Chapter 1

"Perfect timing. This mission is extremely tough. We've received a request for help from the international community, and the mission duration will be six months."

"For these six months, you won't be able to contact the outside world. Have you thought it through? Have you told your fiancé?"

Through the crack in the door, I saw the two of them in the office, lost in each other's embrace.

Timothy Selly pulled Melissa up onto the desk, the position charged with sexual tension.

I spoke softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Mm, I've thought it through."

The boss didn't press any further.

"Good, I'll send a car to pick you up the day after tomorrow."

After hanging up, I stayed by the door, still watching their movements.

The woman's voice was seductive, almost to the point of making my bones melt.

"You're still holding onto that blind woman, Stephanie Fisher. When will you finally break up with her?"

"Even though she went blind saving you, I think everything's been paid for these three years, don't you?"

The man's voice was hoarse, filled with desire.

"You're so obedient, don't you think this is thrilling? Why don't we try something even more exciting tonight? The stuff in the guest bedroom is still there, right...?"

I couldn't bear to listen any longer, so I turned and left the hospital.

When I got home, I finally allowed myself to cry, the tears I had been holding back throughout the whole journey falling freely.

It hurt so much—how could it not?

I had been the youngest bomb disposal expert in the country, with a promising future ahead.

But three years ago, Timothy's enemies planted a bomb in his office. To save him, I was gravely injured, losing my sight in the process. Since then, my career came to a halt.

On the day I found out I was blind, I couldn't handle the blow and nearly lost control of my emotions.

Timothy held me tightly, almost choking on his words.

"Don't worry Stephanie, the doctor says your eyes can still be treated; it's just a matter of time. Don't rush."

"Even if you never see again, I'll hold your hand forever and be your eyes."

And Timothy really did live up to that promise.

For the past three years, other than work, Timothy never went out to play. He turned down all social engagements and stayed home to take care of me.

But today, on the first day I regained my sight, Timothy gave me a slap in the face, revealing that everything—his companionship and love over these three years—was a lie.

For the past three years, I had been living in the fantasy I had created for myself.

Just then, Melissa's words echoed in my mind.

"Are the things in the guest bedroom still there?"

I stumbled to the guest room, and what I saw made my belly churn—uniforms, toys, and props scattered all over the floor.

Since I couldn't see, they had carelessly left everything out in plain sight, not even attempting to hide it.

In an instant, everything clicked.

Though Timothy always came home on time after work, he frequently used the excuse of dealing with business in the study. But during those times, strange noises would often come from the house.

I found it odd, but once Timothy finished, he would always comfort me softly.

"There's nothing strange, it's just that your hearing is too sensitive because you can't see."

Now I realize, he was never working in the study; he was tangled up with Melissa in the guest room.

Just as I was thinking about this, footsteps echoed outside the door.

I quickly closed the guest room door and sat on the sofa.

"Stephanie, Dr. Melissa Yates was concerned about your eyes, so she came by to check on you."

"I happened to run into her at the door, so we came in together."

They didn't know that I could see now, so they didn't bother hiding their actions.

I clearly saw the two of them standing at the door.

Their eyes were full of affection, fingers tightly entwined.

I silently averted my gaze.

"Alright, Dr. Yates, thank you for your concern."

At the dinner table, Timothy, as usual, served me some food.

"Stephanie, these are your favorite pasta. Eat more."

But his other hand remained intertwined with Melissa's, his finger occasionally caressing her palm.

I forced a bitter smile, lowering my head, just in time to see Melissa's high heels barely hanging on her feet, gently rubbing against Timothy's calf, slowly moving upwards.

Sitting beside me, Timothy let out a low groan, as if he was trying hard to restrain himself.

I pretended not to notice.

"What's wrong, Timothy? Are you not feeling well?"

Timothy's gaze was fixed on Melissa, but his reply was directed at me.

"No, I just bit my tongue, it's fine."

A few minutes later, Timothy stood up.

"I just remembered I have something else to take care of. Stephanie, you and Dr. Yates can eat first."

Before I could respond, Timothy hurriedly stood up and practically threw Melissa onto the sofa.

Melissa tried to scream, but when her eyes landed on me, she stopped herself.

