Chapter 6

Helena's face twisted with anger as I hit a nerve. She kicked my wheelchair hard, sending it jolting. She spat,"What do you have to be proud of, you useless cripple? Mom and Dad destroyed the evidence. No matter how smug you act, you can't touch me!" Then, she aggressively pushed my wheelchair toward the pool. When we reached the edge, she smirked, "I'll show you who they really care about!" With that, she shoved the wheelchair, and we both tumbled into the pool. The icy water rushed over me, filling my nose and mouth. I struggled to breathe, my arms flailing as I sank. "Darling!" "Sweetheart!" Bowen and my parents rushed toward the pool in a panic. Bowen dove in, swimming toward me. I reached out, desperate, but he swam right past me and grabbed Helena instead. My parents pulled her out of the water, frantic. A bitter smile curled at my lips as I let my hand drop. I sank deeper, my vision blurring. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Bowen returned and dragged me to the surface. Helena and I lay side by side on the pool deck, my parents hovering over her, pleading for her to wake up. Slowly, Helena opened her eyes and whispered, "She suddenly accelerated her wheelchair. I tried to save her, but she pulled me in..." The guests murmured among themselves. Someone said, "I heard Helena crashed into her five years ago on her birthday. Maybe seeing all this brought back bad memories. Poor thing." Bowen glanced at me, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. Dad looked terrified while Mom threw herself at me, sobbing. "Mae, why would you do this? We'll take care of you forever!" I watched their performance coldly, bitterness welling up inside me. They had been worried about Helena, yet here they were, putting on a show for the guests. I thought it was truly pathetic. Before leaving, Helena shot me a triumphant look, her eyes filled with mockery. My birthday party ended in chaos, and the family rushed me to the hospital. When the doctor confirmed I was fine, everyone sighed in relief. Helena sent me more messages. Helena: "Did you see that? He saved me first. Even your parents reached out to get me first. If you have half a brain, you'd get it now. After all, we've been a family for much longer. So, tell me, who's the real loser here?" I ignored her, saving the screenshots as evidence. After bringing me home that night, the entire family left to take care of Helena at her villa. I went to the study and printed out all the photos, screenshots, and chat records. I also copied the audio recordings from the hospital onto a USB drive. This was my final gift to them before I left. The next day, they still had not returned. Bowen texted me, saying he and my parents were out shopping for Helena's "death anniversary" and that our butler, Allen, would take care of me. I called Allen and ordered him to pack up and throw away everything Bowen had ever given me. Then, I went back to the study and took down the calligraphy artwork Dad had made for me—"Health". He had made "Family First" for Helena, yet for me, all he could think about was just "Health". The irony was unbearable—he was the one who had taken away my health, ensuring I would never walk again. Furious, I threw the scarf and leg warmers Mom had knitted for me into the fireplace, along with every family photo we had taken over the past ten years. Since I was leaving, I would make sure nothing of me remained in this house. As the flames reduced everything to ashes, I made my final decision.