003: New Wife

Alexander's POV

"A bride?!" I inquired as I slowly reached for my wheelchair. I had heard that my father had been up to something, but getting me another wife was not what I had intended. This was the third time in less than a year, and at this point it had become insulting and rude. I didn't need a bride, and I definitely didn't need him going out and picking random women off the streets for me anytime he pleased.

Getting onto my wheelchair, I wheeled myself towards his bedroom, where I knew he would be. The tires of my wheelchair squeaked faintly against the polished floor. He could tell I was coming, and while I wished I could be more discreet, I unfortunately did not have the leisure to make that decision.

Reaching his room, I pushed open his door with unrestrained rage to meet him sitting at his desk, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Alex—” he greeted casually, as though he hadn’t just upended my life for the third time in less than a year. “I was expecting you.”

“I’m sure you were,” I snapped, wheeling myself into the room. “What is this about a bride? Another bride, might I add. Do you think this is some kind of joke? Do you even take me seriously?”

Logan's smirk faded, replaced by a look of feigned concern. “Now, son, you know I only want what’s best for you. You’re not getting any younger, and neither am I. It’s time you had a wife to—”

“To what?” I cut him off, my tone sharp. “To take care of me? To take me off your hands? I know that you're ashamed of me, you've made that painfully obvious. But actively trying to get me out of your life is just sickening—”

“Don't talk like that, Alex. You're my only child, all I want is the best for you,” he replied calmly as he folded the book in front of him. "You're lonely here, your life has been reduced to nothing since your accident. All I'm doing is bringing you someone who can help you—"

"And how many times do I have to remind you that I don't need your help? That I don't want your pity?! And I definitely don't want someone else who would look at me the way you do! Send her back, I don't need a wife, and I don't need you meddling in my life anymore."

I waited for his words, an assurance that he would send whoever he had brought for me back, but he merely chuckled mockingly at my words.

"Send her back? I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, I signed a contract with that girl's family. I've promised them that you'll love her, and that is exactly what you'll do! You've let your entire life be defined by some stupid accident—"

"Stupid accident?!" I thundered with trembling hands. "Stupid? Really? In case you've forgotten I'm in this condition because of you! I can't use my legs because you weren't man enough to settle a simple dispute you had with Uncle Luke—"

I paused abruptly to catch my breath. My entire body— the part I could move at least— trembled with rage, and all I could think of right now were ways to clobber the man before me. A year ago, my father had gotten into a family dispute with his younger brother, Luke Forger. Apparently, my father had stolen his younger brother's business ideas, and when Luke came asking for compensation, father had kicked him out.

My accident had been the result of the feud between the two brothers. It was supposed to be my father, but that day I had chosen to take his car out for a ride without realizing that the breaks had been cut. The accident had been fatal, but thankfully I had survived. Uncle Luke had been arrested and sentenced to thirty years in prison for attempted murder, and I had been left paralyzed from my waist down, while the cause of everything stood before me calling it a stupid accident.

"I'm not sending her back, she's your wife now, and you'll have to live with it, end of discussion." Father finalized calmly. He was clearly upset because I had reminded him that he was the reason I was crippled. He didn't like being reminded, but at the same time he wouldn't let me live a day without reminding me that I was disabled. It was clear in his eyes, he pitied me, I was a burden to him, and he simply wanted me to be another person's problem. It was exactly why he wouldn't stop bringing random girls here as my wife.

Furious, I wheeled out of the room, slamming the door as hard I could muster. I was sick and tired of everything—this wheelchair, this house— I was tired of it all.

Taking in deep breaths, I wheeled towards the guest room where my new 'wife' was currently staying. I knew she was probably ecstatic to learn that she would be marrying the billionaire's crippled son. Just like the last two, her next plan would probably be to kill me and take over my property. A man who couldn't even get an erection was as good as useless to them whether or not it was Alexander Forger. They were all here for the money, and I knew this one was no different.

Without knocking, I entered the room to meet her seated on the bed. Her eyes locked onto mine, and in an instant she was up on her feet.

"Good day," she greeted with her head bowed down. It was an usual reaction to me. Unlike the other girls, she didn't try to throw herself at me, or flirt with me in an improper manner. I took a minute to look her up and down, and from her dress I could tell that this one was different. Unlike the others, she was likely poor, and if I had to guess, I would say that my father had likely coerced her father into wedding his daughter to a crippled man with money.

Drawing in a deep breath, I mustered the heartiest smile I could at the moment. "I know what you must be thinking, but I'm here to tell you that you don't have to be here. You don't want a crippled husband, and I don't want a wife, so that checks out, okay?"

"You're wrong." Came a soft yet sharp reply. "I don't care whether you can walk or not, I just want to be the best wife I can.”