1 Before my grandfather, a titan of industry, passed away, he left behind a strange inheritance: a marriage pact for my sister and me. Now, a veritable army of eighty-eight men, each claiming to be the heir to a fortune, was camped on our doorstep, all eager to fulfill the contract. As the disfavored daughter of the house, my stepmother insisted I choose first. I stood there, overwhelmed and lost, when a line of text suddenly shimmered into existence before my eyes: [Mommy! I’m your baby from the future! Daddy is the one in the wheelchair over in the corner!] [Daddy is the city’s shadow prince, he’s just pretending to be crippled to avoid assassination!] [That guy in the Armani suit your stepsister is eyeing? He’s actually a gambling kingpin who owes billions. Whoever marries him is doomed!] My head snapped up, just in time to see my stepsister, Amber, smugly linking her arm with “Mr. Armani.” With a show of false sympathy, she pushed the man in the wheelchair toward me. “Aurora, dear,” she cooed, her voice dripping with fake pity. “You’re always so slow. This one seems more your speed. A perfect match, really. I won’t even fight you for him.” Watching Amber eagerly sign her marriage contract, a slow smile touched my lips. I turned to my stepmother. “Fine,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll listen to my sister. I’ll marry the cripple.” … I signed my name on the marriage certificate with a flourish and capped the pen. My stepmother, Brenda, dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief in a pathetic display of emotion. “Oh, Aurora, don't think I’m being cruel. The Vance family may be a shadow of its former self, but at least this Maximilian Vance is a man,” she sniffled. “You’ll have a roof over your head, which is better than being a spinster leeching off us. This is all for your own good.” For my good? More like for her precious daughter Amber’s good, kicking me out so Amber could have the entire family fortune to herself. I glanced down at Maximilian, who sat silently in his wheelchair. He wore a simple gray shirt, a thin blanket draped over his knees. His eyes were vacant, a pair of hollowed-out abysses, utterly unmoved by the circus of humiliation swirling around him. Amber sauntered over, clinging to her fiancé, Kevin. “Don’t be too sad, sister.” “Even if your new husband is paralyzed and… you know… useless in bed, he’s not bad to look at. You can keep him at home like a pretty statue. It’ll be nice for you.” She fanned her face with her hand, showing off the massive diamond on her finger. The stone caught the light, fracturing it into a thousand tiny rainbows. “Ugh, what’s that smell in here? It smells so… cheap. Darling,” she whined to Kevin, “it’s your fault for buying me such a massive ring. It must be ten carats! My hand is getting sore just from wearing it.” Kevin puffed out his chest. “Anything for my Amber. Ten carats is nothing. I’d pluck the stars from the sky for you.” He shot a disdainful look in my direction. “Not like some people, who won’t even get a ring from a soda can.” Amber giggled, her eyes sweeping over Maximilian’s empty hands. I was about to fire back when a bold, pink line of text scrolled across my vision: [Mommy! Don’t listen to that arrogant loser! That diamond is just lead glass, a $9.99 special from some knock-off website!] [And to impress that awful auntie, he just secretly used her credit card to put a deposit on the hotel. He’s trying to figure out how to pay it off in installments right now!] I bit back a laugh. Glass. I stared at the so-called “pigeon’s egg” on her finger. “You know, Amber, that’s a very… unique ring. The cut looks a little like… the bottom of a Coke bottle?” Amber’s face froze, then contorted with rage. “What would a pathetic little charity case like you know about anything, Aurora! This is a South African pink diamond!” she shrieked. “You’re just jealous that I’m marrying into real wealth while you’re stuck with a dead-beat cripple!” A flicker of panic crossed Kevin’s eyes. He quickly wrapped an arm around Amber. “Honey, don’t stoop to her level. It’s beneath you. Come on, I’ll take you to that three-star Michelin restaurant you love.” Watching them scurry away, my smile widened. Oh, Amber. I hope you’ve practiced your crying face. You’re going to need it. A hoarse voice broke through my thoughts. “Had enough of a show?” Maximilian had lifted his head. His eyes, no longer vacant, were sharp with scrutiny and scorn. “Regretting it? It’s not too late to tear up the contract.” I walked behind him and took hold of the wheelchair’s handles. “It’s signed and done. I don’t do take-backs, Maximilian. Let’s go. Home.” “Home?” He let out a short, bitter laugh, then fell silent. But then, the humiliation continued. The front door of the mansion had a high