That day, for the first time in weeks of seclusion, Leon dared to come down from his room. Sitting in his wheelchair, he pressed the button for the private elevator in his family's luxurious home. Something made his heart beat a little faster — he wanted to surprise his girlfriend, Clarisa, who he heard was coming to visit today.

As soon as the elevator doors opened on the main floor, Leon's steps halted. He hadn't even had a chance to exit when the soft sound of a conversation reached his ears.

"I'm sorry, Auntie," Clarisa's voice was clear, with a heavy tone trying to sound polite. "I can't continue this relationship with Leon anymore... I think Auntie must understand why."

Leon froze. His hands clenched on the wheels of his chair, his chest pounding as he held back the pain that suddenly struck so hard. He slowly retreated, letting the elevator doors close again. His body trembled, holding back anger, disappointment, and a deep sense of loss.

You can't continue your relationship with Leon? Gaby, Leon's mom's voice, sounded incredulous. Her eyes widened, staring at Clarisa as if to make sure she had heard wrong.

Clarisa lowered her head. "Auntie must understand... My parents don't agree anymore either. They want me to choose a more certain future..." she said in a soft voice.

Gaby sighed deeply, holding back her sadness. "Clarisa, dear... Just a little patience. Leon just needs time. He will recover. He needs someone to support him, not abandon him," she pleaded hopefully.

But Clarisa shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry, Auntie... I've been waiting... But I can't take it anymore. It feels... Leon isn't showing any changes... I can't possibly spend my life with a man who..." Her words trailed off, as if reluctant to continue.

Instantly, a deep voice filled with anger was heard behind them. "A disabled man, is that what you mean?"

Gaby and Clarisa immediately turned around. There, Leon emerged from the elevator, with a piercingly cold gaze. The wheelchair stood as a silent witness to how his body was no longer the same, but his eyes... were even sharper.

"Leon..." Gaby stammered, hurriedly approaching her son. "When did you come down? Your Mom and Clarisa were just—"

"I heard everything," Leon interrupted coldly. His gaze pierced through Clarisa, making the girl uncomfortable. "No need to lie, Mom."

Gaby gripped Leon's hand, trembling, her heart breaking at the sight of the unhealed wound in her son's eyes. She knew, Leon loved Clarisa very much. Even before the accident, they had planned a grand engagement.

Clarisa stood nervously. She wrung her own fingers, then said, "It's good that you heard, Leon. At least... you understand. I don't want to continue our relationship. I... I hope you recover soon, and find your own happiness."

Those words were like daggers stabbing Leon's chest one by one. However, the man only smirked, a smile that was not warm at all.

"As easy as that, huh?" he muttered coldly. "Just like that you leave... just because I'm no longer perfect."

Clarisa was silent. She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

"Go," Leon finally said, his voice flat. "From today, we have no relationship whatsoever anymore."

Clarisa bit her lower lip, holding back tears. Without daring to look back, she turned around and walked away from the house. Her footsteps faded into the distance, while inside the room, a chilling silence hung heavily in the air.

Gaby looked at her son with teary eyes. She wanted to hug Leon, but her steps were held back when she saw how tightly her son's jaw was clenched, how Leon's hands were clenched tightly on the wheels of his chair.

From that day on, Gaby knew... the wound in Leon's heart was not just because of his paralyzed body. But because his heart... was now completely shattered.

After Clarisa's departure, Leon could only stare at the now closed door. His heart was broken, his feelings shattered. Without saying a word, he immediately turned his wheelchair around, then directed it to the elevator to return to his room upstairs.

Gaby, Leon's mom, tried to stop him. "Leon, wait... Mom wants to talk," she said softly, hopefully.

However, Leon didn't turn around at all. He didn't even show the slightest sign that he heard his mother's voice. He kept going, as if not wanting to hear any more explanations.

Gaby fell silent. In a weak voice, she could only say, "If you need something... Mom is always there for you, son."

Without replying, Leon entered the elevator. The elevator doors slowly closed, leaving behind a heartbreaking silence. Gaby could only stand frozen in place. She understood her son's feelings very well. The wound that Leon felt was too deep to be healed with words.

Arriving upstairs, Leon went straight to his room and slammed the door shut. He locked it tightly, as if wanting to shut out the outside world that only gave him pain and disappointment. His breath was ragged, his hands trembling as he held back his emotions.

