Falling In Love With The Disabled Heir

Aria's POV

"Are you out of your mind?!" My dad hollered, flinging my admission letter at me. I shut my eyes, my head hung low with his words cutting deep in my heart.

"Aside from being the unfilial child that you're, you chose to go behind our backs and apply to do a goddamn examination, huh?!" He raged, tears streaming down my cheeks and I slowly raised my head.

"Rubbish." My mum muttered under her breath. I sniffled, wiped my tears and picked up the admission letter.

My blurred gaze stared at the first line before I turned to my parents.

"I-I thought you would be proud of me for...."

"Proud of you?" Sophia, my elder sister, cut in. Her voice was laced with venom, she looked equally pissed at my admission.

"Little sis, should I remind you how you woefully failed your exams last year with the huge amount of money Dad wasted on you?" She belittled.

"I had an accident!" I yelled frustratedly, "I nearly had an accident that day, I couldn't concentrate well on the exam. You all knew about this. And my best way to make up for that was why I took this exam. Can't you see this as my redemption?" I cried, trying to show my desperation.

"Whatever the case may be, this family isn't ready to waste anymore dime on you anymore."

"Mum!" I called out loudly in disbelief. How can she say that to me? She looked away and crossed her arms with a deep frown, further breaking my heart.

My dad continued to curse under his breath and Sophia wasn't helping the situation. I never knew this would rile them up so bad.

All I wanted was for my parents to embrace like Sophia and Julian. Our elder brother.

It's not about money, my parents have it. My family was one of the most influential in Australia, but I had always been their unknown daughter.

Why are they making a big deal of wasting money on me?

I can't recall any sweet memories with my parents because there was none. They had always treated me indifferently, while showering love and admiration on Julian and Sophia.

It has been my dream since I was a kid to become a medical doctor. Now that I've been given admission to study medicine in Europe, they are bluntly against it.

The living room was suffocated with silence, save for my sniffle and low sobs.

I was about to open my mouth to persuade them further. I can't afford to lose this admission.

But the creak sound of the door made me whip my head in the door's direction, interrupting me.

"You're back?"

"How was it?" They all asked in unison, while I stared at Julian as he entered. His expression was unapproachable, he didn't even cast me a glance.

Mum stood up to meet him but then, he exclaimed excitedly.

"They approved the proposal!"

"What?!" They all shot up from their seats and went to him. They continued conversing about the company happily, but it wasn't to my interest.

I dragged my feet to my room with a heavy heart, drunk in my own thoughts. My family weren't excited or cared to see me happy. I could never understand what I've done to deserve these cold treatment from them.

Julian's words made me pause involuntarily.

"Mr. Blackwell promised us 5% of their empire immediately after their marriage," he proclaimed.

"Oops, finally. Congratulations brother!" Sophia gushed, and I turned around to see her hugging him.

'Was she getting married?' I wondered.

My gaze was still on them before Julian finally cast me a glance.

"Is she aware?" He asked my parents. My mum was the first to give a dramatic exhale before going to sit down.

"Not yet." My dad responded.

"How about I break the news to her?" Sophia asked sweetly, clinging to Julian's arms before turning to me.

"You're getting married, Aria." She stated.

It took a few seconds before her words registered in my brain. And when it finally did, my eyes widened in shock and I gasped.

"W-What do you mean by that?" I stuttered, my feet moving closer to them on their own. My heart pounded heavily in my chest.

"What part of that you don't understand?"

"Everything!" I yelled more than intended at my mum. I swallowed the lump in my throat and bowed as an apology.

"I'm sorry. But my boyfriend isn't ready to marry me now." I responded softly.

"But dad, I expected you to have told her before now." Julian groaned, he then walked closer to me.

He was about to speak up but my mum's voice interrupted him.

"You are not our daughter." She dropped the bombshell, and my heart skipped a beat. I clutched my chest, gawking at her in disbelief.

"You're our servant's daughter. Your parents lost their lives to cancer, and we took you in out of pity because we couldn't find any of their relatives. You were just two then, but today is the end of you living here with us." She said it so casually, with no remorse.

"M-Mum, how can you s-say that so casually? I'm your daughter. You despise me because I don't act like you. And I'm working on myself to change for the better. You don't have to tell such a big lie." A part of me wanted to believe otherwise but their expression remains the same.

Hot tears welled in my eyes, and I felt anger boiling in my chest.

"Tell me it's a lie, parents!" I demanded.

"Save yourself the drama," Julian interrupted, grabbing the documents off the table and bringing them towards me.

He grabbed my hands, shoving the documents into them.

"All these years, we've given you a roof over your head, a name, and a chance at life," Dad said coldly. "It's high time you repay us."

"Sign it," Julian said, holding a pen out to me.

It was a marriage certificate. They've planned this out already. But what stunned me the most was the supposed person I'll be married to.

"I'm marrying the disabled heir?" I uttered in disbelief.

"He has a name!" Sophia snapped.