threshold, and Maximilian’s wheelchair got stuck. The house staff huddled in the corners, their whispers and stifled giggles like the hissing of snakes. “Look at the cripple. Can’t even get over a doorway. She’s going to be changing his diapers for the rest of her life. How pathetic.” “Well, every pot has its lid. She’s an unwanted reject, he’s a useless cripple. A perfect match.” Maximilian’s hands clenched the armrests, the veins on their backs standing out like ropes of steel, his knuckles turning a bloodless white. His back was ramrod straight, a pillar of pride in a sea of indignity. I took a deep breath, about to lift the chair, when Brenda’s shrill voice cut through the air. “Oh, dear! Still stuck? Aurora, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but bringing such… bad luck through the main entrance will ruin the house’s Feng Shui.” She pointed to a small service door off to the side. “You two can go through there.” “And since the guest rooms on the second floor are being renovated, you can stay in the storage shed out back tonight. It’s small, but it’s quiet.” The storage shed? Not even the lowest-ranking servants stayed there. My gaze turned to ice. “Is this family really so poor it can’t spare a single decent room?” Brenda’s mask of civility finally shattered. She planted her hands on her hips, her voice a raw screech. “If you don’t like it, you can take your cripple and sleep on the street! We’ve fed you for years, not so you could bring home a useless freeloader! Be grateful you have a roof over your head at all!” Suddenly, Maximilian’s hand shot out and clamped around my wrist. His skin was ice-cold. He said only one word. “Go.” I looked at him, and in the depths of his eyes, I saw a storm of fury being ruthlessly suppressed. Fine. If you want to endure this, I’ll endure it with you. For now. But this isn’t over. I’ll get every bit of this back, with interest. I pushed Maximilian around to the back of the house, wrestling the heavy chair into the musty, damp storage shed. The room contained nothing but a rickety wooden cot and piles of junk. After clearing the cot, I turned to Maximilian. He had kept his head down, his silence a heavy, oppressive shroud. “Does your leg hurt?” I asked suddenly. His head snapped up, his eyes sharp as daggers. “Don’t pretend to care. You only married me for whatever ‘inheritance’ you thought was left. Let me tell you, the Vance fortune was picked clean long ago. I don’t have a single penny to my name.” I ignored his tirade and knelt before him, my hands reaching for the hem of his pants. His reaction was violent. He jerked back so hard the wheelchair nearly tipped over. I steadied the chair, placing a firm hand on his knee. “Don’t move. I’m your wife now. Is a little touch really so scandalous?” He froze, all the fight draining out of him. I lifted the blanket and rolled up his pant leg. His leg was pale, almost translucent, the muscle showing slight atrophy. A deep, ugly bruise bloomed across his knee. [Mommy! His leg is killing him! It’s an old injury, and the cold air today made it flare up! Press the pressure point just below his knee, on the outside of his shin! It’ll help with the pain!] Following the instructions, I found the spot on his calf. The muscle beneath my fingers was knotted and tight. He let out a muffled groan, a sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Just breathe,” I said softly, my voice a stark contrast to the firm pressure of my thumbs as I worked the knot. “It might hurt a little at first, but it will feel better.” He grit his teeth, the look in his eyes shifting from hostile suspicion to startled curiosity. After ten minutes, the tight lines around his mouth relaxed, and a bit of color returned to his face. “How did you know to do that?” His voice was still rough, but the icy edge had thawed. “You pick things up. I used to do this for the director at the orphanage all the time.” I stood, patting the dust from my hands, and looked down at him. “Maximilian, since we’re married, let’s be straight with each other.” “I’m not after your money, because I know you don’t have any. But I’m not afraid of a little hardship. As long as I’m around, you won’t starve.” He stared up at me, a complex light swirling in his dark eyes. From the main house, we heard the sound of something crashing, followed by Amber’s breathless moans and Kevin’s slick, coaxing voice. “Babe, this is a multi-million dollar deal. All you have to do is sign as a guarantor, and half of this family’s company shares will be ours.” “But… it’s so much money. Shouldn’t I talk to Mom first?” “Talk to her? What does that old hag know about investing? Besides, this is an inside tip. Don’t you trust me?” “Of course I trust you… Okay, I’ll sign. Just don’t be mad at me…” Listening to the