Chapter 1
On Christmas Eve, my blind husband Lucas Caspian's phone suddenly lit up with a stream of flirty texts from women in the city, all looking for a hookup.
Fireworks burst loudly outside, but my heart was cold and empty. I slammed the plate of pasta down on the table and said, "I want a divorce. I can't live like this anymore."
Lucas reached out, fumbling for my hand, but his fingers fell short. He lowered his head. "Okay. I'll leave the day after tomorrow. I won't hold you back. I've prepared a parting gift for our divorce."
Just then, my unborn second child suddenly freaked out inside me, desperate to get my attention.
[Mom, don't be so rash! Dad's phone was tampered with by the maid, who is trying to seduce him and take your place.
[She knows Dad's eyes will be healed next month, and those eyes can see through raw emerald stones. He'll become an emerald tycoon and billionaire in the future.
[If you divorce him now, that maid Stella will trick you into working in some unregulated coal mine, while she flaunts Dad's Imperial Emerald and lives the high life as a rich man's wife.
[Mom, look outside! What Dad prepared for you isn't a divorce gift, but a city-wide fireworks show!]
I looked into Lucas's empty yet affectionate eyes, then turned around and held him tight, tears streaming down my face. "Honey, I was just joking. It's Christmas. Let's not spoil the mood with such talk. I'll fight anyone who tries to tear us apart."
*****
Christmas Eve was supposed to be a time for family reunions.
But in that moment, my world came crashing down.
Lucas's phone, sitting on the table, suddenly lit up.
Instead of Christmas greetings, the screen was flooded with a stream of flirty messages from women nearby, all looking for a hookup.
[Hey, are you free tonight? I'm all alone and feeling so lonely.]
[Hey, blind hottie, I heard your sense of touch is amazing. Wanna see if it's true?]
There were even a few racy pics that were way too explicit.
Fireworks exploded outside the window, rattling the panes.
But inside, the room was dead silent.
I stared into Lucas's empty, unfocused eyes, and my rage exploded all at once.
Smash!
I slammed the plate of freshly made pasta hard onto the floor.
The plate shattered, and the pasta spilled everywhere, dusted with dirt.
"Lucas, let's get divorced! I can't live like this any longer!"
I shouted, tears streaming down my face.
Lucas sat frozen on the couch, his whole body tense.
He didn't argue. Instead, he fumbled for my hand, reaching out as if trying to hold me.
His fingers grasped at nothing, coming up empty.
He lowered his head, his voice raw and hoarse.
"Alright, Lindsay. I'll leave the day after tomorrow.
"I won't hold you back.
"The divorce papers are in the drawer. Everything's yours.
"I've prepared a final gift for you. It's right—"
Before he could finish, my stomach suddenly cramped hard.
Then, a babyish, angry voice suddenly blasted through my head.
[Mom! Don't be so rash!
[Come on, Mom, are you seriously that clueless? That maid, Stella Gilbert, messed with Dad's phone!]
I froze.
Who was talking?
I looked around, but it was just Lucas and me in the room.
The voice came again, even more urgent this time.
[Stop looking around! It's me, your baby, still in your belly!
[That wicked woman Stella sent the texts using a voice‑changer app while my dad was in the shower.
[She knows Dad's eyes will be healed next month.
[And now Dad's got X-ray vision. He can see straight through raw emerald stones. He's gonna be an emerald tycoon and billionaire in the future.
[If you divorce him now, that maid Stella will trick you into working in some unregulated coal mine, while she flaunts Dad's Imperial Emerald and lives the high life as a rich man's wife.
[I don't want to end up digging coal, Mom! Get a grip!
[Look outside! Dad didn't prepare a divorce gift for you. He's put on a city-wide fireworks show just for you!]
X-ray vision? An emerald tycoon and billionaire? Ending up in a coal mine?
All this info hit me like a ton of bricks. I was completely stunned.
Without thinking, I turned to look out the window.
Just then...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless dazzling fireworks exploded in the night sky all at once.
They lit up the whole city, and Lucas's pale, tender‑hearted face.
The fireworks spelled out in giant glowing letters. [Merry Christmas, Lindsay.]
My chest tightened up all of a sudden.
Turned out, he'd always been right there for me.
So it was all just a setup by that maid, Stella.
I stared into Lucas's hollow eyes, and all that anger inside me suddenly flipped to pure panic and guilt.
I almost fell for it.
Just a little more, and I would've walked right into that scheming witch's trap.
I took a deep breath, forcing back my tears.
If my kid said Lucas was faking it, then I would play along with his little show.
If that maid Stella wanted to climb her way up, I'd make sure she crashed and burned.
I rushed over and threw my arms around Lucas's neck, holding him tight.
"Honey!"
I sobbed dramatically, making sure my voice carried loud enough for anyone upstairs to hear.
"I was just messing around earlier.
"Let's not say such awful things, especially not now.
"Whoever tries to break us up, I'll fight them like hell!"
Lucas stiffened as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Just then, the upstairs door swung open.
Stella, the maid, hurried downstairs in a nearly transparent silk nightgown.
She held a cup of hot coffee in her hand, her face lined with concern, yet her eyes betrayed her hidden glee.
She said, "Mrs. Caspian, don't be angry with Mr. Caspian.
"I'm sure those texts are just a misunderstanding.
"Even though Mr. Caspian can't see, you're the only one he cares about."
Despite her sweet talk of making peace, Stella pressed herself coquettishly and clingily against Lucas.
Her hand shook as she held the cup.
Scalding hot coffee spilled right onto Lucas's crotch.
"Careful, Mr. Caspian!"
Stella cried out, squatted down, and reached to dab at Lucas's upper thigh.
Her movements were so practiced that it made me sick.
Before she could get any closer, I grabbed her wrist in a flash.
Smack!
I slapped her hand away so hard that the back of her hand turned red and swollen instantly.
"Can't you keep your hands to yourself? Or are you just that clumsy?" I snapped, my voice icy.
I fixed her with a cold glare, my gaze sharp as a blade.
Stella froze for a moment, then her eyes welled up with tears.
She shot Lucas a pleading look, her voice sickly sweet and whiny.
"Mr. Caspian, I was just trying to help you wipe it off..."
Then, she turned to me. "Mrs. Caspian, maybe you got it wrong?"
Lucas instinctively ducked behind me.