CHAPTER 1-The Mask We Wear.

Clarence’s POV.

The shattering of glass by a waitress, who apologized profusely, jolted me back to reality.

It was Christmas Eve, and I sat in a corner of the hall, watching my husband beam with pride as he greeted guests at his second company's launch.

A dull ache bloomed in my chest like a bruise spreading its tender fingers.

My heart felt heavy, weighed down by the memories that lingered in every corner of my mind as I recalled his cold behavior and the hurtful words he'd spoken the night before which was opposite to what he showed to everyone else.

"I only married you for your family's influence," he had said. "The moment I get what I want, you're out of my life. Who wants a cripple for a wife? You can't even take control in bed. You're as good as dead."

A tear slid down my cheek, which I quickly wiped away before anyone noticed.

Gina, my step-sister, had always been his first choice - perfect, able-bodied, and everything I wasn't. But when he discovered she wouldn't bring him the empire he coveted, he settled for me instead.

But my family had to beg him before he agreed because they wanted his collaboration. They were willing to compromise on their end, forcing me into marriage with him.

"I want to invite my beautiful wife on stage," he said, his gentle voice booming through the microphone.

The loud applause around me snapped me out of my thoughts and I forced a smile, blinking back tears.

I rolled my wheelchair forward, pressing it to start heading to the stage to meet him.

"Hmmn... How did such a handsome gentleman end up with her," I heard some curious guests whisper loudly as I passed their table.

I swallowed hard, blocking out my mind from hearing more of such words. It wasn't the first time I'd heard those words. From the day he introduced me to his family, friends, and colleagues, until our wedding day, I'd always heard people whisper similar things and I couldn't blame them; my husband was the most perfect gentleman you would ever meet on the outside and he deserved everything better but if only they knew how cold and opposite he was on the inside.

"Let me help you up," he said when I approached the stage, stretching his hand forward as he walked up to me.

With the help of some other guards, I was placed on the stage, which had always been so embarrassing, but I endured it for his sake because scenarios like that bought him more sympathy and favor from onlookers.

I had the hope that all this would soon be over, thanks to my upcoming surgery. If the results were positive, I'd have a chance to dream of a new life, one where he'd finally treat me like the wife he wanted.

"Thank you for all coming to support my husband." I beamed with a smile as I glanced around, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

But my breath hitched when my eyes landed on my step-sister's face, the grin on her face made my heart skip a beat and blood run cold.

The ugly memory of her trying to murder me three years ago flashed before my eyes. She had attempted to push me down the stairs when she learned my husband had chosen to marry me. If my father hadn't stopped her, I would have died.

The menacing glare she had on her face that day after failing to succeed had never left my memory, and after that day, she disappeared to where no one knew. Seeing her again today made me feel so uneasy.

"Clarence, are you okay," my husband called, snapping me out of my trance.

I was panicking, my breath coming in short gasps. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, then spilled down my cheeks in hot, salty streams.

My husband's eyes flashed a sign of concern like he cared to know what was happening to me but I knew better that it was fake.

He took the mic from me and faced the crowd.

"I'm sorry, I think my wife's excitement over my achievement caused her to be unable to speak. She cries whenever she's thankful for something good in her life. Sus is such an angel, that's why I love her so much." His words were laced with sarcasm, making me want to puke.

"Let me escort her back," he announced and grabbed my wheelchair roughly, revealing the anger that had risen within him.

He then loosened his grip, pretending to handle my chair delicately. With a fake smile, he pushed me out of the hall and shoved me forcefully when we got to our mansion, nearly sending me crashing into the wall in our living room.

"What was that, Clarence? What was that embarrassment?" he seethed.

"Do you want to show everyone how I treat you? Do you think they'll pity you? Don’t you know they pity me instead, for settling for someone like you? For settling with a burden like you!" He spat, his eyes blazing with rage as he clenched his fist, making me flinch in fear.

"I'm sorry, Damon, please," I apologized, trying to calm him down.

"It wasn't intentional. I didn't know when I became lost in a trance." But my apology only fueled his anger.

"I know you're making excuses," he spat. "You always embarrass me. Either you fall in public or knock things over while trying to control those useless legs of yours." His words pierced my heart and a tear rolled down my cheek.

I felt anger simmering in my chest, fueled by the familiar sting of his insults. Each taunt, each careless word, felt like a weight added to the burden I already carried. I was tired of being his scapegoat, tired of being blamed for his own shortcomings.

"Damon, please stop this madness!" I yelled, and his face showed surprise. He wasn't expecting me to raise my voice at him ever, and I immediately regretted it.

"I never wanted to be a burden, especially not to my husband," I said bitterly.

"Life happened, Desmond. I wasn't born like this. I had an accident after college, and you know that. I've tried not to let my condition get in your way, but mistakes happen. You shouldn't keep judging me for that." I tried to plead with him but his expression changed to offense.

"You don't have to treat me this way," I continued, ignoring the look on his face.

"I know you never intended to marry me, but we ended up together. All you are supposed to do is to support me now, at least if my test results for surgery are positive, and I can get past the surgery, that's going to be a new beginning for us.”

“New Beginning?” Damon sneered.

“With who? Me?”

“Wow, I can see you have quite an impossible dream, Clarence. You should wake up.” He said, shattering the hope left in my heart.

“I don't know why you keep forgetting that I love Gina, and you were just something I had to accept to achieve my goal. But I assure you, all of this will end soon. Gina is back. I saw her, and she smiled at me. I know she can't wait to have me in her arms again,” he said with his eyes full of happiness.

"Damon, no!” I whimpered as some ugly thoughts hit me like a ton of bricks.

“You aren't thinking of having an affair with her and cheating on me with her, are you?" I asked and my heart skipped a beat as I met his gaze.

A shiver ran down my spine, and my palms grew sweaty. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking on thin ice, that one wrong move would send me tumbling.

"And what will you do if I do?" he replied as his expression turned to that of anger and he moved back, preparing to leave.

"What can you do in your condition, Clarence? Have you forgotten that you are as good as dead? Where can you go with those legs? Can you be able even to come after me or stop me when you catch me fucking her? This is your fate, Clarence. You can't stop me from reuniting with Gina. You can't do anything about it,” He thundered with his eyes full of contempt and mockery.

I swallowed hard, suppressing the tears that filled my eyes as I pushed myself forward to meet him but he moved back and started walking away.

“Damon, wait. Please don't leave,” I yelled after him, pressing my wheelchair to move forward to be able to keep up with his pace and stop him but it was like I was wasting my time because in no time, he was at the door.

"No, Damon…” I cried.

“Please don't do this to me. Don't do what I think you're about to do. I won't let you, I will stop you," I screamed, still going after him.

He turned back, his smile twisted with malice as he watched me struggle to keep up.

"Like you can stop me, Clarence. Well watch me go do that," he sneered.

I increased my pacing, rushing after him, tears streaming down my face, but I stumbled and fell hard when he slammed the door shut in front of me as he walked out.