The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair

Chapter 6: If I Can’t Be Your Legs, Then I’ll Be Your Hands

The Stratton family meeting room had been tense from the very beginning. The atmosphere was heavy, palpable to anyone present. However, the tension shifted when Damien Harlow, with unwavering confidence, spoke as though he could foresee the future and the fate of the Stratton family.

Adrian Stratton was the first to break the silence, his mocking laughter echoing throughout the room.

“What did you say? I’ll bring ruin?” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Look at yourself! Besides your crippled legs, are you blind too? Can’t you see that I’m the one driving the company’s growth lately with all the new investments pouring in? Absolutely ridiculous.”

Adrian’s laughter was met with light jeers from a few other family members, including Eleanor Stratton, Celeste’s mother, who stared at Damien with a cold, disdainful expression. Margaret Stratton, Celeste’s grandmother, even smirked from her corner of the room, as if reveling in the humiliation of the man she deemed unworthy of being part of their family.

Yet Damien showed no signs of intimidation. His gaze remained steady, unflinching, despite Adrian’s words cutting like knives. In a low but resolute voice, Damien responded, “I’ll prove to all of you that my words are never wrong. And for the record, I am neither blind nor crippled!”

Every eye in the room turned to him. Gripping the arms of his wheelchair, Damien’s hands trembled slightly as he began to push himself upward. The faint creak of his wheelchair added to the growing tension. Some watched with astonishment, others, like Adrian, with smirks, clearly waiting for him to fail.

Celeste stood at the side of the room, her chest tightening. Her eyes widened as she saw Damien struggling to rise. She knew his limits better than anyone. Standing, let alone walking, was impossible for him. Yet here he was, trying.

Her emotions swirled—anger, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite name. But anger won out. Anger not only at her family for mocking Damien but at Damien himself for what she saw as a reckless, humiliating stunt.

"What does he think he’s doing?" she muttered under her breath, low enough that no one could hear. "He’s just going to embarrass himself. And me... I can’t watch this."

With her heart in turmoil, Celeste decided to leave. She couldn’t bear to witness what she was certain would end in disaster. Turning abruptly, she started toward the door.

“Running away, Celeste?” Adrian’s mocking voice stopped her in her tracks.

Damien’s attempt to stand faltered for a moment, but he stayed focused on her reaction.

"Are you afraid to face the truth that your husband isn’t just crippled but also an idiot? Looks like he came here to entertain us with his stupidity," Adrian sneered. "Before you go, why don’t you sign over the company to me, sis? That’d be the best gift for Grandma!"

Celeste froze, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"You—!" she snapped, spinning around to face Adrian, her eyes blazing with unshed tears. Her hand lifted as though to slap him.

"What? You want to hit me?" Adrian challenged, his expression smug.

Celeste bit her lip, trembling with the effort to hold herself back. A glance at her grandmother’s cold, expectant face reminded her of the stakes. Striking Adrian would give her grandmother the perfect excuse to strip her of everything.

Adrian smirked, satisfied as Celeste lowered her hand. He had always been the favored child, always gotten whatever he wanted from their grandmother.

"I’m doing this for your own good," Adrian said smugly. "But you’re too ungrateful to see it. Wouldn’t it be easier if you handed the company over to me? Then you could settle into your marriage, pop out a baby, and take care of it. Let’s just hope your baby isn’t crippled like your husband!"

Celeste trembled violently, her whole body radiating anger.

From his wheelchair, Damien, who was still struggling to rise, caught the shift in Celeste’s demeanor. His chest tightened. He could see her teetering on the edge, her emotions unraveling. That mattered more to him than proving anything to the Stratton family.

Gripping the wheels of his chair, Damien pushed himself forward, rolling between Celeste and Adrian. His back was straight, his presence commanding despite the chair.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Damien asked Celeste, his voice steady.

She turned to him, her expression conflicted. "I’m not giving him what he wants. Right now, I just want to slap him!"

Smack!

A resounding slap echoed through the room. Adrian stumbled back, his hand flying to his face, stunned. He ended up on the floor, appearing to kneel before Damien’s wheelchair, utterly silent. The stinging pain across his cheek made it clear: the slap had landed squarely on him.

It was Damien who had done it—from his wheelchair.

Shock rippled through the room. Celeste, Adrian, and every Stratton present stared at Damien in disbelief.

How dare he? A mere in-law striking Adrian, the golden child of the Stratton family?

"You—!" their grandmother began, her voice icy with fury.

Celeste’s face went pale. Panic flickered in her eyes as she turned to Damien, terrified of what might happen next. She knew Adrian wouldn’t let this slide, and their grandmother was sure to retaliate in some way.

Grabbing the handles of Damien’s wheelchair, Celeste leaned down and hissed, "Why would you do something so stupid?"

"Because you’re my wife," Damien replied calmly, unfazed by the brewing storm around them. "And I’ll always stand by your side. If I can’t be your legs, then I’ll be your hands."

"Damien..." Celeste’s voice quivered. "Why would you do something like that in front of them?"

Damien stopped rolling, positioning himself directly in front of her. His piercing gaze met hers, steady and resolute. "Because I wanted to show them I’m not someone they can push around. And because I wanted you to know that I’ll always try to stand beside you, no matter what."

His words silenced her. There was something in his tone—earnest and unyielding—that stirred something deep within her. Blinking quickly, she wiped at her eyes, trying to hide the emotions bubbling to the surface.

"I don’t need proof like that," she said softly, though her tone carried a mix of irritation and something gentler. "You’re just asking for trouble."

Celeste hadn’t expected Damien to act so boldly for her sake. And to strike Adrian of all people? The family’s precious golden boy?

He did it... simply because she was his wife?

"The only thing I need right now is my company!" she declared firmly.

Damien gave her a faint smile.

Before Celeste could process it further, Adrian scrambled to his feet, rage blazing in his eyes. Without a word, he swung a fist at Damien.

Thud!