Jameson Blackwell-the once-celebrated prodigy whose tragic accident had made headlines months ago. He was paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair.

I looked at Julian and asked bitterly, "If I were really your sister, would you have me marry someone like this? Why are you all so selfish? This is too much for me to bear. If this is a prank, stop it, please!"

They didn't answer. Their cold stares confirmed the harsh reality.

"My life has been nothing but a joke to you," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "I've no use for you anymore, and this is the best way for your repayment? Marrying me off to someone I've never met?"

"You talk as if we owe you something," Mum said sharply. "Don't forget, without us, you would have grown up on the streets, just like your parents. You owe us everything you have."

"You should be grateful," Dad added. "We gave you a chance at life when no one else would."

I choked back a sob. Their words cut deeper than I thought possible, yet a small, desperate part of me latched onto one thought.

If I marry him, I'll finally be free of them. But Adrian, my boyfriend.

He went to Finland to shoot a movie, he is an actor, and we hadn't spoken really much. It has always been like this, as if I'm the only one in the relationship. He was always nonchalant about attention and the need for us to communicate.

I guess this is the end of our relationship. I looked down at the marriage certificate again, my head running through different scenarios.

My hands shook as I gripped the pen. "If I marry him, will I be able to leave this house forever?"

"You'll be his responsibility, not ours," Dad replied, as though dismissing a burden.

Taking a deep breath, I wiped my tears and steadied myself. I would marry him-not for them, but for my own freedom. This was my chance to escape.

With a heavy heart, I signed the papers. My life as I knew it was over. Julian yanked the papers from me and all of them rushed to see it as if they just won a lottery.

Jameson's POV

Seated on my wheelchair by the window side of my room, I found myself lost in my thoughts. My life before that tragic accident forcefully snatched my perfect life away from me.

And now, I'm reduced to this.

My fists clenched tightly, my heart aching painfully as my eyes burned red.

The sky was clear and the birds flew freely, I felt as if I was the only one suffering in this world and nobody seemed to care.

Amidst my thoughts, the soft knock on the door followed by the opening click made me aware that someone had entered. I pretended not to notice, kept staring outside the window.

"Son." My mum called.

"I want to be alone, please." My tone was laced with coldness. She must be here with my Dad, they didn't even inform me that they were coming to my house.

The accident was more of their fault, wanting a daughter-in-law by all means. Making me dating Clara for show, and now this had to happen. I was drunk that night, learnt that my girlfriend, Clara was cheating on me. I was upset and drove crazily to her apartment, and this accident happened.

"Jameson, we had an agreement and..."

"Come off it, mum," I snapped, pressing a button on my wheelchair and it turned me around.

She stood by the door, holding a file in her hand, wearing that same pitiful look that made my blood boil.

"A lot has happened already but you're still thinking about marriage?" I scoffed bitterly, knowing what she wanted to say, "Because of you and Dad's nagging, I dated that b!tch. Now are you glad with the outcome?" I demanded, my heart pounding.

"I know, Jameson. Honey, I know." She cooed, stepping closer and sat on the bed.

"Your Dad and I dragged you into this, yes, and we're deeply sorry about that. But it's been three months already. You can't keep living like this." She said gently, as if losing your legs was something you just 'get over.'

The door opened the next second and my Dad strolled in with his signature stoic expression.

My mum continued, "You know how important it is for you to get married at the moment. Kylie is engaged and her wedding will be happening anytime soon. The family company might be passed down to her."

I shot both of them a disbelieving look, "You still want me to marry Clara after what she had caused?"

"It doesn't have to be her. You only have to be married," My Dad said curtly.

I gritted my teeth, already aware of how important the contract was for the company and it needs me to be married. Still, I couldn't help but feel upset about it.

"I can't date Clara again talkless of marrying her. When I've a partner, I'll inform you about it." I told them dismissively, reaching to turn my wheelchair away.

"I've already arranged a collaboration with Dawson Enterprises. You'll be marrying their youngest daughter." My dad informed, handing me the file which my mother had been holding.

I skimmed through the contents, my face unreadable before letting out a dry, humorless laugh.

"And what makes you think I'll agree to this?"

They didn't say anything but their expressions were as if I've to agree to this. My expression turned into a dangerous glare and I clenched my words;

"I'm not fvcking marrying any goddamn bride you have for me." With that, I wheeled out of the room.

"Jameson!" They called after me, but I didn't stop. I wheeled faster down the hallway, but they quickly caught up.

"There's nothing you can do about it," my Dad said sternly. "It's already decided. And if you hadn't been so reckless, if you hadn't lived such a flamboyant, womanizing life, none of this would have happened. You would've found a woman worthy of being a wife."

I froze, stunned by the cruelty of his words.

"Simon!" my mother gasped, turning on him angrily. "How could you say that to your own son?"

The truth was bitter indeed.

Being in an arranged marriage was something I had expected but not like this. The company wasn't in any danger. I only had to get married to skyrocket our status worldwide.

