If she didn''t love him, why did she marry him? Why have a child at all?


    But that was just Effie''s own spection—she hoped she was wrong.


    "Who''s the patient''s next of kin?" the doctor asked.


    Everyone stepped aside, all eyes turning to Grace.


    She had no choice but to step forward. "I am," she said.


    The doctor addressed her directly. "I''m sorry, ma''am. Your husband''s leg was seriously injured. We did everything we could during surgery, but you should prepare yourself-there''s a chance he may lose the ability to walk."


    A tense silence gripped the room.


    Grace kept her expression calm, but her hands balled into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.


    Most assumed she was simply devastated, but only she and Annabel knew what she was really thinking.


    Suddenly, Grace felt a weight on her shoulder.


    She didn''t even need to look-it was Annabel.


    Leaning in close, Annabel whispered in her ear, "Grace, remember who you are right now."


    Without a word, Grace shook Annabel''s hand off. Turning to the doctor, she said, "Thank you, doctor. I''ll make sure he does his physical therapy. With proper rehab, he''ll get better, right?"


    The doctor nodded. "That''s right. With dedicated rehab, there''s a good chance he''ll walk again."


    Vinson Elliott took a step closer and asked the doctor in a low voice, "Doctor, will this ident-affect his, you know, future happiness?"


    The doctor looked taken aback, an awkward flicker in his eyes.


    Randell promptly hooked an arm around Vinson Elliott''s neck and pulled him


    away. "Don''t mind him, doctor. He''s from the asylum."


    "Randell, you''re crazy! You''re the crazy one! Your whole family''s insane!" Vinson Elliott grumbled as he was dragged off.


    The heavy mood in the room was abruptly broken by Vinson Elliott''s antics.


    "Thank you, doctor. If anythinges up, we''ll reach out," Lyman said, giving the doctor an out.


    The doctor nodded, clearly relieved, and left.


    Lyman turned to Vinson Elliott. "You two should head home."


    "But Lyman, I-—”


    Before Vinson Elliott could finish, Randell tugged him away.


    In the


    drifted back-Randell calling Vinson idiot who never knew when to keep his mouth shut


    Ellia muffled curse


    ...


    When y finally woke, a crowd of faces hovered over him.


    He frowned. "What are you all doing here?"


    que


    For a moment, he thought he was dreaming. He tried to sit up, but his legs feltpletely drained he couldn''t move them at all.


    "My legs..."


    "What happened?"


    A sharp pain shot through his head as it all came rushing back—he''d been in a car crash.


    "My legs... Are they useless now?" The fear and helplessness washed over him, threatening to pull him under.


    Lyman''s gaze darkened, aplex look passing through his eyes.


    He said quietly, "The doctor said it isn''t as bad as it seems. With rehab, you should be able to walk again."


    "Rehab?"


    y grabbed Lyman''s hand, desperate. "I want to start now!"


    "You just got out of surgery. Your


    body needs time to heal-you c


    push


    self yet Ly


    arrepfled


    his tone gentle but firm.


    y gradually calmed down. "Sorry, I just..."