Brad had always wanted to climb the snowy mountains.

The Simpson family had typically turned a blind eye to his antics over the years, as long as he came back safe and sound.

But when Kori suggested they venture to an undeveloped snow-capped mountain without a guide, it crossed a line for the Simpson family, and they outright refused.

Brad tried every possible way and finally sought Bella's help.

Bella, however, was not inclined to agree. She was unaccustomed to hardship. Extreme sports were out of the question for her. She would have the butler meticulously plan even simple trips, leaving her unruffled in her travels.

Bella and Brad often clashed over such matters. Now that Bella had agreed, Brad was overjoyed to use her name to persuade the family. Martin was skeptical but eventually relented, for Bella's sake.

Bella was uneasy about the journey before setting off. Despite her thorough preparations, something went wrong during the actual climb.

Bella experienced severe altitude sickness.

Her face flushed red, and she was so dizzy that she could barely see the path ahead. Her breathing became increasingly labored. She couldn't take it anymore and clutched at Brad's sleeve. "I... I need to go down... I think I'm suffering altitude sickness..."

Brad's expression changed instantly. He held her tightly and said anxiously, "I'll call for help with the satellite phone and have someone come up for you..."

"No way!" Cory snatched the phone from his hand before he could even dial.

She frowned and said unhappily, "Your grandfather barely agreed to let you go. If he finds out something happened to her, he'll definitely make a big deal out of it and might even drag you down, too. Do you still want to reach the summit?"

Brad hesitated.

"Besides," Kori glanced disdainfully at Bella and continued, "it's just altitude sickness. It won't kill her. She's too weak to follow us. Should we jeopardize the whole team for her, one sheltered woman?"

Kori grew increasingly agitated. She glared at Brad and added, "I told you from the start not to bring this burden. If you keep this up, we won't take you on the next adventure."

Brad's face immediately fell. "No way."

He forcefully picked up Bella, who was slumped over, trying to drag her up the mountain. "Bella, just hold on a little longer..."

Bella's face was ashen. Her breath felt like knives slicing through her nose, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth.

"Why not let Miss Shaw wait here?" Kori suddenly suggested, interrupting Brad's actions. "It's not as cold here as the summit, and she has plenty of gear. Waiting for a few hours won't hurt her."

Bella looked at Kori in disbelief.

They asked her to stay there for a few hours in the snow with altitude sickness. And she was an inexperienced novice. It was practically a death sentence.

Desperately, Bella fumbled for the satellite phone in her backpack. Her only hope was self-rescue.

But as soon as she took it out, Kori kicked it into the icy lake.

"No..." Bella cried out.

Kori sneered, "Miss Shaw, I'm sorry, but we won't let you ruin our plans before we reach the summit."

Anger surged through Bella. Her heart pounded furiously. She struggled to turn to Brad, and her words came out in broken gasps. "I'll... explain to them... won't disrupt your... plans... but I really need... to go down... please..."

By the end, Bella was practically on her knees, pleading with Brad.

Brad couldn't bear it any longer and turned away. He walked off in another direction. "Settle Bella in. I'll wait for you at the pines up the mountain."

As he left, Bella's last glimmer of hope vanished.

Kori stepped closer and crouched down to mockingly whisper in Bella's ear, "You loser, what makes you think you deserve to marry Brad?"

Bella's breathing grew more labored. She was too weak to respond to Kori's taunts. "The best end for you is to die quietly, saving Brad and me from unnecessary hassle."

Kori stood, looked down at Bella with cold disdain, and said to her friends, "She's not consuming anything as she just rests here. Take all her supplies away. We shouldn't waste anything."

Bella leaned against a tree weakly. She helplessly watched as Kori and her friends took all her food and emergency supplies. They didn't even leave a single energy bar.

"She doesn't need so many oxygen tanks. Leave the one she's using. Let's take the rest with us."

One of her friends hesitated. "But Miss Shaw has altitude sickness..."

"She's not suffering altitude sickness. It's just an act. She can argue back with such vigor. Take them all. Avoid waste."

Soon, Bella was left with just her cold-weather gear, slumped against a tree.

Kori was about to leave, but she suddenly paused. She returned to Bella with a smile. "The summit is much colder. I don't have many clothes, so why not lend me your cold-weather gear?"

Under the intense effects of altitude sickness, Bella didn't even have the strength to call for help.

After Kori left with her friends, there was only Bella left in the cold place.

Her outer coat had been violently stripped away, and the thin layer underneath was instantly robbed of all warmth.

Her exposed limbs quickly lost heat, and soon she began to lose feeling in them.

Bella grew conscious, with the cold wind slicing at her like knives.

No. She couldn't just sit there for death.

In a few hours, she would surely die.

