Immediately following the wedding, the guests were startled by piercing shrieks echoing from the newlyweds’ suite…

Anna gave in, grabbing her things and trying to slip past James unnoticed. But his gaze caught her. “Where are you off to?” his voice rang out.

“Just to a friend’s for a bit, I’ll be back soon,” she tossed back, sensing his fists clench in pain as a single tear rolled down his cheek. She spent less and less time at home, returning later each time.

Rumors spread that she had a new man. Then came the day she decided to have a serious talk with James. “I’m so sorry it turned out this way,” she began.

“But let’s be honest—you’re disabled, and I want to live a full life. That won’t happen with you. I’m filing for divorce. And I’m keeping the apartment; my father bought it.”

“You and your mother have your own nice place.” James couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He turned away from Anna and hissed through gritted teeth, “Get out.”

Within days, his former fiancée had him moved out of the apartment. “Everything will be okay, don’t worry,” his mother reassured him. But to James, her words felt empty and mocking.

“Mom, listen, what can be okay? I’m disabled and useless to everyone. I don’t want to live anymore,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.

His mother grabbed his hand and broke down crying. James’s friends became mere background figures. They visited once, then disappeared.

But their parties went on nonstop, with Anna and her new boyfriend now the talk of every event, shining like showbiz stars. One day, James’s friends ended up in the same rural town where they’d once partied at a country dance.

“Man, this place is a riot. These small-town folks are like something out of a comedy movie,” Anna giggled to her new beau. She didn’t notice Emily, the girl James had once met, watching her from afar.

Emily couldn’t contain her emotions and approached the group of revelers. “Where’s James?” she asked, alarmed. The guys exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to say.

But Anna, with unshakable confidence, blurted out, “James isn’t here anymore. Now we’ve got one pathetic cripple.”

Emily glared at Anna with hatred, her anger boiling like a volcano ready to erupt. “Then why are you here?” she shouted…