Chapter 1

The day I stood on my own two feet again, my boyfriend, Matthew Silks, whipped out a diamond ring and asked for my hand in marriage. However, his junior, Angela Clarke, suddenly showed up with a pregnancy test report. She kneeled in front of me, crying and begging me to accept their baby. The usually indifferent Matthew suddenly lost control of his emotions. His eyes turned red as he helped Angela up. He solemnly urged me to be magnanimous. "You're already crippled, and the doctor said you could never have children. Why don't you accept this baby in and treat him as your own? He can take care of you in the future." Everyone thought I would throw a hysterical fit, but I suppressed the urge to stand up and smiled at Matthew instead, saying it was a great idea. Since I didn't kick up a fuss, Matthew looked pleased. He promised to cut off contact with Angela after she gave birth to the baby and said the baby would only see me as his mother. Yet, he had no idea that my legs had already healed completely and that I had been accepted into the Regal Dance Company. Besides, I wanted nothing to do with him anymore. After agreeing to accept the baby, I pretended to feel unwell and wheeled myself out of the private room. The moment I left, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. "Ange, that was bold of you. Everyone knows just how possessive Renee is when it comes to Matthew." "You too, Matthew. Those words cut straight to the heart. Aren't you afraid Renee will break up with you?" Someone replied flippantly, "Ha! Do you think Renee is still the star of the dance company? After the accident, she's crippled and useless. She has to rely on Matthew for everything. If she ever mentions breaking up with him, I swear I'll eat crap!" Hearing that, everyone burst into laughter. It turned out that the members who once trained and struggled alongside me all knew that Matthew had been cheating on me with Angela. Behind my back, they treated me like a fool and mocked me endlessly. Matthew nodded. "Besides, since Renee can't have children anymore, I have to do this to carry on the family line. She really should be thanking Ange for this." He added, "Right after Renee's accident, I still felt sorry for her. As time went on, touching her limp legs filled me with disgust. It felt like sleeping with a corpse. Still, I had no choice since she did save me." The private room buzzed with chatter. Outside, I forced a bitter smile. Disgusted? If it hadn't been for Matthew, would I have almost ended up paralyzed? One year ago, Matthew and I had been performing in a stage play when a gigantic sign hanging from above suddenly came crashing down toward him. I pushed him out of the way without hesitation, but the hanging sign struck my legs. When I regained consciousness again, Matthew knelt by my hospital bed, swearing he would take care of me for the rest of my life. I took his word for it, but he gradually grew to resent me and started refusing to massage my legs daily. I could only hunch over and massage my own legs, and by the time I finished, I would be drenched in sweat. Even though I tried my best not to become his burden, we gradually drifted apart. All I could do was watch helplessly as Angela took my place as his female lead, laughing and sharing joyful moments with him. When I felt wronged, Matthew merely grew irritated. "Can't you be as generous and kind as Ange? You're crippled now, so you can't perform on stage. Do you want me to do the same? If I'd known that you'd act this way, I would've rather gotten struck by the sign myself!" After hearing him say that, I felt as though our relationship was nearing its end. It just so happened that a doctor at a rehabilitation center abroad saw my case and told me that he could help me stand again. Without further hesitation, I bought a ticket and left the country. After I went abroad, Matthew didn't want me to worry, so he called me every day and showered me with concern. He even promised to propose to me the moment I returned to the country. I kept the good news that I could stand again to myself, planning to surprise him during his proposal. Yet, I was greeted by the news that Angela was pregnant with his baby. Hearing how self-righteous he sounded, I was utterly disappointed. Perhaps he saw me as a cripple who had lost all confidence. It seemed like he thought I had to swallow my grievances, no matter how he humiliated me. After heading back home, I discovered everything had changed. The equipment I used for my rehabilitation had all turned into toys and clothes bought specially for Angela's unborn baby. The wedding photo I took with Matthew had also disappeared, replaced by a photo wall filled with his selfies with Angela. I recalled how I sweated profusely during my rehabilitation, all just so I could stand on my own and be his partner again. Now I felt utterly ridiculous. My