My boyfriend abandoned me after I became paraplegic
Just as I was considering whether to have a long-term relationship with him, I overheard his conversation with friends.
Michael said: "I know wealthy disabled women are the easiest to fool. Say a few sweet words and they'll believe anything. Once she helps me get my private hospital up and running, I'll break up with her. Who wants to be with a cripple? I've been disgusted by her for ages."
Looking back on these two Christmases of sweet moments, I have to admit his acting skills are pretty good.
My assistant Alice Baker asked if I wanted to cancel the wedding plans.
I touched my belly and said calmly: "No need."
*****
At the Mitchell mansion, I was watching a video Alice had just sent me.
In the video, Michael was at a bar hanging out with friends.
He never drank in front of me, but in the video he was ordering and opening bottles with practiced ease, clearly not his first time.
Michael threw his jacket onto the booth sofa, loosened his tie, and propped his feet up on the table in front of him.
His lazy, indulgent demeanor was completely different from the gentle, polite image he maintained in front of me.
Someone laughed and said: "Dr. Green, you finally agreed to come out and party. Are you really planning to take care of that cripple for the rest of your life?"
Michael raised his glass and took a sip: "For life? These two Christmases have already made me sick. If it weren't for the money, I wouldn't bother taking care of her. My private hospital opens in three days, and I'll consider that thirty million in startup funds compensation for my emotional distress."
Another friend filled his glass and joked: "What distress? Athena lets you live in a mansion, drive luxury cars, transfers money to you monthly, and even funded your hospital. All you have to do is check on her during her regular appointments." Athena Mitchell is my name.
Michael looked disgusted, as if remembering something particularly revolting: "Do you know that high-level paraplegic patients are prone to bedsores? When the nurses helped her turn over, she just lay there like a dead fish. When I kissed her, I had to pretend I didn't see the catheter bag. Even now, every time I kiss her, I can smell that urine odor."
His friend patted his shoulder and said, whether sincerely or not: "Dr. Green, you've really suffered through this. But Athena is still beautiful, and at 28 she's already an investment queen. Aren't you worried about losing her at all?"
Michael leaned back in his chair confidently: "Rich disabled women like her are the most desperate for love, and she's completely devoted to me. She even suggested having a baby together recently. Once the hospital opens, I'll break up with her. Whoever wants to take care of her can have her."
After the video finished, Alice asked respectfully: "Miss Mitchell, should we cancel the wedding plans?"
I played with my diamond ring and said calmly: "No need. Just find someone else. There are plenty of men in this world."
Alice immediately handed me a tablet filled with profiles of excellent unmarried men.
I scrolled through for a while, then pointed to one photo: "Let's go with him. I'll try him out for a few days first."
After all, I'm just paying for someone to keep me from being bored. If someone doesn't know their place, I'll simply replace them.
After receiving her assignment, Alice went to handle it immediately.
Alone in my room, I reflected on the video and conversation, thinking Michael wasn't professional enough in his work.
When he first pursued me, Michael had held my legs and said: "Let me be your legs forever, to carry you wherever you want to go."
When I was exhausted and sweating during rehabilitation training, he would quietly stay with me and encourage me, saying I could depend on him.
Good thing I never believed those lies.
I was lucky to survive the hospital at all, so I know without looking in a mirror that I'm not attractive now.
I was irritable back then, and Michael approached me voluntarily. He could help treat and care for me, and keep me company, so I accepted him.
Mainly because Michael was good-looking.
After I was discharged, Michael moved into my mansion to live with me, voluntarily taking on the job of caring for me - washing clothes, cooking, driving, booking flights, packing luggage. Basically anything related to taking care of me, he did.
Actually, there were already people specifically hired for these tasks. Since he wanted to do them, I let him.
I had Alice calculate his salary based on market rates for housekeeping, cooking, driving, and personal assistance, and paid him accordingly.
It wasn't much money - only a hundred thousand dollars a month.
This also included fees for "male companionship services." But he wasn't very good in that department, so I deducted part of his pay.
Michael thought we were in a romantic relationship.
But in reality, we were just employer and employee.
