Chapter 1 The Greedy Wife

• “I've already handled your discharge procedures.”
• “You've been paralyzed for over a year, treating you is just a waste of money.”
• “This compensation isn't even enough for my brother's wedding!”
• Inside the hospital room, Adler Quintrell seemed to melt into the wheelchair, as if his body was devoid of any bones.
• His head hung low, and his bloodshot eyes were fixed on the few people standing before him.
• The stunning woman who spoke was his wife, Yuliana Faraday.
• The others were relatives from Yuliana's maternal side.
• Over a year ago, a car accident had resulted in Adler's complete paralysis.
• Over the course of this past year, Yuliana had never truly fulfilled her duties as a wife.
• After the compensation was settled a few days ago, she suddenly showed up and even managed to drive away Cressida Coltrane, who had been taking care of him selflessly all this while.
• Since Yuliana's return, he had been subjected to all kinds of torment.
• In order to make it to the day of the surgery, Adler had been enduring humiliation and clinging onto life.
• However, when the doctor stated that there was a high chance of recovery with surgery, Yuliana, still acting in the capacity of a family member, promptly put a stop to it.
• With a single, decisive move, he was left utterly devoid of hope.
• And yet, she was actually planning to use the money he had saved for emergencies to buy her brother a car.
• She took over the only remaining house he had, to serve as a marital home for her little brother.
• “That's my life-saving money! Even if I can't be cured, I still want to give it a try!”
• At that moment, Adler felt an overwhelming sense of melancholy within.
• Yuliana looked at the completely paralyzed Adler, yet she didn't feel an ounce of sympathy.
• With a tone of disgust, she retorted, “Don't you have a clue about your own situation? Even if you get better, you won't be able to make any money. You're a hopeless case! My brother's wedding is of utmost importance.”
• Feelings of despair intensified in Adler's heart as he bellowed, “Why should my compensation and my house go toward his wedding?”
• “Simply because my sister's name is on the property deed. You're still married to my sister, aren't you? Therefore, your money and house are essentially hers. Does she need the approval of a good-for-nothing like you to manage her own stuff?” Jonathan Faraday, Adler's younger brother-in-law, said gleefully.
• He had been coveting this house for quite some time.
• Back then, Adler had purchased this apartment for less than two million, but now its value had increased several times over.
• This was real hard-earned cash.
• Adler's eyes were blazing red as he bellowed in wild fury, “So, you remember we're married when you need money? When I needed someone to look after me, where was she? Enjoying herself with someone else?”
• However, he was utterly powerless against this family due to his inability to move.
• This house was fully paid for before marriage, using the relocation payment from the demolition of his old family home.
• When he first married Yuliana, he was asked to add her name to the property deed.
• Not only did they scheme to take his compensation money, but they also shamelessly tried and seize his house.
• Despite Adler's anger, Yuliana's family simply dismissed it, their eyes filled with nothing but scorn and disgust.
• Jonathan, instead, pointed at Adler's nose, and exclaimed, “I told you not to marry this loser from the start, Yuliana. I knew he would never amount to anything in life. Look at him! He's acting like it's the end of the world just because he has to spend a little money now. This guy is totally not worthy of you!”
• Everyone in Yuliana's family wholeheartedly agreed with this.
• Suddenly, Yuliana's mother, Ivanna Watson, said, “It's your honor that someone like you could marry my daughter. If you truly love Yules, you shouldn't have selfishly drained our family. Consider the compensation and the house as a recompense for Yules' lost youth. We will take you back to your parents' place in your hometown. Perhaps it might even aid in your recovery.”
• After speaking, regardless of whether Adler agreed or not, she had him immediately escorted out of the hospital ward.
• The medical staff were quite helpless about this situation.
• As the family of the patient had voluntarily given up on the treatment, they were left in a state of helpless acceptance.
• Upon leaving the hospital, Adler, along with his wheelchair, was rudely shoved into the back seat of a van.
• The vehicle then quickly departed from the urban area of Nusridge.
• Adler was taken aback. “This isn't the way to my hometown. Where are you taking me?”
• The young man driving the vehicle gave a mysterious smile and said, “You'll know when we get there.”
• Four to five hours later, the van came to a halt on Pikecrest Road.
• Two young men helped Adler out of the car, guiding him into the forest on the right.
• Ultimately, they ventured deep into the forest, a desolate and uninhabited place off the beaten track.
• Beside it, there appeared to be a freshly dug pit.
• Yuliana, Jonathan and the others soon followed suit.
• “Do you guys intend to kill me?”
• Upon seeing the large pit, Adler stared wide-eyed at Yuliana.
• Yuliana, however, laughed, her eyes twinkling and her brows relaxed. “At this point, I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Remember when you had that car accident while driving for the ride-hailing service? It was me who drugged you. You thought the dizziness was from fatigue, didn't you? However, I didn't expect you, of all people, to be so resilient. You didn't even die from that. After you became paralyzed, my initial plan was to just let you fend for yourself. I truly didn't think such naive women still existed in this world. She has actually been taking care of you all this time, like a free caregiver.”