Chapter 2

The two of them kissed passionately on the sofa, Timothy's hands eagerly roaming over her body.

I said softly.

"Dr. Yates, you should eat more."

Melissa was being pressed under Timothy. She found a moment to catch her breath and responded with a soft ‘Mmm.'

I was sitting right across from them, and every movement they made was clear to me.

They were trying hard to suppress any sounds, but to me, it felt like watching a silent film, tinged with color.

I mechanically put the sweet and sour rib that Timothy had served me into my mouth.

It tasted bitter—wasn't it supposed to be sweet and sour? Why does it taste so bitter?

The bitterness stung my eyes, and my heart ached.

After what felt like an eternity, Timothy returned to my side, shooting Melissa a glance.

Melissa understood immediately.

"Stephanie, I think your eyes are fine now. I'll leave for now, but don't forget to come back for a check-up at the hospital."

Timothy also spoke up.

"I ran into Dr. Yates after finishing some work. It's getting dark, and our neighborhood is large, so I'll escort her out."

Their lips were swollen, but their conversation was as natural as if nothing had happened.

I couldn't help but mock myself.

How many times had such lies been told over the past three years?

Timothy reached the door, opened it, and closed it behind him.

After confirming I'd heard the door close, he scooped Melissa up in his arms and carried her into the guest room.

I heard it again.

Every time he'd said he was dealing with work, the strange noises I'd heard at home came back.

Timothy, how dare he! How dare he!

I stared at the direction of the guest room for a long while, then turned and walked into the master bedroom without looking back.

This dirty scene couldn't pollute the eyes that had just healed.

The next day, when I woke up, Timothy had already left. As soon as I sat up, Melissa entered my room as if it were a familiar routine.

"Stephanie, your eyes are fine now, right?"

Hearing those words, my heart trembled, but I still managed to reply calmly.

"Dr. Yates? Why are you still here?"

"I don't understand what you mean by that."

Melissa crossed her arms, sneering as she walked to my bedside and sat down, staring directly into my eyes.

"You can deceive Timothy, but not me. I'm the most professional ophthalmologist in this city."

"You had a check-up at our hospital yesterday. Although you didn't come to my office, the doctors' computers are all linked to the exam rooms. You think I didn't see your report?"

"Do you know why you saw that scene at my office door yesterday?"

Hearing this, everything became clear to me in an instant.

Melissa had done it on purpose.

She knew I had regained my sight, and she deliberately called Timothy to the hospital, making sure I saw them embracing in the office.

Even yesterday, she deliberately tried to seduce Timothy at the dinner table. All of it was intentional.

Seeing the realization slowly settle in my eyes, Melissa smiled widely, and her tone became even more smug.

"I know Timothy promised you that he'd marry you once you got better, but..."

She paused, then placed her hand gently over her belly.

"But now I'm pregnant. So, tell me, who do you think Timothy will choose—me, or the child in my belly?"

When I didn't respond, Melissa stood up and prepared to leave.

Just before she reached the door, she turned around to look at me again.

"By the way, today's the weekend. Timothy and I are going to the old house to have dinner with the grandmother."

"I forgot to mention this, but every weekend when you think Timothy is going back to the old house alone, he's actually with me."

"If you're not convinced, you can go to the old house and take a look. After all, when it comes to choosing a daughter-in-law for the Selly family, it's still up to the grandmother."

After saying that, Melissa didn't look at me again and walked straight out of the room.

I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms.

I knew that every weekend, Timothy would go back to the old house to have dinner, but ever since I went blind, Timothy had stayed home, worried I couldn't see and didn't want me to feel uncomfortable. He always went back alone.

So, all those weekends when he said he was going alone to the old house, he had actually been with Melissa.

In the afternoon, Timothy called, as usual.

"Good girl, Stephanie. I'm going back to the old house for dinner today. You stay home and wait for me. I'll come back and keep you company after dinner."

In the past, I always obediently agreed.

I silently averted my gaze.

"Alright, Dr. Yates, thank you for your trouble."

At the dinner table, Timothy, as usual, served me food.

"Stephanie, these pasta are your favorite. Eat more."

But his other hand remained intertwined with Melissa's, and his finger occasionally traced circles on her palm.

