A Broken Heart's Awakening

At 25, everyone said that Evelyn Carter was the luckiest woman in all of the city of Beaumont.

The heir to one of the city's most influential families, Victor Blake, fell in love with her at first sight during a performance. Even after a tragic accident caused a stage rig to collapse, leaving her paralyzed, Victor defied all expectations and married her.

After the wedding, Victor spared no expense, hiring the top medical experts both in the country and abroad to treat her injuries, and he indulged her every need. He would do anything for her.

The day she stood again was their third wedding anniversary. Evelyn, filled with excitement, bought a large bouquet of flowers, eager to surprise Victor.

But just before she could enter their private room of a club, she overheard a conversation that would haunt her forever.

"On your anniversary, you're not at home with your little wife, instead you're here drinking with us. What's up with that, Victor?"

"Little wife? She's just his pet. He keeps her around, sitting in that wheelchair like a useless thing, making her do whatever he says."

Victor was sitting on the couch in the room, silently listening to their words, making no attempt to refute them.

James Thornton, his childhood friend, threw his arm around Victor's shoulder with a grin.

"If you ask me, Victor's plan was brilliant. He orchestrated Evelyn's stage accident to make sure she couldn't compete with Sophia anymore. Now she's stuck in that wheelchair, and Sophia gets to win the awards."

Evelyn froze in place, her hand just inches from the door, her smile suddenly faltering.

James and Victor had grown up together, and he wasn't shy about speaking so recklessly in front of him.

Seeing Victor's lack of reaction, James continued, "I just don't get it. If you've already ruined her, why go through the trouble of marrying her? Why hire the best doctors to treat her legs? Was it really love at first sight?"

Evelyn's heart clenched. She held her breath, waiting for Victor's response.

If Victor truly loved her, she could give up everything for him, even her own dreams.

But Victor's next words struck her like a slap to the face.

"Do you think that's possible? I married her so that Sophia could get what she wanted, to be with the person she truly loves. I don't need to be happy, but she has to be."

The room fell silent for a moment, and James let out a sigh, patting Victor on the shoulder.

"That's one way to put it. But you know that John Huxley just won't take no for an answer. He's been relentlessly pursuing Evelyn, even after she got married, still holding onto his obsession with her. Sophia has agreed to return home tomorrow, and it's likely she's finally giving up on him, ready to let go for good. You've had your fun with Evelyn, but don't wait until Sophia's married to someone else before you regret it."

Evelyn could listen no more. Her hand trembling, she wheeled herself back to the mansion.

The doctor visited again to check her legs, asking if she could feel anything. Evelyn stared blankly, shaking her head.

The man she had spent three years of marriage with, the one who had shared her bed every night, was the one who had caused the accident that left her paralyzed.

She couldn't bring herself to tell anyone in the mansion that she could now stand on her own.

There were spies everywhere in Victor's household. She couldn't risk him finding out that she was capable of walking again-what if he decided to ruin her legs once more?

At 10 PM, Victor came home as usual and asked the doctor about Evelyn's condition. When he was told that Evelyn still had no feeling in her legs, he sighed in relief, as if finally able to rest easy.

He then smiled, pulling a jewel necklace from his pocket and placing it around her neck.

"Happy anniversary, my love. Do you like it?"

Normally, Evelyn would have been overjoyed, caressing the necklace and resting her head against his chest with a shy smile.

But now, she couldn't smile at all.

Victor noticed her change in mood and knelt down in front of her, his brow furrowing with concern. "What's wrong? Did someone upset you?"

Without waiting for her to reply, he frowned and coldly ordered the butler, "Call everyone in the house to come here..."

Evelyn forced a smile, stopping him. "I'm fine, please don't make them uncomfortable."

Victor gently touched her face. "I've been busy at work today. I didn't even have time to spend the day with you. I promise we'll make it up."

Evelyn quickly replied, "How about tomorrow? I heard that international dance superstar, Deanna Cassan, is performing here in Beaumont. I'd love to see it..."

"Tomorrow won't work," Victor interrupted, cutting her off.