Chapter 1

I got a walking stick from the doctor and left the hospital.

As soon as I reached the hallway, I heard Celine Quinton's cheerful voice. "Finally, I can see again! Cedric, you're amazing! Thank you for staying with me all this time!"

When Cedric Thompson saw me, he seemed taken aback, as though he had just remembered I existed.

"What happened to your eyes?" he asked.

"It's nothing, just got some sand in my eye," I replied.

I had said a thousand times that my left eye was nearly blind, and I didn't want to repeat myself again.

Cedric grabbed my arm, refusing to let go. "I'll blow it off for you."

Celine's mother, Rowena Jackman, pouted as she cracked some walnuts. "What else could happen? I guess she just knows how to play the pity card."

Then, she turned to the nurse and asked, "Miss, it won't cause any problems taking one of her corneas, right?"

Meanwhile, Celine blinked and looked at the doctor standing nearby.

"If the other eye is fine, there shouldn't be much impact aside from the initial discomfort," the doctor replied.

Upon hearing this, Cedric's expression changed, and he let go of my hand. "What's the big deal? It's just one cornea."

My vision blurred, and I felt a hollow ache inside me, as if a sharp knife had pierced my heart.

Cedric helped Celine walk away.

Just as I was about to follow them, Rowena stuck her foot out, tripping me.

"What's there to pretend?" Rowena spat.

I fell hard, and stars swirled in my vision as I lay on the floor, unable to get up for a while.

"Stop pretending, Nicole Harris," Cedric said, shooting me a disdainful glance.

Then, he simply walked away with Celine.

Tears fell from my eyes and onto the floor.

Half a month ago, when Celine and her parents said they were coming to treat her eyes, I agreed.

What I didn't expect was that after Celine arrived at my house, I became her maid.

I did all the chores for her, from washing clothes to cooking.

Cedric's reason for it was simple—"She's a guest."

However, I felt like I was the guest instead.

My left eye was nearly blind, and now I had to give up my right cornea for his childhood friend.

How could I expect such a man to soothe my pain?

By the time I left the hospital, they had already returned home.

All I could make out was the image blurring and flickering from time to time.

An electric car whooshed by.

My arm was scratched by it, and blood began to pour.

The driver fled, so I had no choice but to return to the hospital for treatment.

When I was just discharged, Cedric showed up.

He didn't ask about the cut on my arm but instead reprimanded me, "It's just one cornea. Do you really have to be this dramatic and not go home?"

I had barely arrived home when Rowena sharply remarked, "I see now why you're walking so slowly. You simply don't want to do the chores."

I had been in the hospital for a few days. The leftover dishes from the last meal were still on the table.

I felt like a maid, constantly being ordered around.

"Rowena is the elder. Go clean up and bring the takeout from downstairs," Cedric ordered.

I realized he had come to see me just to have me clean up the dishes.

I didn't bother arguing. After all, there was always power in numbers.

Unfortunately, Cedric never stood by my side.

I cleared the table and got the takeout, only to find that they had ordered shrimp.

Cedric peeled shrimp for Celine without caring that his hands were covered in oil. Yet, he completely forgot that I was allergic to shrimp. If the allergy was severe enough, it could cause an anaphylactic shock.

My heart sank, and the air around me became heavy, making it hard to breathe.

I silently ate my spaghetti, trying to ignore the overwhelming pain.

"Nicole, why are you only eating spaghetti? Are you upset?" Celine asked, poking at her food with little interest.

Rowena scoffed. "What else could be the problem? She thinks you owe her for taking one of her corneas."

Then, she turned to me and added, "If you're upset, take my cornea instead. Should the whole family cater to you? If you don't want to eat, go hang the clothes so we can all be happy."

Rowena kept ranting, even though I said nothing.

Cedric noticed my sour expression and placed the shrimp he was holding into my bowl, gently saying, "Don't be upset, okay?"

I stared at Cedric and said coldly, "I don't eat shrimp."

I've told him countless times that I was allergic to shrimp. I didn't want to repeat myself.

Cedric lost his patience and snapped, "You don't need to cause a scene for everyone to see. If you don't have anything to do, go hang the clothes."

Before I could respond, he poured my food out of the bowl. I stood there, staring at him for a long moment.

I bit my lip, holding back my tears with all my might. Then, I walked back to my room to avoid interrupting their cheerful meal.

Suddenly, Celine said, "I'll go check on Nicole, or I won't be able to eat."

Cedric dismissed her, saying, "Don't worry about her. Her temper is getting worse."

However, Celine ignored his words and walked into my room, finally dropping her act. She leaned in close and whispered, "Your other eye is going to be blind too, isn't it? Well, guess what? I was never blind. I just needed an excuse to stay here, but can you believe Cedric actually said he'd give me your cornea?"

Suddenly, Celine shoved me, and I fell hard onto the floor.

"No!" I cried out.

The wound that had just begun to scab over instantly bled through the bandages.

Before I could speak, Celine pretended to be scared and stepped back, saying, "Nicole, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take your cornea. Cedric cares about me. I really didn't push you."

Hearing my cries, the three of them dropped their forks and rushed into the room.

Blood seeped from my arm once again.

Rowena glared at me, jabbing a finger at my face. "How long are you going to keep up this act? Do you want to drive Celine to her grave before you're satisfied?"

Looking at the three of them conspiring together, I couldn't bring myself to argue back.

Then, as if on cue, Celine's ever-innocent father, Gilbert Quinton, let out a few well-timed tears. "I know our family comes from humble roots, but do you really have to bully Celine like this? If it bothers you so much, we'll just leave."

Cedric frowned, looking at me with great disappointment. "Seriously, Nicole, how can you be so selfish? I get that you're upset about donating your cornea, but this is too much. Apologize to Celine."

My heart plummeted when I heard him ask me to apologize.

I had lost my sight, and I couldn't understand why I was supposed to apologize to her.

I turned to leave, but Cedric grabbed my wrist. "Apologize to Celine."

He wasn't going to let me go unless I gave in.

A deep, all-consuming despair washed over me.

Though I felt wronged, I turned to Celine and said, "Celine, I'm sorry."

Then, I met Cedric's gaze. "Can I leave now?" I asked.

With that, I shook off his grip and walked away.

It felt as if my heart was being pierced by a jagged knife. The more I tried to pull away, the more it hurt. Finally, the knife was driven deeper, and my heart was torn wide open.

I slammed the door behind me and walked out of that house.