Chapter 2

Snapping out of my memories, I saw Neil watching me, his voice tinged with concern.

He said, "It's fine, Audrey. If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. Just get some rest."

His voice was gentle, but he could barely hide his impatience.

He kept saying he was worried about me, all the while texting on his phone.

Neil: [I have no idea why she keeps wandering around everywhere when she can't even see. Now she's gotten hurt and I have to look after her. I'm so fed up.]

I kept a straight face, lifting my head to give him a hollow stare.

"I'm hungry," I said.

Neil frowned, then stood up and walked out. "I'll go ask Brianna to cook something for you."

Brianna Carroll was our maid and the one he was having an affair with.

Once he left, I slipped out of bed and crept over to peek through the crack in the door.

Neil and Brianna were making out like nobody was watching in the warm living room.

I remembered Neil once telling me that Brianna was someone he used to go to school with back in the day.

He said her family was struggling, and after bumping into her after all these years, he offered her a job as our live-in maid.

Brianna was always so sweet, always treating me with respect, and her cooking was pretty good, so I never really minded.

However, now, Brianna was clinging to Neil's neck, holding him close.

After the kiss, she smirked and pointed toward the bedroom.

Neil didn't even glance back. Instead, he pressed her hard against the wall and deepened the kiss.

Anger boiled up inside me. I threw the door open and stared at them, expressionless.

Neil was startled, but he kept his arm firmly around Brianna's waist.

The room was deathly silent for a moment before Neil hesitantly broke the silence. "What's wrong?"

Just as I was about to say something, Brianna melted into Neil.

She shot me a mocking smile, then leaned in and kissed Neil on his neck.

She even took his hand and guided it to her own body.

I saw Neil answering her quietly but warmly, and my heart grew even colder.

I forced myself to speak, barely managing to get the words out. "Nothing. I just wanted to let Ms. Carroll know I'd prefer something light."

Brianna's voice dripped with teasing charm and that high-and-mighty tone I had never been able to figure out.

"Don't worry, Audrey. I'll whip up something you'll love," she replied.

Back in my room, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

I had loved him for seven whole years.

Trying to get him out of my life still hurt more than I ever thought possible, especially when I saw them so practiced in their intimacy.

I couldn't bear to think how often, in the seven years I couldn't see, they might have done this right in front of me.

There were warning signs from the start. Sometimes they didn't even bother to cover it up, almost like they wanted me to notice.

Maybe the fact that I was blind made it even more thrilling for them, knowing I was right there but couldn't see a thing.

I didn't want to think about it any longer.

My birthday was coming up in three days, and Neil had already planned an engagement party for it.

Since I couldn't see, Neil didn't bother to hand me the ring; he just set the box on the cabinet.

I opened the delicate box, and the diamond ring inside was so blindingly beautiful it almost hurt to look at.

It was dazzling, but I just let out a bitter laugh.

Typical of him. He actually prepared such a large diamond even for a blind girl.

Too bad I couldn't see it. He was just showing off to everyone how much he spoiled his wife.

Seriously, it made me feel utterly sick.

Neil's voice drifted in from the living room. "Audrey, your food is on the table. I've got work at the office, so Brianna and I are leaving now."

He was in such a hurry, and before I could respond, he slammed the front door shut.

I let out a bitter laugh, feeling nothing but despair inside.

They couldn't wait to get out of here because I was interrupting them, right?

I grabbed my phone and made a call.

"I miss the ocean and the breeze," I said.

My mom sounded anxious the moment she picked up. "Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden? Did something happen?"

I held back a sniffle, trying to play it cool.

"Nothing. The air here is just way too dry. I just want to go home," I said.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hide the sadness in my voice.

After graduation, I left my hometown and moved to the city with Neil.

He said there were way more opportunities out here, and he wanted to chase his dreams.

He held my hand tight and begged my parents, sounding so sincere. "Mr. and Mrs. Stone, I swear I'll take good care of Audrey. I really love her."

Back then, I was so in love and so sure about Neil that I never hesitated to stand by him.

Even as my parents sighed, I got what I wanted. I was finally with Neil.

Neil really made it big; he built his own empire from scratch.

Now everyone treated him respectfully, but as Neil got busier, it felt like he was drifting further and further away from me.

Back then, I really thought love alone could satisfy me. However, now, all I wanted was to be back in that little coastal town, wrapped up in my parents' warm embrace.