• Adler's heart suddenly tensed up, and his gaze filled with despair as he looked at Yuliana, trying to awaken a sliver of conscience within her.
• “Yuliana, in all our time as husband and wife, I've never done anything to betray you. I've been paralyzed for over a year, yet I never asked you to take care of me. If you don't think much of me, you're free to leave. Why do you have be so cruel to me?”
• Yuliana, however, let out a cold chuckle.
• If a divorce was pursued, and one party was incapable of self-support, even after the divorce, the court would rule that I must continue to fulfill my obligations. But if he were to die...
• Yuliana slowly crouched in front of Adler, pinching his face, she cooed with a flirtatious smile. “Don't you love me? Don't you want me to have a better life? Actually, you really don't have to work that hard. Once you're gone, I can claim your house and compensation. I could even marry a wealthy heir. Don't worry; I'll live well, just as you wished!”
• At that moment, Adler's heart felt as cold as ice.
• Yuliana and her family had clearly plotted to get rid of me long ago!
• Looking at the woman who had shared his bed for several years, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.
• I can't believe she became so diabolical...
• “All right; you can hit the road now.”
• Before Adler could utter another word, Yuliana suddenly gave a forceful push to the wheelchair. In an instant, Adler along with the wheelchair was sent tumbling into the pit.
• Adler lay on his side in the pit, and from the corner of his eye, he could see the cold and menacing gaze of Yuliana's family.
• Yuliana stood by the pit, her demeanor akin to a high and mighty queen. She watched him with an expressionless face.
• It felt as though they were not burying a person, but rather, an animal.
• In the next moment, the two young men picked up their shovels and began to bury Adler.
• It seemed as though they were deliberately burying Adler's body first, leaving his head exposed to watch himself being gradually entombed alive.
• Adler's heart was pounding wildly, his breath coming in short gasps, his mind consumed by overwhelming fear.
• As the soil enveloped his entire body, darkness consumed his vision, making it impossible for him to breathe normally.
• The scent of death quickly began to permeate, and he felt nothing but despair and helplessness.
• Adler's awareness gradually began to blur.
• Meanwhile, Yuliana and Jonathan's family had already taken their leave.
• The three young men completely filled the pit, forcefully flattening it with their iron shovels.
• Then, they gathered some branches and leaves to camouflage it.
• After all was said and done, the three young men each lit a cigarette, taking a brief moment to rest before they departed.
• Inside the pit, Adler's consciousness began to blur, his life force rapidly fading away.
• However, it was at this moment.
• The peculiar cluster on his arm, resembling a birthmark, was unexpectedly veiled with a faint halo.
• Adler felt as if he was immersed in a fantastical dream.
• In his dream, he found himself in a blank world. A rich voice echoed, as if it had weathered the passage of time, captivating his soul.
• “The seal is now lifted.
• I hereby bestow upon you the legacy of the Quintrell family—miracle Doctor of Duality!”
• In a flash, a flood of information surged into Adler's mind.
• It felt as if his mind had been forcibly torn apart and crammed with countless memories.
• It felt bizarre and abrupt, yet vivid and profound.
• “The conception meridian is like an ocean for the dark meridian. The governing meridian acts as the sea of the light meridian. If the conception and governing meridians are unblocked, then all eight major meridians will be unblocked. When the eight meridians are unblocked, all the meridians will be unblocked. The concept of the duality of light and dark corresponds to the conception and governing meridians. As for life and death, it's about pushing one to the brink of death before one can experience a rebirth. In this way, only by understanding the Duality Balance Technique, can one truly begin.”
• An epiphany suddenly dawned on Adler as the information surfaced in his mind.
• In his dream, he sat cross-legged, channeling the Duality Balance Technique according to the inherited legacy.
• It was unclear how much time had passed.
• By the time Adler abruptly opened his eyes, there was a surprising glimmer swirling within them.
• By holding his breath and flexing his arms with all his might, Adler managed to snap the ropes that bound his body.
• Then, he bent his legs, much like a tightly coiled spring, and suddenly pushed off with great force.
• Bang!
• The pit had unexpectedly burst open from the impact, and Adler shot out like a rocket.
• At that moment, Adler couldn't afford to delve into this legacy.
• Relying on his memory, he retraced his steps. After descending the mountain, he found himself on Pikecrest Road.
• And there, parked by the roadside, was a van.
• It was indeed the same one he had ridden in when he arrived.
• Three young individuals had just gotten into the car, ready to depart.
• However, he didn't catch sight of Yuliana and the others.
• Adler quickly followed after them.
• In the dead of night, the very person they had just buried with their own hands suddenly appeared before them, disheveled and covered in dirt from head to toe.
• The three young men were instantly scared out of their wits, their hairs standing on end.
• Without a word, Adler forcefully yanked the three young men out of the van.
• With a flurry of punches and kicks, he had crippled the arms of the three men.
• “Tell the Faraday family that I won't let them off the hook.”
• Adler left the trio with a single remark before he drove their van back to Nusridge.