A Collapsed Love

The class reunion had just ended when the villa hosting it suddenly collapsed.Priscilla Hobbs and I were both trapped beneath a massive concrete slab.Her legs were pinned down by steel bars, while mine had been crushed, the pain unbearable.Joel Xander arrived with the rescue team at this critical moment.One of his subordinates hesitated and asked, "Mr. Xander, Mrs. Xander's condition doesn't look good. Should we get her out first?"But without a second thought, Joel picked up his tools and began prying the slab off Priscilla."Priscilla is an actress. If her legs are broken, her life will be ruined."His voice was cold, as if I were nothing more than a stranger.Fighting through the pain, I pleaded with tears in my voice, "Joel, you know I have a congenital blood clotting disorder. If you keep prying that thing, my legs will break. I'll bleed out and die!"Even now, I naively hoped that Joel would show me a sliver of compassion.We had spent seven years together. Even if

Stung by the accusation, Joel flew into a rage.He growled, "Enough! I've tolerated you this long for Aurora's sake, but don't push your luck! I've been doing rescue work for years and have seen countless people with broken legs! Aurora only injured her lower legs and was treated in time. How could she possibly be dead?"Tears streamed down Eileen's face as she grabbed the cup from the bedside table and splashed Joel with water."Xander, just whose husband are you? Do you think you're noble and devoted? You traded Aurora's legs for Priscilla's life—but what about Aurora? Why did she have to die?"Joel's face turned pale, then flushed red, his expression shifting back and forth.After a long silence, he responded, "I-I'll make sure Aurora gets the best rehabilitation and the most advanced prosthetics so she can live like a normal person..."Someone had to be saved first. I didn't have a choice…"Eileen furiously wiped her tears away, then pulled a knife from her bag and charged f

Joel had the sales associate carefully wrap the jewelry before driving to a newly opened bakery nearby.A man who had never been interested in desserts now leaned over the display case, studying the delicate pastries he once scoffed at."Do you have a low-sugar version of this cake? And this chocolate one—make sure the cocoa powder is unsweetened." His voice was gentle as he instructed the staff.The employees around him praised him for being such a thoughtful and attentive boyfriend.My heart clenched tightly and it felt like I might pass out from the pain.Joel carried the neatly packed cake to his car, eager to return to the hospital.I sat in the back seat, watching as he occasionally steadied the dessert box with one hand, my chest aching so much I could barely breathe.Halfway through the drive, he suddenly slammed on the brakes, his gaze fixed on the street to his right, his brows furrowing.Following his line of sight, I saw two of his university friends, Theo Cust and

Theo lunged forward and kicked Joel away."Get the hell away from Aurora! Don't you dare touch her with your filthy hands!"Joel, eyes bloodshot, charged forward like a madman and yanked off the white sheet covering me.My mutilated body was exposed before him.From the knees down, my legs were nothing but mangled flesh and shattered bones, the stark white of my broken limbs protruding in a grotesque display.Joel froze in place, unable to utter a single word.After a long silence, he numbly reached out, his trembling fingers gently tracing the jagged wounds on my legs.He had personally "crafted" these wounds.He stared blankly at my face, then, as if possessed, reached out and pinched my cheek.The intimate gesture startled me.In seven years, he had always been cold and distant, rarely showing affection between husband and wife.I wasn't naive enough to believe he had ever truly loved me. He was simply too shocked to think straight.Joel caressed my face, mumbling nonsen