Chapter 1

In the instant the car went off the cliff, I held on with everything I had to my fiancé, Les Sanchez, and my best friend, Sharon Swanson.

When I woke up, I was blind.

Sharon held me and cried until she nearly passed out.

Les gripped my hand tight.

"Even if it costs me everything, I will get your sight back."

For six months, they took care of me down to the smallest thing.

Until today, when I opened my eyes and the world had light again.

I held back my joy. I wanted to surprise them.

The door opened, and Les walked in leading Sharon by the hand.

"You're up? Drink some warm milk."

"Later Sharon and I are going over to Dr. Matthews. You wait here at home for us like a good girl."

He set the cup down, but his hand slipped familiarly inside Sharon's clothes.

Color rose in Sharon's face, and her voice trembled a little.

"Evie, if anything comes up, remember to call me."

Then she tilted her head up and kissed Les.

Les leaned down and kissed her back, love pooling in his eyes that wouldn't clear.

I finally understood why they were always so quiet for so long.

I closed my eyes.

Les.

Whatever light I have from now on has nothing to do with you.

...

"Evie, we're heading out. Be good at home."

Sharon's voice still carried a slight catch in it.

I leaned against the headboard and listened to their footsteps fade away.

Six months, and I could finally see again. I could also see that disgusting little scene clearly.

I pushed back the blanket and walked into the living room.

Les's phone was lying on the coffee table.

Ever since I lost my sight, he'd just toss it down anywhere, and he never set a password.

In his messages, Sharon's chat was pinned to the top.

They'd been texting right in front of me.

"Your tongue was practically in my mouth just now. I was scared Evie would hear."

"I've got it handled. Good girl, go wait for me in the garage."

My chest went tight, and then it started to ache.

Quick footsteps came from outside the door.

I put the phone back fast and closed my eyes.

The door opened.

"Why are you out here?"

Les's voice was still a little breathless.

"I wanted a drink of water."

He came over in long strides, picked up the phone, and shoved it into his pocket.

As he passed me, he bent down and straightened my slippers.

Then he poured a cup of hot water and put it in my hand.

The side of the cup was scalding, and I let go on instinct.

Crash.

The glass hit the floor and shattered, pieces flying everywhere.

Hot water splashed across the top of my foot, leaving it red.

"Evelyn Harding, what are you doing?"

There was irritation running under Les's voice.

"You can't even hold a cup steady?"

He used to blow on the water to cool it first, then bring it to my lips.

Now he couldn't even be bothered to test the temperature.

"The water was too hot."

I said it calmly.

"If it's too hot, couldn't you have set it on the table first?"

He pulled out a few tissues and wiped up the water on the floor.

He stood and straightened his tie.

From start to finish, he never picked up the broken glass.

As if he'd completely forgotten the person standing in front of him was a blind woman who could cut herself at any moment.

"I'm in a hurry. Sharon's still waiting for me in the garage."

"We can't put off dealing with the aftereffects from her accident."

When the car lost control, I was the one who held on to Sharon with everything I had.

She only got minor injuries. I was the one who took the head trauma that crushed my optic nerve and left me blind.

But in Les's eyes, she was the victim.

"Les."

I called him back.

"What is it now?"

"Do you remember what day next Wednesday is?"

He frowned and thought about it for a long time.

"Next Wednesday? What could it be?"

"Work's been really busy lately, and Sharon's got her follow-up. Stop letting your mind wander all day, always insisting on those pointless little ceremonies."

Next Wednesday was our seventh anniversary as a couple.

It was also the day he'd promised to take me to get our marriage license.

He'd forgotten it completely.

"Forget it, then."

My tone didn't rise or fall.

He looked at me for a couple of seconds, as if my calm didn't sit right with him.

Then he bent down, the pad of his thumb brushing across my face.

"Are you upset again?"

"Evie, once your eyes are healed, we'll have all the time in the world."

He lowered his voice, gentle the way he used to be.

In the past, all he had to do was coax me like this and I wouldn't have the heart to press any further.

"Be good. Once I get through this busy stretch, I'll take you for that sushi you love."

"Okay."

Les looked like he wanted to say something more, but his phone rang.

He glanced down at the message and turned and walked out the door.

The door closed again.

I dug out my phone and switched off the blind-mode.

Then I opened my email and found the application form they'd already rejected three times.

Vertex Global Munich headquarters. Internal transfer application.

Back then Les had said he couldn't be without me, had begged me to stay in the country and build his company with him.

I gave up my own future, willing to stand behind him.

After I went blind, I even felt like I was the one dragging him down.

Now I filled the form in again and hit submit.