She struggled to turn her head and saw the satellite phone that had been kicked away. It hadn't fallen into the water but had instead landed on a block of ice.

In what seemed like a last burst of strength before death, Bella crawled to the lake's edge and reached out for the satellite phone.

Thankfully, luck was on her side. She took it in her trembling hands. As her vision blurred, she managed to dial an emergency number.

"Help... me..." she whispered.

But before she could finish, her hand slipped, and she fell into the bottomless, icy lake along with the phone.

When Bella awoke again, it was five days later.

From Juliana's explanation, Bella learned about what had happened after she passed out.

She had just set out for the snowy mountain when her brother, James Shaw, who had just returned to the country. As soon as he received the news, he rushed to the mountain in a frenzy.

Fortunately, he was there. Upon receiving the distress call, he immediately dispatched a helicopter to search the mountain.

When they found Bella, she was submerged at the lake's bottom, barely alive.

She was resuscitated for 12 hours, receiving multiple critical condition alerts.

Martin was furious. He whipped Brad severely and forced him to be on his knees at the hospital room door to pray for Bella's recovery.

Juliana sighed, "Brad must have been bewitched by Kori. Even when he was on his knees at the door, he kept defending her, insisting that it was an accident due to your inexperience..."

"Juliana." Bella quietly interrupted her complaints. "Is there something wrong with my legs?"

Since waking up, Bella could feel that her legs seemed completely numb.

Juliana's face froze, and she dared not speak.

Her silence confirmed Bella's worst fears. She seemed to have been struck by lightning.

She had learned classical dance since childhood, and she joined the prestigious national dance troupe at ten. She dreamed of performing at Vienna's Golden Hall. How could she lose her legs?

"The doctor says the frostbite is severe and has damaged the tendons and nerves in your legs. They might not be able to recover for some time..." Seeing Bella's tearful face, Juliana quickly reassured her. "Don't worry. James has gone abroad to find the best doctor. It's said that the doctor specializes in treating frostbite. As long as you take good care of your legs, there's hope."

Bella let out a sigh of relief. She gently touched her legs and couldn't imagine how devastated she would be if she could never dance again.

Perhaps because of the mess Brad had made this time, the Simpson family covered all expenses during her recovery. They even brought a lot of expensive supplements to her hospital room.

Brad visited Bella on the sixth day after Bella woke up.

His injuries hadn't healed. He grimaced in pain as he sat down. But he still tried to reach for Bella's hand. "Bella, I'm sorry for what you've been through. I'll be more careful next time..."

But before he could touch her fingers, Bella expressionlessly moved her hand away. "There won't be a next time."

Brad's smile froze. "Come on. Don't be mad. Kori was careless this time. She thought you were faking your altitude sickness to slack off and wanted to go down early. You're generous. Please don't hold it against her. She's just immature..."

He was clearly showing blatant favoritism towards Kori.

He didn't even make a sincere apology or explain why Bella had been left on the mountain alone.

He seemed to be certain that Bella wouldn't be angry with him. He spoke as casually as if they were discussing the weather.

Bella suddenly found it absurd. "Do you know that I almost died?"

Brad paused and then grinned. "But you didn't, right? Stop jinxing yourself. Okay, okay, I know you're upset. I'll make it up to you later."

Seeing Bella remain silent, he assumed she agreed with his request and leaned in with a smile. "But you have to put in a good word for me with Grandpa. He's furious because of you and says I can't go out with Kori anymore. This whole thing started because of you, so you have to help me fix it..."

Bella stared at Brad in disbelief. She couldn't believe he could say such things.

"Brad, Kori abandoned me halfway up the mountain. She even took all my supplies and stripped me of my winter clothes. I'm lying here because of her, and you want me to speak for her?" Bella let out a cold laugh. "Sorry, but I can't do that. And don't drag me into your extreme sports anymore. I can't afford to risk my life."

Brad froze.

Bella had always spoken to him with gentle and accommodating words, going along with his every wish. No matter how serious his mistakes were, the mere semblance of an apology from him would be enough for her to meekly make amends.

It was the first time she had spoken to him so coldly.

Brad believed that he had already humbled himself. He had felt disgruntled by Martin's scolding before. So his anger flared. "Fine. You just don't like Kori, don't you? You make it sound all high and mighty. Aren't you just jealous and deliberately picking on Kori?

He sneered, "If it weren't for the arranged marriage between our families, I would never be so patient with you, such a pampered woman."

As Brad stormed out, Bella found herself questioning for the first time whether the marriage between the two families is really necessary.

In the parking lot, Brad was still angry and slammed his fist on the steering wheel. "I should have listened to you and not gone to apologize. I just set myself up for more frustration. She's really being pampered too much."

