His "True Love" Was Fake... So Was My Corpse, Sucker! - Chapter 113: Chapter 113

His complete recovery came on an ordinary overcast day, the kind that promised rain but never delivered.
Fine mist drifted outside the window, the damp air carrying a chill that seeped into the bones.
Caleb sat in his wheelchair, silently watching two stray dogs at the hospital entrance. They were soaked through, shivering under the eaves, their matted fur clinging to ribs visible through their skin.
Thunder cracked across the sky, sending the dogs into a panic as they darted chaotically across the street, heading straight into traffic.
He suddenly saw himself and me in those two dogs.
Clinging to each other, alone in the world, vulnerable to forces beyond our control.
An overwhelming urge to save them surged through him, bypassing all logic and self-preservation.
Caleb struggled out of his wheelchair, summoning every ounce of strength to stand. The pain was there but secondary now, pushed aside by something stronger.
Starting with tentative steps, he gradually picked up speed until he was running through the rain, his movements awkward but determined.
The wind whipped his hospital gown behind him, cold raindrops hitting the ground like music cheering him on.
He rushed to the roadside in excitement, carefully gathering up both dogs and settling them in the hospital lobby. He bought a piece of boiled beef from the cafeteria, feeding them gently piece by piece.
Watching the dogs wolf down their food, warmth flooded Caleb's heart.
In that moment, his greatest wish was to become strong enough to truly protect me with more than just love—with power and money too. Resources that could stand against my family's influence.
Somehow, the Ryans—my parents—learned he was hospitalized and came straight to the facility, their expensive perfume announcing their arrival before they appeared.
My mother sat imperiously on the sofa in the waiting room, her makeup perfect even at this early hour, and kicked open the rehab room door when they finally located him.
Seeing Caleb in a wheelchair, she rolled her eyes, her contempt deepening, her tone dripping with disdain.
"I heard from the doctor you're basically crippled now. You're even less worthy of my daughter than before, which I didn't think was possible." She examined her manicure, not bothering to look at him as she delivered her verdict. "A nobody like you, trying to worm your way into our family through marriage—what a joke!"
"I told my daughter you died on the way to the hospital. She's completely heartbroken now, of course." She waved her hand dismissively. "At first, she locked herself in her room, refusing to eat—ridiculous! I had the door broken down and dragged her to the banquet hall to announce her engagement to the Sullivans. Our business will only grow stronger. What use is love? It's just a tool for climbing the social ladder!"
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "I'll give you money for treatment and send you abroad. I don't care what you do there, but you can never come back! And stay away from my daughter, or I'll make sure you have nowhere to go—not just in this country, but anywhere in the world."
My mother glared viciously, spitting out threats like venom.
Caleb had no choice then but to go to London, doing some translation work to survive while his body continued to heal.
But he never gave up on getting me back. He studied the local economy, partnered with international students and aspiring entrepreneurs, and founded an AI robotics company, pouring all his intelligence and drive into creating something that could rival my family's wealth.
Back then, Caleb worked late into the night, sometimes all night. He numbly ate bland bread at his desk, drowning in paperwork, meticulously crafting company policies to create the most comprehensive business model.
Eventually, the company grew from obscurity to global prominence, his innovative approach to AI catching the attention of tech giants worldwide.
Major industry players extended offers, collaborating on countless projects, and Caleb's wealth and influence grew exponentially.
Caleb felt he'd finally grown strong enough. His abilities and company had surpassed both the Ryans and Sullivans. He could finally bring me home, not as a fugitive but as a woman with choices.
He left the company temporarily with his deputy and rushed back to California.
But landing, he learned how I had suffered these past years—tormented by Marcus and his friends, drained of every last bit of value by my parents.
I was constantly injured or sick, even my dignity had been trampled. Yet through it all, I had maintained some core of strength, refusing to be completely broken.
But thankfully, I'd bravely chosen divorce, taking that first crucial step toward freedom.
From now on, my suffering was over. He'd give me the best of everything, make up for the years of pain, and together we'd build the life we'd always dreamed of.