Chapter 1

The night before my wedding, Christian’s charity student, Stella, was in trouble again.

“Stella overdosed on sleeping pills. She just got rescued.”

“Her parents are claiming that by taking her away, I ruined her reputation.”

“If I don’t marry her, those monsters will marry her off to some local eccentric.”

Christian leaned against my doorframe, lighting a cigarette.

“You’re not very mobile, so having her stand in for you at the wedding would be good for you too.”

“To avoid any suspicion, you can go abroad for a while. Think of it as a vacation.”

The sharp pain of my nails digging into my palm jolted me back to reality.

“Okay,” I whispered.

The room was thick with cigarette smoke, making me cough.

It had been a long time since I last saw Christian Hayes, my fiancé.

The last time was a month ago, on my birthday.

He was unusually happy, inviting a bunch of friends from his circle to celebrate with me.

As I blew out my candles and made a wish, Stella accidentally knocked over my cake.

The lit candles caught the blanket covering my legs on fire.

My legs were burned, but it was Stella who looked terrified.

She immediately dropped to her knees, her face contorted with fear.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Vance. It’s all my fault. I deserve to die. I shouldn’t even be here!”

With that, she bowed her head repeatedly towards me, practically knocking it on the floor.

“Ms. Vance, please forgive me! I truly have nowhere else to go if I leave the Hayes family. Please don’t kick me out, please…”

Stella sobbed, her whole body trembling, looking utterly terrified.

My friends, who were rushing to check my injury, were instantly distracted by her.

“What’s going on?”

“I heard Mr. Hayes’ fiancée doesn’t like this charity student. Looks like she’s been giving her a hard time.”

“If you ask me, Ms. Vance should’ve taught her a lesson long ago. Always hovering around Christian, who knows what she’s really after.”

…

Christian, who had been kneeling beside me, worriedly checking my burns, looked up at me, bewildered.

Then he stood up and walked decisively towards Stella.

“Stella, no one blames you,” Christian gently comforted her.

“I’m here. No one can make you leave.”

He pulled Stella into a hug, and she buried her face in his chest, sobbing.

The guests exchanged glances, wanting to say something but holding back.

Finally, someone whispered a reminder.

“Christian, Eleanor is still hurt.”

Stella heard that and immediately lifted her head, her eyes wide with fresh panic.

She pulled away from Christian’s embrace and stumbled back to kneel before me again.

“Ms. Vance, it’s all my fault. Please don’t make things difficult for Christian.”

“Whatever it takes to calm your anger, I’ll do it!”

“I know you’ve always hated me, hated that I have normal legs…”

“If it makes you feel better, I’m willing to burn my legs too!”

Stella put on a pitiful display, looking at me, but I ignored her.

She gritted her teeth and reached for a lighter on the table, as if to ignite it.

“Enough!”

Christian slapped the lighter out of Stella’s hand and pulled her back into his arms.

“Eleanor Vance, do you have to drive her to her death to be satisfied?!”

I, who had been startled and frozen in place, finally snapped back.

“What?”

“You know she’s studying dance, why would you want to burn her legs?!”

“Stella has it hard enough already. It wasn’t on purpose. Is it really fun for you to target her like this?”

“The accident back then wasn’t her fault, so how long are you going to hold a grudge?”

Christian’s angry accusations felt alien to me.

“I didn’t…”

My defense was cut off before I could even utter it.

“Ha, you just can’t dance anymore, so you can’t stand to see anyone else succeed.”

“Eleanor Vance, you’re taking advantage of Stella’s dependent position, bullying her when I’m not around.”

“But don’t forget, you’re not much better off than her.”

I stared at Christian in disbelief.

“I was the one who insisted on sponsoring Stella. If you have a problem, take it out on me, but don’t resort to such low tactics. It makes me sick.”

With that, he didn’t spare me another glance, turning and carrying Stella upstairs.

“Christian! Eleanor’s leg is still injured, and you’re just going to leave her like that?!”

A friend jumped in to defend me, but Christian didn’t even turn his head.

“What’s the act? How could a cripple’s leg have any feeling?”

“Maria, take Ms. Vance back to her room. She’s not allowed to leave until Stella says she forgives her!”