit, how dare you scratch me?"

​"Oh my god, Cassie, you should see a doctor before that gets infected. She probably carries some kind of virus."

​I scoffed in utter disgust while the others shoved her back into the dark closet.

​Suddenly, the entire environment went pitch black. I looked around, but the other girls were gone. There was no one left. "Iris? Where are you?"

​The only response was a faint, mocking giggle. I spun around desperately until I saw her. She was standing right on the edge of the high school terrace, smiling down at me.

​"No, please don't jump!" I lunged forward. I told myself I would save her this time. I would change everything. But my legs wouldn't move. Why couldn't I move?

​"You think you can live a happy life after ruining mine, Cassie? No, never."

​She stepped off the ledge, and I slumped to the ground, screaming and crying, completely consumed by regret.

​"Cassie, wake up. Can you hear me? Cassie!"

​I desperately sought the owner of that voice, wanting nothing more than to see him. I opened my eyes and scrambled upward, sitting up suddenly as I took a long, ragged breath. I was breathing heavily, tears streaming down my face.

​I glanced to my side to ensure he was still there. My Alex was still there for me.

​I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly as I wept out loud. It was messy and pathetic, but I couldn't stop. He did not say anything at first, just laying there silently beneath me.

​"Why did I do that?" I sobbed into his chest. "Why did I live like that? I am a murderer, Alex. I don't deserve to live. I should have died instead. I killed her. It is because of me that she is dead."

​"Can you calm down and tell me everything slowly?" he asked. His voice was completely calm.

​I whimpered, trying my best to control the shaking in my voice. "I lived my life like a total bitch ,was pushed into a boarding school at a young age, to be true I were nothing but a coward who felt superior by picking on poor people. My dad always covered up my wrongdoings, and that was enough to make me keep going. Until I spotted her. Iris. I didn't know much about her. She was a transfer student from the States during our high school times, and she seemed like the perfect target. It started with just verbal taunts, but it wasn't enough, so I started physically abusing her. I am a monster, Alex. I killed her."

​​"Continue. Tell me exactly what you did to her."

​I glanced up at his face. He wore the exact same expression I had seen back at the hospital. It wasn't happiness, and it wasn't outright anger. It was something else. Was it disgust? No, he wouldn't look at me like that.

​"Alex?"

​"I said continue, Cassie Barrett." He repeated my name coldly.

​"I thought I would eventually lose interest in picking on her and let her go," I whispered, trembling. "But then I caught my boyfriend kissing her behind the school one day. From that day on, I don't know what happened to me. I shouldn't have done it, but I used to let all my anger out on her every single time. I never thought she would actually end her life right in front of me. I begged her not to jump. I ran to save her, I promise I did, but before I could catch her, she fell. I shouldn't be alive, I know that."

​"Then why are you still living?" Alex's voice cut through the room like ice. "You are saying all this, but you are glad she died, aren't you? Instead of attacking your pathetic boyfriend who forced himself on my sister, you targeted her. Why? Because you knew you were too weak to fight him."

​My eyes went wide, filled with absolute horror as I stared down at him. "Alex?"

​"You cut off her hair. You made her drink the dirty closet water. You slapped her, and you burned her arms with cigarettes, and you expected her not to give up on her life? What did you lose from it? Nothing. And because of you, I am living like a dead person."

​I stumbled away from him, falling backward off the bed. I couldn't believe my ears. I was trembling violently as I stood up. How could I face him? What could I possibly do?

​"I lived my whole life for my one and only sister," Alex continued, his eyes cold and dead. "When she told me about all the bullying, I only had one thought in my mind. I wanted to murder that filthy woman. I should have done it back then. If my sister hadn't stopped me, if she hadn't reassured me that everything would be okay, she might still be here. I should have come. I should have killed you back then. Your father is the most corrupt man I have ever seen. That filthy bastard went to extreme lengths to save his murderer daughter. Do you wonder how I ended up in this physical state? This is your precious daddy's gift to protect his so called criminal daughter. And now, he is living in the exact same paralyzed state as me. He must be happy, right?"

​He let out a cruel, hollow laugh. Each chuckle struck my heart like a physical slap.

​"I felt half satisfied when I put him in that state," Alex whispered. "But it won't ever be completely fulfilled until my sister gets justice right Cassie?."

​That was the exact moment the horrifying truth hit me. My dad hadn't fallen from the building accidentally. It was him. Alex did it. Yet, I didn't feel a single shred of pity or hatred. I didn't deserve to feel those things when my own hands were dripping with blood. It was the blood of his only sister. I had ruined a family. I had ruined his entire life.

