Sky

“I’ve decided to go get treatment. I’ll show him—Felix means nothing to me.”

“The flight tickets will be ready in two days. We’re happy to have you back.” Dante's voice sounded—firm and convincing.

I hung up the phone and stared at the piece of paper bearing the logo of the best private hospital in the city—a paper that had thrown my emotions into chaos.

For three years, I believed my marriage to Felix was built on love. But in truth, it was just an illusion I created for myself. His temperamental and indifferent behavior—I had blinded myself to the reality of who he truly was.

That night, when Felix didn’t come home, I waited for him in his study. While organizing his scattered documents, I found a folder sticking out of the pile. Something about it caught my eye.

It was a DNA report.

For a moment, I wondered why such an important document was in Felix’s study. Then I read the name written on the paper:

Jayden Moretti.

The boy Felix once brought home with Sofia, his childhood friend. A boy who always looked at me with hatred, like I was some eternal enemy. Everything suddenly made sense.

I had lost.

I was paralyzed. Despised by a child who thought I had stolen his father from his mother. I had been living in a house full of pity and lies because of my disability.

“I don’t care about your condition, Sky. I love you. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”

Those promises Felix once made used to give me confidence. He convinced me that he accepted me for who I was. Foolishly, I believed every word.

But the way he treated Sofia and Jayden was nothing like the way he treated me. Felix’s eyes sparkled when he talked to Jayden—as if he were already stepping into the role of a father.

Once, Jayden even called Felix “Dad.” And Felix didn’t correct him—he smiled, responded warmly. Back then, I thought Felix was only trying to comfort a boy who had lost his father as a baby.

But it had all been an act. He was never that enthusiastic about me. Trying to fix things and make a little family with me. I know, he is not giving up on my fate. He just doesn't want to.

Felix had been toying with our marriage. I refused to be his puppet anymore. I wouldn’t live in their shadows. If Felix never wanted this marriage, then I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken.

**

For the past three years, I had lived on the edge of despair. I never had children with Felix—not because we didn’t try, but because even before we were married, the doctors had diagnosed me with severe uterine damage. Felix never touched me. He said he didn’t want any accidents. It sounded ridiculous... but I convinced myself it was love.

We got married because of an accident.

Three years ago, after returning from a taekwondo championship in Paris, I was in a car crash that nearly ended my life. The doctors said I was paralyzed from the waist down, and that my internal organs had been crushed by the impact. I remember thinking... maybe it would’ve been better if I had died.

I remembered when Felix proposed to me. He kept encouraging me to live, to try. And I did. I supported him through his startup days—through the years of building his business until it became a city-wide empire.

But things changed when she came back.

Sofia. Felix’s childhood friend.

“Was she crippled by fate? Karma always finds cruel people,” were Jayden’s exact words the first time he stepped foot into our home.

He didn’t hate me because I was disabled. He was only protecting his mother. And now, with this DNA report in my hands, the truth was undeniable—Jayden was the son of Felix and Sofia. They had a child out of wedlock.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks—tears I hadn’t realized were falling. I folded the DNA paper and slipped it into my bag. I needed to hear it directly from Felix, even though the paper had already said everything.

That bar downtown—the one people called majestic—I built for Felix using the prize money from my championship and donations from my recovery fund. And yet, all I got in return... was betrayal.

I rolled my wheelchair inside. The bar wasn’t too crowded yet. I headed upstairs, toward Felix’s office.

But when I opened the door... I found Sofia sitting there.

She looked surprised.

“Oh! Hey, Sky. What brings you here?” she asked cheerfully.

I used to see Sofia as a sister. But now that the truth was in my hands, I saw her differently. Her warmth—fake. Her smile—an act.

I stared at her, expressionless. “Do I need a reason to visit my own husband?”

She hesitated. “O-of course not. I just... I’m afraid Felix might get upset that you came without telling him.”

“Is that so?” I smiled bitterly, pushing my chair closer to her. “Or are you worried he’ll be mad because I interrupted your little date?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sky.”

“Stop pretending.” I threw the DNA report in her face.

She flinched, opened it—but I knew she didn’t need to read it. The moment she saw the paper, her expression changed. She let out a soft laugh, like it was all a joke.

“Oh, so you found it? Felix really is sloppy.” She leaned down, bracing herself on my wheelchair armrests. “You’re smart enough to figure it out, Sky. So what do you want me to explain? Do you want me to describe how wild your husband is when he’s on top of me?”

“Shut your mouth!” I clenched my fists, chest rising and falling. I thought I was ready for this confrontation—but clearly, I wasn’t.

Sofia laughed again. She was enjoying this. In her eyes, I was just a helpless rabbit waiting to be devoured.

“Don’t play the victim, Sky. You should know who the real intruder is here.”

“I said shut up!”

I grabbed a beer glass on the table and threw its contents at her. She screamed, shocked. I hadn’t expected it to sting her face.

Her cheek turned red. She stared at me furiously. Then, in a flash, she slapped the glass out of my hand—it shattered on the floor. She picked up a shard... and held it toward me.

