After leaving, Raegan felt conflicted but decided to proceed. Even she was free from her own confinement. How could Mitchel still be suffering so severely?

As she reached the small garden, she spotted his silhouette in a wheelchair from a distance.

Just as Raegan was about to approach, she saw Mitchel who had been sitting suddenly stand up, using a cane.

He released the cane to take a few steps, but his other leg failed him, and he abruptly collapsed back into the wheelchair.

Raegan gasped, covering her mouth in shock. She recalled that he used to stand without a cane, and while he couldn't walk for long, he could manage a few steps on his own. How had his condition deteriorated so rapidly?

Despite falling, Mitchel didn't surrender. He attempted to rise again with the support of the cane, trying repeatedly. Yet, the outcome was unchanged. Without the cane, he was unable to walk.

Finally, Mitchel flung the cane aside and slumped into the wheelchair, his arm dangling lifelessly. His expression was one of utter defeat.

Raegan's heart ached at the sight. She couldn't fathom what had caused Mitchel's condition to deteriorate so dramatically. Erick's softened stance toward him now made sense.

Suddenly, a ball rolled and stopped at Mitchel's feet.

A chubby boy, followed by a slender one and a shorter one, hurried over to retrieve it.

When the ball landed near Mitchel, the chubby boy yelled, “Hey, you cripple!"

Mitchel didn't respond, but Raegan's hand tightened into a fist.

The chubby boy, noticing Mitchel's earlier struggle to stand, jeered loudly, “Hey, you in the wheelchair! Don't act like you didn't hear me, okay?"

Mitchel turned sharply, his eyes piercing. “Are you speaking to me?"

The chubby boy was taken aback by Mitchel's stern look but regained his bravado, thinking of his influential parents. He couldn't show weakness in front of his associates. He taunted, "Yeah, I'm talking to you. Who else here is a cripple?"

His mocking words made the shorter boy burst into laughter as well.

"Ha! This guy's hilarious, trying to stand up like that!"

Raegan was seething, desperate to confront these rude children.

Yet, she hesitated, considering Mitchel's pride. Intervening might only exacerbate the situation.

Reluctantly, she restrained herself and continued to watch.