Chapter 1

My lifelong dream was to become a professional prima ballerina.

But during the Bernice International Ballet Competition, a group of armed thugs crashed the stage.

Just as my final routine was ending, they shot the overhead chandelier, sending it crashing onto my legs.

Blood soaked the stage. I was shaking from the agonizing pain.

Weakly, I cried out to my boyfriend for help.

But I saw him blocking my parents and my coach from coming to save me.

Only later did I find out those thugs were actually looking for Chloe Jenkins.

They wanted to break Chloe’s legs, but my boyfriend frantically stopped them.

"No! Don't touch Chloe! I'll kill anyone who hurts her! Go after the girl dancing on stage! Do whatever you want to her!"

That was the moment I completely gave up on him and called off the wedding.

But then, he regretted it.

He broke his precious first love’s legs with his own hands, begging on his knees for my forgiveness.

Bang!

I had just finished my final spin when a deafening gunshot rang through the hall.

Before I could even react, the massive crystal chandelier above collapsed, crushing my legs.

My screams echoed through the auditorium. A group of terrifying men surrounded me.

They held guns, looking down at me like prey.

I tried to pull my legs out, but one of the thugs stepped heavily onto the broken chandelier, crushing me further.

Shaking violently from the pain, I gasped, "What... what are you doing?"

"I don't even know you! Why are you doing this to me?"

The lead thug sneered.

"You don't know us? But we sure as hell know your circle!"

"Chloe Jenkins scammed my family out of fifty thousand dollars under the guise of marriage! That was my mom’s life-saving surgery money!"

"Because of her, my mom died. I came to get revenge on Chloe. But your boyfriend protected her. He told us to take you instead, said we could do whatever we wanted to you!"

I blurted out instantly, "That’s impossible!"

But when I turned my head, I saw Carter Vance holding Chloe tightly in his arms, whispering sweet nothings to comfort her. A dozen of his personal bodyguards formed a human shield around them.

My parents saw me and tried to rush onto the stage, but Carter's bodyguards blocked them.

As my parents struggled desperately, Carter spoke with pure impatience.

"What are you guys making a scene for?"

"She’s not going to die. Nobody is allowed to go up there and interfere!"

My eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

Bang!

Another gunshot fired. A bullet pierced my calf. Cold sweat drenched my body from the excruciating pain.

Slowly, my leg started to lose all feeling.

Panic gripped my heart. If my legs were ruined, how could I ever dance again? How could I fulfill my dream?

With tear-filled eyes, I sobbed and begged, "Carter, please save me."

"I can't feel my leg anymore. Please, take me to the hospital..."

But all I got in return was cold mockery.

"It's just a flesh wound, Elena. Stop acting like it's the end of the world."

"You got shot once, and it missed your vitals anyway. Chloe has been so good to you over the years. It's time you paid her back."

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. I couldn't believe such venomous words came from the man I loved.

Carter and I had been together for eight years. We had just set our wedding date two days ago.

Over these eight years, he had seen firsthand how much sweat and blood I poured into ballet.

My dream was to be a professional dancer.

In fact, he fell in love with me in the first place because he was captivated by my dancing.

He knew exactly how much my legs meant to me.

Yet, in front of Chloe, he pretended my life meant nothing.

The thugs weren't done. To humiliate me, they ripped my costume to take photos, hit my head with a wooden bat, and even pulled off my acrylic nails.

The stage was dyed red with my blood.

And Carter just stood there, completely indifferent, holding a trembling Chloe in his arms.