“I’ve been patient long enough, Sky. If it weren’t for Felix begging me to stay silent, I would’ve killed you already.”

Her eyes burned. I felt fear for a second.

But then, without warning—Sofia dragged the glass across her own cheek. Blood gushed out instantly.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Moretti! I didn’t mean to upset you!” she screamed, collapsing at my feet, sobbing.

I was still processing what had just happened when the door burst open—Felix. His face red with rage, his eyes sharp and furious. Then he saw Sofia, passed out on the floor, drenched in blood... at my feet.

Sky

“What happened?!”

Felix’s voice thundered across the room. His footsteps rushed toward us before he dropped to his knees to check on Sofia. The redness and the cut on her cheek—Felix turned to me with pure rage in his eyes.

He thought I was the one who did it. I shook my head quickly, tried to back away—but it was too late. His hand lunged forward, grabbing my throat with brutal force. He was trying to kill me.

“How many times have I told you not to come into my office?!” he shouted.

“Felix... I...”

He finally released his grip, letting me gasp for air again. I coughed, my eyes tearing up. But the burn in my throat was nothing compared to the ache in my chest—seeing how gently he cradled Sofia in his arms.

He carried her out of the room. I tried to follow, tried to explain, but the man was consumed by fury.

Felix kicked my wheelchair as I rolled after him. “If anything happens to Sofia, I’ll kill you!”

I collapsed onto the floor in pain. Some of the staff and Felix’s acquaintances on that floor stared at me with pity. Not just for my crippled body—but because my husband cared more about another woman.

One staff member helped me up, assisted me downstairs. I ordered an Uber and went home alone. Silent tears streamed down my face the whole way.

I thought Felix truly cared about me. That he’d take responsibility for my life. But he didn’t even want to hear my explanation. He trusted his childhood friend—who turned out to be his mistress—more than his own wife.

Three years of marriage, and Felix had often ignored me. I always believed he was just busy with his massive business. But now I realized—I’d been fooling myself all along.

I went upstairs to my room. Ever since Sofia came into the picture, Felix had never set foot in my bedroom. He always claimed he got home late while I was asleep and left early before I woke. Now I knew it was just an excuse. I didn’t even know where he spent his nights.

Or maybe… I’d just been too afraid. Afraid that if I pushed too hard, Felix would abandon me—and I’d be left without security.

I opened the wardrobe, slowly folding my clothes into a suitcase. Whether Felix stayed in my life or not, I knew I was already broken. But I wouldn’t let myself rot in misery. If I had to suffer—then they should too.

Just as I reached for another stack of clothes, someone suddenly yanked my hand.

Felix.

His eyes were dark with restrained fury.

“Trying to run away after hurting Sofia? Not a chance.”

I tried to pull away. “Let me go! I didn’t even touch her!”

“Stop defending yourself, Sky. All this time, I saw you as a decent person. But today—you nearly killed someone. Did you do it because of jealousy?”

“Jealousy? I told you, I didn’t—”

“Enough!” he barked. “You’re coming with me. You need to take responsibility.”

“I didn’t do anything! You can’t treat me like this, Felix!”

“Why not? I can do anything to you. Even kill you!”

My mouth dropped open, but Felix didn’t give me a chance to reply. He forcefully pushed my wheelchair toward the elevator and took me downstairs.

In the living room, Sofia sat with her face wrapped in bandages. I squinted. Jayden sat beside her, crying while hugging her tightly. He ran toward me, pointed at my face.

“You tried to kill my mom, you evil woman! So what if your husband cares more about her? My mom did nothing wrong!” Jayden cried.

Sofia tried to calm him down, gently scolding him not to speak to me that way.

“Sky, I’m sorry. It was my fault, and Jay’s too. I hope you won’t kick us out of this house,” she pleaded pitifully.

“Who would dare kick my mom out?!” Jayden interrupted.

“Jay’s right,” Felix added, his gaze directed at me. “If anyone dares to kick them out, it’s them who should leave.”

His meaning was clear. His authority, his warning—don’t mess with Sofia.

I clenched my fists tightly. I saw Sofia’s crooked smile as if to say, “He’s mine now.”

“And you, Sky.” Felix looked at me directly. “From today on, you will serve Sofia and Jayden.”

I stared at him, protesting. “Why should I do that?”

“It’s your punishment for hurting Sofia. Her face is ruined because of your childish tantrum.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You want this cripple to serve your mistress?”

“Shut your mouth, Sky!” His hand slapped across my cheek.

Felix really silenced me. He had choked me, nearly killed me—and now, he slapped me in front of his mistress.

He claimed to love me. But his actions screamed otherwise.

Without another word, I turned my wheelchair back toward my room.

I saw him leave the house with Jayden and Sofia. I didn’t care anymore. But a sudden, sharp pain struck my legs. I called the doctor to come and check.

The doctor said my lower body was permanently paralyzed. But the pain when Felix shoved me out of my chair… It felt too real.

