HANDICAPPED GOD OF WAR

Claire sat by the window in the dimly lit study, her mind racing with thoughts that had plagued her for years. The teacup in her hand had long gone cold, mirroring the distance she felt growing between her and Lucas. The past three years had been a constant cycle of confusion and frustration, a far cry from the life she had envisioned. The sound of wheels rolling across the hardwood floor pulled her out of her reverie. Lucas entered the study in his wheelchair, his presence both familiar and foreign. He looked at her with a tentative expression, as if unsure of how to begin. But before he could utter a word, Claire’s gaze hardened, and she broke the silence with a biting tone. “Leaving again, Lucas?” she asked sarcastically, her voice laced with bitterness. “Off for another few days of mystery?” Lucas hesitated, caught off guard by the sharpness in her voice. He took a deep breath and nodded slightly. “I’ll be back soon, Claire. I promise.” Claire’s eyes flashed with anger. “Back soon?” she echoed, her voice rising. “You always say that, and then you disappear without a word! Do you even realize what that does to me? To us?” Before Lucas could respond, she hurled the teacup in her hand at him. It shattered against his legs, the pieces scattering across the floor. Lucas flinched but remained composed, his eyes reflecting a mix of regret and resignation. Three years ago, Claire had been at the top of her career, surpassing her brother in every way. Her success had drawn the envy of her family, especially her grandmother, who had always favored male heirs. Seeing Claire’s rise as a threat to the family’s traditional values, her grandmother had devised a cruel plan to bring her down. Lucas had been found injured and comatose by the roadside—a man with no memory and no past. To suppress Claire’s success and secure more wealth for her brother, her grandmother manipulated her into marrying Lucas. The marriage was meant to humiliate Claire and reduce her to nothing more than a caretaker for a disabled man. Prominent families had ridiculed her, mocking the marriage as a tragic fall from grace. Despite everything, Claire hadn’t blamed Lucas for her grandmother’s unfairness. He wasn’t responsible for the twisted circumstances that had led to their marriage. But the reality of their life together had been far from what she’d hoped. Every month, Lucas would leave home for several days, disappearing without a trace. Each time he left, tens of thousands of dollars would vanish from their accounts, with no explanation given. This pattern had continued for three long years, leaving Claire feeling abandoned and betrayed. She no longer wanted to maintain this marriage, and tonight, her patience had finally snapped. “Three years, Lucas,” Claire spat, her voice trembling with a mixture of hurt and anger. “Three years of watching you leave, wondering if you’d ever come back. And when you do return, it’s like you were never really here. Where do you go? What do you do? And why does it cost us so much every single time?” Lucas remained silent, his eyes downcast as he absorbed her words. He had always known this moment would come, but it didn’t make it any easier to face. He opened his mouth to speak, to offer some kind of explanation, but Claire cut him off. “No more excuses, Lucas,” she said, her voice firm. “I need answers. I need to know where you go, what you do, and why it costs us tens of thousands of dollars every month. I need to know, or I’m done. I’m done with this marriage.” Lucas looked up at her, his expression one of deep sorrow. “Claire, I—” “Don’t,” she interrupted, shaking her head. “Don’t give me another empty promise. I deserve the truth, and I’m tired of waiting for it.” Lucas hesitated, his gaze dropping to the shattered teacup at his feet. His legs, once strong and capable, were now a constant reminder of the price he had paid during that decisive battle three years ago—a battle that had left him disabled and reliant on this wheelchair. Seeing his vulnerability, Claire’s anger wavered for a moment, but the hurt was too deep to ignore. She needed answers, and she needed them now. “Lucas,” she said more softly but still resolute, “I’m asking you one last time. Where do you go? What do you do? And where does all that money go? If you can’t answer me, then we’re done.” Lucas met her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and determination. “Claire,” he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him, “I can’t explain everything right now. But please believe me, everything I’ve done has been for us, for our future.” Claire’s eyes narrowed. “For us? How can you say that when you’ve left me alone, time and time again, with no explanation? How can you say that when all you’ve done is push me further away?” Lucas swallowed hard, knowing that words alone wouldn’t be enough to mend the rift between them. But he had to try. “Give me one more chance,” he pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. “Let me prove to you that everything I’ve done has been for a reason. Let me show you that there’s more to this than you know.” Claire stared at him, her heart torn between the love she still felt for him and the anger that had built up over the years. She wanted to believe him, but the scars of his unexplained absences were too deep. “Prove it,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Prove it, Lucas, or I’m walking away.” Lucas nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “I will,” he promised. “I’ll prove it to you, Claire. Just give me a little more time.” As she turned away, unable to look at him any longer, Lucas wheeled himself out of the study, determined to do whatever it took to win back her trust. The stakes had never been higher, and he knew that the next steps he took would determine the future of their marriage—and their lives.