Chapter 3

"You think you can cheat and still expect our families to stay in business together?" Madison snapped. "Aren't you worried I'll cut ties with your father? What happens to your family's empire if there's a gap in funding? Can you afford the consequences?"

I had just finished adjusting Grace's dress when I turned to look at Madison. "Sorry, but I already told Dad to pull out of that deal. We've cut ties with your family. Completely."

"You… you canceled the deal?" Madison's face turned pale, disbelief tightening around the edges. "Caleb, are you seriously throwing away everything for a blind girl? You're really going to burn everything down just to spite me? Have you lost your mind, or has she bewitched you?"

Connor's brows knit together. He started patting his pockets, then suddenly froze. "My ring! Where the hell is my ring?!"

He turned toward us with wild eyes. "Did she take it?!"

Instantly, every pair of eyes in the boutique landed on us.

I stepped protectively in front of Grace, my gaze sharp. "She's blind. She never even passed by you. How the hell could she steal your ring?"

Connor frowned. "That ring was a gift from Madison. It's expensive. Even if I sold it secondhand, I could get enough to cover some serious medical bills. Who's to say this little nobody isn't eyeing it?"

He paused, then narrowed his eyes at me. "Or maybe… maybe you're just jealous that Madison gave it to me. So now you're putting on this whole show, trying to make her jealous and rile up a misunderstanding. Even so, Caleb, you can't let this blind girl steal from me."

Hearing that, Madison visibly relaxed. "Fine. If she gives the ring back, I won't press charges. We can still move forward with our engagement."

This wasn't the first time Connor pulled this kind of stunt. In my last life, he had slipped and fallen down the stairs but blamed me, saying I'd kicked him.

Madison had flown into a rage, ripping into me without a second thought.

Over and over, it happened. From me allegedly tearing up his homework to supposedly leading people to bully him…

Every time, no matter how outrageous the accusation, Madison always believed him without question.

At first, I'd tried to explain myself. Eventually, I stopped. She had never, not once, truly trusted me.

Now, here we were again. Same script, different day.

I stepped forward and slapped Connor across the face. "You say she stole your ring? Prove it. If you can't, that slap is your receipt for slandering my fiancée."

Connor reeled back, stunned, his eyes instantly welling up.

Madison's eyes went icy. She grabbed my wrist in fury. "Caleb, you actually laid a hand on Connor over a blind girl? Do you really think I'll let that slide?"

Her grip tightened. Her nails dug into my skin.

I flinched and was about to shake her off, but Grace moved faster.

Without hesitation, she reached out and snatched Madison's wrist, then threw it off with a sharp flick.

Madison hadn't expected it. She stumbled and crashed straight into Connor's arms.

I blinked, caught off guard.

Madison's face darkened. "How dare you lay your hands on me?"

Connor's face twisted in rage. "She's a damn blind girl. Even if she lived a thousand lives, she wouldn't be anything but a street rat, and now she thinks she can touch Madison? Caleb, this is your fault! I'm calling the cops. When they show up, neither of you is walking out of here!"

The commotion had grown terribly loud. The store manager, Colin Ward, rushed over.

Connor looked smug now. "This store is part of the Bellamy Group. Even Madison's family gives way to them. And your blind little pet dares to steal and attack people here? The manager won't let her off the hook."

He jabbed a finger toward Grace. "It's her! She stole my ring. Take her to the police!"

Mr. Ward followed his pointing finger and looked at the woman beside me. The moment he saw her face, his pupils shrank.

"Shut your mouth!" he barked. "How dare you speak that way to Miss Bellamy?!"