“Ma’am, I’ve examined your legs. I can’t say for sure with the limited equipment we have, but...” The doctor looked hesitant.

“What is it, Dr. Rochelle?”

“I can recommend a hospital with advanced diagnostics. I don’t know why, but I feel like your legs might be treatable.”

I stared at my legs in silence. For the past three years, different doctors have examined me every two months. They always said the same thing—there’s no hope. So why was Dr. Rochelle saying otherwise?

“Ma’am, I understand how you feel. But…”

“I’ll think about it, doctor. Thank you. You may go.”

Dr. Rochelle nodded and left the room. I looked down at my legs again, her words echoing in my head.

From what I overheard during the examination, my bones were still structurally intact—but the nerve signals were gone.

I had done multiple hospital tests. The results were always the same. But now I remembered… all the reports, all the files—Felix kept them. He only told me the results. I never saw the papers for myself.

What if Felix had been hiding something from me?

I had to find out. Something wasn’t right.

Sky

At six in the evening, I sat by the bedroom window overlooking the front yard. Felix’s car pulled into the driveway—he stepped out with Sofia by his side, and Jayden asleep in his arms like a child who felt safe in the embrace of betrayal.

Sofia’s arms were full of paper bags from luxury brands. Brands I used to buy with my own money, but ever since the wedding, I hadn’t worn any of them.

Felix didn’t like me wearing expensive things. Now I knew he simply didn’t want me spending money he had reserved for Sofia.

I didn’t go down to welcome them. Even when Felix entered the room, I remained silent.

“It’s already six. Shouldn’t you have dinner ready by now?” he asked flatly.

I glanced at him briefly. “My legs hurt. Can you just order food for tonight?”

Felix let out a bitter laugh—a laugh that hurt more than his words. “Are you serious? Your legs are numb, Sky. You’re just lying to get out of your responsibilities.”

My hands clenched. In the past, whenever I complained, he’d soothe me with gentle words like, “Everything’s going to be okay.” Now, all I heard were sharp, cruel accusations.

Still, I went downstairs. I cooked. Not because I cared—but because I needed to survive. The kitchen was mine—the only space I still controlled. But lately, Felix preferred Sofia’s cooking, using the excuse that he didn’t want me getting too tired.

An hour later, dinner was nearly ready. I went upstairs to call Felix, passing by Sofia’s room—and that’s when I heard it.

Moans. Shallow breaths.

I froze. My hands tightened on the armrest of my wheelchair. The door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw Sofia sitting on Felix’s lap, his hands trailing along her thigh.

I couldn’t bear to watch any more. They had already confessed everything. I wanted to leave.

But Sofia’s voice stopped me.

“Felix, I can’t take this anymore. When are you going to let Sky go?”

“Be patient, sweetheart,” Felix replied. “I haven’t broken her enough yet. The more she sees us together, the more hopeless she becomes. Once she’s completely crushed, I won’t owe her anything. Not even the slightest bit of affection.”

I stood frozen.

So… the reason he married me wasn’t love. It was to make me suffer. Slowly, methodically.

And I didn’t even know why.

We barely knew each other before marriage. All I knew was that he was one of my fans. That was it.

“You’re right,” Sofia chimed in. “If that cripple loses all hope, she’ll take her own life. You won’t even have to dirty your hands, Felix.”

No more words followed.

Only the revolting sounds of kisses echoing in the room—like the sick rhythm of betrayal.

I rolled my wheelchair away, down to the dining room. I ate alone.

An hour later, they finally came downstairs. Jayden clung to Felix’s arms, glaring at me—as if to say I didn’t deserve to have “his father.”

“I told you to call us when dinner was ready. And you had the audacity to eat alone?” Felix snapped.

I looked at him briefly. “I was hungry.”

Felix opened his mouth, but Sofia spoke first.

“Sorry for making you wait, Sky. Jayden was fussy, and for some reason, only Felix could calm him down. I hope you’re not misunderstanding again.”

I said nothing. I kept eating like no one was sitting across from me.

That made Felix furious.

He grabbed my plate and smashed it to the floor—shards scattering everywhere.

“Sofia is talking! Is this how you show respect?!”

I closed my eyes, trying to keep myself from breaking down. But Felix wasn’t done.

“I’m tired,” I said and wheeled myself away.

But Jayden suddenly leapt from Felix’s arms, ran toward me, and shoved my wheelchair. I fell, my hand landing on a sharp shard of the broken plate—blood starting to drip.

“You think just because you’re the lady of the house you can do whatever you want? Just remember, there’s no such thing as a crippled queen. You never deserved that title!”

Felix and Sofia didn’t react. They just watched… and then walked out of the house, leaving me behind again.

“You’re wrong, Jayden.” I clenched my fist around the glass shard. “I’m not crippled. And I will be a queen—the queen who will punish you all.”

I reached for the phone tucked in the pocket of my wheelchair, and dialed the only person I could still trust.

“I want the divorce papers as soon as possible. File it under the name Alessia “Sky” deLuca,” I said. “And sever all ties with the Moretti family.”