Paralyzed by His Lies

Chapter 3

"Why are you being so dirty-minded? It was a normal medical procedure, you're the one twisting it into something else!"

"How do you expect Sophia to keep working as a doctor after this?"

"Or do you not even want my legs to heal anymore?"

Each word hit harder than the last, slicing into me like a blade.

He was the one who crossed the line, yet somehow, I ended up being the unreasonable one.

Alexander Quinn… is that really how little you think of me?

No wonder you believed I faked being sick just to stop you from finding Isabella that day.

"Apologize to Dr. Sun."

That was it. The final crack. My heart splintered like glass under pressure.

I bit back the tears, straightened up, and bowed toward Sophia.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Sun. I shouldn't have accused you."

Alexander finally looked satisfied. He waved her off, then turned to me with a completely different tone.

"Come here. Let me take care of your foot."

It was only then I realized the bottom of my slipper was soaked red, blood seeping through the white fabric.

He crouched down in front of me, his hands surprisingly gentle as he removed the glass from my foot, like I was something fragile.

It was always like this with him.

Whenever he was angry, I'd get the brunt of it, cold words, cruel silence, like I meant nothing.

But when I pulled away, when I started to leave, he'd throw me just enough kindness to make me stay.

I looked down at him, at his careful expression, and thought bitterly:

I'm done falling for your scraps, Alexander. Your sweet gestures mean nothing when they come soaked in pain.

Because of the injury, I was stuck in my room for most of the day.

Then came the knock.

It was the housekeeper. And behind him stood Sophia, smug as ever.

"Miss Lucy," he said, "the young master asked that you switch rooms with Dr. Sun. It'll be more convenient for her to treat him."

"I'll need all the furniture in here replaced too," Sophia added. "I'm a germaphobe. I can't use things other people have touched."

So I moved. To the smallest, coldest room at the end of the hall.

And as I unpacked, I made a decision.

I gathered everything Alexander had ever given me, every letter, every trinket, every reminder of what we used to be, and tossed it all into the fire pit in the backyard.

The flames licked higher and higher, swallowing it all. Watching it burn felt... freeing.

Like I was finally letting go.

"What are you burning?" came Alexander's voice from behind me.

I didn't even flinch. "Nothing important. Just things I don't need anymore."

The forecast said it'd rain today.

They were right.

The storm rolled in by afternoon, fat raindrops tapping against the window like a warning.

Sophia and Alexander had left early that morning.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. Waiting. Like I always did.

Then, on the 99th ring, just like always, it came.

"Lucy! Hurry, bring Mr. Quinn his medicine! We're at 35 Raven Road!"

I could hear Alexander's voice in the background, groaning in pain.

I let out a slow breath. My fingers tightened around the phone.

"I'll be there soon," I said softly.

The rain outside reminded me of the day Isabella left.

Back then, I'd spent hours in the storm, soaking wet and feverish, helping Alexander search through the grass for the ring he dropped for her.

And now? I was walking right into a trap he'd set up to punish me.

Meanwhile, Alexander was relaxing at a private lounge, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

Sophia leaned in close, but he shoved her off with an annoyed grunt.

"Don't touch me. She wouldn't act like that."

Sophia's face twisted with embarrassment, pulling back stiffly.

Lucas, trying to lighten the mood, laughed. "Relax, man. I planned something big this time. After tonight, Lucy's gonna regret ever getting in your way."

"The guys I hired? The best at what they do."

Then, more seriously, he asked, "But what about afterward? What do you plan to do with her?"

Alexander didn't answer right away. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching it catch the light.

The whole room went silent.

Finally, in a flat voice, he said, "Once tonight's over... I don't want to see her ever again."

Lucas let out a low whistle, then leaned back, relieved.