Chapter Seven: The Saint's Final Act

My victory drove Bianca into a final frenzy. She understood her standing within the family would never be the same. Her only weapons now were the remnants of “love” and “guilt” lingering in her parents' and Leo's hearts. She orchestrated the skyscraper “rescue” drama herself, staking everything on her paralysis below the waist—a desperate gamble. She won. She became the center of the family's attention once more, showered with double the affection. Leo, in particular, revered her as the saint who risked her life to save him, obeying her every word and becoming almost her puppet. I watched it all unfold, my heart utterly unmoved. At the family dinner, I “guiltily” proposed installing the best surveillance and alarm systems for Bianca, personally selecting an “absolutely reliable” caregiver to attend to her around the clock. This caregiver, whom I found on the streets, was a genuine mute—and a master hypnotist. My orders were simple: Each day, using drugs and psychological suggestion, im