Without thinking, he moved his wheelchair towards a small cabinet in the corner of the room. His hand grabbed a photo frame of himself with Clarisa, then threw it to the floor until it shattered into pieces.

"AARRRGHH!!" he shouted in anger. "You're cruel, Cla!!!" his voice echoed through the room.

Leon shook his wheelchair roughly. His hands swept all the items on the table. Books, flower vases, clocks, and other objects flew and fell scattered on the floor.

"Why did you leave me?!" he screamed in a hoarse voice. "What did I do wrong that you could bear to leave me just because I'm paralyzed?!"

His eyes turned red. The tears that had been held back all this time spilled out. He hit his own chest while growling, "You know how much I love you! But it turns out your love was just fake, only sweet words when I was still perfect..."

The atmosphere of the room became a witness to the rage and lamentation of a man who lost everything in an instant.

"I hate you, Clarisa! I really hate you!!" he said between sobs that broke uncontrollably. "I had prepared a life to be with you... But you destroyed everything just because I can no longer stand..."

Leon hit the back of his wheelchair repeatedly. He looked down deeply, holding back sobs that came out so painfully.

Meanwhile, outside the room, Gaby could only stand right in front of her son's room door. Her body trembled hearing the screams and the sound of objects being thrown inside. Tears flowed silently, unable to hold back the sadness that was suffocating.

Gaby hugged herself, trying to dampen the pain that spread throughout her body as a mother. She couldn't imagine how broken Leon's heart was—her only son—who now not only had to face the bitter reality of his paralysis, but also being left by the woman he loved most.

She remembered when her husband passed away, just when Leon was entering college. At that time, she alone struggled to raise and guide Leon, while managing the family company. With hard work and dedication, Gaby managed to keep the company afloat. And when Leon graduated, the boy took over the company and made it grow rapidly. Leon was even dubbed as one of the most successful and respected young entrepreneurs in the city.

But everything changed after the accident.

It's been over a month since the tragedy occurred. At first, Leon was still optimistic. He believed he could recover. He diligently underwent therapy and always said that one day he would stand again, back to pursuing his dreams with Clarisa.

But that hope slowly faded. His legs showed no signs of improvement. His spirit began to wane. Moreover, today, the woman he considered his future chose to leave for a heartbreaking reason.

Not only that, business competitors who once dared not speak now began to sneer. They took advantage of Leon's condition to bring him down. Some even openly doubted Leon's ability to lead the company.

Gaby closed her eyes while sighing heavily. She knew, her son's struggle was not over. But today's wound might leave a deep mark in Leon's heart

"Hold on, son..." she whispered softly, full of prayer. "Mom knows you're strong..."

After venting all his anger and sadness, Leon finally fell asleep in his wheelchair. His breathing sounded heavy and irregular, as if the burden on his chest was too much for him to bear alone.

The room, which was usually neat and tidy, now looked messy. Shards of photo frames were scattered on the floor, books were strewn about, and a flower vase was broken in the corner of the room. All of this was concrete evidence of how deep the heartache Leon was experiencing.

No one dared to enter the room, except for two people who loved him very much—Gaby, his mother, and Bibi Eli, the head maid who had worked for their family since Gaby and her late husband got married. Bibi Eli was not just a maid. She was like family, knowing Leon's character and habits since he was a child until he grew up.

Carefully, Gaby opened the door with a spare key. Her steps were slow, as if afraid to awaken Leon's anger that might still be smoldering. Behind her, Bibi Eli followed, carrying equipment to clean up the mess in the room.

But just a few steps inside, a hoarse voice called out, startling Gaby.

"Mama…"

Gaby turned around quickly. She didn't expect Leon to wake up, even though they had entered very carefully.

"Son, I'm sorry… Mama didn't mean to disturb you," Gaby said in a soft voice, trying to calm the atmosphere.

She stepped closer to her son, while Bibi Eli immediately busied herself cleaning up the broken pieces on the floor without making a sound, trying to keep the atmosphere calm.

Gaby knelt beside Leon, gently touching her son's hand, which felt cold. "Have you eaten, dear? You haven't eaten anything since this afternoon…"

Leon shook his head weakly. "I'm not hungry, Ma," he replied flatly, without looking at his mother's face.

Gaby took a deep breath. She knew Leon wasn't just not hungry—he was rejecting life, slowly giving up on the situation.

