Three years ago, my life was perfect. My modeling career was soaring, my dreams were within reach. I was about to sign a major contract, becoming the brand ambassador for a renowned company. Then, a car accident changed everything. The brakes failed, and the car plummeted. My career was shattered, and I faced a harsh reality: I was paralyzed from the waist down.

Rehabilitation was brutal. Painful physiotherapy, overwhelming frustration, and a haunting question: "How should I move on with my life?”

Julius, my fiancé, was always there. His proposal amidst my struggles became a media sensation. Everyone praised my good fortune, but only I knew the fight behind it. I underwent therapy in secret, determined to walk again, to be worthy of him.

Miraculously, slowly but surely, I recovered. After three years in a wheelchair, my legs healed, and I could walk again.

Today, exactly one week after Julius returned from filming overseas, I wanted to surprise him.

Overwhelmed with happiness, I prepared everything: a bouquet of flowers, a luxurious watch—a gift from my freelance design work—and a new car, a symbol of my resilience. I wanted to show him I never gave up. I did it all for him.

At the airport, I saw him, his smile, his waves. As I waved back, the smile and wave weren't for me. They were for another woman, standing right in front of me. I turned away, my legs freezing.

They were embracing, their affection blatant. It felt like a slap in the face. My legs were healed, but now my heart was broken. My planned surprise had become a deeper wound. The car and the expensive gifts felt meaningless.

Tears streamed down my face. Today, I felt utterly shattered and weak. Veronica, my replacement model, who I thought was just a coincidence, was now standing beside Julius, their hands intertwined. Their car sped away, and I followed, driven by a terrifying curiosity.

They arrived at a luxurious hotel. The cramped elevator felt like an interrogation room. They stood before me, hand in hand, radiating affection. Veronica's voice, sweet and piercing, said, "Does your fiancé know you're back today?"

Julius nodded nervously. Veronica squeezed his hand, "I don't want to know, just these few hours. You're mine."

Those words pierced me like needles. I looked down, pretending to focus on my phone, my heart pounding. Then, Julius's words, cold and cruel, shattered my remaining hope, stained my pure love. "Don't be upset. The cripple never knows where I am, and she never suspects anything."

"The cripple." That label, uttered so coldly by the man I loved, destroyed my last hope. Veronica laughed cruelly, "Thank you, darling. If you hadn't made her a cripple, I might not have been able to push her out of the modeling world."

My phone almost slipped from my grasp. I flinched. They turned, but quickly ignored me.

"Shh! Don't say anything, darling," Julius whispered, panicked.

"Oops! Forgive me, darling," Veronica feigned embarrassment, her apology laced with coquetry.

The elevator felt suffocating. The journey to the upper floor felt like torture.

The elevator doors finally opened. I deliberately held back, refusing to exit. They disappeared behind the hotel room door. A wicked plan formed in my mind.

Hours passed. I waited, patiently and vengefully. A message from Julius arrived: "Don't wait up, darling. I have a meeting with producer Andrew. Rest. When you wake up, I'll be by your side, holding you. Love you."

That lie felt like another slap. Anger surged. My fists clenched. I walked towards the door, wanting to smash it down. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I turned back, abandoning my urge, deciding to wait for them to come out, with evidence in hand. Evidence that would expose the ugliness behind the sweet smile and proposal of the man I once loved.

Five hours passed—five hours that felt like five centuries. Finally, they emerged. Julius and Veronica, hand in hand, their faces beaming with fake affection. With trembling hands, I activated my phone camera, recording every detail, every touch, every glance of their false love. The perfect moment, the evidence that would destroy them.

Back at home, darkness greeted me. The bouquet of flowers and the luxurious watch—symbols of lies—I rearranged with trembling hands. I decided to pretend to be paralyzed, to pretend to wait for his arrival until I fell asleep. A final act, to trap him and avenge his betrayal.

His footsteps echoed, the lights flickered on, revealing the darkness in the house and in my heart. He approached, kissing my forehead—a touch that once felt warm, now felt repulsive. I smelled his breath, the scent of Veronica's perfume lingered. He looked tired as he went to the bathroom. I quickly wiped my forehead, erasing the trace of his disgusting touch.