sounds from next door, a cold smirk played on my lips. A guarantor agreement? More like signing her own death warrant. I turned back to find Maximilian watching me, a thoughtful expression on his face. “What? You jealous?” I stepped closer, leaning down and planting my hands on the wheelchair’s armrests, trapping him in my shadow. “Jealous? Of what? That she’s shacking up with a con artist, or that she’s about to be saddled with a nine-figure debt?” I lowered my voice, bringing my lips close to his ear. “Don’t you worry, Maximilian. You may be broke and crippled, but I’ll take care of you.” “You just be a good boy for me, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need.” His pupils dilated, and the tips of his ears turned a faint pink. He turned his head away, breaking the proximity. “You talk a big game,” he scoffed, but there was no bite in it. 2 The next morning, in the grand dining room. The table was laden with a lavish breakfast spread: crystal shrimp dumplings, bird’s nest porridge, French toast. Amber, draped in a silk robe, sat at the head of the table, slathering caviar on her toast. “Oh, look who’s finally awake.” “Sleep well, sister? Kevin and I were… busy… all night. I hope the rats in the shed didn’t chew through your husband’s wheels.” Kevin was on his phone, speaking loudly. “Yes, we have to land that project! Money is no object… What? Mr. Harrison wants to see me? Tell him to get in line. I’m having breakfast with my fiancée.” Hanging up, he looked triumphantly at Brenda. “Don’t you worry, Mom. I’ve already spoken to a few major shareholders. As soon as Amber’s guarantee is processed, we can acquire that downtown property. Our assets will triple, at least!” Brenda’s eyes gleamed with greed as she piled food onto Kevin’s plate. “Oh, my wonderful son-in-law! I knew Amber had a good eye for talent. Unlike some people, who just bring home useless burdens.” Her face soured as she pointed to a corner of the room. “We left you two some breakfast over there.” I pushed Maximilian over, and when I saw what was on the plates, a hot rage surged through me. In a stainless-steel dog bowl sat a moldy bread roll and a bowl of leftover fish soup from the night before. “What is the meaning of this?” I asked, my voice tight with fury. “The meaning? This family doesn’t support freeloaders. That cripple can’t work, so what’s wrong with eating leftovers? The fish soup is good for his bones. Maybe if he drinks enough, he’ll be able to stand up and beg on the street one day.” Amber shrieked with laughter. “Mom, you’re so right! His legs need all the help they can get. Otherwise, he won’t even be able to crawl fast enough to get any handouts.” Snap. Maximilian broke his chopsticks in two. His head was bowed, but a murderous aura radiated from him. He gripped the thin blanket on his lap, his knuckles white. A jolt of alarm went through me. I placed my hand over his. His skin was burning hot, his palm slick with cold sweat. “Don’t,” I whispered. “They’re not worth it.” [LMAO! That competitor he’s trying to crush is actually one of Daddy’s subsidiary companies! That poser couldn't even get past the front gate…] I suppressed a smirk and patted Maximilian’s hand reassuringly before picking up the dog bowl and dumping its contents into the trash can. Brenda leaped to her feet, screeching. “Aurora! What are you doing! You wasteful brat! If you don’t want to eat, then get out!” I calmly wiped my hands with a napkin. “You’re right, I don’t want to eat it. Food that’s not even fit for a pig… you should save it for yourselves. I think Kevin, in particular, could use it to nourish his brain.” My eyes drifted to Kevin’s neck. “That’s a very unique chain, Kevin. Is your neck turning green? I didn’t know gold tarnished these days.” His face paled, and he instinctively covered his neck, his eyes darting away. “What… what do you know! This is artisanal gold! It’s supposed to look like that!” Amber shot him a suspicious glance but was quickly placated. She glared at me. “Aurora, stop trying to stir up trouble!” Kevin quickly changed the subject. “Hey, Mom, to celebrate our big project, how about I treat everyone to a day at my private equestrian club? It’s members-only, very exclusive.” Amber lit up, and Brenda beamed. “Wonderful! My son-in-law is so thoughtful. Aurora, you can come too. You can carry our bags.” I was about to refuse, but then I remembered the pop-up’s intel, and besides, Maximilian could use some fresh air. “Alright. Let’s go see this ‘private club.’” When we arrived, the so-called “private club” was just a public riding stable. A bored employee mechanically checked our tickets. But when his eyes fell on Maximilian, his expression shifted to a strange mix of shock and reverence. The manager started to step forward, but Maximilian shot him a single, glacial look. The manager froze, then bowed his head respectfully and retreated. Amber, now changed into a stunning red riding habit, pointed to a magnificent chestnut stallion. “Care for a race, sister? Loser has to kneel and polish the winner’s boots.” “I don’t know how to ride,” I said flatly. “Tch. I knew it. Useless.