hands were trembling as I texted the Regal Dance Company, agreeing to head abroad to join them. The other party was taken aback as they replied, "Didn't you say you were heading back home to marry your boyfriend? We thought you wanted to perform stage plays with him for the rest of your life instead of pursuing a career abroad? What happened? Are you not getting married anymore?" I flashed a mocking smile. It wasn't me who didn't want to get married, but someone else. I merely replied, "No. Our relationship is over, so we're not getting married." I then texted my resignation to my current dance company. Right as I sent the text, Matthew and Angela came in. "Why didn't you answer my calls when you were at home? You've already agreed to accept the baby, so why are you throwing a tantrum?" Angela stood behind Matthew, looking meek as though I were some evil person. "Renee, it's fine if you hate me, but the baby is innocent. Don't you worry. Once the baby is born, I won't be in your way." They really did take me for a fool. I looked away and responded calmly, "My phone is on silent mode. I didn't know you called." Matthew was about to say something when he caught a glance at my phone screen. The person in charge of the ballet company had texted me. "Welcome to the Regal Dance Company." Matthew froze. "What dance company? Have your legs recovered?" Matthew gazed at my legs inquiringly. I locked my phone and replied calmly, "It's nothing. Just a junior was asking me how the dance company recruits dancers. That's all." I then glanced at Angela's flat tummy. "How many months are you along?" "Two months. It's still within the risky period. Matthew and I tried for six months before I got pregnant with this baby," Angela told me, her face glowing with sweetness. Inwardly, I laughed coldly. It seemed they had actually gotten together the moment I went abroad. Matthew hurriedly explained, "After you went abroad, it was Ange who kept me company. She deserves the credit. When she found out that you can't have children, she volunteered to give us a baby, partly to deal with my parents looking down on you and partly to ensure you'll be cared for in your old age." He stroked Angela's tummy adoringly and stared at me. "You're getting a son without even doing anything. Aren't you happy about that?" I murmured in response, giving no clear answer. Stepping forward, Matthew picked me up and placed me on the couch. He then pulled out the ring and slid it onto my ring finger. "That's enough. I know you're still jealous. After the baby is born, I'll give Ange some money and tell her to leave. With our son there, my mom won't think you're a burden anymore. That way, we can finally get married." When Matthew used to say this before, I really believed that he was considering our future. After all, with my disability, it would be challenging for him to marry me. Yet now, the ring on my finger felt like it was digging into my flesh, sending a sharp jolt of pain through me. When I said nothing, Matthew assumed I was appeased. "That's it, then. I need to take Ange to the hospital for her prenatal checkup. I can't be careless since it's our son, right? We'll go over the wedding details when I'm back." He put an arm around Angela's shoulders, and they left in a rush. Watching their matching figures walk away, I slowly stood up. There was no future for Matthew and me anymore, so there was no need to discuss the wedding. With that thought, I started packing my belongings. The next second, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Angela, who said, "I had no idea a cripple like you could be this rich. Thank you for sponsoring the candlelit dinner I'll enjoy with Matthew tonight!" At the same time, a notification popped up from my bank card—over 20 thousand dollars had been deducted. The latest transaction was from the wedding fund I had been saving. My heart sank as I quickly checked my transaction records. I realized that during the year I was abroad, Matthew had been using my card and funds for all sorts of expenses—couples' meals, women's clothing stores, jewelry stores, couple photoshoots, hotels, and intimate lingerie, among others. During our five years together, the most expensive gift he had given me was a pair of travel tickets, which was a benefit given by our dance company. I recalled how I had insisted on doing menial work at the dance company so I wouldn't become a burden for him. Every time I needed his help to go to the bathroom or massage my legs, he would ask for money in return for his service. Once, I had discovered that he had used the fund without telling me. When I asked him about it, he claimed he had taken the money to start a business. "I'm doing this for our future. You can't earn money because of your disability, and I can't perform on stage forever. If I don't find a way to make money now, what will we do