"Get out! I don't need you! All of you—get out!" Adrian's voice was hoarse, raw with fury. Liana understood his anger. Losing the use of his legs meant losing dignity, control—everything. Anyone in his position would be bitter.
"You're way too loud," she said calmly, arms crossed. "Yelling won't magically fix your legs. Calm down." Adrian fell silent. Great. Another one here to look down on him.
"Ugh, this place stinks," Dahlia muttered, rolling up her sleeves. "I should clean a bit—"
"Don't bother, Mom," Liana interrupted.
Dahlia paused. "Don't?"
"I'm taking him home." The words fell lightly—but they stunned both listeners.
"What?" Dahlia stared. "Liana, are you serious?" Adrian looked just as shocked. When Liana had lifted the blanket earlier, she'd nearly gagged. The sheets were filthy, soaked through with waste—and worse, maggots squirmed underneath. No one had cleaned him. Not once. That so-called caretaker hadn't just neglected him—she'd abused him. No wonder he was hostile. No wonder he trusted no one.
"He can't stay here," Liana continued evenly. "This place is inhuman."
"But—" Dahlia hesitated. "We barely make ends meet as it is. Bringing a paralyzed man home—"
"I'm serious," Liana said. "Get me a basin of hot water. I'll clean him."
Adrian's gaze turned icy. "I don't need your pity. I'm not going anywhere."
"So you're planning to rot here and die?"
He laughed bitterly. "Maybe I am. Who cares?"
"Too bad," Liana replied flatly. "From now on, I decide." Adrian froze. She wasn't joking.
A moment later, Dahlia returned with hot water. "Liana, let me do it. I'm older—it's less awkward. You're a young girl—"
"It's fine," Liana said, already wringing out a towel. "I need to check his legs anyway." Without hesitation, she moved closer.
"Don't touch me!" Adrian snapped.
She ignored him, tugged his pants down, and began cleaning. Dahlia shook her head helplessly. "My daughter has such a good heart, and you keep yelling at her…"
Liana remained calm. Disgust never crossed her face. She'd studied medicine, handled anatomy specimens with bare hands. This was nothing. Years of neglect had left Adrian in a terrible state—layers of grime clinging to his skin, the stench soaked deep into the bedding. Even Dahlia, used to rural hardship, felt nauseous. Liana didn't flinch. Basins of dirty water were carried out one after another.
"How long has it been since he was last cleaned?" Dahlia muttered angrily. "What kind of monster was that woman?"
"Mom," Liana said, "check the wardrobe. See if there are any clean clothes. I'll dress him after." Dahlia eventually found a usable set. Together, they changed him. Adrian hadn't felt this clean in… he couldn't even remember. It felt strangely comforting.
"…Why are you doing this?" he asked warily.
Liana glanced at him. "Save you. Honestly, with your current state, what could I possibly want? Your charming personality?"
Adrian: "…"
"So… what now?" Dahlia asked.
"Take him home."
Dahlia sighed. "Alright. I'll call Ethan. He's strong—"
"No need." Before Dahlia could react, Liana bent down, hoisted Adrian over her shoulder, and walked out as if carrying a sack of rice.
Dahlia: "..." Adrian: "...?!"
"Put me down! Where the hell are you taking me?!"
"Say another word," Liana said coolly, "and I'll drop you right here." Adrian had never felt so humiliated in his life. Carried by a woman—like luggage.
"My daughter is… terrifying," Dahlia whispered, stunned, as she hurried after them. Outside, Margot Fielding was cracking sunflower seeds when she saw Liana walking out with Adrian. Her jaw dropped.
"Where are you taking him?!"
"Home. I'll take care of him."
"You can't do that!" the woman rushed over in panic. If Adrian left, she'd lose her job—and that fat paycheck.
"And why not?" Liana asked coldly.
"I—I've been taking good care of him!" the woman stammered.
"Maggots in his bed. Sheets soaked in urine," Liana said sharply. "Call that care?"
The woman flushed but still blocked the way. "Whether I treat him well or not, he's still alive! The Carlisle family hasn't said anything. Who are you to interfere?"
"He's my fiancé."
"If you want to take him, get the Carlisle family's permission first—"
Bang! Before she could finish, Liana punched her clean across the face. The woman flew backward and hit the ground flat on her nose.
"Oh my god," Dahlia whispered. "My daughter is a monster."
And just like that, Liana carried Adrian all the way across Willowbrook Village. People stared. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Liana carried a crippled man home!"
"She's crazy."
"Who does that? She's lost it."
Dahlia leaned closer. "Liana… maybe we should be less… eye-catching?"
"It's fine," Liana said. "Village gossip travels faster than the internet." Dahlia sighed. Two disabled people in one household… life wouldn't be easy.
When they got home, Dahlia prepared the spare room. "Good thing we live in the countryside," she muttered. "In the city, we'd be done for." Liana gently laid Adrian onto the bed. Dahlia shook her head. "You're too kind-hearted. You said you'd just check on him—and now you bring him home. Two disabled people… our life just got a whole lot harder."
Liana didn't respond. She simply looked down at Adrian, eyes calm and resolute. This was only the beginning.