Blaire's POV

It had been 520 days since Henry Kline told me he wanted to propose. But I didn't see a ring when he dropped to one knee.

Instead, he held out something else.

A request.

Henry asked me to donate my cornea to his mom.

“My mom’s a painter,” he said, his voice tight like he was barely holding it together. “Her sight’s going fast. I was gonna give her mine, but as president of the company, I can’t afford to lose my vision. You’re a big deal on stage, Blaire. You don’t need your sight to perform. Hell, the most famous tenor in Italy is blind.”

I hesitated, the weight of what he was asking sinking in. His eyes, those eyes I’d always thought of as warm, were now filled with desperation.

I couldn’t ignore it.

His voice softened, almost pleading, as he said, “Baby, if you do this, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your eyes for the rest of your life.”

I didn’t think twice. For love, I agreed.

The surgery was long. When I woke up, everything around me was pitch black.

“Henry?” I whispered into the void, but there was no answer.

A cold wave of panic hit me, sharp and fast. I pressed my hands to my eyes, the bandages damp with the tears I hadn’t even realized I’d been shedding. Then, I heard footsteps outside my room.

I scrambled to sit properly, my voice shaky. “Henry? Is that you?”

A cool, detached voice replied, “I’m your surgeon.”

Without another word, he guided me to a spot just a few feet away. A door separated us, but I could hear voices and laughter floating through the air.

Then, Henry’s laugh, cutting through the noise, was unmistakable and harsh in the crowd.

“That Blaire Aldridge is a real fool,” one of Henry’s friends sneered, his voice dripping scornfully. “She actually thought she was donating her cornea to your mom?”

“Yeah, right,” another added. “Henry tossed it in a fish tank when her cornea was cut out. Let the fish feed on it.”

My heart stopped. The floor beneath me tilted, and I felt like I was falling. My ears rang with their cruel words. They couldn’t be true. My cornea hadn’t gone to his mom.

'It was thrown away to feed the fish?' I shook my head in disbelief.

Then, laughter roared on.

“Remember when she broke her arm?” one voice said, almost gleeful. “Henry pretended to get mugged, and that idiot Blaire rushed in to save him. Of course, she ended up breaking her arm.”

“And don’t forget her leg!” another added. “Henry set up a roadblock, got wasted with the driver, and Blaire ran right into it, broke her calf.”

Then, Henry’s voice cut through the laughter, sharp and full of venom. “Your memories are spot on. I planned it all. Every accident. I just wanted Blaire to feel the pain Vivian went through.”

My heart shattered. I could barely breathe. The world felt like it was slipping away.

Then, my mind flashed back to three years ago.

Vivian Kennedy had been the lead in the play, 'Difficult to Cry.' I was the second lead. Normally, I wouldn’t have even stepped on that stage unless something happened to her. But an hour before showtime, Vivian, being Vivian, had overslept, and then the news came. She’d been in a terrible car crash.

The director was frantic, and in a panic, he begged me to take her place. The theater was packed, full of important people and high-ranking officials. My heart was racing, and my nerves were pulsing in fear, but somehow, I pulled off the performance of my life.

That night, I became the talk of the theater world. But now, Henry’s words shattered that illusion completely.

“I love Vivian,” he sneered, his voice dripping with spite. “Vivian can’t stand Blaire, so neither can I. Blaire’s the one who took Vivian’s future. How could I not get back at her?”

My world imploded as my view of Henry shattered.

“It was easy,” Henry went on. “I seduced her, made her trust me, made her think I was the one. She’s so damn naïve, thinking she could grow old with me. I’ll break her, piece by piece.”

The laughter roared again, each laugh a dagger in my chest. I couldn’t hold it together anymore. My body shook with silent sobs, my legs weak beneath me. I had nothing left.

Then, a calm, steady voice cut through the storm.

"Calm down, take a deep breath," the doctor said, his voice gentle but firm. "You’re better than this. You don’t deserve to be upset over those assholes."

I couldn’t stop shaking. “No. I’m not good. I’m blind now. I’d be better off dead…” I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

I felt despair like never before, like I was falling endlessly into a deep abyss, surrounded by nothing but darkness and cold. The doctor’s hand gently grasped mine, steadying me.

“You’re not blind, Miss Aldridge. Not really,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “If you agree to leave with me, if you go abroad and never see Henry again, I can make you see again.”

My mind spun, thoughts slipping away like grains of sand. All I could think about was getting my sight back.

I didn’t care who the doctor was. I’d do anything to get out of Henry.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I’ll go. I’ll go with you. Just make me see again, and I’ll never see Henry Kline again.”

Blaire's POV

The doctor carefully removed the bandages from my eyes and gently massaged specific pressure points on my forehead and the back of my head. My mind was still foggy from the lingering effects of the surgery, but then something incredible happened. Slowly, faint light began to filter through my vision.