Kori, sitting beside him, quickly chimed in, "I told you that she's just playing mind games and deliberately putting on airs. If you don't set the rules now, I'm sure that she'll have you wrapped around her finger after you get married to her."

Brad paused and turned to look at Kori. "So, what are you suggesting?"

Kori masked the fleeting satisfaction in her eyes with a concerned expression. "I heard Miss Shaw's legs can't move now. I have an idea that can both treat her legs and curb her spoiled behavior."

Brad's eyes lit up. "Alright. I'll go with your plan."

Meanwhile, Bella hesitated but eventually told Juliana about her intention to break off the engagement after Brad left.

It caused quite a stir. Several elders from the Simpson family visited Bella in the hospital room. They showed great deference and expressed concern for Bella.

Juliana held Bella's hand and gently dissuaded her. "Brad was indeed out of line this time, but he truly cares for you. Considering the history you have had, please think it over."

After much deliberation, Bella found herself wavering.

Juliana was right. She and Brad shared a wonderful and sweet past.

Before Kori's appearance, even though they had different personalities and interests, they always managed to compromise for each other and maintain harmony in their relationship.

Although he was sharp-tongued and harsh, he was attentive to Bella.

He remembered all of Bella's preferences. As long as she mentioned a popular dessert in front of him, it would appear on her desk the next day.

For her piano recitals, he would arrange the most lavish flower tributes; he sponsored every performance of her dance troupe, and on her coming-of-age birthday, he even arranged a city-wide fireworks display in her honor.

He once went skydiving from the tallest building in Bexwell just to unfurl a specially commissioned support banner for Bella.

"To the future prima ballerina, Bella, happy 18th birthday."

All those memories flooded Bella's mind whenever she closed her eyes.

After a long moment, she sighed deeply and decided to hold on to Brad's rare sincerity.

After Juliana left, Bella took a short nap. She was startled awake by the noise around her.

She found herself tied to a wheelchair, being pushed into a basement by several people.

"Who are you? What are you doing?" Bella's face was full of panic.

The people were surprised by her sudden consciousness. They cursed, "Damn! We didn't use enough sedative. How did she wake up?"

Bella tried to scream for help, but her mouth was gagged. Her eyes were blindfolded, and she was lifted onto the backseat of a car.

When she could see again, she realized she had been brought to a private room in a club.

She was surrounded by a crowd with predatory gazes. Bella shivered with fear.

"Mr. Simpson says there's a million-dollar reward if you can make Miss Shaw's legs feel anything, no matter what method you use."

Bella's eyes widened. "What? No!"

Mr. Simpson?

Was it Brad? Why would he do this? Why would he hurt her in such a way?

Bella was completely panicked and shouted at those people around her, "I won't allow this. I want to see Brad. Let him come to me."

But they ignored her and started to choose their tools in the room.

Some picked up bottles, others skirts, lighters, and even long knives. They looked eager to try them on Bella.

As the crowd closed in, Bella was filled with terror. "I can give you more money. Two million, no... I'll give you five million. Just don't touch my legs."

Yet her desperate cries did nothing to stop those crazy people.

The next moment, a heavy stick struck her calf.

Though she felt no pain, she clearly heard her leg bone breaking.

Bella was utterly in despair. She had never regretted meeting Brad more than at that moment.

When Kori arrived at the private room, Bella lay in the wheelchair, and her tears had long dried.

Kori laughed suddenly. "So much for being the best young woman in Bexwell. You're still defeated by me."

Sensing something, Bella shot a fierce glare at Kori. "You will... get your comeuppance..."

Kori raised her eyebrows. "After I become Mrs. Simpson, Brad will protect me. What can the Shaw family do to me?" After savoring the despair on Bella's face, Kori pulled out a dagger and raised it.

She was about to plunge it into Bella's legs and deliver the final blow when suddenly, the door was kicked open with a splintering crash.

The scene inside the room shocked the few people at the door.

A surge of anger shot through James. He rushed forward and kicked Kori away with a blow to the chest.

Holding Bella in his arms, James was full of guilt. "I'm sorry, Bella, but I was late."

As he was about to leave with Bella, Brad reached the doorway and tried to explain the situation. "James, listen to me. I was trying to treat Bella..."

James kicked Brad hard and sent him crashing into the corridor wall, unable to get up for a while.

With a cold face, he said to the bodyguards beside him, "Break the hands and legs of anyone who laid a hand in this room just now."

Bella leaned against James and watched Brad, who was still worrying about Kori even after taking a hard kick. "James, if you have any issues, come at me. This has nothing to do with Kori..."

Bella was completely disillusioned. She said in a calm tone as she had given up hope, "James, break off the engagement with the Simpson family. From today on, I have nothing to do with Brad anymore."