Chapter 1

Matthew's First-Person POV

Evelyn Carter said, "I lost a game back at the bar, so I just picked some random guy to do the dare with. I didn't expect him to be this easy to fool. I pretended to be blind and stayed with him for a whole year, and he actually believed it without question."

Lewis Ross pressed on with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Don't you ever get bored having to keep this up for so long?"

Evelyn fell silent for a moment.

I glanced over and saw her gaze lowered, hiding whatever she was feeling.

I remembered how, in the past, those beautiful eyes of hers never seemed to focus, merely staring blankly ahead. But it always felt like there was a hint of a smile in her eyes whenever I got close.

Once, I naively asked, "You can't even see, Eve. So how do you always manage to smile right at me?"

Evelyn felt around for my hand, then brought it to her lips and kissed it. "Matt, even if I can't see, I can feel you. I've imagined what you look like countless times."

Looking back now, that smile of hers was probably just mocking my naivety. I was all wrapped up in the lie she'd spun, just like a pathetic idiot.

Lewis' expression fell slightly at Evelyn's silence. His tone soured. "Don't tell me you actually fell for that broke guy?"

She finally looked up. Her gaze was clear, and a casual smile played on her lips.

"Of course not. I just thought it was fun. He's way too easy to mess with. He immediately starts tearing up as soon as I act like I'm in pain, and he'll be fine again after a little comforting. It's like keeping a well-trained golden retriever."

A sharp pain spread through my chest.

Unable to bear it any longer, I turned to leave, only for the lounge door to swing open.

Lewis stepped out and spotted me standing in the shadows. He paused for a moment, then his gaze dropped to the delivery order in my hand.

A flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. "Delivery? Give it to me."

I lowered my head in a hurry, wiping my face, not wanting Lewis to see me in my disheveled state. I handed him the takeaway bag and turned to leave.

He crossed his arms and looked at me, unhurried. "You're working hard, huh? Making deliveries even when you're crying?"

Embarrassment colored my face. It was even worse because Lewis was Evelyn's childhood friend, the one who'd witnessed the bet.

I opened my mouth to explain, but he cut me off, his tone edged with arrogance. "What, do you need money that badly because your girlfriend is sick?"

I snapped my head up and looked at Lewis. It turned out he did recognize me and was asking that on purpose.

But I wasn't surprised he did. How could he not know who I was when he was the one who suggested the bet?

Seeing me fall silent, Lewis pulled out a thick wad of cash and shoved it straight into my hands without even looking.

He said, "Take this. Evelyn just won the race, so she's in a good mood today. Think of it as a tip. She loves watching poor guys go all out for love. It's entertaining."

Evelyn's familiar laughter rang out again from inside the room. It sounded sharp and mocking to my ears.

I had spent countless sleepless nights working four jobs for her. I pushed myself until I was coughing up blood, yet I dared not even go to the hospital.

It had all just been some kind of side entertainment to Evelyn.

I took the money, clenching it tight in my hands until my nails dug into my palms.