Darcey’s POV
The person I contacted was my fan club president, Jules Marchal.
After I went blind, he tried countless times to convince me to try the latest eye-replacement technology abroad.
But Alexis told me he had never heard of it and warned me not to trust Jules.
Now, I didn’t care anymore.
Even if there were serious side effects, I needed to see again.
Jules arranged everything almost instantly, like he had been waiting for me to say yes.
The next day, when they removed the bandages, I finally saw light.
My vision was still blurry, and everything overlapped, but I could barely make out people’s faces and shapes up close.
That small glimpse of clarity made me feel like I was losing my mind with joy.
Before I could call Jules to thank him, Alexis’s phone call came through.
His voice was frantic, full of guilt and worry.
“Babe, where are you? Why didn’t you come home last night?” he asked.
“I only found out you weren’t home this morning, and I nearly died worrying. What if something had happened to you? If you got hurt, I wouldn’t be able to survive,” he continued.
I held the phone, and my heart, burning from seeing light for the first time, was instantly doused with cold water.
Every word sounded sincere, like the love in his voice was real.
If I hadn’t heard what I heard last night, I probably would have melted again, like always.
After all, who could resist that kind of heartfelt love?
But now I only wanted to ask him one question.
Why?
How could he say he loved me and destroy my life at the same time?
I swallowed the words before I could say them.
I wasn’t going to get any truth from him anyway.
I took a deep breath and softened my voice back to the gentle, dependent tone he was used to.
“My eyes were uncomfortable last night, and I couldn’t reach you, so I went to the hospital myself,” I said.
His guilt deepened.
“I’m sorry, babe. I was at a work event last night. You were waiting at the hospital. I’ll come get you right now,” he said.
After hanging up, I sat in a chair in the hospital lobby and squinted as I contacted a lawyer friend I trusted to do me a favor.
I waited and waited, but Alexis never showed up.
Just as I was about to grab a cab, I saw two familiar figures on the other side of the lobby.
I pulled out my phone and turned on the camera.
There, in full view, were Alexis and Yasmine.
He was kneeling on one knee in front of her, holding her ankle, massaging it slowly and tenderly.
His movements were almost worshipful.
Pain shot up from my chest.
I thought of the countless times I had fallen during practice over the past two years.
Alexis would pick me up and call doctors to treat me.
But he had never once cared for me that gently.
Now, true love and fake love were standing right in front of me.
I could see exactly which was which.
Fake love was enough to fool a blind woman.
My heart tore in two.
Alexis suddenly looked up at me.
His expression shifted, but quickly relaxed.
Why was he tense? I couldn’t see him.
“Darcey!” he called.
He pulled me into his arms.
His voice trembled with fear.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Are your eyes still hurting?”
I had been soaked and numb from the rain all night.
Being wrapped in a familiar embrace made me crave it for a split second.
I nearly struggled to push him away.
Then a quiet gasp came from behind me.
“Alexis… my foot hurts even more,” Yasmine said.
He released me instantly and rushed to her side.
“Did I use too much force just now?” he asked.
I stood there, still feeling the warmth of him in my arms, and let out a bitter laugh.
He hurriedly explained while helping her.
“Darcey, Yasmine twisted her ankle while dancing. I’m taking her to get it checked,” he said.
“We grew up together. She’s like a little sister. Don’t read into it,” he added.
I interrupted softly.
“Go ahead,” I said.
I didn’t cling like I used to when I couldn’t see.
I didn’t beg him to stay.
He looked a little uneasy but didn’t question it.
He bent down in front of me and picked up Yasmine.
He carried her because I couldn’t see.
I clenched my hands slowly.
My nails dug into my palms.
Before, he would always try to hide things with “she’s like a sister” excuses.
I, blind as I was, had no choice but to trust him.
But now, seeing everything clearly, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.
It wasn’t until late that Alexis finally came to pick me up.
Almost home, my phone buzzed.
A video from Yasmine came through.
It was her performance from earlier that day.
At the end of the video, Alexis walked onstage and kissed her amid the applause.
Then a voice message came through.
Yasmine’s soft, gentle voice said, “Sis, I stepped onto a new stage today. You’ll be happy for me, right?”
She added, “After all, I danced the choreography you created.”
I gritted my teeth.
I tried to ignore the video.
I asked Alexis with a trembling voice, “What does she mean, dancing the dances I choreographed?”
I stared emptily in his direction.
I still clung to a ridiculous shred of hope.
Maybe he would finally tell the truth.
Even just a little.
He didn’t even furrow his brow.
He answered naturally, “Since Yasmine found out you’re the genius choreographer ‘Butterfly,’ she’s admired you nonstop.”
“She’s been practicing the dances you made before,” he continued.
“She sent the video to let you feel her admiration, but I guess she forgot you couldn’t see yet.”
What a liar!
I almost couldn’t hold back my rage.
That dance was the one I had choreographed just a week ago.
Alexis had stolen my work and given it to Yasmine.
The second we got home, he pinned me against the door.
He kissed me, acting afraid and apologetic.
“Babe, don’t think about anything else, okay?” he said.
