Chapter 3
The massive birthday bash made waves across the entire Chicago metropolitan area.
The sheer extravagance of it was staggering—almost rivaling the engagement party Amelia had planned for us back then.
The only difference was that today's leading man was Bradley Cole.
I stood in the corner of the banquet hall, wearing my waiter's uniform.
I watched as Amelia pulled out the engagement ring—the one worth nearly a million dollars, the one originally meant for me—and let Bradley hold it up for photos in front of the crowd.
When her eyes swept past me, they were gleaming with triumph.
But I just stared numbly at the diamond, calculating that it could cover ten rounds of my adaptive sports rehab.
As the cheering faded into soft background music,
I carefully carried trays of cake and desserts, getting ordered around by the guests.
When the applause broke out, I followed the crowd's gaze.
Bradley had his arm wrapped tightly around Amelia's waist, dancing gracefully in the center of the dance floor.
That scene dragged me back to our graduation day.
Amelia and I had held each other intimately just like that.
She had leaned into my chest and whispered to me:
"Daniel, you're it for me in this life. I only love you. If you ever dare to betray me..."
I had covered her mouth right then, stopping her from finishing the sentence.
The memory stung my eyes.
Just as my vision blurred with tears, someone shoved me hard from behind.
I stumbled forward, losing my balance, and someone else stuck their foot out to trip me.
"Oh my god!"
Terrified screams echoed through the hall.
I crashed heavily into someone.
And the cake I was carrying smashed directly onto Bradley's expensive suit.
I hit the floor, covered in frosting and humiliation.
Out of the corner of my eye, Amelia stopped her steps toward me, turning instead to help Bradley up.
I hid my wrist, which had been sliced open by broken glass, and struggled to push myself up.
Bradley's face was purple with rage, looking like he was about to explode at any second.
He suddenly raised his voice:
"Amelia, the engagement ring you just gave me is gone!"
The lights flared on, and the entire banquet hall erupted into an uproar.
One of Bradley's friends immediately locked a vicious glare on me:
"Did he cause the distraction on purpose so he could swipe your ring?"
As soon as he said it, several others jumped out, pointing their fingers at me.
"I noticed it earlier—he's been staring at that ring the whole time!"
"The banquet hall is huge. How did he just happen to crash into Bradley? It was definitely planned!"
The sudden accusation hit me so hard I was momentarily speechless.
My face flushed red. I waved my hands frantically, my voice stumbling in panic:
"I-I didn't. Somebody tripped me just now..."
Before I could even suggest checking the security cameras, a group of men surrounded me, grabbing my clothes.
"Still lying? Once we strip you down and search you, we'll see how tough you are!"
The thought of my right leg being exposed hit me, and my ears started ringing.
The only person who could prove my innocence right now was Amelia.
I looked at her instinctively.
She saw my bleeding palm. She saw the sheer, desperate begging in my eyes. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face.
But soon, as if remembering something, she replaced it with a mocking smirk.
She stared right at me and mouthed the words:
"Beg me, and I'll help you."
Something inside me finally snapped.
I stopped struggling and said flatly:
"Do whatever you want."
"Wait—"
Amelia bolted upright, looking like she wanted to say something.
But I just lifted my head and gave her a hollow, sarcastic smile.
She froze there, the words dying in her throat.
By then, the men had already dragged me into the hotel restroom.
They slammed me against the mirror, forcibly stripping me to search me.
Pieces of clothing hit the floor one by one.
And with them, my shame and my cowardice seemed to fall away too.
I am an amputee, but I am not a thief.
I'm missing a leg. So what? What is there to be afraid of?
The only ones who should be afraid were these monsters.
I watched their faces in the mirror. Watched the excitement turn to cruel amusement, and then from amusement to absolute shock.
When my prosthetic leg was finally exposed to the harsh light, the blood drained completely from their faces.
"What the fuck! He's a freak!"
They backed away in horror and ran.
I calmly picked up my clothes and put them back on, piece by piece.
But just as I picked up the last piece of clothing, I suddenly heard Amelia's blood-curdling scream:
"Daniel is missing his right leg? Someone tell me what the hell is going on! Why is Daniel missing his right leg?!"