Lucas POV"Drop the tray, cripple, or I will break your other leg."Connie's shrill voice cut through the heavy scent of roasted duck and aged wine filling the Darlington mansion kitchen.Lucas didn't stop. His hands, calloused and steady, adjusted the alignment of the platinum serving forks on the mahogany cart. His wheel lock clicked into place with a sharp metallic snap."He is deaf as well as useless, Connie," Lydia sneered, leaning against the marble counter with a glass of champagne held between her manicured fingers. "Look at him. Sitting in that plastic chair like a pile of rotting garbage while our real brother comes home.""Get out of the way," Esther Darlington commanded as she walked into the kitchen, her diamond necklace flashing under the chandelier light. She did not even look at Lucas's face. Her eyes remained fixed on the golden invitation card in her hand. "Nathaniel's motorcade is turning into the driveway. I will not have this family's glorious moment ruined by the

Lyon POV"He is flatlining! Clear the bay right now!"The emergency alarm shrieked through the glass doors of the Central University Hospital trauma wing.Lyon did not flinch as four nurses pushed a gurney past his wheelchair. The rubber tires of his chair remained pinned against the wall of the crowded observation gallery. His hands rested on his knees, palms flat, his long fingers completely still."Who let this crippled student into the trauma hallway?" Dr. Paul yelled, waving a bloody clipboard toward the back doors. "Security! Get this spectator out of here! Master Lawrence is dying!"Lawrence, the patriarch of Lawrence Global and the largest benefactor of the university medical school, lay on the gurney. His chest rose in ragged, violent spasms. Blood bubbled from his mouth, dark and arterial, splashing onto the white floor."Surgical airway failed," a junior resident screamed, holding a bent laryngoscope with shaking hands. "The neck tumor has crushed the trachea! We cannot int

Lyon POV"Why is that cripple sitting in the front row?"Oscar stood near the grand entrance of the central gala hall, pulling his velvet suit jacket straight while his fingers squeezed Kelly’s shoulder until she winced."He does not belong here!" Kelly whispered, her eyes fixed on the back of the sleek customized wheelchair stationed directly beside the empty head table. She smoothed down her silk evening gown, her chest heaving as sweat broke through her heavy makeup. "Oscar, he ignored all my calls today. He blocked my number. He has no money, no title, and no invite. Call security right now and have them drag him out into the rain!""You don't need to yell," Oscar sneered, though his own palm was slick against his champagne glass as he stared at the dark gold pass resting on Lyon's lap. "My father controls the security detail for the entire venue tonight. One word from me and that paralytic piece of trash will be tossed into the gutter."Lyon sat perfectly motionless in his wheelc

LYON POV"Get out of my way," Lyon said.He did not stop the manual wheels of his chair. The metal pushed forward against the pavement outside the university engineering building."Lyon, please just listen to me for one minute," Kelly said. She stepped directly into his path, her eyes red and swollen. She reached out, trying to grab the armrest of his wheelchair. "I made a terrible mistake. Oscar was using me. He took advantage of how stressed I was about finals. I never cared about him."Lyon did not look at her face. His gaze stayed fixed on the stone steps twenty feet ahead. "Move.""I know you hear me," Kelly sobbed, dropping to her knees on the concrete so she was at eye level with him. She grabbed the edge of his jeans. "You loved me for two years. You paid for my tuition, Lyon. You gave me everything. I know you still care. We can fix this. I dropped Oscar. I blocked his number.""You filmed my humiliation," Lyon said. His voice was flat, devoid of any pitch or anger. "Keep the

LYON POV"Lyon, brother, please look at what we brought you!" Connie Darlington forced a high-pitched, sweet laugh as she set a silver-wrapped gift box onto the small wooden coffee table near the front entrance.Lyon sat motionless in his wheelchair by the window, his gaze focused on the scrolling medical code on his tablet. He did not turn his head. He did not utter a single word of greeting.Lydia Darlington smoothed her designer dress with hands that shook slightly, her face pale beneath her heavy makeup. She stepped closer to his chair, attempting a warm, caring smile that looked unnatural on her features. "We know things got heated at the banquet yesterday, Lyon. Father was just stressed about business. Mother hasn't slept all night because she misses you so much. The house feels completely empty without you."Lyon adjusted his left wrist position against the armrest. "You have ninety seconds remaining."Connie’s artificial smile cracked instantly, a flash of her usual venom surf