"You have to eat, darling. You have to take your medicine too…" Gaby coaxed, trying to be as calm as possible even though her heart was breaking.

But Leon only laughed cynically. "Take medicine? What for, Ma? It's useless. A week, a month… I'm still like this. I'll never be able to walk again…" His voice was bitter, full of despair.

Gaby held back the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She mustn't cry. Not in front of Leon. She had to be strong, because her son needed that strength.

"You mustn't give up, son. Mama is sure you can recover. But you have to eat, you have to be strong…" Gaby continued to coax in a soft voice.

But Leon turned away instead. His tone rose, holding back the anger that was resurfacing.

"I said I don't want to eat! Go away, Ma! Leave me alone!" he shouted.

Gaby was stunned for a moment. She wanted to hug her son so badly, wanted to say that she would never leave him no matter what happened. But she knew that at this moment, Leon didn't want to hear any advice.

Before Gaby turned to leave, Leon spoke again, his voice cold and full of rejection. "And one more thing, Ma. You don't need to bother finding a nurse for me. I don't need a stranger to pity me. I can take care of myself!"

Gaby pursed her lips tightly, holding back the turmoil in her heart. She only nodded slightly, choosing to remain silent rather than prolonging the argument with Leon, who was fragile.

Bibi Eli, who had been listening and witnessing everything, approached Gaby after leaving the room.

"Be patient, Madam… People who are sick are indeed emotionally unstable. Master Leon just needs time. He definitely needs our support," Bibi Eli said softly, trying to strengthen her.

Gaby nodded weakly, her eyes looking teary. "I know, Eli. I know… But seeing him like this, my heart is truly broken…"

"Believe me, Madam. Everything will get better in time," Bibi Eli said, holding Gaby's hand warmly. "Besides, the nurse you're looking for will arrive today, right? Hopefully she can face Master Leon and help restore his spirit."

Gaby sighed deeply. "Hopefully… May God send the right person for my son…"

"Yes, Madam. I also pray that Master Leon will recover quickly," said Bibi Eli sincerely.

The two of them left Leon's room, leaving the boy alone with all his wounds and anger. Behind the door of that room, a young man who was once full of confidence and dreams was now trapped in the walls of despair that were slowly killing his hope.

Around three in the afternoon, a new nurse finally arrived at Leon's family home. The woman introduced herself as Mery — a nurse who had been sent by the agency to help care for Leon according to Gaby's request.

Mery wore a white nurse uniform that was quite tight and a skirt above the knee, even though Gaby had specifically ordered that the nurse wear trousers to maintain Leon's comfort.

As soon as she saw Mery's appearance, Gaby frowned. "Didn't we order her to wear trousers, Nurse?"

Mery smiled a little awkwardly, then bowed politely. "I'm sorry, Madam… This is purely my mistake. I'm used to wearing uniforms like this. I promise I'll wear trousers tomorrow."

Gaby nodded briefly. "Alright, but don't forget tomorrow. It's important."

"Yes, Madam. I understand," Mery replied quickly.

After that, Gaby escorted Mery to Leon's room upstairs. Along the hallway, Mery seemed to be trying to adjust to the atmosphere of the large house, which felt quiet and heavy.

Inside the room, Leon was sitting in his wheelchair, his back to the door, facing the large window that showed the vast garden outside. He seemed silent, lost in his own world.

Gaby's steps, carrying Mery into the room, were quite light, but still heard by Leon. But Leon remained silent, assuming that only his mother or Bibi Eli had come.

Gaby spoke up, in a careful tone, "Leon, Mama brought a nurse for you. She will help you. Her name is Nurse Mery."

Without turning around, Leon immediately replied in a snappish tone, "I told you I don't need a nurse. Get out of my room."

Gaby glanced at Mery hesitantly. She knew her son was very sensitive lately. But before she had time to decide on the next step, Mery whispered softly near her ear, "Madam, let me try to persuade him. Sometimes patients like this find it easier to talk to new people."

Gaby looked hesitant. Worry about Leon's outburst loomed in her mind. But seeing the confidence in Mery's eyes, she finally nodded slightly. "Alright. We'll go out first. But be careful," she said, half warning.

Gaby and Bibi Eli left, leaving Mery alone with Leon.

