Crippled by Fate, Destroyed by the Woman I LovedChapter 1
I was known as the feared living devil in Velmont, fighting my way up from nothing. My crippled leg was my weakness; no one dared to mention it. Everyone avoided me, except Talia Norwood.
The first time I met her, she was digging through the garbage, eating old rice like she hadn’t eaten in days.
I said to her, “Come with me and be my legs. I’ll make sure you always have food.”
I taught her how to defend herself, sent her abroad to study and guided her through the worlds of law and business.
In eight years, she went from a prostitute’s child to President Norwood of the Hollis Group, the person I trusted most.
At one drinking party, the eldest son of the Bradford Family joined a dare. He raised his glass, smiled at me and said, “I gave Talia that chastity belt.”
The whole room of powerful men laughed. I was the only one who stayed silent.
He went on, “She was my junior when we studied in America. She told me she wouldn’t take it off until I officially took over the family business.”
I looked at Talia. She held her wine glass, her face calm
After we got engaged, she never let me touch it. She said she’d keep it until our wedding day, but it turned out she hadn’t been waiting for me.
I took a sip of wine and smiled. “Okay. Then let her wear it forever.”
——
“Let me tell you something you don’t know! I gave your President Norwood that chastity bra!”
The whole room burst into laughter.
I froze and turned to look at Talia beside me. She, however, stayed calm, as if she wasn’t the one being publicly mocked.
My face turned dark. Someone at the table quickly tried to smooth things over, “That's enough, Bennett Bradford, you just love to joke around!"
He saw my angry face and waved his hand. “Oh, my bad mouth! Enough, enough! I’ll drink to apologize to Mr. Hollis!”
“Everyone, come to my new ski resort this winter, it’s free!”
He suddenly hit his head and gave me a mean smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Hollis, your legs aren’t good for skiing, are they?!”
I tightened my fists and was about to stand, but Talia held me and whispered, “Nolan, don’t act rashly! He’s drunk. Our company and the Bradford Family have an important deal now and a fight won’t help.”