Falling Petals, Light as a Dream

“Adam, call off the engagement,” someone in the crowd jeered, their tone half-serious and half-mocking.

Adam glanced at the speaker, raising his hand in a commanding gesture.

“What are you standing around for? Get moving!”

At his signal, the room sprang to life. Party poppers erupted into the air, filling the space with colorful ribbons. Applause and cheers followed, a celebration of Adam’s supposed triumph—his engagement to someone else.

I sat there in my wheelchair, watching as the man who had once promised me the world celebrated his betrayal with reckless abandon.

“Adam, your acting skills are incredible,” I said, my voice trembling but sharp.

“Even after living with you for so long, I didn’t see through you. Not even once.”

Adam left my side, striding over to the largest sofa in the room. He sprawled across it like a king, lighting a cigar. His posture oozed arrogance, his mood seemingly unaffected by my presence.

“Do you have any idea how exhausting it’s been to act for you every day?” he said lazily, blowing out a cloud of smoke.

One of his assistants approached me, handing me a check.

“Take this money and go wherever you want. Just don’t follow Adam anymore.”

I didn’t hesitate. Without even looking at the amount, I tore the check into pieces and let the scraps fall to the floor.

Adam’s expression darkened. He flicked his cigar at me, though it missed and fell harmlessly to the ground.

“Don’t push your luck, Aila Newgate. I’m still willing to talk to you. If you have demands, now’s the time to make them.”

The man who had sworn he couldn’t live without me was now towering over me, looking down as if I were nothing.

“Aila, you’re not a naive little girl anymore,” one of his friends sneered. “You’ve been with so many men already. Do you really think Adam could ever satisfy you? You should be grateful he’s even offering you a breakup fee.”

“Women like you aren’t worth a second glance,” another added, his words laced with disdain.

I turned to Adam, my voice trembling as I asked, “Do you think the same?”

Adam looked up briefly before letting out a low chuckle.

“What else do you expect me to think?” he sneered. “You don’t actually think you’re clean, do you?”

I nodded slowly, letting his words sink in.

“I understand now. I won’t come looking for you again.”

Turning my wheelchair, I struggled to leave the room, my hands trembling as they gripped the wheels.

Before I could make it far, a large hand gripped the back of my wheelchair, halting my escape. Adam leaned down, his mocking smile inches from my face.

“But there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you,” he said, his tone dripping with malice.

“Three years ago… were there a lot of men?” He laughed cruelly, the sound echoing in my ears.

Blood rushed to my head as I clenched the wheels of my chair, my entire body trembling with rage.

“Adam, I’ve never wronged you,” I said through gritted teeth.

He spread his arms wide, feigning innocence.

“Oh? Are you saying I’ve wronged you? Then go ahead—tell me what I owe you!”

At his signal, his entourage joined in the humiliation, laughing uproariously as Adam began tossing checks at me. The paper fluttered down like confetti, covering me in a mockery of generosity.

“Is this enough for you?” Adam taunted, slapping me lightly with a bundle of checks.

“Come on, Aila. This is the best deal you’ll ever get. Enough to make up for everything, right?”

Tears streamed down my face as I refused to respond.

Adam crouched down, his face close to mine and whispered,

“Do you know what’s most ironic? Out of everyone, you’re the only one who got ‘lucky.’

You’re paralyzed, but at least you have ‘enjoyed’ it, haven’t you? No one else gets that privilege.”

I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. My fists clenched tightly as his words tore at my resolve.

“Adam, I am like this because of you. If you have any decency left, watch your words,” I said, my voice steady despite my anger.

“Decency?” Adam burst into laughter, shaking his head. “Aila, do you have any idea how much money I have? In this city, I am decency!”

Straightening up, he sneered down at me. “Tell you what—if you can stand up right now, I’ll cut off my legs and hand them to you. How’s that for decency?”

The crowd erupted into laughter again, their mockery ringing in my ears.

Someone pushed me forward roughly and I stumbled in my wheelchair. Around us, the music grew louder, the beats pounding like a cruel rhythm.

A dancer entered the scene, holding a prop card. With the music’s crescendo, a spray of white confetti filled the air, raining down like snow.

As the cards fell, one landed in my lap.

I froze, my blood turning to ice as I recognized the image on it.

It was a photograph of me from three years ago—broken, humiliated and exposed.

Adam danced freely in the center of the room, his laughter echoing as I sat there, tears streaming down my face.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, but the pain didn’t stop the surge of anger welling up inside me.

“System, you said before that once I complete the mission, I could take two things from this world—anything I want. Is that correct?”

[Yes, host.]

“Then I want Adam’s health and his wealth.”

[Rewards loading. Please wait patiently.]

The photographs floating through the air were everywhere. They clung to me, each one a cruel reminder of that night three years ago in the alley.

For a moment, I felt like I had forgotten how to breathe.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” a loud, mocking voice called out.

“The woman in these photos is right here with us tonight! Let’s give her a round of applause!”

The room erupted into chaos. Cheers, whistles and malicious laughter filled the air.

I sat frozen, feeling like an animal in a cage, as the crowd’s eyes bore into me with mocking disdain.

At that moment, the truth hit me like a tidal wave: there was no love here.

For three long years, Adam’s so-called devotion had been nothing more than a cruel farce.

My body trembled uncontrollably as my gaze locked with Adam’s.

He stood at the center of the room, a satisfied smirk on his face as he held Robin close. She glimmered like a jewel under the light, her gown drawing all attention to her radiant beauty.

Adam’s entourage surrounded me, grinning like jackals.

“Don’t leave, sister-in-law! Tell us—how did it feel three years ago? You enjoyed it, didn’t you?” one of them jeered.

“Look at her now—a useless cripple. Adam couldn’t possibly be interested in her anymore. If he was, it’d only be because he has a soft spot for charity cases!” another chimed in with a laugh.

At that moment, Adam and Robin descended the stairs. He smiled arrogantly, his arm wrapped around her waist. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he joined in the mockery.

“Do you think anyone would want you like this?” Adam sneered, waving his hand in front of his nose as if I smelled foul.

“Don’t worry, though. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone customize a special wheelchair for you—one with a built-in toilet! That should make things easier for you!”

The room exploded in laughter.

I lowered my head, staring at the worn, battered wheelchair I sat in. My lips pressed tightly together as tears silently streamed down my face.

[Host, are you certain you want to take Adam’s health and his wealth?]

The system’s voice rang in my mind like a lifeline, pulling me out of the depths of despair.

I raised my head, my gaze locking onto Adam’s arrogant face. My resolve hardened like steel.

“I’m certain,” I said firmly.