As soon as the door closed, Mery immediately took action. Deliberately, she opened the top two buttons of her uniform, showing part of her chest, then stepped slowly towards Leon with a flirtatious style.

"Young master," she said in a deliberately sweet voice, "it's not good to be angry and gloomy like this all the time. I'm here to help. Wouldn't it be better if we just worked together?" Mery was now kneeling in front of Leon, letting her body lean forward, clarifying the curves of her body that she deliberately flaunted.

Leon stared at her sharply. His cold eyes showed no interest whatsoever. Seeing Leon silent, Mery thought her plan was working. She dared to touch Leon's hand with seduction.

However, what happened was completely unexpected.

Without many words, Leon suddenly brushed Mery's hand away roughly, then in a matter of seconds grabbed her neck tightly!

Mery was shocked to death. "M-master... Master... let go..." she cried in a stuttering voice, both hands trying to release Leon's grip, but in vain.

Leon's face was so cold, his voice full of hatred as he whispered in Mery's ear, "You think I'm willing to be cared for by a cheap woman like you? Get out of here, before I really finish you off."

Mery could only nod frantically, scared to death.

Leon finally released his grip. Mery fell back on the floor, coughing hard while holding her reddened neck.

Without waiting any longer, Mery hurriedly stood up and ran out of the room. With a pale and frightened face, she met Gaby who was waiting in the hallway with Bibi Eli.

"What's wrong, Nurse Mery?" Gaby asked anxiously, seeing Mery's face.

"I-I... I can't take care of Master Leon. Sorry. I quit... I quit today too," Mery replied quickly, without explaining what actually happened in the room.

Gaby tried to persuade her, "Please, hold on a little longer. Leon is like that, but eventually he will accept your presence..."

But Mery shook her head hard. "No, madam. I don't want to risk my life. I'm afraid... I'm afraid of being killed!" she cried in a trembling voice.

Without much further ado, Mery immediately left the large house.

In her heart, Mery cursed annoyedly, "Damn it! I thought I could charm him and live comfortably. It turns out he's a monster, not an ordinary man!"

Gaby could only sit limply on the living room sofa after Mery's departure. Her head hung heavily, her mind confused. This was not the first time a nurse sent had been terrified after meeting Leon. She really didn't know what else to do.

Meanwhile, from upstairs, Leon only stared blankly out the window, letting the world spin without caring anymore.

That morning, the atmosphere at the Mahesa family's house felt quieter than usual. Gaby stood in front of the mirror, putting on a blazer. Her face looked a little tired, but her gaze remained firm. Today, she had to leave for the office earlier than usual. Inevitably, after the accident that befell Leon, Gaby now had to take direct control of the company.

With a heavy breath, Gaby finally stepped out of the house. She took a moment to glance at Leon's room, the door tightly closed. "Hold on, Leon," she murmured softly before hurrying to the car.

Arriving at the office, Gaby was immediately greeted by Rafael, Leon's trusted assistant. "Good morning, Mrs. Gaby," Rafa greeted politely as he walked closer.

"Morning, Rafa. How are the meeting preparations?" Gaby asked, quickening her pace towards the elevator.

"All the managers are gathered in the meeting room, Madam. They are waiting for your arrival," Rafa reported quickly.

Gaby nodded, and they both entered the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Rafa seemed hesitant for a moment before finally starting a conversation.

"A few days ago, I tried to contact Mr. Leon, Madam. There's something I wanted to convey," Rafa said slowly, keeping his tone polite.

Gaby turned, looking at Rafa seriously. "Leon didn't return your call?"

Rafa shook his head slightly. "No, Madam. As you said, Mr. Leon's condition is not yet stable. I also heard about the incident with the new nurse."

Gabriel sighed deeply. "Yes, that's right. After the accident, his emotions became even more uncontrollable. Even the last nurse, Sister Mery, was treated roughly by Leon after only working for a day. Not to mention, Clarissa unilaterally ended their relationship. That made his condition even worse."

Rafa nodded understandingly. He hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered the courage to convey what was bothering him.

"Actually, Madam, besides the company issues... there's one more thing I wanted to say."

Gaby looked at Rafael attentively. "What is it, Rafa? Just say it."

Rafa seemed hesitant, but finally said, "A few nights ago, I accidentally saw Miss Clarissa... having dinner with Mr. Davin."

