Chapter 8 Crippled

• "Charlie, my Charlie!"
• Willa shrieked, her voice filled with panic as she scooped Charlie into her arms.
• She turned to Tyler, her eyes blazing with fury. "You monster! Are you out of your mind?" she raged.
• "How dare you lay a hand on my son? I'll never forgive you!"
• However, Tyler seemed oblivious to her tirade. His eyes were bloodshot as he slowly sank to his knees.
• "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry ... " he choked out, his voice thick with despair.
• Carefully, he gathered the shattered fragments of the ruby bracelet.
• But those tears, as big as beans, fell uncontrollably to the ground.
• His tears were shattering just like the bracelet moments before.
• "This was the only thing my mother left me, the only clue I had to find them. And now you've destroyed it," he whispered, his voice filled with anguish.
• "You both deserve to die!"
• Thud!
• The sheer intensity of Tyler's fury was overwhelming. Willa felt her legs give way, and she collapsed to her knees.
• "I'm sorry! I was wrong! I beg for forgiveness. Please, spare me and Charlie," she pleaded desperately.
• "I'll pay for the bracelet, no matter the cost."
• At Oxbourne Hospital, Charlie was rushed into surgery.
• Willa frantically dialed her phone.
• "Clarissa, listen to me! If you care about your brother's life, you need to get to Oxbourne Hospital immediately," she barked into the receiver.
• "That monster Tyler attacked your brother!" Her voice was shrill with panic.
• "I don't care what meeting you're in, or how important it is. Drop everything and come here now!"
• In the midst of leading a corporate meeting, Clarissa paled.
• Tyler?
• Had he had hurt Charlie?
• Twenty minutes later, a stunning figure rushed into the hospital hallway.
• One of her high heels had snapped, and she carried it in her hand.
• "Mom, how's Charlie?" she gasped, her voice filled with anxiety.
• "Mom, answer me! How's Charlie?"
• Willa's lips quivered, and then she burst into tears.
• "Clarissa, you have to get justice for Charlie." She sobbed.
• "That beast Tyler attacked him for no reason. Charlie almost died!"
• Her voice rose to a wail.
• "I only have one son. If anything happens to him, I don't want to live either!"
• Tyler?
• Had he just crippled Charlie?
• The words hit Clarissa like a thunderbolt, and her face hardened.
• Ding!
• Just then, the operating room doors swung open.
• Charlie was wheeled out by a nurse.
• "Charlie, how are you feeling? Are you in pain?"
• Willa rushed to his side, nearly fainting at the sight of his bandaged head.
• As soon as he saw his mother and sister, Charlie launched into a dramatic performance.
• "Mom, Clarissa!" he wailed.
• "Tyler crippled me. My life is over now.
• "You must get revenge for me!"
• "Crippled ... ?" Willa exploded.
• She grabbed the surgeon by the collar.
• "What kind of doctor are you? Why couldn't you heal my son?
• "If anything happens to Charlie, I'll sue you and take you to court!"
• The surgeon sighed, exasperated.
• "Madam, please calm down."
• "Calm down? I only care about my son!"
• Willa was beyond reason, ready to create a scene in the hospital.
• Clarissa quickly intervened, pulling her back.
• "Mom, stop. Angering the doctors will only make things worse for Charlie.
• "This hospital is the best in Oxbourne. Do you want to ruin Charlie's chances of recovery?"
• Willa finally calmed down but immediately turned back to the doctor.
• "Tell me! What's wrong with my son? How long will it take for him to recover?"
• "It doesn't look good." The surgeon shook his head slightly.
• "The patient has a fractured jaw. If it doesn't heal properly, it could lead to facial deformities.
• "Additionally, his fourth lumbar vertebrae have shifted. If the impact had been just a bit stronger, he could have spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
• "His internal organs have also been damaged, and he'll need at least a month to fully recover."
• Facial deformities!
• Wheelchair-bound!
• Internal injuries!
• These diagnoses left Willa, Clarissa, and Charlie completely stunned.
• After a moment of silence, Charlie broke down, crying pitifully.
• "Mom, my life is ruined!
• "I was just trying to stop him from stealing, but he destroyed my entire future!
• "I don't want to live anymore. I'd rather die than live as a cripple!"
• Willa couldn't bear to hear Charlie's misery.
• She turned and barked orders at Clarissa.
• "You saw what happened to your brother, right?
• "I don't care how you do it, but you must drag Tyler to this hospital and make him apologize!
• "And not just apologize! He has to serve Charlie hand and foot until he recovers."
• "Mom, we don't even know all the details yet ... "
• Knowing her mother well, Clarissa tried to reason with her.
• But Willa only raised her voice in response.
• "What do you mean we don't know the details? Your brother's injuries are clear evidence!
• "You better remember! You're divorced from Tyler now, so I won't allow you to defend him.
• "If you can't even protect your brother, then don't bother calling yourself my daughter. We'll sever our mother-daughter relationship right here!"