Before Elaine could even speak, Philip couldn't help himself. "My girlfriend, Wilda, is close with the eldest daughter of the Curran family. You know the Currans, right? The most powerful and influential family in Rivington. You don't even deserve to stand in their shadow." Elaine scoffed, curling her lip. "The Currans? Oh, I'm trembling." Elaine's adoptive parents were the Shields, and long before she became involved with the Currans, she was known as Elaine Shield. When she joined the Currans a month ago, only her closest friends knew of her true identity. The Currans' "eldest daughter" Philip mentioned could only be referring to Alora. So this Wilda is friends with Alora? Philip grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "You should be scared, Elaine. Someone like you, from the bottom of society, should fear them. If you ever meet anyone from the Currans, I bet you'll be shaking in your boots." "Hah!" Elaine's lips curled into a sneer. Shaking in fear? Do the Currans have some supernatural power I haven't heard of? "Elaine, the Currans—" Anna was about to speak up but Elaine placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, signaling her to stay quiet. "I'll tell you something," Wilda chimed in. "I'm a very close friend of the Currans' eldest daughter. With their backing, the Estradas will soon be at the top of Rivington's social ladder. So, do you think Philip would choose you, or someone like me?" Wilda's smug look mirrored Philip's, both of them completely self-assured. Philip turned his attention to Anna, his voice icy. "Anna, I'm not betraying you." The word "betrayal" made him uncomfortable, and he scoffed. "You're already a cripple!" Philip spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Who in their right mind would stay with a cripple? It's only natural for me to break up with you." Anna, still in shock, could barely understand. "Cripple? What do you mean?" Philip looked at her with mock sympathy, his voice almost sickeningly kind. "You don't know? You were in a terrible car accident. In order to save your life, they had to amputate your leg. You'll never dance again. You're a cripple now." Anna's vision swam as her hand instinctively reached for her leg. "N-no, that can't be true!" Until now, she had been furious over Philip's betrayal, but now a wave of pure agony flooded her senses. It was overwhelming.My leg ... In her panic, Anna could only feel one leg, the other numb. Reality slammed into her, crushing her. "My leg ... my leg ... " she murmured in disbelief, before collapsing, overwhelmed by grief. Wilda sneered, resting against Philip. "Well, look at that, she fainted. Too emotional to handle the truth." "She really is useless," Philip muttered as he held Wilda's soft body against him. "Anna!" Elaine's voice was sharp and urgent. She quickly took Anna's wrist and checked her pulse, relieved to find it was just emotional shock that caused her to pass out. Elaine's gaze, icy and hard, locked onto Philip with lethal intent. In her past life, he had done the same thing—stripping Anna of her last shred of hope. It was his fault Anna's already bleak future had spiraled into darkness. They weren't even married yet, and Anna was disabled. Technically, Philip had no obligation to care for her. His decision to end things was his right, and no one could force him to stay. But this j*rk had already been with Wilda before the accident. This wasn't just a breakup; this was outright betrayal. A scumbag like him needs to pay for what he's done. "Since you love using the word ‘cripple' so much, let me help you out," Elaine's voice cut through the tension as she glared at him. Without another word, she lifted her foot and kicked Philip hard in the stomach.