If Michael were professional enough to maintain his act well—whether in front of other people or in front of me—he could keep this high-paying job for life.
The man in that photo earlier really caught my interest.
And Alice told me this person had submitted his resume three times, repeatedly stating he'd accept half the salary.
His monthly salary is only $50,000, which is quite a bargain.
When Michael returned, I couldn't smell any alcohol on him, and he had changed his clothes.
As soon as he walked in, he hugged and kissed me, his voice full of apology: "I'm sorry, I had surgery tonight and kept you waiting."
I have to admit, Michael's acting skills aren't bad.
Looking at his affectionate eyes and sincere tone, if I hadn't seen that video, I really would have continued our long-term arrangement.
Seeing the baby product descriptions displayed on my laptop, a flash of disgust crossed Michael's eyes.
But he said: "Athena, I know you want a baby. But pregnancy would be too much of a burden on your body—I don't want to lose you."
I only replied coldly: "Oh." Then ignored him completely.
After all, he's an employee who's about to be fired—not worth wasting words on.
Michael kissed me again and said gently: "It's okay if we don't have a baby. Having you as my 'baby' is enough for me. I'll go run you a bath and carry you in for a soak in a bit."
With that, Michael went upstairs.
I texted Alice: [Schedule my prenatal appointment for tomorrow.]
My period is already late, so I might be pregnant, but it's better to get checked at the hospital.
Thinking that tomorrow I might see the test results for my baby made me feel great.
So when facing Michael, I even had a few more smiles.
As usual, after Michael applied body lotion, he massaged my legs.
Since he used to be my attending physician, his massage technique is quite professional.
Over these past two years, my leg muscles haven't atrophied too severely, and my skin has been kept smooth and supple.
If you ignore the fact that he's constantly checking his phone, he's a decent caregiver.
After Michael carried me to bed, he kissed my forehead: "You sleep first. I need to handle some paperwork and I'll be back soon."
At the desk in his study, Michael was on the phone: "Sarah, don't worry, I won't let Athena get pregnant with my child. Only you can bear my children. She's just a disabled person—how can she compare to you? You're the only one I love." Sarah Phillips is his stepsister.
By the time Michael returned to the bedroom, I was already asleep.
Early the next morning, Alice came to take me to the hospital for my prenatal checkup.
When we left, Michael was still sleeping. After he woke up, he discovered the marriage registration appointment form I had forgotten to put away.
As a hospital investor, I used the hospital's special access for my prenatal checkup.
Aside from the director Gabriel Morris and the doctor performing my checkup, no one knew I was pregnant.
Looking at the pea-sized little baby on the test report, the more I looked, the more I loved it.
Alice said: "Ms. Mitchell, the person you want to interview has arrived. He's downstairs."
I was a bit surprised: "So soon?"
Alice replied: "He also works at this hospital—just transferred here."
When I looked at this person's resume on my tablet yesterday, I only knew he was a doctor. I didn't expect to meet him at this hospital.
I carefully put away the prenatal report and said to Alice: "Then let's go down and meet him."
Alice pushed my wheelchair into the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors opened, I saw a tall, upright figure.
He was wearing scrubs, and upon seeing me, he broke into a brilliant smile and proactively greeted me: "Ms. Mitchell, hello. I'm Charles Morris, your new Life Assistant."
Alice pushed me into the private room, gesturing for Charles to follow.
After closing the door, I asked Charles: "Since you're already a doctor, why do you want to be my Life Assistant?"
Charles was very direct: "Ms. Mitchell is both wealthy and beautiful—who wouldn't want to skip twenty years of struggle? Whatever Michael can do, I can do, and I'll do it better."
I was very satisfied with Charles.
Compared to Michael using deep affection to mask his desire for money, I much prefer this straightforward transactional relationship.
Charles introduced his background in great detail, not even leaving out which kindergarten he attended.
I handed him a contract: "I'll try you out for a month first. If you qualify, we can work together long-term."
Charles didn't even read the contract contents—he cheerfully signed his name right at the signature line.
After I put away the contract, I asked him: "Aren't you afraid I'm deceiving you?"