As he lay beside me, trying to embrace me, I stretched out my hand, creating a barrier between us. My heart pounded, not with love, but with boiling anger.

The next morning, I woke up first. A fake smile graced my face as I prepared breakfast. Julius hugged me from behind, kissing my neck—a touch I once longed for, now felt like a crawling caterpillar. Disgusting.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked, my voice softened.

He whispered in my ear, his voice laced with regret, "You were sleeping so soundly last night, I didn't dare disturb you, darling." The lie was sweet and sickening.

I looked at him, thanking him for his 'understanding'. "Oh, darling," he said, his voice slightly rushed, "I don't think I can have lunch at home. How about we have dinner at my parents' house?"

"What?" I feigned surprise, my voice rising slightly. "We haven't seen each other or spoken for a week, and now that you're back, you're so busy you don't have time for me?" I emphasized the word 'busy', trying to provoke him.

He leaned in, kissing both my cheeks—a touch that felt cold and empty. "Come on, darling... I'm doing all this for our future. Look, didn't I come straight home to you? Instead of going to my parents' house?" His voice sounded convincing, but his eyes darted away.

"You're the most important person in my life," he added. Ridiculous.

I hugged him tightly, ensuring every movement looked natural. "Forgive me, darling, but... dinner at your parents' house feels excessive. You know your mother doesn't like me?" I added a touch of doubt, to make him more confident in my act.

He stroked my hair, his touch forced. "Darling... don't worry, my mother is like that. It's her birthday tonight, there will be a lot of cameras at my family's house, my mother won't be rude to you, I promise." That last sentence sounded like a veiled threat.

I sighed dramatically, pretending to agree. "Okay." I knew he would play the perfect fiancé in front of the media. And I would be there, following his every plan, waiting for the right moment to expose all the lies.

An hour later, he left. I followed him, my shadow like a ghost trailing him everywhere. My suspicions were confirmed. It wasn't the studio, he was on a date with Veronica at various places. My phone didn't stop recording, every touch, every laugh, every intimate moment became collected evidence.

They returned to the hotel yesterday. This time, I wouldn't just be a spectator and a victim. I would call Felix, my lawyer, the man who had helped me settle debts with major brands, issues that arose after the accident that shattered my life.

Felix's office. He didn't care about my arrival. "You can contact my secretary first, I'm currently—"

I cut him off. "Felix, don't you recognize me?" I removed my hat, face covering, and glasses. I wanted him to see.

He stood up, startled. "You?" His voice was filled with surprise.

I smiled, a smile filled with sorrow and vengeance. "Yes. It's me, the cripple, Lizzy Larson."

"Don't talk like that, Lizzy," he said, his voice full of sympathy. "Tell me, when did your legs heal?" Joy, that's what I saw in his eyes, the expression of joy that I should have received from Julius.

I told him everything: the accident, the betrayal, the struggle, and my plan. I wanted to break up, but the house and shared assets were mine. If I left just like that, wouldn't I be the one who suffered?

Felix thought for a moment, then said, "You can turn the tables. Threaten him with those photos, make him buy them, then transfer all your assets."

I understood. Felix was supporting me to destroy them. I had no proof of who caused the accident. Only a direct confession from Julius and Veronica. That evidence wouldn't be enough in court. But what was wrong with getting revenge in another way?

The plan began. Julius's parents' house, grand and cold, like the heart of Julius's mother who always looked at me with hatred. Camera flashes filled the yard, creating a siege of journalists hungry for sensation. Their questions were like bullets aimed at me.

"Where is Julius Velden? Why are you here alone?" Their voices pierced, sharp like knives.

"Were you invited? Don't Julius's parents dislike you? You're really brave coming here alone like this." They surrounded me, wanting to tear me apart with their insulting questions.

I didn't have time to answer. From a distance, Julius appeared, accompanied by the shadow of Veronica behind him—the woman, with her shimmering blonde hair, sensual red lips, and a gaze filled with veiled contempt, quickly disappeared.

