Blind No More: The Billionaire's Betrayed Wife

Chapter 1

Clover's POV

The alarm on my phone chimed softly. I reached for it on the nightstand, fingers brushing cool marble before finding the device. My thumb swiped across the screen out of habit, silencing it.

Today.

My heart fluttered, then raced like it wanted to burst free. Today was the day.

I sat up slowly,steady. Three years of this room, memorized in every sound and texture.

“Damian?” My voice came out breathy, hopeful.

No answer. He must have left early again. But he’d promised to be there when I woke. Maybe he was making breakfast.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, bare feet meeting the cold tiles. My fingers trailed the familiar path along the wall—past the dresser, into the bathroom.

The cool tile underfoot, the smooth porcelain of the sink. I splashed water on my face, the droplets tracing icy paths down my cheeks.

“One more session, Clo. Then you'll really see him.” I smiled.

The thought sent warmth blooming in my chest. I pictured Damian's face from years back–stormy gray eyes that softened only for me, the way his black hair fell across his forehead.

Damian didn't know today would be my last session even though he knew I was going to be at the clinic.

The scar above his left eyebrow from the crash. The exact same one that stole my sight and almost took his face.

His parents had screamed at me in the hospital that night with accusations. “You distracted him like some lovesick girl!”

But Damian had roared at them to get out, his hand never leaving mine. “She's my wife,” he'd growled. “Mine. And I'm not leaving her side.”

He hadn't. Not once in three years.

I dressed carefully, choosing the soft cashmere sweater he loved and put on slim pants.

Almost then, the doorbell chimed. I smoothed my hair, my heart fluttering again.

“Coming!”

I moved through the living room, counting steps out of habit. Twelve to the foyer. My hand found the panel and I pressed the button to open the elevator doors.

“Mrs Hale?” The driver's voice, polite as always. “Mr Hale asked me to escort you to the clinic. He said he'll meet you there after his morning meeting.”

Disappointment pinched my chest, but I pushed it down. “Of course. Thank you, Marcus.”

He offered his arm. I took it, the wool of his jacket rough under my palm. The ride down was silent except for the soft whoosh of the elevator.

Once outside, Marcus helped me into the back of the car, the leather seat cool against my skin.

As we pulled away, I pressed my forehead against the glass. “Marcus, do you think he'll be happy when I can see again?”

“He'll be over the moon, ma'am.”

I smiled, but something in his tone felt off. I shook the thought away as soon as it came.

Soon, I was greeted with the scent of fresh water lilies, or so I thought as Dr Patel's voice came warmly. “Clover, right on time. Nervous?”

“Terrified,” I admitted with a laugh that came out shaky. “But excited. One final session before I can finally see the world again.”

“Exactly. Today we'll do the dilation drops for a window of vision. Since you've carried out other tests, this will last well. Ready?”

My hands trembled as I lay back on the exam chair. Cool drop hit my eyes–one, two. I blinked rapidly, the world already starting to blur in a different way.

‘What if this doesn't work?’ I thought to myself.

Light seeped in, fuzzy at first, then becoming clear like a camera coming into focus.

Colors.

Oh, God, colours.

The ceiling tiles were white with tiny gray specks. The walls a soft sage green. I slowly shifted my gaze to Dr Patel, just to be sure I wasn't hallucinating. She was putting on a navy coat, her smile bright with red lipstick.

Tears welled up immediately. “I can see,” my voice barely above a whisper. “I can actually see!”

She squeezed my hand. “The scans look incredible. Your optic never healed beautifully. Just give it more time and you'll be drive yourself crazy in galleries again.”

I laughed through the tears, sitting up. The room spun a little, but I steadied myself. Everything was so vivid. The clock on the wall said 10:47am. Damian should be finishing his meeting soon.

An idea sparked in me, wild and giddy. “Doctor, can I leave now? With the vision now active?”

She hesitated a bit. “Technically yes, but take it easy. No bright lights, no driving. And call if anything feels wrong.”

“Thank you, Doc.” I didn't wait for her response. I grabbed my bag–my beautiful leather bag I could finally see was deep burgundy and practically floated out of the clinic.

The city assaulted my senses with skyscrapers piercing that blue sky. Cars were streaking by, and people in coats of every shade hurrying along the sidewalk. I wanted to cry and laugh and spin in circles.

