From OT To Wheelchair: He Cried When I Boarded Chapter 03

From OT To Wheelchair: He Cried When I Boarded Chapter 03

The moment I spoke, he glanced down at his phone, a smile pulling at his lips.

He suddenly looked up at me.

“What?”

Without waiting for my answer, he waved his hand dismissively.

“Buy whatever. You don’t need to ask. Call it compensation or whatever.”

“Chloe wants to help pick your wedding dress. Come to the bridal shop with me—try them on for her.”

He squeezed my injured wrist, his tone half-threatening, half-coaxing.

“You better make Chloe happy this time. Get her to forgive you, understand?”

“Screw this up and I’ll hand you over to that guy for real.”

He didn’t wait for my answer. He dragged me to the bridal shop.

I wanted to go there anyway to retrieve the heirloom necklace my mother left me, which I had stored there to wear for the wedding.

So I followed him into the car without a word.

Chloe acted just like she did the first time we met, shyly lowering her head.

I tried to find a trace of pride or guilt on her face for framing me, but there was nothing.

She hid behind Julian, pulling at his arm.

“Zoe, I’m sorry. Why are you looking at me like that? Do you… hate me?”

“Zoe Reynolds!” Julian glared at me, squeezing my broken wrist with calculated pressure.

I trembled in pain, biting my lower lip. “No, I don’t.”

Chloe smiled then. “Zoe, let’s go try on dresses.”

The assistant brought out the gown Julian had specially customized for me.

Chloe gasped softly, hugging Julian’s arm.

“Julian, can I try on Zoe’s dress? Please?”

Her eyes turned red.

“I’m ruined now. I’ll probably never get married. This might be my only chance to wear a wedding dress.”

Julian looked at her with such tenderness it hurt to watch.

“Of course.”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with silent warning.

I nodded without a word.

“Really? Thank you, Julian!” She beamed, but then her gaze fell on the necklace displayed next to the dress.

“Julian, that necklace is so beautiful. Can you give it to me?”

I hurried forward and snatched the necklace away.

“No, wait—not this one!”

“Of course. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

Julian reached out his hand to me, cold and expectant. “Hand it over.”

Sharp pain burst through my chest. I bit my lip to suppress the agony.

“Julian, this is all I have left from my mother…”

“So what?” He grabbed my hand and ripped the necklace away.

“You owe Chloe, remember? The necklace is her compensation.”

I begged desperately, reaching for it.

“Julian, do whatever you want to me. I’ll admit to everything, I’ll give her anything—but please, not this!”

Just as my fingers brushed the chain, Chloe screamed and stumbled backward.

“Zoe! Why did you push me?”

“Chloe!” Julian shoved me aside to catch her.

My foot found nothing but air, and I tumbled down the stairs.

My bones felt like they’d been torn apart, the pain so intense my vision went black.

A metallic taste flooded my mouth, and I coughed up dark blood.

I couldn’t hold on any longer. Everything went dark.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

My colleagues surrounded me, their eyes heavy with sorrow.

“Zoe, your pelvis is shattered. We saved your legs, but… you’re paralyzed from the waist down.”

I looked at my lower body, completely numb and still. Grief welled up inside me and I sobbed openly.

Paralyzed. Even if my hand healed, I would never stand at an operating table again.

Hearing me cry, Sarah’s eyes filled with tears too.

“Mr. Sterling is a bastard! Look at you—and he doesn’t even care! That woman twisted her ankle and he called every doctor in to check on her!”

“Zoe, he’s not worth it!”

If she’d said this yesterday, it would have destroyed me.

But now, I was broken beyond repair. Nothing could hurt me anymore.

I wiped my tears and spoke softly.

“Get me my discharge papers.”

The plane left in three hours.

If I left now, I’d just make it.

My toxic connection with Julian had to end.

I took out my phone and sent all the evidence of Chloe framing me to Julian.

That included the lab report proving the ointment was clean.

After sending it, I changed my clothes and sat in the wheelchair, ready to leave.

Just then, the ward door burst open.

Julian rushed in with an unreadable expression and grabbed my wheelchair.

Sarah couldn’t help herself.

“Mr. Sterling! So you finally decided to show up! Do you even know what…”

“I know.”

Julian cut her off.

He sneered. Then he slapped me.