Charles laughed heartily: "Ms. Mitchell, you're the famous Investment Queen. I trust your character. Besides, I'm just an ordinary doctor—there's nothing worth deceiving me about."
I smiled and had him take Alice's place, pushing my wheelchair out.
While I was interviewing Charles, Michael called me several times, which I hung up on directly.
Just as we stepped outside, I ran into Michael.
Michael had already changed into his doctor's white coat. He glanced at Charles, who was pushing the wheelchair, without much concern, then frowned at me and said, "Athena, what are you doing at the hospital? Why didn't you answer my calls?"
I replied coolly, "I was busy."
Michael seemed to think of something and sighed, "Athena, you're too clingy, and it puts me in a difficult position. I need some personal space too."
Just as I was about to speak, Charles cut in, "Then you can move out of Ms. Mitchell's house. That way you'll have complete freedom."
Only then did Michael look at Charles and ask, "Who are you? What gives you the right to speak here?"
Charles didn't back down, "I'm your competition, and I'm here to replace you."
Michael's expression instantly darkened, "Athena, I know you're angry because I don't support your pregnancy, but there's no need to hire some male nurse just to spite me."
Charles was about to say something, but I raised my hand to stop him.
Since the new guy had arrived, there was no need to keep the old one around.
I said calmly to Michael, "I've already had someone pack up your things. You need to move out today."
Michael's face turned ugly, his voice filled with anger, "Athena, don't talk to me like that. I've already seen your marriage application. Given how much you love me, I can marry you, but don't expect to have children."
That's when I remembered I'd forgotten to put away the marriage registration form.
I gently touched my belly and said cheerfully, "I already have a child. You can go now."
Michael stared at me in disbelief and shouted, "Impossible! How could you be pregnant?"
Then his expression changed again, as if he'd figured me out, "Athena, I never thought you were that kind of woman. You actually tampered with the condoms, didn't you? You just want to use a baby to force me into marriage. Let me tell you the truth - what I feel for you is more like a doctor's sympathy for a patient. Given that you invested money to help me open this clinic, I won't hold it against you. I don't like children, so you have to get rid of this baby."
I had originally just wanted to end our relationship peacefully. After all, we used to be employer and employee - there was no need to make things ugly.
But Michael had gone too far and crossed my line.
I said with a stern expression, "Who are you? What right do you have to interfere with my child?"
Michael replied self-righteously, "I'm your boyfriend, the father of your child. Of course I have the right!"
I laughed coldly, "You were never my boyfriend. Stop flattering yourself."
By now, quite a crowd had gathered around us.
Michael was furious at my words, his face turning red.
As the youngest and most capable doctor in the hospital, he couldn't stand people gossiping about him.
Michael pointed at me and cursed, "Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a cripple. If you hadn't paid me, you never would have gotten a taste of a man. A child? That place of yours has probably grown cobwebs by now! Women who chase after men are the most pathetic!"
Michael was about to continue his tirade when Charles punched him in the face.
He followed up with several more punches, beating Michael until he screamed.
I quickly intervened, "Don't kill him."
Charles said, "I'm a professional. I know exactly where to hit for maximum pain without killing anyone."
That's when I remembered Charles was also a doctor.
I breathed a sigh of relief, "Good."
After Michael caught his breath a bit, he looked at Charles and me with both fear and rage, gritting his teeth as he said, "Athena, you're actually cheating on me. This man is your lover, isn't he? You slut!"
I had Alice hold back Charles, who wanted to keep beating Michael, then said emotionlessly, "We only had an employer-employee relationship. You were a 'male service provider' and nanny I hired, and I was the one paying you. Cheating? You didn't actually think we were dating, did you?"
Alice stood beside me and added professionally, "Ms. Mitchell is an investor who never makes losing deals. The money she transferred to you each month was simply payment for your services."
Michael's face looked terrible - he felt thoroughly humiliated.
As if suddenly remembering something, he regained his confidence, "You're already pregnant with my child. As long as you beg me and give me another 50 million dollars as an apology fee, I might take pity on you and marry you."
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