Chapter 3

I was making the final preparations for my escape when Melanie Renault showed up at the mansion under the excuse of "checking on me".

Benedict happened to be at the office handling an emergency that day, so only a few maids were in the house with me.

The instant Melanie's overpowering perfume reached me, every drop of blood in my body turned cold.

"Mrs. Stiles, long time no see."

She didn't even bother hiding the satisfaction in her voice.

I stayed seated on the couch and said nothing.

Her heels clicked steadily toward me until a sharp crack suddenly broke the silence of the living room.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Melanie gave a light laugh. "I accidentally stepped on your palette. Then again, I guess you won't be needing it anymore. It's not like a blind woman can paint."

I dug my nails hard into the palm of my numb right hand. They sank into my skin, but I couldn't feel a thing.

My silence only encouraged her.

Melanie leaned in until her lips were close to my ear and lowered her voice so that no one else could hear.

"Mrs. Stiles, I have to say, your eyes are wonderful. You know, they're mine now. And last night, when Benedict looked into these eyes, you should've seen the way he kissed me…"

My stomach churned, but I tamped down the urge to vomit.

"Doesn't it bother you?" I asked coldly. "Walking around with pieces of someone else's body inside you?"

"Bother me?" Melanie laughed. "I'm about to leave for a world tour. Meanwhile, you'll spend the rest of your life trapped in this house, hiding from the world because you can't even take care of yourself."

Just then, voices sounded near the entrance.

Benedict's mother and sister had arrived.

"Oh, Melanie! You're here!"

Whitney Arnold sounded eager when she greeted Melanie. The moment her attention shifted to me, however, her tone hardened.

"Look at you. You're blind, you can't do anything for yourself, and you can't even bring Ben a glass of water anymore. What good are you as his wife? Just step aside and let Melanie marry him instead!"

Trisha Stiles immediately joined in. "Exactly. Melanie's a world-class artist who's about to go on an international tour. And you? You can't even take care of yourself."

I endured their insults in silence until familiar footsteps came from the front door.

Benedict was home.

Almost immediately, Melanie cried out and fell to the floor, knocking over the hot coffee on the coffee table as she went down.

"Ouch! That hurts!"

She clutched her wrist and looked up tearfully as Benedict entered. "Ben, I was just trying to pour Evelyn some coffee. But I think she's been in a bad mood because she pushed me all of a sudden…"

Benedict strode toward us. Without hesitation, he went straight to Melanie, carefully helped her to her feet, and moved protectively in front of her.

"Are you okay? Did the coffee burn you?"

He anxiously checked her hand, and only after making sure she wasn't hurt did he finally turn toward me, his tone accusatory and impatient.

"Evelyn, you can't see. Stop reaching around when you don't know what's in front of you! Melanie starts her tour next month. What are you going to do if she gets hurt because of you?"

I remained where I was, my empty gaze turned toward his voice.

This was the same man who had sworn to become my eyes and take care of me for the rest of my life.

Yet, the moment Melanie was involved, he didn't even bother asking what had happened before deciding I was at fault.

I lowered my head, the blood draining from my face, and made my voice as timid as possible.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to."

Seeing me so meek and helpless finally stirred the faintest trace of guilt in Benedict.

He sent Whitney, Trisha, and Melanie away, then came back to me and gently wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm sorry, honey. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that." He sighed. "To make it up to you, I've rented a private island for our anniversary next week. We'll renew our vows under the fireworks. How does that sound?"