Chapter 2

Just then, the housekeeper's voice called out from behind.

"Mrs. Baker, why are you here? When did you get back?" she asked.

The unexpected voice made everyone inside jump.

I heard Leyla's panicked voice. "Oh no, do you think she's already onto us?"

Robert sounded a little rattled too, but he kept his cool and reassured her. "No way. If she knew, she'd be raising hell by now. Remember, she can't see."

He was always so composed. By the time he stepped out to face me, every trace of panic was gone from his face.

"You're back? Why didn't you ask someone to go with you? What if something happened?" he asked.

His tone was just as gentle as ever, but if I hadn't seen the indifference and the way he was just going through the motions on his face, I might have believed it.

Turns out, he had just been playing me for a fool this whole time.

I gave a wry, sarcastic smile.

For the past five years, I hadn't just been blind in my eyes. I'd been blind in my heart too.

I didn't answer him. Instead, I suddenly turned toward Leyla. "Leyla, why are you here all of a sudden?"

Leyla jumped, blurting out, "Mrs. Baker, how did you know I was here?"

Robert and Eugene both stared at me, tense, like they were trying to read me for any sign of what I knew.

But I just lowered my eyes and smiled. "Did you forget? My nose is pretty keen. Your perfume is pretty unique."

Even I had a bottle of that perfume, and just one cost more than what Leyla made in a few months.

Leyla grew up in an ordinary family. Luxury like that wasn't really her style.

I didn't even need to think about it. Robert was definitely the one who gave it to her.

Leyla watched me warily for a good while, even waving her hand in front of my eyes to make sure I really couldn't see, only relaxing once she was sure.

"Oh, that's it. I just stopped by to discuss Eugene's upcoming piano lessons with Mr. Baker. Now that it's all sorted, I'll leave you guys to it," she said.

She tousled Eugene's hair, then suddenly turned and planted a kiss right on Robert's lips, right in front of me.

Robert was clearly caught off guard by her move. He froze, not moving an inch.

Eugene just covered his cheeks, his eyes wide with a mix of shyness and surprise as he watched.

It was obvious he was already used to seeing this kind of thing.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with his dad kissing another woman right in front of his mom.

Even though I tried my hardest to hold it in, my hand still shook.

Then Eugene grabbed my hand.

He seemed surprised by how cold my hand was. He gave me a startled look, then pulled me over to the couch.

"Mom, come here. I need to talk to you about something," he said.

He really was such a good son to Robert and Leyla.

He'd even picked up the skill of distracting me, all to help them keep up their act.

I drifted after Eugene's hand like a ghost, my ears ringing so loud I barely registered a word he said.

I watched as Leyla, her face all red, pulled away from the kiss, and saw Robert walk her out the door with that tender, almost indulgent care.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh.

I had been living like a punchline all these years. That night, I pretended I wasn't feeling well and went back to my room early.

Lying in bed, I felt like my whole body was weighed down with lead. I knew I shouldn't let myself sink into this, but I just couldn't stop.

I kept torturing myself, replaying what just happened in my mind again and again.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed from the side. My advisor had sent over the info for the exchange program.

Before I lost my sight, I was apprenticed to a renowned artist back home.

My teacher always said I was gifted. Not long after graduation, my work was already making it into galleries.

But then that accident turned my whole world upside down.

Blind as I was, how could I ever paint again?

I let myself go, drowning in self-pity, always asking myself why it had to be me?

And my advisor was always there, cheering me on.

He told me that even if I lost my sight, even if I had to start all over again, I shouldn't give up on my career as an artist.

He encouraged me to learn Braille and to start painting again.

After I regained my sight, he even helped me arrange an exchange program abroad.

If all went well, I would be heading overseas in a month.

But before that, I had got a little something planned for Robert.

From that day forward, I poured all my energy into preparing for the exchange program.

When I was busy like that, the days just blurred together, and there was no room left in my head for anything else.

Every time Leyla came by, I kept out of the living room.

I gave them all the space they wanted, leaving the whole house to them.