Ever since my hands were crippled, I had endured moments far more helpless than this.

I had once saved drowning kids with my hands. That had earned me a civic bravery award.

I had once won swimming championships. With the prize money, I had bought the engagement ring and slipped it onto Sophia’s finger.

But at this moment, I was drowning, and I could not hold on to anything with my hands.

When Sophia realized my struggle was not an act, she reluctantly reached out to help me.

Her hand settled on my shoulder and helped me steady my balance.

When I had first arrived at the Lambert family’s house, she had done the same thing. She had sung to me to drive away the nightmares.

Her touch had always been warm and reassuring.

It occurred to me that I had not been this close to her in a very long time.

Just as I found myself lost in the memory, Orlando wrapped one of his arms around her waist.

Sophia’s attention shifted, and her hand slipped away.

I fell back into the fountain.

My back slammed hard into something. The wounds I had been hiding for so long tore open.

Blood billowed through the water like a crimson cloud.

Orlando immediately called for someone to pull me out.

“Sorry, Sophia is a little fastidious about cleanliness. I’ll help.”

He apologized to me many times that day. Yet his gaze held a blatant provocation.

The water gradually washed away the layers of foundation covering my scars. It revealed the ugly needle marks beneath.

Sophia’s face went slack for a moment. Then, she asked in puzzlement, “Benjamin, what happened to you?”

She immediately recognized the puncture marks on my skin.

She had studied in nursing school back then. Identifying the puncture marks had been part of her training.

Later, she worked in a pharmaceutical company. She had encountered severe drug addicts during training as well.

I covered the wounds. I knew there was no hiding from her anymore.

I forced a careless smile.

“After I sold you off, I ended up with a lot of money. I had nowhere worthwhile to spend it, so this is what happened…”

Slap!

A sharp slap landed across my face.

Tears filled Sophia’s eyes as she struck me in a fury.

“How could you do this to yourself? Have you forgotten how my parents died?

“I actually felt sorry for you! I even asked Orlando to find you a job! I’m such an idiot!”

Tears streamed down her face.

She turned around and ran away.

I stood frozen in place. I felt as though a thousand blades were piercing my heart.

She still cared about me.

After Sophia left, Orlando’s gaze turned icy.

He said with deliberate calm, “That girlfriend of yours isn’t too bad. Hand her over to me to be my lover. I’ll make sure your drug record disappears.

“After all, narcotics cops are going to become obsolete sooner or later. You might as well start looking for another way out.

“What do you think? It sounds like a pretty good deal, doesn’t it?”

He took out a hand-rolled cigarette from a cigar case.

As the smoke drifted toward me, the pungent scent hit me instantly.

I was puzzled.

“Is that marijuana?”

Orlando rotated the cigarette between his fingers. He smiled coldly.

I looked around the venue and saw the wedding gifts for the guests. All the gifts contained matching custom cigars.

I was in shock. The next moment, anger surged through me.

I kicked him hard toward the floor.

I was about to call the police when Sophia let out a scream and pushed me away.

My head slammed into a marble sculpture. Pain exploded through my body.

I could not care less about my bloodied forehead as I asked her anxiously, “Did you smoke the cigar? It contains drugs…”

Sophia did not answer me. She coldly called for the police.

“Yes. I’d like to report an assault.”

After that, she rose and looked at me with utter disgust.

“He would never do something like that. Who are you to sit there and judge him from your moral high ground?

“Look at yourself! Do you honestly think you’re honoring the sacrifice my parents made when they saved you?”

At that moment, I was broken beyond recognition.

My body felt like a bundle of rotting straw.

Blood poured from my mouth and nose. I was bleeding profusely.

My lips parted, but no words came out. I wanted to say one last thing to her.

She was already getting into the ambulance with Orlando, who was not even injured that badly.

From afar, the children who had been rehearsing came running to me.

Through tears, they called my name.

“Uncle Ben…”

The sound of approaching sirens filled my ears.

I held the cigar tightly in my hand before closing my eyes.