"I'm here, I'm sorry," he said, grabbing the microphone. His voice sounded calm, but his eyes were filled with anger and fear.

The reporters' questions bombarded him. He answered quickly, creating a convincing false story. I just stood there, pretending to be confused, while inside, I enjoyed every second of his panic.

Julius's mother appeared, her voice cold and full of contempt. "She's been disabled for three years, going back and forth isn't difficult for someone like her, you shouldn't make a big deal out of it." Her words were like poison aimed at me.

Julius stopped his mother from speaking. "Mom. Enough, don't go too far." Then, he took my hand, tightly. The cameras captured the moment. When I opened my phone, a headline notification appeared: Julius, a true man who loves his disabled fiancée. My lips curled, this was a perfectly orchestrated play.

The news spread. Julius was praised, I was humiliated. Veronica, with her triumphant smile, watched me from afar, I guessed she was the mastermind behind all this.

Julius's face was tense, like a mask hiding a lie. From a distance, Veronica quickly disappeared into the shadows, like a snake escaping after injecting its poison.

Julius pushed my wheelchair into the house. The guests gathered, staring at me with sharp, contemptuous gazes, while Julius pretended to be sympathetic.

Whispers pierced my ears, sharper and more painful. "Poor Julius, that woman is truly selfish!" "She should know her place and leave! If she truly loved Julius, she wouldn't do this." "She dared to come, even though Mrs. Velden hates her! She's got a thick face!"

I sighed, enduring the pain gnawing at my heart. This humiliation was always there, but tonight, the pain was doubled.

"I want to go to the bathroom," I whispered to Julius, my voice trembling. He left, and I cried my heart out.

In front of the mirror, I wiped away my tears. Then, Veronica appeared, a sinister smile etched on her face. "Oops, sorry. I thought no one was here," she said, her voice mocking.

I remained indifferent, trying to hide my sadness. As I was about to leave and ignore her, she pulled my wheelchair. "Someone like you shouldn't be here, especially since they never accepted you," she sneered, full of hatred.

"What do you mean, Veronica?" I asked, holding back my anger.

Veronica's eyes widened, feigning surprise. "You know me?" she asked, dismissively.

"Of course," I replied sharply.

Veronica's eyes sparkled. "Well, who doesn't know me? Supermodel Veronica Hoffman." Her self-praise. Ridiculous.

"No, not because of that." I retorted, Veronica's eyes widening. "As far as I know, you were the one who stole my last contract?" I sneered.

Veronica's face contorted into something truly repulsive. She laughed, a shrill, fake laugh, a far cry from the graceful image she always projected in public.

"Stole? Come on, look at your condition! Look in the mirror! Are you even worthy of being the face of that brand?" Her eyes were red with anger, and she roughly pushed me, my head hitting the wall. I was in pain, but my heart ached even more.

Outside, Julius pounded on the door. "Darling, are you done? Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Veronica whispered, "Oh, you heard that? Do you know what your fiancé is really like?"

"So what? You want to destroy him? Don't you love him so much?" I whispered back, my eyes narrowed with meaning. Veronica flinched, her hand raised to slap me. I easily blocked her before she could touch me. Suddenly, the door burst open.

Julius appeared, panicked. "Darling, what's going on?!" He saw me, then was startled when he saw Veronica grimace, her hand clutching her cheek. Instantly, anger blazed in his eyes.

"What did you do to her?!" His voice boomed, pulling Veronica into his embrace. He glared at me, filled with hatred.

A charade. That's what I thought. Just now, Veronica was acting like a superhero, now she's transformed into a weak, abused girl. I held back a smile, enjoying her performance.

"Are you okay, Veronica?" Julius asked, his voice soft, but his eyes still fiery. His touch on Veronica was full of concern, I could feel it because that touch used to be for me.

Veronica sobbed, "I just wanted to help her, Julius. But she accused me of stealing her modeling contract and tried to slap me!" She showed her hand. "Look, she grabbed my wrist so hard it hurts!"

