Darcey’s POV
I got into the back seat without a word.
As if afraid I might misunderstand, Alexis explained, “Darcey, Yasmine’s about your age. You two have similar taste, so I asked her to help pick out the ring.”
Taking advantage of the fact that I was “blind,” Yasmine leaned closer to him, her fingers slipping over to idly play with the hand he wasn’t using to steer.
“Darcey, I really envy you,” she said sweetly. “You have a fiancé who loves you this much. He’s even this attentive when choosing a wedding ring.”
Their movements were subtle, practiced.
It clearly wasn’t the first time they had flirted right in front of me.
A dull ache spread through my chest, but my expression didn’t change.
“You have plenty of admirers,” I said evenly. “If you want to get married, there’ll always be someone lining up to pick out a ring for you. There’s no need to envy me.”
Her smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before returning.
“When would I even have time to get married?” she said lightly. “I’m about to compete for principal dancer.”
She paused, as if suddenly realizing something.
“Oh, did I say the wrong thing?” Her voice softened with feigned concern. “Darcey, I’m sorry. Did I touch a nerve?”
Before I could respond, Alexis reached out and gently patted her hand in reassurance.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said calmly. “Your sister isn’t that fragile. She won’t mind.”
My heart still lurched despite myself.
There was a time I would have fallen for exactly this.
Back when I first lost my sight, everyone thought I was finished.
He was the only one who held my hand again and again, telling me, “Darcey, you won’t stay down forever. You’ll stand on that stage again.”
Back then, I thought he understood me, believed in me, and held me together.
Now, every word felt like a fucking joke.
The car stopped in front of a jewelry store.
The moment we stepped inside, Yasmine became noticeably more animated.
“This one’s pretty.”
“Oh, this one’s nice too.”
She picked out several rings in a row, but never once placed one in my hand. Instead, she slipped them onto her own fingers, turning her wrist under the light, then lifting her hand toward Alexis.
“Alexis, does this look good?”
He answered her with patience.
At first, he still glanced at me out of habit. But when he saw my blank expression, like I truly couldn’t see anything, he gradually relaxed.
He reached out and lightly patted her head, his voice soft.
“Take whichever one you like.”
The indulgence in his tone was barely concealed.
The sales associate smiled at me.
“Oh, so you’re here accompanying your younger sister and her fiancé to pick out rings?”
Yasmine immediately waved her hand with a laugh.
“No, no. My sister can’t see, so I’m helping her and my brother-in-law choose.”
When she said “brother-in-law,” she enunciated it just a little too clearly.
The sales associate hesitated, then gave an awkward smile.
“In that case, would you like to try one of our new designs? It was just created by the well-known designer Windy.”
“It’s very beautiful and one of a kind. I think you’ll like it.”
She took out the ring and was about to help me try it on.
But Yasmine’s hand reached out first.
“I’ll try it.”
She slipped the ring onto her own ring finger, then raised her hand toward Alexis.
“Alexis, look. Does it suit me?”
The sales associate couldn’t help but murmur,
“Isn’t it usually the bride who tries it on for the groom? It’s not like the groom can’t see…”
The words struck like a needle.
Yes. The groom could see.
It was just that the person he wanted to look at had never been me.
Alexis cleared his throat lightly and turned to me.
“Darcey, do you want to try it?”
Before I could answer, Yasmine had already taken the ring and walked over.
She stood close enough for me to clearly see the undisguised malice in her eyes.
I instinctively tried to pull back, but she had already grabbed my hand.
“Darcey, let me put it on for you.”
The next second, she forced the ring onto my finger.
The size fit her perfectly.
On me, it was too small.
The sharp edge scraped against my skin instantly. Pain shot through my finger, and I flinched, reflexively shaking her off.
I hadn’t used much strength.
But she let out a sharp scream and fell backward dramatically.
“Ah!”
At the same time, the ring was dragged off with her movement, scraping hard across my finger.
A thin line of blood split open immediately.
But Alexis didn’t even notice.
All he saw was her falling.
“Yasmine!”
His expression changed instantly as he rushed to check on her. After confirming she wasn’t hurt, he turned on me, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Darcey, what the hell are you doing? She was just trying to help you pick a ring. Why did you push her?”
His voice was sharp, urgent.
“What if she hurt her leg? She has a competition coming up!”
My finger was still bleeding.
He didn’t even glance at it.
Yasmine leaned weakly against him, her voice trembling with grievance.
“Alexis… forget it. This is my fault. It seems like my sister still doesn’t like me. I shouldn’t have tried to help her with the ring.”
She lowered her head.
“If I got hurt and couldn’t dance anymore, maybe my sister would feel a little better.”
