Clip My Wings and Break My Heart

"Elias, Jean's latest medical report just came in. Not even the best treatments abroad can help her walk again. She'll never dance again, and she can't have kids anymore. Don't you think we went too far?"

"If we hadn't broken her legs, how else would Laura have gotten her spot on stage? Jean only lost her legs. If we hadn't done it, Laura would've lost the love of her life and everything she's worked for! Laura's pregnant now, and she's happier than ever. I don't regret a thing."

"I'd do anything for Laura."

Elias Levy's and Melvin Sorensen's voices drifted in from the living room. My mind went totally blank at that. One was the man I used to look up to and care about, and the other was my own brother.

I thought they were the ones who would always guide me. Turned out, they were the ones who shoved me into the dark!

I remembered everything. After I was assaulted, the police came to the hospital to take my statement. The two of them stood outside my ward, saying they didn't want me to go through a "second trauma".

They even talked me into dropping the charges—for the sake of my "reputation"—saying it was the best way to move on. I thought they were looking out for me. I never saw that they were just covering their own backs.

I couldn't face the truth, so I rushed outside into the pouring rain. My wheelchair slipped, and I went straight into traffic.

I barely managed to dodge a car, but I ended up with a high fever for three days and ended up in the ICU. Ever since then, my body had been weak.

The moment Elias found out I was in the hospital, he showed up instantly.

"Jean, this is all my fault. I should've taken better care of you. I brought your favorite seafood chowder. Let me feed you, okay?" he said softly.

If I hadn't overheard what he'd said earlier, I would've believed—just like everyone else—that he was a loving, devoted husband. However, for the first time, I looked away and pulled back from him.

"Elias, do you regret marrying someone as dirty and worthless as me?" I asked.

His eyes went wide in shock. "Don't you ever say that about yourself! You're just as beautiful to me as you've always been. How could I ever regret marrying you?"

I lowered my head, letting my hair fall over my cold, empty stare. A bitter smile curled at my lips.

He loved me, so he destroyed me, left me broken and humiliated, all so I'd have no choice but to stay with him. No. This wasn't love. He was a monster, a madman!

Elias was in love with Laura Sorensen—the foster daughter who grew up with the Sorensen family.

"If you truly love me, would you dare touch me?" I asked, lifting my chin and staring him down.

Elias looked back at me with that same rehearsed tenderness.

"Of course I would," he blurted out. "I just don't want to hurt you. You're still recovering, and I'd be crushed if I did."

He quickly reached for my hands. I pulled back, refusing to let him touch me. We'd been married for a year, and not once had he laid a hand on me.

Every time, he gave me the same excuse. And like an idiot, I believed him.