in the future?" I had no words and could only pray that he succeeded in starting his business. Starting a business? For our future? It was all utter bullshit. He was just using me as an ATM to please Angela! Without hesitation, I froze the account. Right after I froze it, I got a call from Matthew. "Did you freeze the fund?" he demanded directly. I retorted, "Didn't you say your business was making money and you won't be using the fund anymore?" Matthew choked on his words. Before, I had never kept track of such things with him. Compared to money, I cared more about him. From the other end of the line came Angela's pretentious voice. "Forget it, Matthew. I don't need this diamond bracelet." "No, you look pretty wearing this. We have to buy it," Matthew replied firmly. He then walked aside and started persuading me, "Renee, I know you're still jealous that I kept the pregnancy from you, but the baby is yours. How could you be this stingy toward your baby?" He then added, "The baby may not be growing in your belly, but you still have to step up as a mother by taking responsibility and caring for them. Even if the child stumbles upon the truth later on, they won't blame you. They'll still love and look after you. Now unfreeze the account, or I'm really going to be angry." Afraid that I would argue, Matthew quickly ended the call. Ever since the accident, the moment he so much as mentioned getting angry, I would lose all composure and obey him without question. I was terrified he would dump me, a cripple who had nothing. Now, I merely found his actions ridiculous. Soon, I saw Angela's post on Instagram, with the caption reading, "Today, both the big and the little babies had their tummies filled." In the photo, she and Matthew were snapping a mirror selfie at the hotel. One of Matthew's hands was resting on her belly, and the other was stroking her head. I let out a mocking laugh. Was this supposed to be a prenatal checkup? Was he doing this for our future? Right then, I was notified that my resignation was approved. After packing up, I headed to the dance company to pick up my stuff that I had left behind before. When I got there, I realized that Matthew had called me a few times, asking me to unfreeze the account. Since I hadn't answered the calls, he had started texting me, scolding me for being heartless and ignoring the baby. How absurd! The baby wasn't even mine. I kept a low profile and headed toward my locker. I ran into Matthew with his arm draped around Angela's shoulders. Everyone crowded around them, offering their congratulations. "Ange is only two months along, and her pregnancy isn't stable yet. Matthew, you shouldn't overdo it." Blushing shyly, Angela buried herself in his arms. Matthew chuckled before sighing. "I can't bear to see Ange go on stage and wear herself out again, but the dance company is about to go on tour. "If it had been before, at least she would have had someone to share the burden with. But now, I have to see if there's another suitable female partner." That "someone" he referred to was me. From the moment Matthew pulled strings to bring Angela into the dance company as an exception, he kept using the excuse that she was his mentor's daughter to push all kinds of troublesome tasks onto me. At first, he would give me massages and praise me for being considerate. Over time, though, he had started taking Angela's side instead. He would accuse me of sabotaging her and not allowing her to go on stage because I was jealous of her youth and looks. With Matthew and Angela spreading rumors every day, the members of the dance company came to believe I was terrible and had malicious intentions. If it hadn't been for my skills, I probably would've been forced out of the dance company long before the accident. After grabbing my stuff, I turned and was about to leave when I heard my colleague congratulating Matthew and Angela. "You two should've gotten together long ago. Matthew, your talent speaks for itself. No matter how talented Renee once was, she's now a cripple and doesn't deserve you. Angela is your perfect match." How ironic. Back when I first started dating Matthew, he was an outcast who had been rejected by other dance companies for failing to meet professional standards. Meanwhile, I had already made a name for myself after a few tour performances. I was the one who convinced our company director, Timothy Grafen, to bring Matthew on board, and he was only able to become my dance partner because I had insisted on it. I was also the one who, slowly but surely, performed hard show after show on tours to help shape him into the dancer he was today. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't even spare him a look. Holding my stuff, I made my way to Timothy's office. Timothy was happy for me, but he also felt sorry to see me leave. "Does Matthew know that your legs have recovered?"