Chapter 1

I used to be the ace of the elite Special Forces. During a high-risk mission, I took a bullet to protect my old General, leaving my legs paralyzed and putting an end to my career.

After being discharged, I returned to my hometown. My parents, desperate to see me settled, arranged a blind date for me. But the moment Tiffany Vance, a five-time divorced gold digger, walked through our door, she looked down her nose at me.

"My uncle is the Deputy Chief of the local police department," she sneered. "And you're just a useless cripple. If you want a shot with a woman like me, you’ll need to double your financial offer."

Later, when she found out I had to go to the clinic weekly for physical therapy, she threw a massive tantrum right in the hallway:

"You are cut off from these treatments immediately! Why waste thousands of dollars a month on legs that will never work? You’re throwing *my* future money down the drain!"

I had had enough. I told her to get the hell out of my sight.

But that wasn't the end of it. She twisted the truth, posted a smear video on TikTok, and rallied a mob to cyberbully me, claiming I was frauding military benefits and wasting taxpayer dollars.

I called the cops on her for defamation. Instead of arresting her, she had her high-ranking uncle show up to arrest *me*.

Backed into a corner, I dialed the one number I swore I’d never call again.

"General Harrison, someone is trying to throw me in jail on fake charges. Are you going to stand by and watch?"

After I was discharged from the military, my parents were eager to set me up.

Early in the morning, they cleaned the house from top to bottom, waiting for Brenda, a pushy family friend, to bring over my blind date.

Before long, Brenda walked in with a woman in her early thirties.

The woman, Tiffany, was slightly plump, caked in heavy makeup, and looked significantly older than me.

Brenda proudly introduced her to my mom. "This is Tiffany Vance. Sure, she’s been married and divorced five times, but she really knows how to take care of a man."

What? Divorced five times?

I wondered if I had heard her right.

"So what if she's divorced?" Brenda sniffed, holding her chin high. "Tiffany’s uncle is the Deputy Chief of our local police department. He holds real power in this town. One word from him, and things get done. You should feel honored she’s even sitting in your living room."

My mom poured a cup of tea, trying to be welcoming. "Hi, Tiffany. Please, have some tea."

Tiffany completely ignored my mom. Instead, she stared at my wheelchair, her eyebrows knitting together in disgust.

"I don't like beating around the bush," Tiffany said coldly. "Let's be real. You're a cripple. If a loser like you wants to marry me, you have to pay extra."

My hands tightened on the armrests of my wheelchair. I wanted to snap back, but she wasn't entirely wrong—I was physically broken.

My mom’s smile froze, but she forced herself to keep the peace. "Tiffany, my son is a good man. Maybe you two could talk first? If you get along, we can discuss the financial arrangements."

Brenda crossed her legs on our sofa, looking smug. "What is there to talk about? Don't waste our time. There's a line of guys waiting to date Tiffany. Let’s talk about what you can bring to the table."

Mom nodded quickly, eager to please. "If they get married, we will provide a $50,000 upfront gift, a $300,000 cash allowance, and we’ll cover the entire cost of the wedding. Plus, we will sign this house over to them. My husband and I can find a place to rent."

Hearing this, I couldn’t stay quiet. "Mom, stop! That's your retirement money. How are you two going to live? I’m not doing this. The date is over."

My parents had worked hard their entire lives. I couldn't let them bankrupt themselves and lose their home for me.

Besides, I would rather stay single forever than marry a toxic, five-time divorcée.

My words triggered Tiffany instantly.

"I did you a favor by showing up to date a cripple, and you're rejecting me?" she shrieked, jumping up. "Do you really think I’d look at you twice if I had a choice? Look in a mirror! Let me tell you something—if you want to keep talking, you better double that cash allowance!"

"Logan, quiet," my mom warned me with a glare. Then she turned to soothe Tiffany. "An extra $300,000 is hard for us to pull together right now. But how about this? My husband and I have a combined monthly pension of $6,000. We can transfer $4,000 to you every single month."

Tiffany shook her head. "Not enough. Brenda told me your son gets over $10,000 a month in military disability benefits. That money has to be signed over to me too. If it weren't for that check, I wouldn’t even have stepped into this dump."

"Enough!" I roared. "Get the hell out of my house. Now!"

After throwing the two furious women out, I rubbed my temples, completely exhausted. "Mom, please. Just take me to the clinic for my physical therapy."

But I never expected that Tiffany would actually follow us there.