But in the background of the call came May's excited voice.

“Reginald, come look at this one. Isn't it beautiful? Do you think it suits me?”

Reginald sounded flustered. He mumbled a few words and hung up in a hurry.

After the call ended, I sat by the window and stared into nothing the whole night.

Reginald didn't come home all night.

Dawn was almost breaking, and he still hadn't come back.

I turned my wheelchair slowly and rolled into the bedroom.

With great effort, I reached the trunk buried at the bottom of everything and opened it.

Inside lay a wedding gown.

The wedding gown I had secretly hidden away.

Reginald had bought it for me.

He always said he'd work himself to the bone to earn the money, that he'd heal my leg.

And on the day I could stand again,

he'd give me a splendid wedding.

So I pressed the gown down at the bottom of the trunk, and I waited, and waited.

Waiting for the day I could stand, so I could put on this gown looking beautiful, and marry Reginald in glory.

But that day would never come for me now.

So with trembling hands, I picked up the scissors.

Again and again.

Until it was shredded to pieces.

“Reginald.”

I said softly, and yet I laughed until the tears came.

“You don't have to be trapped by me. I'm setting you free.”

But I never expected it. The moment I finished cutting the gown apart and threw it in the trash,

Reginald walked in, saw the scene, and his face went dark.

“It was perfectly fine. Why would you cut it to pieces?”

That wedding gown had cost Reginald three months of savings when he bought it.

Bought so I'd have something to hope for, a reason to stand again.

Like a child who'd done something wrong, I bowed my head low.

“Because……there's no use for it anymore.”

“Who says there's no use for it?”

My head snapped up. I stared at him, stunned.

But the next second, Reginald gave my head a helpless little pat.

“I talked it over with May.”

“Going on like this isn't any kind of solution.”

“So I've arranged a blind date for you.”

My mind went blank.

“……A blind date?”

“That's right.”

Reginald's tone was gentle, a rare thing. He said there were plenty of good men out there.

That even though I was disabled, I was still a kindhearted girl, one who deserved to be treated well.

That maybe I'd meet a good man, someone who could take care of me for the rest of my life.

I only listened obediently, and then I nodded.

“I'll do whatever you say.”

“I know Reginald would never do anything to hurt me.”

Reginald smiled, satisfied.

“Priscilla's such a good girl.”

When the neighbors heard that Reginald had arranged a blind date for me, they couldn't stand it, and one after another they came to talk me out of it.

“This is Reginald treating you like dead weight, plain and simple. He's sick of you, that's why he's so set on marrying you off.”

“No wonder he's been getting so close to some other girl lately, making eyes at her.”

“Turns out he's been carrying on an affair!”

“What did he say back then? He said outright he'd care for you like a wife.”

“And now? How can he be such an ungrateful wretch?”

I only shook my head, anxious, trying to explain to them.

“It's not like that.”

“I'm going on the blind date of my own free will.”

“Reginald isn't ungrateful. He's been good to me.”

I pretended not to see the pity in the neighbors' eyes.

I only told myself, in my heart,

that this was already the best outcome there could be.

On the agreed-upon day, Reginald gave me a bath and dressed me in pretty clothes.

Then he took me to the blind date.

“Priscilla, I've lined up ten men for you to meet. Look them over carefully. You're bound to find one you like.”

"I'll be waiting outside."

I clutched the hem of my dress and nodded, nervous, and Reginald walked off, satisfied.

I steeled myself and waited for the men from the date to come in. But I never expected them to have vile intentions toward me.

"Well, well, a little cripple."

"Pretty face, though. Shame she's a broken thing."

"Why don't we sample the goods today and have ourselves some fun."

One filthy hand after another reached out toward me.

A vast terror rose up, threatening to swallow me whole.

"No, stay back, please, I'm begging you..."

I fought with everything I had to get away.

But my wheelchair had been locked, and I couldn't turn it to escape.

Just as they reached out to tear my clothes off,

my hand found the phone beside me, and I called Reginald like a drowning woman grabbing at straw.

The call connected, and Reginald sounded as though he'd knit his brows.

"What is it now?"

"Priscilla, you can't stand it if you go a little while without contacting me, is that it?"

And on the other end came May's voice.

My whole body went rigid. So they were out on a date together.

This call of mine was interrupting them.

But the fear, the terror, spread through every inch of my body.

"Reginald, help me!"

"They're going to..."

"Enough!"

Reginald suddenly flew into a temper.

"I know you don't like that I'm seeing May, but you can't keep trying to control my whole life."

"You did save my life once."

"But that doesn't mean I have to hand over the rest of mine to you."

"If you pull one more of these cheap little stunts to get my attention,"

"believe me, I'll block you and never take your calls again."

Before I could explain or argue back, he hung up first.

Reginald, I'm sorry.

It seems I've disturbed you again.

But this time, I'll show everyone with what I actually do.

Priscilla Fox is no coward.

Even a cripple can protect herself.

Right then, I lifted my eyes, cold, and looked at the men in front of me.

I tightened my grip on the knife hidden behind my back...