Chapter 1 : Regretting

​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.

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