Chapter 2

I ran into Xavier sooner than I expected. I was exhausted as I stepped out of my part-time shift at the hotel, and when I looked up, he was standing across the street. A cigarette hung from his lips, and his cane rested at his side.

The boredom of the rich was beyond anything I could imagine. Amanda was gone, yet Xavier still played his little games as if nothing had changed. Not far off, a man seemed to recognize him and was approaching with a flattering smile.

I shouted, "Xavier!" and ran toward him, grabbing his wrist before he could say a word.

"Come with me," I urged. "I saw someone approaching you with ill intentions. They might be debt collectors. My sister took out a huge loan before she died, and you were her boyfriend—they'll come for you.

"You can't see, and it'll be dangerous. You got hurt saving my sister. I'll protect you for her. As long as I'm alive, I won't let them hurt you. I'll never abandon you. Do you trust me?"

Something in my words seemed to touch him. Xavier hesitated, then slowly allowed me to lead him home. I kept my promise and cared for him with everything I had.

When his stomach hurt, I got up in the middle of the night to buy him medicine. Since he couldn't see, I guided his hands to familiarize him with everything around the house.

Even when my own hunger made my stomach ache, I spent my saved money on his eye checkups. While I did all of this for him, Xavier always watched me coldly, with a fleeting glint of mockery in his eyes.

At the hospital, the doctor shook his head. There was no improvement. My disappointment and worry must have been written all over my face.

As we stepped out, Xavier let out a short laugh. "I heard you sighing. Why bother? It's not like the blind person is you. What's there to be sad about?"

I froze, cupped his face, and met his eyes. For a moment, surprise flickered across Xavier's expression.

"You mean a lot to me," I said steadily. "That's why your pain hurts me, too. Your eyes are beautiful. I can't give up on them."

Xavier's throat bobbed, and a tangle of emotions flickered across his face as he looked at me.

I forced a smile despite the ache in my chest. "If you could see, I'd do anything for you."

My cheeks burned as I guided him into the apartment. In my fluster, I spilled half a glass of water on myself. The wet fabric clung to my curves, and Xavier's gaze sharpened. I pressed my lips to his, and after a heartbeat, he returned the kiss just as fiercely.

The next morning, my body ached worse than ever, but I forced myself to get up.

Xavier was already awake and handed me a necklace. "I bought this at a street stall some time ago. It's not worth much, but it's pretty. Now it's yours."

The live comments erupted.

"I can't believe Xavier is involved with this doomed one. Doesn't he know Mandy was tricked into gambling? It's dangerous!"

"Wasn't that diamond the one from the auction? Why would he give it to the doomed one? It was meant to soothe Mandy after the little black room incident!

"Are you nuts, you doomed one? Who told you it was okay to touch Mandy's man!"

I ignored the hysterical insults and stared at the necklace. If it really was the auction diamond, it would be extremely valuable. Selling it could set the rest of my life on stable ground.

Then new comments scrolled in.

"Calm down. Can't you see Xavier is planning to ditch the doomed one?"

"Mr. Wright Senior was furious when he heard about Xavier's wild behavior this year and demanded that he return immediately."

"Xavier was worried the doomed one would cling to him, so he staged an abduction and even threw himself into the sea right in front of her to break her attachment completely."

"The doomed one is still love-struck. Didn't you see how Xavier looked at her, like she's a dog about to be abandoned?"

Xavier was leaving? I clutched the diamond in my hand, feeling unsatisfied.

After days of painstakingly acting, I only got a small diamond. Meanwhile, Amanda did nothing and would simply return to have everything. It wasn't fair.