The room became completely silent except for our breathing, and in that stillness I felt something unexpected beneath my hand.
His heartbeat was strong and fast, and when I shifted slightly I felt the unmistakable movement of muscles in his legs beneath me. The legs that were supposed to be completely useless moved just enough to prove that everything I had been told was a lie.
I froze in shock while he remained perfectly still beneath me. After several seconds his hand rose slowly and wrapped around my wrist in a gentle but firm grip.
“You were not supposed to discover it like this,” he said quietly.
I stared directly into his eyes and whispered in disbelief, “You can walk.”
A small muscle tightened along his jaw as he answered honestly.
“I regained the ability to walk almost two years ago. The paralysis was real at first, but physical therapy worked better than anyone expected.”
He sighed softly before continuing. “My family decided it was easier to control a helpless heir than a fully recovered one, and a tragic public image created sympathy and silence.”
I swallowed and asked quietly, “So I was just part of their plan.”