CHAPTER 2: THE DISABLED WOMAN

RADA’S POV

Dragging my right leg slowly, I made my way to the kitchen. My eyes still felt heavy and hot, but I had to get up early to cook. If I didn’t, everyone in this house would fly into a rage at me.

Ah, not just a rage—they might even resort to violence against me.

I stretched every muscle in my body, which felt incredibly stiff. How could it not? Last night I barely slept because I had to iron a mountain of clothes. Not to mention, I had to set aside time to write an online novel—the only way I can make a little money.

I do live in a luxurious house, but I don’t have a single penny to my name. Even to eat, I have to wait for their leftovers.

But what else can I do? I’m realistic. I’m not a biological child in this family.

I can’t leave. I don’t have anyone else left in this world. If I were to leave on a whim, where would I go? And… I…

I let out a long sigh as I looked down at my right leg.

I can’t walk normally like most people. My right leg is disabled. I have to drag it with great effort every time I take a step. In fact, I still often need a cane to help me stand upright.

When I was four years old, I was in a terrible accident, and this family was the one who helped me and took me in. Even though, in the end, I’ve ended up in this miserable situation.

“Rada! Have you started cooking yet?! Don’t let it get too late!”

I reflexively turned my head the moment I heard that shrill voice. “Yes, Mariana. I’m cooking; it’ll be done in a minute,” I replied softly.

Back then, I was allowed to call her “Mom.” But ever since her biological child was born, she’s forbidden me from calling her that anymore. She told me to know my place. Yet, before she had a child, she promised to love me as her own daughter—even though I couldn’t walk normally.

“Good! Just you wait if you dare to eat before us! Remember, Ines has a casting call this morning. She needs to eat nutritious food to stay strong. She’s going to be a star—not like you!”

I nodded resignedly. After Mariana walked away, I exhaled a long breath that felt constricted in my chest.

Honestly, deep down in my heart, I envied Ines. She was treated like a princess in this house. Ever since school, she’d always been the center of attention. It was so different from me—I didn’t even have a single friend back in school. No one wanted to be friends with a disabled girl like me.

Without realizing it, tears welled up and trickled down my cheeks. I suddenly missed my parents terribly.

If only they were still alive, I would never have to endure such a tragic and painful fate. If only I hadn’t whined about wanting to go to my little friend’s birthday party back then, maybe my father and I wouldn’t have been in that tragic accident. And I… wouldn’t have to live with this disability for the rest of my life.

Will I ever be able to walk normally again? I don’t know.

Maybe I can, but with what money would I go to the hospital? I don’t have much money; my savings are meager and will never be enough to cover the cost of surgery.

Now that I’m turning 30, I don’t have a job that pays a decent wage, and they’ve never allowed me to leave this house.

Ask them for money? It’s clear they’ll never give it to me. If they actually cared, they would’ve taken me to the doctor long ago. But the reality? They’ve just left me disabled like this.

After I finished cooking, I arranged all the dishes on the dining table. I walked extra carefully, afraid that a plate might fall and break, because if that happened, they’d get really angry and take away my food rations.

“Rada...”

My steps halted when I heard Darion’s deep voice. I turned and found the man staring at me intently. The cold glint in his eyes instantly sparked fear within me.

“Are you still a virgin?”

Gulp.

I swallowed hard upon hearing that crazy question. Fear immediately engulfed my mind—imagining the worst if he were to try anything with me.

“Don’t think the worst, Rada! If I wanted to, I probably would’ve done it a long time ago!” Darion snapped quickly, as if he could read my mind, causing a slight sigh of relief to escape my chest.

“You know, right? Since my wife and I brought you here, gave you a place to live, and sent you to school, you need to know how to repay us!” he emphasized again in a deep voice.

I nodded slowly. That line was a weapon they always threw at me. But hadn’t I already repaid them? I’d been an unpaid housekeeper in this home for years. They didn’t even need to hire a maid because I handled all the housework despite my limitations.

So, hasn’t my service all this time been enough?

“My family is facing a huge problem, Rada. I could even die at any moment if I can’t pay off my debts,” Darion continued, his expression darkening.

“Then… what am I supposed to do? I don’t have any money,” I asked softly.

“You’ll find out for yourself what you need to do. Just remember one thing: you have to know your place and repay the favor!” After uttering that threatening remark, Darion simply walked away.

I froze in place, clenching my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

Shortly afterward, the sound of swaying footsteps drew near, forcing me to turn my head again.

It was Ines—their biological daughter. The one they’d always considered their lucky charm, because right after Ines was born, their fortunes suddenly took a turn for the better and they became incredibly wealthy.

“Hey, Cripple! Look at me. I’m beautiful, aren’t I? Aren’t you jealous of me?”

I chose to remain silent, staring at Ines, who looked so elegant and enchanting in her beautiful dress. And what about me? I was just wearing shabby clothes, not to mention my physical disability.

“I’m going to an audition, Rada. And I’m definitely going to become a famous actress! As for you? You’ll just rot away as a maid in this house! Besides, who would even want a girl like you, huh? You’re such a disabled woman!”