Chapter 1

The last time Bella Ramirez went abroad for her eye surgery, Kevin Richardson didn't go with her. He'd told her something came up, something "more important."

So when the bandages came off and the world finally came back into focus, she couldn't wait. She rushed home, ready to surprise him.

But the moment she pushed open the front door, she realized the surprise was on her.

Kevin was in the living room. On the couch. With Alina, his secretary, tangled beneath him like they were the only two people on earth.

Alina had on Kevin's white dress shirt, the collar slipping off her shoulder, and the marks on her neck and chest were so vivid they made Bella's own heart feel bruised.

The instant Bella appeared, Alina stiffened, panic in her eyes.

She opened her mouth, ready to scream, but Kevin cut her off, crushing a kiss to her lips.

Their muffled sounds seeped into the room, and Alina whispered breathlessly, "Kevin… Bella's back…"

"Yeah? Ignore her," he said, his voice calm in a way that chilled Bella more than the scene in front of her.

Where Alina trembled, Kevin didn't even flinch. He didn't look ashamed. He didn't look caught.

He looked bored. Like Bella was nothing but someone who walked into the wrong room at the wrong time.

"She can't see," he added casually.

"Oh… right. Should we stop? This feels kinda awkward," Alina murmured, cheeks flushed. "I'm getting shy here."

"Don't be dumb," he said, almost amused. "I'm not done."

And he wasn't. He kept touching her, both of them shifting into new positions as if Bella didn't exist.

Bella stood frozen in the doorway, hands curled so tight her nails dug into her palms. She didn't feel it at first. Not until the sharp sting cut through the numbness.

She'd thought Kevin stayed behind because of something urgent.

She'd thought his absence, his distance over the past three months, meant he was overwhelmed with work, not that he barely visited her at the clinic because he was busy with someone else.

'Fine,' Bella thought coldly. 'If he says I can't see, I might as well play along.'

She wanted to see just how long he planned to lie.

"Kevin? Are you home?" she called hoarsely, reaching her hand out, grazing the furniture like she still needed to feel her way around.

Only then did Kevin stop. He straightened, pulled on his clothes, and walked toward her.

Her eyes weren't perfect yet, but her ears and nose—ever since the pain and surgeries—caught everything.

So when Kevin came close, bringing with him his cologne mixed with Alina's overpowering perfume, Bella's stomach lurched.

"I'm here. Just got home from work," he said smoothly. "What're you doing walking in alone? Where's that nurse who's supposed to stay with you?

"She didn't even tell me you were coming back. She wants to lose her job or what?"

He sounded annoyed. She felt something inside her twist painfully.

She used to think the nurse was hired to take care of her. Now she realized the woman was probably planted there to watch her.

If Bella hadn't slipped home without telling anyone, she would've never seen any of this.

She forced a smile. "Nothing happened. The surgery failed. I was upset, so I came back."

Kevin let out a deep breath, obviously relieved. "Baby, it's okay. I told you, even if you were blind forever, I'd take care of you. I'd be your eyes. Don't you remember?"

While he fed her those words, Alina was already buttoning up the shirt he'd given her.

She wriggled over, pressed a long kiss to his mouth, right in front of Bella, and then made for the door.

"I'll get going. Don't miss me too much," she teased, her voice sultry.

"Anyone else here?" Bella asked suddenly, her voice calm in a way that made Alina jump.

"Yeah, Bella. It's me," Alina replied quickly. "I was just dropping off some papers for Mr. Richardson. I'm heading out now."

She turned, but Bella said softly, "It's raining. If you don't mind, you can stay the night. Kevin, what do you think?"

Alina blinked in surprise. "I… that might not be appropriate…"

She looked at Kevin. He smiled, slow and deliberate. "Sure. Stay. I actually have some work I need to go over with you."