That could have waited, but it seemed clear that the Dawsons had probably rushed this arrangement and I can't delay anymore. Because it was more to our favor than them.

Their argument faded into the background as I asked hollowly, "When is the wedding?"

A heavy silence fell over us.

My mother was the one who answered-and before I knew it, the day arrived.

I found myself, waiting for a woman, who I've never met in my life at the altar. I didn't bother looking at her face. And we exchanged our vows.

"Do you, Aria Dawson, take Jameson Blackwell to be your lawfully wedded husband...?"

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, that was when I glanced up at her. Her eyes flickered to mine, but I looked away before our eyes could meet.

"I do," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The officiant turned to me, but my reply came swiftly, "I do." It sounded rehearsed.

The ceremony ended as quickly as it began, with no fanfare, no applause-just the muffled murmurs of the few guests in attendance.

Aria's POV

The ride to Jameson's estate was silent. I sat beside him in the limousine, clutching my bouquet so tightly my knuckles turned white.

He stared out the window, his expression unreadable.

When we finally arrived, the sight of the Blackwell mansion took my breath away. It was massive, elegant, and intimidating, much like its owner.

A sprawling garden stretched across the front yard, and the tall iron gates made it clear this was a fortress as much as it was a home.

The moment we entered, Jameson's staff greeted us politely, though their eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Welcome, ma'am," They all chorused, bowing at the same time. I could feel their stares lingering on me, silently judging. This got me fidgeting.

Jameson didn't wait for me to process the grandeur. He rolled his wheelchair forward, his cold demeanor like a wall between us. He didn't say anything to me and left just like that.

I was taken to my room and I sat on the bed, finding myself wondering about this new life I just signed for. I laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling, pondering deeper.

But then, I was startled by my ringing phone that was in my bag, and I quickly went to retrieve it, desperate for a distraction from all this.

Seeing Mia's name on the screen, I felt a surge of relief and quickly answered. She's my favorite person on earth.

"Aria!" her voice came through, frantic and full of concern.

"What the hell is going on? Was that you on the news? Married to some guy in a wheelchair? I swear the person looks exactly like you aside from the fancy wedding gown and jewelries. Where have you been and why weren't you picking my calls?" She bombarded me with questions, and I massaged my temple.

Sighing deeply as I settled on the bed. I bit my lip, hesitating.

"It was me," I admitted quietly.

"What?! Are you serious? What's going on? Who's that guy? What happened between you and Adrian? And why didn't you tell me anything about this?" She was really shouting. Well, I don't blame her. She must have been really worried.

"It all happened so fast, Mia. My... parents-they arranged everything without telling me. I didn't even have a choice. And for Adrian, I guess we're done. I sent him a text, informing him about this wedding but he responded to none. My heart is really broken right now." I wept.

"Aria," Mia said softly, her tone filled with concern. "Are you okay? This doesn't sound right at all."

"I'm not okay," I confessed, tears threatening to spill. "They forced me into this. They said it was repayment for raising me. And the worst part? I'm not even their real daughter. They've known all along. I'm the daughter of a servant who died, Mia. I've been nothing but a burden to them." I wept silently.

"Oh, Aria..." Her voice cracked, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears too. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve any of this."

"I don't know what to do," I whispered. "To make the matter worse, my so-called husband hasn't said a word to me. I should be glad about this, but he looks upset throughout the wedding ceremony. This must've been done without his full consent. He was acting distant, and honestly, I don't want to be here either. But I don't have anywhere else to go." I kept on lamenting to her about my fears.

After talking with her for close to an hour, I finally hung up the call. My chest feels lighter. Still in my wedding dress, I doze off without even knowing.

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The Next Day.

Morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting warm golden streaks across the room. I blinked awake to the gentle tapping on my door.

"Miss, it's time to get up," a soft voice called.

I groaned softly, dragging myself out of bed. The same maid stood patiently outside, holding a tray with tea with a polite smile.

"Good morning, ma'am." She greeted me.

"Good morning," I smiled.

"So.... would you like breakfast in your room, or should we prepare it downstairs?"

"I'll join you soon. Thanks." I flashed her a smile.

"You need to make it snappy. Madam is waiting for you downstairs." I furrowed my brows when I heard her.

"Who?" I asked. Then it occured to me that it was Jameson's mother. I refreshed up very fast and headed downstairs.

"Mum, enough of you butting in my life!" I was welcomed by Jameson's loud growl. I was startled, wondering what was going on.

"It's my gift for your marriage, honey. Newlyweds usually go to honeymoon and this could help build chemistry between you two." His mum explained gently, and my eyes twitched in surprise.

'Honeymoon?' it didn't even cross my mind for a second. She finally noticed me then flashed me a sweet smile and I returned it with an awkward one.

This was hard.

"H-Hi, ma'am." I greeted nervously. But Jameson hissed and rolled his wheelchair away. He hadn't said a word to me, making me wonder if he even recognizes my face.

"Come closer, child." His mum's voice cut through my thoughts. I smiled, walking closer to her.