“Evelyn Vale, aren’t you afraid of spraining your back with such big talk?”
Hannah sneered.
“Even the experts and professors have said Alexander’s injuries are incurable.
What does a little girl like you know?
Anyone can make empty promises!”
The moment she heard Evelyn confidently declare that Alexander would stand again, Hannah’s heart had nearly burst with excitement.
Alexander’s injury was the best news she had received in years.
If she had not been so wary of Grandfather Blackwood, she would have happily ordered fireworks to celebrate.
Her son, Damien, had been born in the same year as Alexander, only two months younger.
Yet ever since they were children, Alexander had stolen all the attention.
Whenever people talked about the Blackwood family’s grandsons, they mentioned Alexander Blackwood—the eldest grandson, the pride of the family.
Hardly anyone remembered Damien.
Even after both men entered military service, Alexander continued to suppress her son at every turn.
Alexander had risen rapidly through the ranks and eventually entered the prestigious Special Operations Division.
At only twenty-four, he had already become a Major, with an impressive record of achievements behind his name.
Damien, on the other hand, had remained an ordinary soldier for years.
He had only managed to earn his promotion to Second Lieutenant two months ago.
Given Damien’s age and years of service, becoming a Second Lieutenant was already something Hannah had been proud of.
But whenever Alexander’s achievements were mentioned, Damien’s promotion suddenly looked insignificant.
One was a decorated Major who had earned glory on the battlefield.
The other was merely an ordinary officer who had only recently begun climbing the ranks.
The comparison made Hannah furious.
More than once, she had secretly cursed Alexander.
She had wished for him to die on the battlefield.
If not death, then at least she had hoped he would be injured badly enough to leave the military forever.
As long as Alexander disappeared from the picture, her son would finally have a chance to shine.
She had never expected her wishes to come true so perfectly.
Alexander had returned from the battlefield with both legs severely damaged.
The doctors had said the nerves were badly injured.
He might never stand again.
The obstacle blocking her son’s path had finally fallen.
From now on, wouldn’t the Blackwood family have to depend on Damien?
The thought made Hannah almost laugh aloud.
Although she desperately tried to suppress her delight, some of it still slipped into her voice.
Aunt Eleanor’s expression tightened.
Every word Hannah spoke felt like a knife twisting inside her chest.
Unable to tolerate it any longer, she looked at her sister-in-law with restrained anger.
“Are you particularly happy that Alexander had an accident?”
“Eleanor, don’t misunderstand me.”
Hannah immediately put on an expression of sorrow.
“You know I’m heartbroken over Alexander.
I truly am.
To think that such a young man could become disabled at his age…
If he really can’t recover, he may not even be able to take care of himself in the future.”
Her words sounded sympathetic.
She kept saying she was worried about Alexander while describing his future as though his life had already been ruined.
Aunt Eleanor’s face became even paler.
Alexander’s expression remained cold, but the muscles in his jaw tightened.
Then Evelyn suddenly interrupted.
“Before Alexander can stand again, I’ll take care of him.”
Her voice was clear and decisive.
The entire room went quiet.
Hannah stared at her.
Then she suddenly laughed.
“Oh my, Evelyn, you’re still such a young girl.
Aren’t you ashamed to say something like that?”
She deliberately glanced toward Alexander.
“You know there’s a difference between men and women.
How exactly are you planning to take care of him?”
Her smile became sharper.
“Are you going to wipe his body for him?
Carry him around?
Take care of all his personal needs?”
The deliberately humiliating words made Alexander’s heart sting.
He didn’t want Evelyn to be dragged into an argument because of him.
He opened his mouth, intending to stop her.
But Evelyn was faster.
“I am Alexander’s fiancée.”
She looked directly at Hannah.
“It is only right and proper for me to take care of him.”
Her expression was calm, without even the slightest hint of embarrassment.
“And besides, at a time like this, why are you talking about the difference between men and women?”
Evelyn’s eyes hardened.
“When someone is injured and needs help, does something as insignificant as that really matter?”
She paused before adding coldly,
“Your thinking is truly narrow-minded.”
Hannah’s smile froze.
She had not expected Evelyn to answer so directly.
For a moment, she couldn’t find the words to respond.
Grandfather Blackwood, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, had a faint smile in his eyes.
Over the past two years, Evelyn had grown increasingly close to Damien.
Because of that, he had once considered whether the engagement between Evelyn and Alexander should be reconsidered.
After all, Alexander and Evelyn had been engaged since childhood because of an old promise between their families.
But Evelyn’s changing attitude had made him wonder if perhaps the two young people were simply incompatible.
Now, however, those doubts had disappeared.
Grandfather Blackwood looked at Evelyn with undisguised satisfaction.
This was the girl he remembered.
The girl whose character had once made him promise his oldest friend that she would become part of the Blackwood family.
She was stubborn when she needed to be.
And, most importantly, she knew the difference between right and wrong.
She did not abandon someone simply because their circumstances had changed.
Grandfather Blackwood felt a warmth spread through his heart.
He had not chosen the wrong granddaughter-in-law.
The reason for this marriage alliance went back many years.
Evelyn’s maternal grandfather, Grandfather Vale, and Grandfather Blackwood had once endured difficult times together.
During those years, both men had been sent to a harsh labor settlement far from home.
Grandfather Blackwood had been in particularly poor health.
He had suffered severe injuries and had barely survived.
When everyone else had turned away, Grandfather Vale had taken care of him.
He had shared what little food and medicine he had.
He had stayed beside him during the worst nights.
Without Grandfather Vale’s help, Grandfather Blackwood knew he might never have survived those years.
Eventually, the difficult period ended.
Both men were finally allowed to return home.
But fate had one final tragedy waiting for them.
While they were working on a dangerous mountain excavation, an unexploded charge suddenly detonated.
Grandfather Vale had been badly injured while saving Grandfather Blackwood.
His injuries were fatal.
Before he died, however, there was only one thing he remained concerned about.
His daughter, Victoria Vale.
And the child she was carrying.
Grandfather Blackwood had never forgotten his friend’s final request.
He had sworn that if Victoria gave birth to a son, he would treat the child as his own grandson.
The boy would receive the same care, protection, and opportunities as Alexander.
But if Victoria gave birth to a daughter…
Then she would marry Alexander.
And he would cherish her as though she were his own granddaughter.
Years later, that promise had become the engagement between Alexander Blackwood and Evelyn Vale.
At the time, no one could have imagined that the two children would grow into such different people.
And no one could have imagined that one day Alexander would return from the battlefield unable to walk.
Yet now, as Grandfather Blackwood watched Evelyn standing firmly beside him, something inside him settled.
Perhaps fate had known what it was doing all along.
Perhaps Alexander had never needed someone who would love him only when he was strong.
Perhaps what he needed was someone who would remain beside him when everyone else had already decided he was broken.
Grandfather Blackwood’s gaze shifted toward his grandson.
Alexander sat silently in his wheelchair.
His expression remained cold.
But for the first time since returning home, there was something different in his eyes.
A faint, almost imperceptible warmth.
Because Evelyn Vale had just said something no one else had dared to say.
She believed he would stand again.
And she was willing to stay beside him until he did.