The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

lan POV

Anger. Sheer anger washes through me. I sat in the wheelchair, facing my new reality, my hands clenched together on my lap. Knox stands behind me, unsure what to say. My mood is dark. Very dark. All I can think about is everything that I have lost, being unable to walk, unable to care properly for myself, and having to rely on my family to help me. For somebody fiercely independent, it's shameful and embarrassing. I clench my jaw, as Knox fills out the paperwork, glaring at anybody who tries to get close to me. "lan" Knox's voice is soft, his eyes filled with concern as he comes back to me. "Are you ready to go?" he asks quietly.

I snort. "Do I have a choice?" my voice is bitter "It's not as though I can stop you taking me, is it Knox?" I demand, raising my eyes and staring him in the face. "I'm completely helpless to stop you, so go right ahead."

He winces "lan, I'm sorry", he begins, but I shake my head.

It's not his fault, but some small part of me, the illogical part of me, blames him for my misfortune, even though I was the one who had shoved him out of the way. As it is, the last few weeks have been filled with nothing but physical therapy, which has only served as a bitter reminder of how helpless I am, my outbursts and lashings out, causing everyone except a stubborn Knox to step back from their visits.

He begins to wheel me towards the exit as I lean back in the wheelchair, ignoring everybody's looks of pity as we pass them. My lower lip curls in disgust. I don't need anyone's pity. I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me. We make it out to the car and my bodyguard moves to pick me up, but I shake my head.

"Put the chair next to the open door". I bit out "I'll get myself in the car."

I would die first before I let him pick me up and place me in the car like a helpless child. The bodyguard blinks but does as I request. My arms shake as I use them to lift the side of the wheelchair, before managing to use my upper body to slide onto the seat, leaving the wheelchair behind, which Knox expertly folds and puts into the trunk of the limo.

Knox slides in opposite me. "You did a great job" he comments.novelbin

I don't answer. Sweat beads on my forehead. Even with all the physical therapy, I need to rebuild my upper body strength. My arms are aching from such a simple maneuver.It seems that some sentences in this chapter require you to read the complete chapters on J obni b.com in order to avoid an incomplete reading experience. Knox shuts the door and the limousine begins to make its way out of the hospital parking lot. I'm amazed that there are no media here to take photographs of the poor crippled Grant bachelor, my gaze going out to the window.

"lan, I can't apologize enough" began Knox.

"Save it" I rasp "I have nobody to blame but myself. I put myself in line with the bullet."

He looks unconvinced by my argument, but I refuse to let myself be drawn into another long discussion with him. All I want is to rest and relax. As it is, I'm wondering how I'm going to get around the large mansion in a wheelchair when everything is basically inaccessible. Father has assured me he's worked something out, but I'm hesitant to share a house with what amounts to newlyweds and a newborn baby when Lorelai gives birth soon.

The limousine pulls into the driveway. I'm forced to remain sitting and wait while Knox grabs the wheelchair from the trunk and sets it back up for me. It takes me a while to get back into the chair and I sense Knox's hesitance to offer to help me, knowing that I value what little independence is left to me. He wrings his hands together, watching, and I see a look of relief come over his face as I finally make it into the chair and pull down the side arm. He wheels the chair out of the way and the driver shuts the door. To my surprise, he began to wheel me towards the gate leading to the backyard.

"Where are we going?" my voice is tight.

Knox's eyes are twinkling. "Wait until you see your surprise" he breathes.

A surprise? I have reservations as we begin to make our way outside. To my surprise, there is a new pathway that is easy for the wheelchair to drive along, leading right to the back. We paused, and I stared at the small flat that was located outside, not far from the main house. What is this? Why is Knox smiling so broadly? It looks quaint, I admit, eyeing it, but small. Like a granny flat but at least two bedrooms.

"It's been designed specifically with you in mind" My father's voice comes from the main house as my head whips towards him "There are safety railings in the toilet and bathroom. All the cabinets in the kitchen are at waist height for you to be able to reach. It's all one story so that you don't have to worry about stairs and there is a ramp leading in and out of it, along with a path that leads to the back of the main house, so you can come and go whenever you want."

