Dominic reached down with shaking hands to inspect the black straps of his brace.
His fingers brushed against the small silver latch the little girl had just moved.
A metallic rattling sound echoed as the heavy joint unlatched itself completely now.
For three years, Doctor Evans had insisted this special brace helped his spine recover.
He was told that removing the heavy frame would cause instant permanent paralysis.
Yet as the locking pin slipped out, the tight pressure on his leg vanished.
He felt a rush of warm blood flowing back into his long muscles.
Dominic stared straight ahead as a realization hit his heart like a storm.
The heavy leg brace was not holding his weak body up at all.
It was actively locking his perfectly healthy knee joints in a fixed position.
Someone had deliberately designed the mechanical brace to keep him stuck in that chair.
He looked up as the heavy oak doors of the hall swung open suddenly.
Doctor Evans walked into the room carrying a dark leather medical bag today.
The doctor stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the loose straps.
Doctor Evans: What is going on here, why are those straps undone?
Dominic: The little girl pushed a small silver latch on the side.
Doctor Evans: Dominic, do not touch that mechanism, it is extremely dangerous!
Dominic: Is it dangerous for my health, or dangerous for your lies?
The doctor's face turned completely red as he took a quick step forward.
He tried to reach down to pull the silver pin back into place.
Doctor Evans: You do not understand the complex medical engineering involved here!
Dominic: Do not come any closer to me right now, Evans.
Dominic gripped the carved wooden armrests of his large velvet chair tightly.
He planted his bare feet firmly onto the cold white marble floor surface.
His legs shook with a mixture of muscle weakness and pure fiery anger.
The housekeeper held her small daughter close against her chest in quiet fear.
Doctor Evans: Dominic, don't stand up, you will break your spine!