Chapter 1

Right before our engagement, the eyes I had lost to a car accident years ago miraculously healed.

I wanted to rush and share the incredible news with Julian. But as I reached the hallway, I froze.

On the first-floor sofa, Julian and his young secretary, Chloe, were tangled together in a passionate embrace.

The living room was filled with his heavy, ragged breathing.

He kept his hand clamped firmly over Chloe’s mouth, muffling her gasps.

I had heard those sounds several times before. Whenever I asked, Julian would always laugh it off, saying he was just working out in the living room.

Chloe’s eyes drifted and caught me standing there. There was no panic in her eyes—only a cold, mocking smirk.

She pulled Julian’s hand away and said in a drippingly sweet voice, "Baby, let's switch positions. I'm tired."

Julian’s familiar, deep voice dripped with affection as he replied, "Fine, but keep it down. Otherwise, that little blind girl will start asking questions again."

"I seriously don't get what my mom is thinking. She raised a blind charity case like a princess for ten years, and now she actually expects me to marry her."

His tone turned utterly disgusted the moment he mentioned my name.

My heart shattered into a million pieces. Clutching the wall, I silently backed away and retreated to my room.

I sat in the dark room for what felt like hours, until the front door finally clicked shut downstairs.

A moment later, Julian walked into the bedroom.

He approached me from behind and leaned in. The scent of fresh sweat mixed with cheap women's perfume made my stomach turn.

"What's wrong, Nora? You look sad."

I forced myself to suppress the sheer disgust rising in my throat, pretending to know nothing. "Did we have a guest? I thought I heard Chloe's voice."

Julian paused for a fraction of a second, his voice smooth and untroubled. "Yeah, she just dropped off an important contract for me to sign. She left already."

"Anyway, Nora, working out is so exhausting. I’m going to jump in the shower."

As soon as the bathroom door closed, the phone on his nightstand began to buzz repeatedly.

I picked it up, typed in my birthday, and it unlocked instantly.

His mother, Helen, had forced him to set that password, constantly lecturing him to love and protect me.

But Julian didn't have a shred of love for me in his heart.

I opened Snapchat. The screen was flooded with messages and videos from Chloe, who had just left.

*“Jules, remember to mute before watching! I'll be waiting for you at the Grand Hotel tonight.”*

I clicked on the videos. They were explicit, high-definition clips of her and Julian. What made my blood run cold was that they had filmed them right in front of me, taking advantage of my blindness to stomp all over my dignity.

Staring at the screen, I swallowed my disgust, forwarded every single video and chat log to my own account, deleted the evidence on his phone, and put it back exactly as it was.

When Julian came out of the bathroom, he didn't check his phone. He went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Over the years, he had actually taken good care of me.

I used to hate breakfast because the housekeeper's cooking wasn't to my liking. So, Julian took it upon himself to learn how to make artisanal toast, smoothies, and oatmeal, ensuring my mornings were always perfect.

But looking at the carefully plated breakfast now, my stomach churned with pure acid.

He blew on an iced latte and held it to my lips. Seeing that I wouldn't open my mouth, his warm expression cracked. A flash of irritation crossed his face, and he silently mouthed, *“So high-maintenance.”*

A second later, he forced a sweet, patient smile. "Come on, sweetie, just a sip."

"I don't want it," I said quietly, turning my head away and pretending to fumble blindly for a plate.

He glared at me, shoved a sandwich into my hands, and grabbed his phone.

The moment he saw Chloe’s messages, his irritated eyes lit up instantly.

I chewed slowly on the sandwich, watching him rapidly type out a reply.

*“Baby, how about tomorrow? I have to take the little blind girl for her checkup in a bit, and we have family dinner tonight.”*

*“I’m sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you as soon as I’m done with her, okay?”*

Suddenly, his phone rang. He shot me a guilty look.

"Nora, keep eating. I need to take this business call."

He hurried out to the far end of the balcony. I held my breath, focusing my hearing. Over the years, my lack of sight had made my hearing incredibly sharp.

Before long, Julian’s annoyed voice drifted through the glass doors.

"If I don't take her, my mom will literally skin me alive. Do you really want to see me get grounded?"

"I must have owed her a debt in a past life. Now I’m stuck serving her like a dog."

"I don't get why she needs regular eye exams anyway. No matter how many specialists she sees, she’s still just a little blind girl."

Those words pierced straight through my chest.

I remembered high school. A group of mean boys had intentionally tripped me when I was leaving the restroom, laughing it off with a sarcastic "sorry."

But when I stumbled out, the hallway was in chaos. I heard Julian roaring, throwing punches.

He fought like a maniac, his voice shaking with rage: "You pieces of trash! What kind of man bullies a girl who can't see? I'll kill you!"

He was suspended, and his father made him kneel on the hardwood floor for two hours as punishment.

Back then, Julian truly loved me. He did exactly what his mother asked—he protected me, cherished me, and never let anyone lay a finger on me.

For someone with a disability, navigating the world is terrifying. The world is cold and cruel to those who are different.

But Julian hadn't cared. He said it broke his heart that I couldn't see the light, and swore that he would be my eyes forever.

Now, my sight was back. I thought I was finally going to see the beautiful light of the world. Instead, the first thing I saw was the pitch-black darkness of his heart.

Tears spilled silently down my cheeks.

Even now, a stupid, pathetic part of me still couldn't believe the boy I loved didn't love me back.

I walked back to the bedroom, threw the rest of the sandwich into the trash, and forced myself to calm down.

After finishing his call, Julian walked into the room, looking hesitant.

"Hey, Nora," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Something urgent came up at work. I don't think I can take you to the hospital today. Can we reschedule?"

Right on cue, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Another text from Chloe.

Chloe was his newly hired secretary. Sweet, pretty, and she had Julian wrapped around her little finger.

I forced a faint smile. "It's fine. Work comes first. Honestly, I don't even care about the checkup anymore."

His eyes lit up with pure relief. "Nora, you're the best. I'll come home right after I finish."

He turned to leave, but stopped, looking a bit guilty. "Uh, about the family dinner tonight... do you think you could..."

"I'll call Helen and tell her I'm not feeling well. I'll skip it."

*You must be thrilled, Julian. Now you can use me as your shield and run straight into Chloe's arms.*

Perhaps sensing something off in my demeanor, his brow furrowed slightly. But before he could ask, another Snapchat notification from Chloe pulled him away.

The front door slammed shut. I walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling window and watched his sports car roar out of the driveway.

I slid down the glass, burying my face in my knees, my shoulders shaking violently.

I didn't understand. How could someone change so fast?

Just because I couldn't see, did I deserve to be treated like garbage?