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, you just stand there and watch me look fabulous, then.” A stablehand brought over a fiery red mare. The horse was agitated, pawing at the ground and tossing its head. Kevin puffed out his chest. “Amber, my love, this is ‘Wildfire,’ the most valuable horse here. Only for VIP guests. I had them reserve her specially for you.” Amber’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly started to mount the horse. [HIGH ALERT!!! Mommy, stay away from that red horse! It’s a wild mare that hasn’t been properly broken in!...] My blood ran cold. That horse was meant for me. Watching Amber excitedly swing herself into the saddle, a chilling calm settled over me. I took a step forward, feigning admiration. “Wow, she’s beautiful, Amber. You’re such a skilled rider, I’m sure you’ll handle her perfectly. And that red coat matches your outfit so well. You’ll look like a movie star out there.” Amber’s ego swelled. “Obviously! Just watch me, Aurora. And try not to drool.” She brought her riding crop down hard on the mare’s flank. With a piercing whinny, the red horse bolted. 3 The mare hadn’t gone far before she went berserk. She reared up, screaming, then began bucking and spinning wildly, trying to throw the rider from her back. “AHH! Help me! Kevin, help!” Amber’s face was a mask of terror as she clung desperately to the reins. Brenda collapsed on the ground, wailing. “Amber! Somebody save her! What’s wrong with that stupid horse!” Kevin was pale and sweating, but he didn’t dare go near the frantic animal. “If that horse breaks a leg, do you know how much that would cost…” He yelled toward Amber, “I told you to hold on tight! It’s not my fault you’re a terrible rider! Now we’re going to have to pay her medical bills, too.” Amber looked at him in disbelief. “Kevin! Are you serious? I could be dying, and you’re worried about the horse?” The mare gave one last violent buck, launching Amber through the air. She landed with a wet thud in a muddy ditch beside the track. A moment of silence, then Amber’s agonized sobs filled the air. “My face! My back! It hurts so much!” Stablehands rushed over and pulled the mud-caked figure from the ditch. Brenda scrambled to her side, then rounded on Kevin. “What did you do! You said this was the gentlest horse!” Amber’s expensive riding habit was ruined, her face was smeared with mud, and one of her false eyelashes was dangling precariously. She was a pathetic sight. I walked over, my face a mask of concern. “Oh my goodness, Amber, are you okay? You were riding so fast, I thought you were performing a stunt. How did you fall off? I guess the horse wasn’t as impressed with you as you thought.” Amber shoved Brenda away and pointed a trembling, muddy finger at me. “You! It was you! You and your bad luck cursed me! You’re the one who goaded me into riding her!” SMACK! Brenda lunged at me, her hand connecting with my cheek. The sting was sharp and immediate. “You venomous little bitch! How could you be so cruel!” she shrieked. “Just because you can’t ride, you wanted to hurt my Amber! I’ll kill you!” She raised her hand to strike again, but Maximilian’s wheelchair shot forward. He grabbed Brenda’s wrist, his grip like a vice. Brenda howled in pain. “Let go of me! How dare you touch me, you worthless cripple?” Maximilian’s eyes were dark and menacing, a chilling coldness radiating from him. He uttered a single word, his voice low and guttural. “Scum.” Terrified, Brenda stumbled backward. Kevin rushed over. “Hey, who do you think you are? A cripple trying to play hero? You want me to dismantle that little chair of yours?” Maximilian simply turned his head and looked at Kevin. The sheer force of that gaze pinned Kevin in place, silencing him completely. “Fine… fine! Just you wait!” Brenda seethed. “Aurora, you think you’ve grown up, do you? The money for your dead mother’s medical treatments—it’s cut off. As of today, you won’t see another cent! And don’t you dare set foot in the old family home ever again!” The mention of my mother and our old home was a knife to the heart. Brenda helped a whimpering Amber to her feet. “We’re leaving! Let them rot here!” They left in a storm of curses. I touched my swollen cheek and looked at Maximilian. