Chapter 1

By the third year of living with face blindness, the only face I could recognize was Kevin Gray's.

One day, after a cold fight between us, he pushed me into a crowd in front of everyone.

"Be good," he said with a smirk. "Find me, and you can come home with me."

Amid the jeers and laughter, I frantically scanned the sea of faces until I finally found his.

I lowered my voice, begging, "I promise I'll behave. Please don't leave me."

He pulled me into his arms, whispering softly, "You did great, Ayla."

That night, we stayed together in a hotel. The next morning, I walked out holding his arm, only to come face-to-face with another Kevin standing across the lobby.

Nearly hysterical, the man shouted, "Ayla, get off my brother right now!"

It was then I realized the man I had been with all night wasn't Kevin—it was his twin brother, who had just returned from abroad.

By the third year of my face blindness, Kevin discovered a new game to amuse himself.

He started taking me out to meet his friends and deliberately leaving me behind in the group, delighting in the panic and confusion on my face as I struggled to find him.

"Kevin, isn't tonight your brother's welcome-back party? You're still playing this game?" one of his friends asked.

The city lights sparkled through the windows as Kevin brought me to yet another party.

The room was packed with people, and a young woman sat beside Kevin, clinging to his arm.

"I've never seen what face blindness looks like," she said mockingly. "Why don't you put on a little show for us?"

"Maybe next time, when I'm acting," I replied quietly.

Her name was Jenna York, an up-and-coming actress Kevin had taken a liking to recently. Spoiled by his attention, she thought she could do anything.

Tonight, she boldly danced her way over to me, her eyes filled with arrogance, assuming Kevin would indulge her whims.

But Kevin shot her a cold look.

"Make her perform? Who do you think you are?"

Jenna's smug smile froze as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gray…" she whimpered.

Kevin barely glanced at her crying face before grabbing my chin.

He studied my blank, expressionless look and laughed dryly.

"Ayla, even she knows how to use her tears to please me. Why can't you learn?"

"You're like a lifeless doll…"

After three years of dealing with my face blindness, Kevin's patience with me was wearing thin.

I turned my head slightly, avoiding his touch, trembling with fear at the game I knew was about to begin.

"Kevin," I whispered, "I'm not feeling well. Can we skip the game tonight?"

His cold fingers brushed through my hair as he smirked.

"No. I'll be sitting right here. You can come back once you find me."

He shoved me into the crowd.

His friends laughed, teasing him.

"Aren't you worried Ayla will run off?"

Kevin leaned back, carefree.

"Don't worry. She's brain-damaged. She can't remember anyone's face but mine."