Chapter 3

I bitterly lowered my head, just in time to see Melissa's high heels barely hanging on her feet, gently rubbing against Timothy's calf, then slowly moving up.

Sitting next to me, Timothy let out a low grunt, as though struggling to suppress something.

I pretended not to notice.

"What's wrong, Timothy? Are you feeling unwell?"

Timothy's gaze fixed on Melissa, but the words he spoke were directed at me.

"No, I just bit my tongue. I'm fine."

A few minutes later, Timothy stood up.

"I just remembered there's something I need to take care of. Stephanie, you and Dr. Yates continue eating."

Before I could speak, Timothy hurriedly stood up, grabbing Melissa and pulling her onto the sofa.

Melissa wanted to exclaim but stopped when her gaze fell on me.

The two of them kissed passionately on the sofa, Timothy's hands roaming over her body.

I softly spoke.

"Dr. Yates, please eat more."

Melissa, pinned under Timothy, found a moment to catch her breath and softly hummed in response to my words.

From where I was sitting, I had a direct view of the sofa, and every movement they made was clearly visible to me.

They tried hard to control the noise, but it felt like I was watching a muted film with a certain level of intimacy.

I mechanically stuffed the pasta Timothy had served me into my mouth.

It was so bitter. Wasn't this supposed to be sweet and sour? Why was it so bitter?

The bitterness made my eyes sting.

After some time, perhaps feeling that they couldn't keep going without consequences, Timothy returned to my side and gave Melissa a glance.

Melissa understood immediately.

"Stephanie, I think your eyes are fine now. I'll leave for today. Remember to come back for a check-up at the hospital when you have time."

Timothy spoke at this moment too.

"I just finished my work and ran into Dr. Yates on her way out."

"It's getting dark, and our neighborhood is quite large. Let me escort Dr. Yates out."

Their lips were swollen, but their conversation sounded so natural, as if what they said was the truth.

I couldn't help but feel bitter inside.

How many times had this kind of deception happened in the past three years?

Timothy walked to the door, opened it, and then closed it.

After hearing the door close, he quickly grabbed Melissa, lifting her into his arms and heading into the spare bedroom.

I heard it again.

The noises I had heard every time he mentioned "handling business" at home.

Timothy, how dare you! How dare you!

I took a long look at the direction of the spare bedroom and then walked into the master bedroom without looking back.

I couldn't let my newly restored vision be tainted by such filth.

The next morning, Timothy had already left. As I sat up in bed, Melissa walked into my room as if she was familiar with the place.

"Stephanie, you can see now, right?"

Hearing this, my heart trembled, but I still replied calmly.

"Dr. Yates? Why are you still in my house?"

"I don't quite understand what you mean."

Melissa crossed her arms, sneering as she walked to the side of my bed, staring directly into my eyes.

"You can hide it from Timothy, but not from me. I'm the most professional ophthalmologist in the city."

"You had an eye checkup at our hospital yesterday. Although you didn't come to my office, the doctors' computers are linked to the exam rooms. Do you think I couldn't see your report?"

"Do you understand why you saw that scene outside my office yesterday?"

I immediately understood everything.

Melissa had done it on purpose.

She had deliberately called Timothy to the hospital after knowing that my eyesight had been restored, so I would see them entangled in the office.

Even when she insisted on coming to dinner at our house, trying to seduce Timothy at the dinner table, that too was intentional.

Seeing the clarity in my eyes, Melissa smiled even wider, and then continued with even more confidence.

"I know Timothy promised you that he would marry you when you got better, but..."

She paused, then gently placed her hand on her belly.

"But now, I'm pregnant. Do you think Timothy will choose you or the child in my belly?"

Seeing that I didn't speak, Melissa stood up to leave.

As she reached the door, she turned back to look at me.

"By the way, it's the weekend today. Tonight, Timothy and I will go back to the old mansion to have dinner with Mrs. Selly."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Every weekend, when you think Timothy is going back alone, it's actually me who's with him."

"If you're not convinced, you can come to the old mansion and see for yourself. After all, to choose who will be the daughter-in-law of the Selly family, Mrs. Selly has the final say."

After saying these words, Melissa didn't look at me again and walked out of the room.

My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms.

I knew that every weekend, Timothy would go back to the old mansion for dinner. I was aware of that.