Chapter 5

I threw a fit, screaming at the top of my lungs while struggling with all my might. I even rolled onto the floor, trying to crawl away.

But the medical staff restrained me and forced me into the operating room anyway. They injected me with anesthesia. When I regained consciousness, my right leg was already gone.

As I stared at the stump where my thigh ended, my mind went completely blank. There was nothing left.

Someone was talking beside me, but I couldn't hear a word. I could only think of one thing—why hadn't that artillery shell killed me outright? Why had I been allowed to survive, only to end up crippled?

It wasn't until the hospital room door opened again and Fiona walked in with Zach that my eyes slowly regained focus. I fixed my gaze on the two of them.

Fiona's eyes flashed with sympathy. "Caleb, don't be too upset. I'll get you the best prosthetic leg money can buy. Once you've recovered, I'll take you home. The three of us can go on a trip together."

Zach's eyes immediately reddened. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't had that attack, you wouldn't have lost your leg. I'd do anything to be the one who's disabled instead, Caleb. I wish I could suffer in your place for you. Please don't be mad at me."

His voice nearly drove me over the edge. Witnessing his act only filled me with the overwhelming desire to rip him into shreds.

I struggled desperately to sit up and punch him.

"Aren't you supposed to have a weak heart? Why haven't you dropped dead then!" I roared in a way that made my throat raw. "You want to suffer in my place, right? Then jump down from the window now! Die! Go straight to hell where you belong!"

Zach clutched his chest, stunned with fear.

"Please don't act like this, Caleb! It's not my fault your leg was amputated. I heard you met Alice Murray in Ashberia. Everyone knows she's a notorious crime boss over there. Did you offend her somehow? Is she the one who had you beaten up?"

Fiona's brows immediately knitted together. "Alice Murray?"

"Yeah. I heard that Caleb and Alice have… a questionable relationship. That woman is infamous for being ruthless. She must've gotten mad at him because he failed to satisfy her."

"Quit spouting your bullshit!"

I didn't even care that I'd just gotten my leg chopped off anymore. I snatched up everything within reach and hurled it at Zach with all my strength.

"Alice is the best person in the world! You don't get to talk about her like that! You can come after me all you want, but don't you dare insult her!"

Zach hid behind Fiona, his eyes flashing with a vicious glint. "See that, Fi? Isn't it obvious from his reaction? He definitely has something going on with Alice—Argh!"

The water glass struck him squarely in the head with a loud crack, and blood immediately began to pour out.

Zach's face twisted into a vicious grimace. But when Fiona turned to check on him in alarm, he immediately put on a pitiful expression again.

"Caleb… I can't believe you're really trying to kill me…"

He suddenly collapsed to the floor.

I glared at him with bloodshot eyes, gritting my teeth as I climbed out of bed, wishing I could kill him. But I'd forgotten that I was missing a leg.

The moment my left foot touched the floor, my body toppled heavily to the floor.

I shrieked in pain, my face turning deathly pale. I curled up and writhed on the floor, rolling around helplessly.

Fiona looked frantically between us, beside herself in agitation. In the end, she chose to help Zach up.

"Caleb, I'll get a doctor for you. Your leg is already gone anyway. You just have to endure the pain for a little while. But Zach might die! Don't be mad at me for this…"

With that, she rushed out of the room.

How many times had this happened? It was the same, every single time.

I felt dead inside. I lay sprawled on the floor, screaming in agony and despair, until the pain finally made me pass out.

When I woke up again, Fiona's anxious face was the first thing I saw.

"Caleb, Zach really isn't going to make it this time. He needs a heart transplant. Will you give him your heart? Please?"