Blurry shapes and colors followed, as if I had seen the world again for the first time.

“Oh my God... I’m not blind!” I gasped, my voice filled with disbelief.

My heart raced as I turned to the doctor, my excitement bubbling. “I can see! I can actually see!”

The doctor smiled, his appearance striking yet calm. He had this quiet confidence about him that I couldn’t quite place. Something familiar about him was there, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Blaire, do you recognize me?” the doctor asked, his grin widening.

“I'm Julian. Julian Young.” His voice was gentle, completely opposite of what I expected from someone with his bold, good looks.

'Julian Young...'

The name hit me like a ton of bricks.

It clicked.

'Julian.'

My mind raced. The student I’d helped was the one I had guided through such a rough time years ago.

Julian continued, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now, it’s my turn to return the favor.”

I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around it.

He paused for a moment before adding, “I overheard Henry and his cronies planning to throw away your cornea. So, during your surgery, I didn’t actually touch your eyes. I just activated a few pressure points to blind you temporarily. It wasn’t permanent.”

The weight of his words sank in. 'So that’s why I hadn’t truly lost my sight...'

But then, the horror of it hit me. Henry’s betrayal had been planned from the start. It wasn’t just carelessness. It was all deliberate.

Julian kept going, explaining further. “When Henry asked for your cornea, I soaked two plastic pieces in water and handed them over. They’re useless, and he didn’t know that. Now, you’ve got a chance.”

I felt my thoughts spiral. "But...Henry and his people—they had connections everywhere. They controlled everything in this city. Running away wouldn’t work. It'll be hard to escape."

Julian squeezed my hand gently, his gaze locking with mine.

“Blaire, if you trust me, if you cooperate with me, I’ll get you out of here. I promise I can take you far away.” His words were like a weight on my chest, heavy and final.

But then, something else pulled me back. 'But what about my upcoming play?'

“I’ve got to finish my play,” I said, my voice firm despite the emotions swirling in me. “The premiere of The Sapphire Blade is on June 20th, at the biggest theater in the city. I’ve been working toward this moment for three years and need to see it through.”

Julian’s expression darkened, his brows furrowing in concern. “That means you’re stuck with Henry for another month. Hm, that’s going to be tough.”

I could feel my heart sinking. But there was no way around it. 'The Sapphire Blade' was my life. I’d built it from the ground up, poured everything into it. I couldn’t just abandon my team.

After a deep breath, I made my decision. I would keep pretending to be blind. It was the only way to keep Henry from suspecting anything.

The door to my hospital room opened, and Henry walked in, his usual smug grin replaced with a look of concern.

“What are you doing?” he asked, noticing me staring blankly at my phone.

I tilted my head, pretending to be lost in the moment. “I don’t know. I was just tapping the screen. I can’t see anymore…”

Henry’s face twisted in shock as he rushed over to me. Grabbing my phone, he flipped through my photo album with rising panic.

“Baby, you accidentally deleted all our photos,” he said, his voice trembling.

I intentionally wiped them. I didn’t want any reminders of him. Of us.

“Oh? Really?” I said, sounding uninterested. “That’s too bad. But even if I kept them, I wouldn’t be able to see them again, would I?”

Henry flinched at my cold words. He quickly looked down, avoiding my now-blind eyes.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise,” he said softly.

Inside, I could feel my heart ache, but I couldn’t let him see it. My lashes fluttered, and hot tears slipped from my eyes—eyes that couldn’t see anything.

I quickly blinked them away.

Henry, in his usual overbearing way, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“No, I’m fine.” I shook my head slowly, forcing a soft smile to mask the emptiness inside.

Henry seemed anxious, gripping my arm tightly and asking over and over, "You alright, baby? With me here, being blind ain't that bad. You can’t just give up!"

I couldn’t help but scoff inside. Henry was putting on this big show like he actually gave a damn, but I knew better.

Deep down, I couldn’t help but wonder what was next on his list.

My kidney?

My heart?

He played the part of the doting boyfriend so well, it was almost convincing.

Almost.

I shook my head again and said, "Don’t worry, I’m not giving up. I still want to see the premiere of The Sapphire Blade."

Then, he said, “Speaking of the play, I’ve got a suggestion for you. Since you’re blind now, why don’t you give the lead role to Vivian?”

Blaire's POV

I couldn't believe what was happening to me. Whenever I thought Henry couldn't sink any lower, he surprised me with just how far he'd go. It wasn't enough that he had manipulated me into donating my cornea to his mother.

Now, he was pushing me to step aside for Vivian, just like he had done everything else. I didn’t even know how much more of this I could take.

“No,” I said firmly, my voice steady even though my insides were a mess. “I’ve already trained a successor. Both Amelia and Carol are great candidates for the role. Vivian isn’t qualified to take over.”

But Henry wasn't listening. He completely ignored my refusal and kept pushing, insisting I go to a party at Vivian’s house.