I almost burst out laughing. She was a true drama queen.

Julius looked at me with a murderous glare. "You're so strange, Lizzy. Don't blame others for your own failures!" His tone was cold, full of contempt. I knew this was all a trap Veronica set for me.

“I'm sorry, Lizzy, it's all in the past, three years ago, the bad fate that befell you wasn't my fault.” He continued his drama, making me sick.

The guests gathered around, observing the scene with curious gazes, drawing their own false conclusions. They praised Julius's feigned patience and Veronica's fake kindness, while I became the scapegoat for all the chaos.

Then, Julius's mother appeared, embracing and comforting Veronica with excessive, sickening affection. "She's crazy, depressed. Don't take her harsh behavior to heart," she said, her voice filled with hatred.

Veronica, in Mrs. Velden's arms, smiled sinisterly at me. Then, she pretended to protest, "No, Mrs. Velden. I'm sorry, it's my fault the party is disrupted."

Mrs. Velden smiled coldly. "Oh, no, Veronica darling. It's not your fault. And you," her gaze returned to me, sharp and piercing, "you're not burdening my son enough. Now you even dare to embarrass my party! If you're crazy, go to a psychiatrist, don't bother other people!"

Veronica snorted softly, her little laugh was cold and piercing. I stared back at her coldly, she was the woman who had destroyed my career and now was trying to destroy my mental state.

Then, I looked at Mrs. Velden. When I was successful, she was always friendly and affectionate, she also often urged me to become her daughter-in-law soon. Now, after I was paralyzed, her cruel and hypocritical nature was revealed.

"Please, Lizzy, can you stop clinging to my son? I beg you, I will worship you if I have to," Mrs. Velden said, pretending to plead while bowing excessively, a disgusting charade. Julius, with a feigned angry expression, pulled his mother away and slapped my face hard.

All the guests were shocked, Julius's face tensed. He looked at his own hand, the hand that had reflexively hurt me.

I couldn't avoid this humiliation and slap. I wiped the fresh blood flowing from the corner of my lip. "I didn't say anything. You've been begging and insulting me all this time, so why did you slap me?" I asked, my voice high with anger.

"Slap me again if you're not satisfied!" I challenged, with a cold, calculating smile.

"I'm sorry," he replied softly, full of fake regret.

I snorted, my gaze piercing Veronica and Julius. "What are you going to do?" Julius asked, panicked.

With a quick and brutal movement, I slammed my head against the corner of the sink, repeatedly, very hard. Not just a light bump, but a full-fledged blow of anger that made the world spin. It felt like my skull was cracking.

Fresh blood spurted, painting my face with a horrifying, bright red color. I wiped the flowing blood with the back of my hand, my expression remained cold, emotionless. All eyes widened in shock, surprised by my sudden "madness."

"Enough, darling. I'm sorry," Julius yelled, panicked, trying to stop my "madness" which I actually did on purpose so that my heart wouldn't hurt and be so depressed. Right now, I want to die. Desperate.

I looked at him, grinning, letting them imagine my mental instability. Mrs. Velden and Veronica left immediately, avoiding the scandal that would happen if the reporters found out about this.

Mrs. Velden was always known as someone who didn't like our relationship. Imagine if I walked out of her house covered in blood? It would be a sensational headline.

The wound on my forehead was deep enough and needed medical attention. While he went to look for the first aid kit, I quietly left, deliberately passing the journalists waiting outside. They took pictures of my blood-stained face, evidence that would destroy the Velden family's reputation.

In the moments after news of the Velden family's cruel treatment of me went viral, my life changed dramatically. I was no longer just a forgotten disabled woman, but the leading star in a gripping life drama.

My past as a renowned model resurfaced, the accident that robbed me of my mobility was brought to light, and every detail was linked to Mrs. Velden's cruel behavior. The media bombarded me with questions, and she, quickly, was crowned "the worst mother-in-law in the world." The sensation was overwhelming, like a tsunami wiping away everything in its path.

His betrayal made me lose my mind.