Secret Wealthy Marriage

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 A Disabled Person Chapter 27: Chapter 27 A Disabled Person Upon seeing Matilda Ferguson, the old Mrs. Hawkins was already displeased because of Carolline Ruiz’s departure. Now that she saw Matilda, her mood worsened. In a raised voice, she asked Sophia Lawson, “Why did you let this woman in? What did I say before?”

“Grandmother, it was me who let her in,” Bryan Hawkins said as he pushed his wheelchair forward, confessing without waiting for Sophia Lawson to explain.

“You–” Everybody had been indulging Bryan Hawkins ever since his accident, even William Hawkins and Camelia Hawkins.

Mrs. Hawkins glared at her good-for-nothing oldest grandson, and without saying another word, turned and went inside to watch TV.

“Xiaolian, please take whatever Miss Ferguson is holding,” Sophia Lawson arranged, glancing at Bryan Hawkins, then followed Mrs. Hawkins inside.

Bryan Hawkins didn’t invite Matilda Ferguson inside and instead turned and headed for the lawn outside, where a stone table in the middle provided seating.

Matilda looked at Bryan Hawkins timidly and quietly followed him. Bryan gestured her to sit, and soon, a servant brought them tea and a fruit platter.

“Bryan, I’m sorry…,” Matilda said, struggling to speak through her tears.

Bryan Hawkins looked at her calmly without saying a word.

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t stood you up that day, you…you wouldn’t have…,” Matilda confessed, blaming herself entirely for what happened. “But Mrs. Hawkins doesn’t like me, and though I should’ve been with you when the accident happened, I couldn’t. I should have been more persistent.”

“…” Bryan Hawkins looked at her, listening to her words. His pupils contracted repeatedly, but Matilda was so absorbed in her performance that she didn’t notice his subtle reactions. “You’ve been persistent enough. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here right now,” he said.

“…” Matilda stopped her performance, slightly taken aback. Something felt different, perhaps Bryan’s attitude had changed from before.

Before, if she had cried like this, he would have immediately comforted and consoled her. Yet, now he sat motionless in his wheelchair, merely watching her cry and listening to her self-blame.

Where did the problem lie? Or had Bryan indeed changed because of his disability?

She inquired about his condition from the doctor, but since she wasn’t a family member of Bryan Hawkins, there wasn’t much information she could gather. His incident had been the talk among People Hospital’s nurses, and everyone pitied the handsome man.

Such a tall, dashing man, now confined to a wheelchair for life despite his youth. It was hard to imagine how he would cope with his future.

In the days following her departure from the hospital, Matilda struggled with the fact that Bryan Hawkins was now disabled.

But she truly loved Bryan Hawkins. She had always held herself in high esteem, and along with her beauty, she was a rare natural beauty in G City or even nationwide. It was only a man like Bryan who could match her. She had many rich men pursuing her, but she truly gave her heart to Bryan Hawkins.

That one time with the man Carolline Ruiz saw, Matilda couldn’t refuse because he had helped her family. She’d let him take liberties with her in public, and that was when Carolline witnessed them.

“I’ll probably always be like this, accompanied by a wheelchair. Matilda, I’m giving you a choice now. If you want to break up with me at this time, I…”
Upon hearing this, Matilda’s heart suddenly ached. Without thinking, she threw herself at him, covering his mouth with her hand and tearfully said, “Please, Bryan, don’t say those two words, alright?”

“From now on, I’ll just be a cripple,” Bryan said calmly, simply stating a fact.

“…” Matilda was speechless. Could she really bear to live with a handicapped man for the rest of her life?

“…” Looking at her hesitation, Bryan thought it was reasonable for her to waiver. In fact, if she didn’t, he would have found it strange. He said indifferently, “You should leave now.”

“Bryan, give me three days to think it over, alright? Let’s decide our future after three days, okay?” Matilda, still dazed, couldn’t make an accurate and direct decision at the moment.

She needed time to think about it thoroughly. Breaking up would break her heart, but how long could she withstand living like this otherwise?

“…Alright,” was Bryan’s indifferent response as he turned his wheelchair away and had the butler escort Matilda out.

Watching Bryan leave so casually, Matilda couldn’t help but sigh.

Bryan’s changes were too immense, as she could clearly feel. She attributed his transformation to the accident.

The sudden accident not only brought immense pain to Bryan but also washed away her beautiful expectations.

As the Young Master requested, the butler prepared a car and sent Matilda back to the Ferguson Residence.

Without waiting for Matilda’s gratitude, the driver left immediately.

Left feeling slightly depressed, Matilda noticed that no one at the Hawkins Family, except for Bryan, treated her courteously, including the servants.

She understood that since Mrs. Hawkins disapproved of her, naturally, the servants who followed orders wouldn’t appreciate her either.

Matilda had been enduring all this, planning to deal with them once she became Mrs. Hawkins.

But now, could she still become Mrs. Hawkins?

Even if she wanted to, how could her parents possibly agree?

It had taken all their resources to raise her, even indebting her aunt. The hope of repaying that debt laid on her shoulders.

At the thought of this, Matilda felt the three days she requested to be laughable. No matter if it was thirty days, as long as Bryan Hawkins remained crippled, their relationship was doomed.

With a heavy heart, Matilda returned home.