I hailed a cab instead, giving the driver the address for Hale Tower. “Please hurry. It's important.”

My reflection in the cab window caught me off guard–pale skin, hazel eyes framed by dark lashes, and auburn hair I had kept long because Damian liked running through it. I looked…beautiful.

The tower gleamed with marble and glass as soon we arrived. Without any hesitation, I got out of the car and headed inside.

The security's eyes widened as they beheld my sudden arrival. They stiffly nodded at me without question, knowing I was Mrs Hale. The private elevator whisked me up to the executive floor, my stomach churning with butterflies.

I strode out into the hallway. Voices drifted from Damian's office. First, was his deep timbre voice, then a feminine laugh.

“Oh, Damian. Who could've thought of that.”

I recognized that voice. That was Sophia's.

Damian's oldest friend and vice president in there corporation. She'd been through everything too, bringing me flowers when I was at my lowest.

I smiled, pushing the door open without knocking, my strides silent. Surprise would just be perfect!

Like a storm, the scene before me slammed like the crash all over again.

Damian stood behind his massive desk, suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up. His hand rested gently on the curve of Sophia's belly. It was round and obvious, like six months along.

She leaned into him, one hand over his, smiling up at him with shining eyes.

“I'll take care of you and our baby, Soph. Whatever it takes. Clover wouldn't know.”

“She's literally still in the dark. You've been so good at playing the devoted husband. But this-” she placed his hand more firmly on her protruding belly. “our family. Your home. You and I know Clover can never give you a child in this lifetime.”

My bag slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a thud. They both jerked around.

Damian's face drained of color. Those gray eyes I'd dreamed of seeing again widened in pure horror. “Clover–”

I could see everything now. The way Sophia's designer dress hugged her pregnancy.

A sight caught my attention and I slowly moved closer to the desk. Shit. Ultrasound photos were scattered across it, showing a perfect little profile.

“Our baby?” My voice came out small at first, then shattering.

The words tasted like ash. Three years. Three damn years of me learning to navigate the world without sight, trusting Damian completely while he was having fun!

“You touched her,” I whispered, lingering forward even as my legs threatened to buckle. “You promised me forever while you were making a baby with her.”

Sophia had the nerve to look sympathetic. “Clover, it's nothing serious. It started as one stupid night when he was broken, and you were…well you know. We didn't mean–”

“Shut up.” The words sliced out of me before I could hold it in. My hands shook as I picked up one of the ultrasound photos with a tiny foot.

Damian moved toward me, his hands outstretched like I was a fragile glass. “Baby, please let me explain. It was a mistake. I was drowning after the crash.”

“And I wasn't?” Tears burned my newly seeing eyes, blurring the room again in the worst way. “I was in the dark for three years, Damian. Every single day. And you were in her bed? Sleeping with her?”

“I stayed with you through every treatment, Clo. Every night you cried, I never left.”

The manipulative bastard.

My gaze slid to the collar of his shirt that was wearing the faint red mark of Sophia's lipstick. No. Maybe not. They couldn't possibly make out in his office.

“Oh, Clover. You shouldn't–”

“Shut the hell up!” I snapped at Sophia almost instantly, my gaze burning into hers. She flinched like I had slapped her before a grin slipped past her lips.

What was this? A show? A dream I badly wanted to wake up from?

Damian's best friend with…I mean…work partner, sleeping together? It made no sense.

“Darling, listen to me. If not what you think.” Damian started again, his tone pleading. “I just thought you wouldn't be able to give me an heir. My parents are getting impatient and I wanted to reduce the risk of you getting pregnant with–”

That very second, my hand met with his face, hot and loud. Damian’s grip on my arms loosened as he stepped back.

“How dare you?”

“Baby, I'm sorry.”

I turned to leave, my vision swimming.

“Clover, wait!” His voice cracked. “Don't do this. We can fix it. I love you!”

“You said you love me, not her.” Came Sophia's voice, gentle and venomous.

I paused at the door, my fingers gripping the frame so hard. When I looked back, I made sure he saw the furiousness in my eyes.

“You loved me in dark and not the light, Damian. You chose her.”

Without wasting any more second to listen to his voice, I rushed out, fighting back tears till the elevator started descending. Then the sobs tore out of me, raw and ugly, echoing off the mirrored walls.

By the time I reached the lobby, my expression was worn out.

I could see perfectly well who my husband really was.