​I wiped my eyes, my voice completely broken. "I am so sorry. No, I know sorry means absolutely nothing. Just kill me. End my life. I deserve it."

​

​He did not say another word to me that night.

​I did not have the courage to speak to him again either. The beautiful fairy tale I thought I had finally found had shattered in an instant. Days passed slowly, and I suffered every single day under the weight of his freezing, cold shoulder. Yet, I still took care of him. I didn't know if there was anything more painful in the world than the person you love most in the world start to hate you.

​Then, out of nowhere, we took a trip to Switzerland. I foolishly thought he was finally beginning to forgive me. I held onto a tiny shred of hope. The weather was incredibly nice that day, and Alex didn't look quite as cold. The Swiss air was windy as we walked along the path for a long time without saying a word.

​Finally, I stopped. I fell to my knees right beside his wheelchair, resting my head on his lap as I cried softly. "I really do regret how I lived before, Alex. I never once felt true happiness after her death until I met you. I am telling you the absolute truth."

​I lifted my head to look at him, but he was just staring back at me nonchalantly.

​Desperate for a sign of life, I leaned up and kissed him, praying with everything inside me that he wouldn't push me away. To my surprise, he kissed me back. I held his cheek, deepening the embrace as fireworks suddenly began to explode across the night sky. It was our very first New Year together. That night, we stayed together, and I slept securely by his side, believing I was finally forgiven.

​The very next morning, we arrived at a sterile hospital room. Lenin and Erica were already there waiting for us. I squinted my eyes, completely confused by what was happening. Lenin wouldn't even look at me, and his eyes were bloodshot and red. Erica looked exactly the same.

​I looked around the room, a sudden, unknown fear gripping my chest. "What is happening here?"

​"It is time," Erica said. I noticed that her sharp voice cracked slightly.

​Alex looked over at me, a faint smile on his lips as he nodded for me to lean down. I lowered my head, and he kissed my lips softly one last time before pulling away.

​"Live a happy life, okay? I know you have suffered enough."

​I was still completely in the dark, looking at everyone desperately for an answer, but Alex was already being wheeled away by Erica into the back rooms.

​I turned to Lenin, panicking completely. "Lenin, please tell me what is happening!"

​Lenin tightened his fists, his voice shaking. "He is undergoing medically assisted suicide. It was already legally confirmed long before you ever entered this house."

​My eyes flew wide open. I spun around to run after Alex, but before I could even take a step, Lenin caught me, holding me back tightly. "Madam, please. He already signed the papers. Don't cause trouble now."

​I screamed at the top of my lungs, scratching at his arms violently. "Why? Why? He cannot do this! I will save him! I cannot lose him, please let me go! Please!"

​My voice gave out completely, and my legs collapsed beneath me. "How could you just let this happen?"

​Lenin remained entirely silent. Maybe he knew better than anyone that Alex was not a man who would ever back down once his mind was made up.

​Three months later.

​Dear Cassie Danvers, my dear wife,

​I wish I could have lived a little longer with you, actually. I love you so...so...much that it hurts. At first, my only intention was to take revenge on you for what you did to my sister. But when I saw you for the first time, I actually wondered if you were really that same cruel girl, or if I had accidentally targeted the wrong person.

​As time moved on, I realized I couldn't hate you. I couldn't hate the girl who observes everyone to escape from the real world,the girl who tried her absolute best to bring happiness to a useless, paralyzed man. I realized I couldn't hurt her. But living in a world without my sister is simply too hard for me. And I never wanted to be a husband who couldn't provide the basic needs to his wife.

​Cassie, I want you to know that I don't hold any hatred toward you anymore. After all, is it really necessary to take revenge on someone who is already living in a never-ending misery? I have already signed all my property and wealth over to you, so live your life exactly how you want. Be the journalist you always wished to be. Travel the world with someone you love. Buy a beautiful house for your mother.

​With all my love,

Alex

​I finished reading the letter for the hundredth time. I looked up, glancing at his tombstone resting right next to the one marked Iris.

​"I guess it was better to die than to live with me, right?" my voice trembled against the quiet wind.

​What dreams could I possibly have left without the only person who had ever brought real happiness back into my life? The only person who had painted vibrant colors onto my stark white canvas was gone.

​Perhaps this was the ultimate, most devastating revenge he could have ever taken on me. Just as he said, I would spend the rest of my days trapped in a never-ending misery.