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “Don’t get any ideas,” he said, his voice cold as stone. “She was just being loud.” But I saw his hand, still clenched into a fist. “Aurora,” he said suddenly. “If you don’t have money for your… for the treatments, I…” [Don’t worry, Mommy! It’s a good thing she cut you off! Grandpa saw this coming! The real inheritance is hidden in the attic of the old house, inside a hollow beam!] My heart hammered against my ribs. Grandpa had left me a way out. “Maximilian.” I took a deep breath and grabbed the handles of his wheelchair. “We’re going home. Back to that storage shed.” “What are you going to do?” “I’m going to take back what’s mine. And while I’m at it, I’m going to prepare a little gift for them.” Brenda was true to her word. All my funds were frozen. Under the cover of darkness, I slipped into our old family home. In the attic, tucked inside a hollowed-out crossbeam, I found a rosewood box. Inside was my grandfather’s true will, a collection of priceless antique paintings, and a black Centurion card from a Swiss bank. I took them without a word to anyone, hiding them away and biding my time. Three days later, to celebrate Amber’s “recovery” and to generate buzz for Kevin’s project, Brenda hosted a charity gala. She sent me a gold-leafed invitation. Scrawled in red ink were the words: [Ms. Aurora Sterling is invited to attend with her handicapped dependant. Formal attire required.] In the musty shed, Maximilian stared at the invitation, his eyes dark as ink. He pulled a black card from his wallet and handed it to me. “There’s not much on this, but it’s enough to buy a dress.” I looked at the card—it was heavy, matte black, clearly exclusive. “No need. I have something to wear.” I retrieved a vintage silk gown my grandmother had left me. It was a family heirloom with exquisite hand-stitched embroidery, its timeless elegance far surpassing any designer label. Maximilian sighed, but didn’t press. That evening, the grand ballroom of the Shangri-La was glittering with the city’s elite. Amber, her bruises concealed under a thick layer of foundation, floated through the crowd in a rented couture gown. Kevin had his arm around her, bragging to a cluster of guests. “Of course, I was surprised myself when the Shadow Prince of New York agreed to come. Show some respect when he arrives.” When I appeared at the entrance, pushing Maximilian, who wore a faded but clean suit, the entire room seemed to fall silent. I, in my simple white gown, and he, in his wheelchair, were a stark contrast to the opulence around us. “Well, well, what do we have here? I thought the help used the service entrance,” Amber sneered, gliding over with a glass of red wine. “Aurora, Mom told you to wear formal attire. Aren't you afraid of bringing bad luck by wearing a dead woman's old clothes?” Snickers rippled through the nearby guests. “Is that the eldest Sterling daughter? How pathetic.” “The Vance family is bankrupt. The two of them are a perfect pair of clowns.” Kevin and his cronies swaggered over. “Well, if it isn’t the great Maximilian Vance. Long time no see.” One of his friends laughed. “Hey, Kev, let’s get him to do a wheelie for us. We’ll buy him a drink if he does.” “Great idea! Do a wheelie!” Maximilian’s back remained rigid, his face a mask of indifference, but his knuckles were white. I stepped in front of him. “Get out of the way. You’re blocking the path.” “Ooh, feisty!” Amber feigned a stumble, and the entire glass of red wine sloshed down the front of my white gown, staining the delicate embroidered orchids a deep, ugly crimson. “Oops, clumsy me,” she chirped. “But that old thing was probably filthy anyway. Think of it as a free cleaning.” Kevin grabbed my shoulder, his fingers digging in. “Who do you think you’re glaring at? Do you have any idea how much this carpet costs? Get on your knees and clean it up. Then beg Amber for forgiveness. Otherwise, you’re not leaving this ballroom tonight!” “Get on your knees!” the crowd chanted, sensing blood in the water. My vision flooded with frantic, red text: [INCOMING! DADDY’S SPECIAL OPS TEAM WILL BE HERE IN T-MINUS 3 SECONDS! THE LOAN SHARKS ARE HERE TOO, THEY BLENDED IN WITH THE CATERING STAFF!] BOOM! The ballroom doors burst open with explosive force. Two lines of men in black suits and sunglasses stormed in, forming a clear path through the stunned crowd. Amber squealed with excitement. “The Prince is here! Everyone, welcome him!” Kevin pasted on a sycophantic grin and rushed forward, hand outstretched. “Welcome, an absolute honor to have you…” The man leading the charge shoved him aside without a second glance, sending him stumbling. He marched directly to where Maximilian and I stood. Then, he and every single man in black bowed a perfect ninety degrees. Their voices thundered in unison, shaking the crystal chandeliers. “Sir! Ma’am! We apologize for our tardiness. Please, issue our punishment!”
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