My head slowly turns back towards the small flat, or apartment. It looks sturdy. My father must have paid a fortune to have this installed so quickly. It must have already been premade.

"I've purchased a bed that can be raised to make it easier for you to get in and out at night" my father added eagerly.

Silence. Knox put his hands in his pockets and shifted his feet. "Was this the surprise?" my voice is flat and devoid of emotion.

Knox winced. "Yes," he said remorsefully, "we thought that you would appreciate having a place of your own, considering that the mansion is not quite equipped for..." he trailed off as I let out a snort.

"A disabled person" I, finished dully.

"If you prefer to remain in the mansion, we can get you a room on the bottom floor and try to make some adjustments" my father offered, "but with all the physical therapy you need to do, I thought you would be more comfortable..." "Out of sight and out of mind?" I supplied with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

"Of course not," my father said indignantly, looking hurt. "I just wanted what was best for you son."

I closed my eyes, breathing shallowly. I was behaving like an a*s, but it was like something had come over me and I couldn't stop. Every part of me was filled with blinding anger. Knox wheeled me to the front door of the apartment and fished out a key from his pocket, silently handing it to me. I stuck it into the lock and then pushed the door open, Knox wheeling me inside.

As apartments went, it was adequate. The walls were a plain creamy color that it had no doubt come in. The kitchen was roomy, large enough to wheel my chair in and spin it around, the cabinets plain white. The fridge was shorter, but that didn't bother me. No doubt the cook will bring me meals. The bathroom was large as well, the railings were provided to give me as much independence as possible in order to sit on the toilet or in the shower on a separate shower chair. The taps were lower in the shower so that I could reach them. The bathroom vanity was at waist height. The bedrooms, two of them, were large and spacious. Mine consisted of a large bed that could be raised or lowered, a low bedside table, and a low chest of drawers, along with a television and remote. There was nothing too fancy about it. It was plain. The other room was similar but with a normal bed and a normal chest of drawers.

"It can be decorated according to your taste" my father's voice was grave.

What do I care what color the walls are, or if they contain artwork? "I don't intend on staying here forever, I will be walking again soon" my voice is low and dismissive.

I saw Father shoot Knox a concerned look. I pretended to be oblivious to it. "lan, the doctor said there was a slim chance you would be able to walk again." "Exactly" my voice was a matter of fact, "so there is a chance I will walk again."

Silence. My father cleared his throat. "Okay," he said slowly as I turned to look at him, "well, the next step is to hire a nurse or care aide to help you in your daily life and assist with your physical therapy exercises," he said as I sat there flattening my lips and feeling mulish.

"I don't need them" I mumbled.

"lan, don't be stubborn. Knox and I will help, of course, but we can't be here every hour of the day. You need somebody, even if they prepare your meals or do just the exercises with you."

I glower at both of them. "I'm holding the interviews tomorrow morning at ten am and whichever one you choose, will end up being your live-in carer. I plan on hiring two, one for the weekdays and one for weekends."

"Get one, but not live in. They can leave at night, and I'll be fine". My tone brooks no arguments.

My father sighs "I have a feeling that I'll regret this, but as you wish" he says quietly, "you should at least get a say in who is going to be the one that is hired."

"I'll be there," I said dismissively and gestured towards them both. "You can leave me now."

I wanted to be left alone with my thoughts. My father frowns and opens his mouth to protest, but Knox shakes his head at him, and he shuts it and nods tightly. "We'll conduct the interviews outside tomorrow so that you may see them. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call us. We can be here within minutes." "I'm not a child" my voice is chilly. "I wish to be left alone now."

They leave, and I'm left alone in my chair, staring blankly around what is now my new home, fighting back the tears that threaten to burst forth. This is my new reality, and I'm struggling to accept it, to accept that I'm no longer the strong, powerful man that I once was. I'm just an empty shell of a man, broken, empty, and confused. Perhaps, in the end, this was what I deserved. Karma is finally coming back at me for everything I had done and for what I had walked away from in college.