Chapter 1
"Everyone, take a good, hard look. You don't want to end up like Ashley Jenkins, our former team leader here, unless you want to be the next one in a wheelchair."
I sat in my wheelchair, my eyes fixed on the massive screen in front of me and on Melissa Roberts, who stood there with a microphone in hand.
On the screen, a clip played on repeat: me falling from a height, my legs a bloody mess, me being loaded onto a stretcher.
"Look closely! This is your textbook example of what not to do. One person screws up, and everyone goes down with her!"
I covered my ears, my voice coming out hoarse.
"Brian Jenkins, she is lying. She was the one who cut my rope!
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to get Dr. Thomas to examine my legs…?"
But in turn, all I got back was a deliberate, low warning. "Ashley, that's enough. Since when has it ever been a bad time to have your legs checked?
"Today is the all-staff meeting. If you don't show up right here, people will think you've got a problem with the new captain. How is Melissa supposed to win them over?"
I pressed a hand to my chest. I could barely breathe.
And I didn't miss that glint of admiration in his eyes as he looked toward the stage.
How ridiculous.
The man who once backed my dreams without a second thought had now switched his support to someone else. He was even treating me like just a stepping stone.
A month ago, a TV station crew came for a live interview.
Brian said I had plenty of chances to shine, so this time I should let the newcomer have it.
So, Melissa deliberately unbuckled her safety helmet just for show, causing the educational program to fail.
But her act was criticized by massive netizens online. She was definitely a dramatic clown to those picky audiences.
But in the end, I was the one who had to apologize, face the consequences, and take the fall.
"You're the leader of the team. You are able to handle this and have a duty to look out for every team member." Brian said at that time.
"That girl can't bear that load of stress, she cries at the slightest bit of criticism. What if someone recognizes her, and she cries on the spot?"
Putting on a show and messing it up was definitely an original crime in the scene.
In addition, there are a group of people who cursed me and criticized me that I deserved to be paralyzed and should have stepped down long ago.
That was, in fact, truly hurtful. I wanted to cry badly.
But my tears had dried up the moment I woke up.
I grabbed Brian's hand, trying to make his sight back on me.
"Being able to handle everything as a team leader doesn't mean that I deserve to take all responsibility, including the wrongdoings she's done. Did our unborn child do something wrong as well?"
He suddenly tightened his grip on my wrist and gently educated me.
"Don't say such things again, and don't do meaningless things anymore.
"You can't even protect our child. Have I ever blamed you for that? Since you've brought up the issue, you should think of improving your physical health and consider getting another child to prove your value!"
He took out a complaint letter from his pocket while venting his anger. Impatience caught his eyes.
"Don't ever send any letters like this, I'll block every piece of it.
"You don't need to play the blame game because of an accident, and try to make that girl like a murderer. You're just ruining her life before it even starts."
I stared at the man. Finally, tears began to drop.
"Brian Jenkins, I'll definitely let everyone know the truth. And I'd send the real murderer to the jail one day, for sure!
"I will definitely leave you too."
But he just stopped my wheelchair from turning and spoke calmly.
"Threatening me with divorce again? Don't forget the fact that your paralyzed mother is still lying in hospital."
He released my wrist then after the threat.
Well, he was right, I didn't dare to leave.
A man who fell out of love with other could do anything unexpected.
Brian then turned to me with a look of hesitation in the face of Melissa's invitation to the stage.
If this were the days past, I would definitely think he was worried about me being alone downstage and overthinking.
But now…
I forced a smile, "Go ahead, I'll be fine."
He paused for a moment, then responded with a softer tone, "Ashley, you know that's not what I meant."
I shook my head. "Be quick. Melissa is urging you."
Watching him stride towards the stage, I chuckled softly.
'Does it even matter what he meant anymore?'
My phone screen lit up with a text message from the lawyer the next second.
Lawyer: Mrs. Jenkins, the divorce process has reached the most critical stage. Would you like to reconsider?
I wiped the tears from my eyes and typed the final order with determination.
Ashley: Continue execution.
Finally, it came to an end. 25- year-old Brian Jenkins, with his unreserved love.
It literally saved my life, which was on the verge of collapsing. My thirty-year miserable life.