Gaby's eyes widened immediately upon hearing that. "What?!" she exclaimed in a half-whisper. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

How could Clarissa be with another man so quickly? Especially Davin. The man who is now with Clarissa, is Leon's enemy.

Gaby still wanted to ask further, but at that moment the elevator doors opened, indicating they had arrived at the meeting room floor.

"We'll talk about it later," Gaby said quickly, stepping out of the elevator, followed by Rafa.

They walked quickly towards the meeting room, where all the managers were sitting neatly waiting. When Gaby entered the room, all eyes were on her. Gaby tried to put aside her thoughts about Clarissa and Davin and focus on her task today.

The meeting went smoothly. Gaby led the discussion with assertiveness, listening to each manager's report on the setbacks that had occurred over the past month. She also deftly proposed new solutions and strategies to revive the company's performance.

In her heart, Gaby was grateful that at least today's meeting went better than she had imagined. But the thoughts about Clarissa and Davin still bothered her... and she knew, sooner or later, it would bring new problems for the injured Leon.

After the meeting, Gaby decided to go straight to the hospital. Today was Leon's routine check-up, something that had been planned since last week. Although tired after the long meeting, Gaby remained enthusiastic. She hoped there would be progress in her son's condition.

However, as soon as she arrived in the hospital parking lot, Gaby's phone rang. The name "Aunt Eli" appeared on the screen.

Gaby immediately answered the phone. "Hello, Aunt Eli?" she greeted.

From the other end, Aunt Eli's voice sounded worried. "Mrs. Gaby... sorry to bother you. But I have to tell you, Mr. Leon refuses to come to the hospital. He... he strongly refuses today's check-up."

Gaby was silent for a moment, her heart feeling heavy. "But didn't we agree to meet at the hospital today?" she asked, trying to remain calm.

"Yes, Madam. But Mr. Leon really doesn't want to. He even locked himself in his room and won't talk to anyone," Aunt Eli replied with a worried voice.

Gaby sighed deeply. She decided to sit on a chair in the hospital corridor, trying to calm her mind. Her eyes gazed far away, her mind filled with worry and exhaustion.

"What else do I have to do to make Leon want to fight for himself?" Gaby thought softly in her heart. Although tired and her heart almost despaired, Gaby refused to give up. Leon was her son. And she was determined to do anything so that Leon could recover.

As she was lost in her reverie, a small commotion from the end of the corridor caught Gaby's attention. She turned and saw a young girl in a nurse's uniform trying to feed an elderly patient who seemed stubborn.

The patient shook his head hard, refusing the spoonful offered. Even some of the food spilled on the floor.

However, the girl remained patient. A gentle smile never left her face. Patiently, she cleaned up the spilled food, then tried again to feed the patient.

"Come on, Sir. Just a little bit, okay? If you don't eat, you won't get better quickly," the girl said in a soft, patient voice.

The patient still looked away, refusing to eat.

The girl laughed softly, then continued, "You yourself said you were tired of being in the hospital all the time, right? If you want to go home quickly, you have to eat, then take your medicine. Agreed, okay?"

The patient snorted softly, but this time, when the spoon was directed back to his mouth, he finally opened his mouth, albeit reluctantly.

Gaby, who was watching from afar, unconsciously smiled slightly. There was sincerity and firmness emanating from the girl, something she rarely saw lately among the other nurses.

When the girl turned, their eyes met. The girl gave her a warm smile, and Gaby reciprocated with a small nod.

In her heart, Gaby began to form a thought: "If that girl wanted to be Leon's nurse, maybe she could make my son change his mind."

Meanwhile, the patient acted up again, this time trying to drop the spoon. But the girl deftly caught the spoon before it fell to the floor.

"Now, this Mr.... If you keep doing this, you'll be in the hospital longer, you know!" the girl blurted out, chuckling. "You have to be strong, okay. We agree, after eating, take your medicine right away, then go home quickly! Agreed?"

The patient finally nodded in resignation, making the girl smile in satisfaction.

After the eating session was over, the girl helped the patient back into the room. She tidied up the small messy table, then walked out of the ward, seemingly heading back to the nurses' station.

Gaby, who had been watching all along, immediately stood up and without thinking, she followed the girl.

"I have to talk to her," Gaby thought firmly. "I have to ask her to take care of Leon."

A new hope began to grow in Gaby's heart as she quickened her pace, chasing after the young nurse who was walking casually in front of her eyes.