“Vivian just got back from abroad,” he said casually, as if that somehow made everything okay. “Our friends are throwing a welcome party for her. She’ll sing a few songs. You should come. Trust me, she’s better than your successor—maybe even better than you.”

I didn’t want to go. I really didn’t want to go, but Henry wouldn’t drop it.

So, three years after our last encounter, there I was, facing Vivian again.

She walked in like she owned the place, her haute couture dress sparkling under the lights. Her jewelry glinted as if it was its own damn light source. She was radiant, commanding every pair of eyes in the room, completely opposite me.

And here I was, playing the part of the blind woman in my sunglasses and leaning heavily on my cane. My steps were deliberate, and I kept my expression vacant, like I was trying my best to stay lost in the world I was pretending to live in.

Then she saw me. And the look on her face? Pure disdain.

“Well, look at that,” Vivian mocked. “A blind person in our midst. Blaire doesn’t sing opera anymore? Did she switch to Moonlight Over Sonata now?”

The laughter that followed from Henry’s friends felt like nails being driven straight into my heart.

Through the dark lenses of my sunglasses, I saw Vivian casually slide her arms around Henry’s neck and plant a kiss on his cheek, right in front of me. I’m sure she thought I couldn’t see, and that made her all the more bold.

Vivian even dared to smile haughtily, sticking her tongue out at me.

Willing participant in her game, Henry stroked her hair as they exchanged those affectionate little gestures. Their chemistry was so obvious that it practically suffocated me.

A sharp, aching pain gripped my chest. I could feel it burning, raw and intense. It felt like my heart was bleeding.

But I couldn’t let it show.

Not now. Not in front of them. I had to keep up the act.

“W-What’s going on?” I asked, gripping my cane tighter, my voice faltering as I feigned confusion.

Henry, unfazed by their little show, leaned in and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “Nothing. Let’s just go listen to Vivian sing.”

My heart twisted, but I kept my mouth shut.

As he pulled away, I quickly wiped the spot where his lips had just touched my skin, trying to scrub away the disgust that was rising in me. It was like I couldn’t escape the filth of it all.

Vivian sang two songs, and although she lacked any real vocal talent, I couldn’t sit there and pretend everything was fine.

I had to speak the truth.

“Your breath control’s weak,” I said, my voice remaining professional, detached. “Your high notes are too sharp, your low notes tremble. Your foundation is lacking. You know it yourself when you don’t practice for a day. When you don’t practice for three days, your peers notice. When you don’t practice for ten days, the audience notices.”

Vivian’s face immediately turned red with fury. She laughed, but it was forced, cold. “I see. Not only are you blind, but your ears must be broken, too, huh? Hey, guys, tell me—does my singing sound good?”

Her friends, predictable as ever, chimed in unison, “Yeah! It’s fucking amazing!”

Vivian turned to Henry, her eyes glinting with almost sinister satisfaction. “So, what do you think, Henry?”

There was a long pause before Henry finally spoke, his voice flat and dismissive. “You sing very well. Anyone who says otherwise must have something wrong with their ears.”

Vivian smirked and turned back to me with a cruel smile. “Did you hear that? Henry thinks your ears are the problem. Maybe you should get them checked.”

The laughter that followed was deafening, but I didn’t flinch.

Without warning, they escorted me to the hospital and locked me in a cold, metal room for a hearing test. The moment the door slammed shut, a sharp, jarring sound blared into my ears, like firecrackers going off at full volume.

I instinctively covered my ears, but it only got worse.

The sound intensified.

Nails scraping on a blackboard.

Screams.

The relentless sound of the water dripping.

I felt like my head was going to explode from the pressure.

A mechanical voice cut through the noise. “Please answer, what sounds are you hearing? Please answer, what sounds are you hearing?”

Then I realized that this wasn’t just some test. They weren’t just torturing me physically or trying to break me. They wanted me to lose my mind and to make me deaf.

Panicking, I screamed, pressing my hands harder against my ears, desperately trying to block out the nightmare. Through the thin window of the metal room, I saw Vivian standing outside, watching with cold amusement.

Her laughter echoed.

“Why the long face?” Vivian teased, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “What? You feeling sorry for Blaire?”

Standing beside her, Henry immediately relaxed. His frown melted into a fake nonchalance. “No, not at all. I just… think this is a bit much. It could have some serious consequences.”

Vivian sneered. “You don’t trust my cousin’s skills? Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”

Her ear specialist's cousin adjusted some equipment, chuckling as he worked. “She won’t die, don’t worry. The sound is only at 85 decibels. She won’t go deaf for at least another hour.”

Then, they turned to leave.

“Let’s go grab dinner,” Vivian said with a laugh, as if everything was just a joke.

Inside the room, I screamed Henry’s name with all my might. “Help me! Please, let me out!”

But the only thing I saw as I cried out was Henry’s back, walking away, leaving me to endure the torment alone.