Chapter 6: Blind Faith, Broken Promises

I blinded Nathaniel Rowe.

…

Our families gathered around his bed, all eyes on the doctor. I stood off to the side, fiddling with my bracelet, nervous.

After I hit him, he woke up staring at the ceiling, his eyes empty.

He waved his hand in front of his face, then announced, "I’m blind."

I was dumbfounded. After I calmed down, I sent for his parents, who brought the best doctor in Maple Heights.

Now, Nathaniel lay on the bed, frowning. He grabbed the doctor’s hand. "Dr. Carter, what’s wrong with my eyes?"

I thought I saw him wink at the doctor, but then his eyes were dead again. I must’ve imagined it.

Dr. Carter, young and handsome, let out a heavy sigh after examining him.

His sigh made my heart sink. Was it really…

He sighed again, then said gravely, "Nathaniel suffered a head injury, causing a blood clot that’s led to blindness. It could be temporary—or permanent."

"What!" his mother cried, sobbing. "My poor child! How could this happen!"

My tears fell instantly. The room was suffocating.

Nathaniel sat up weakly. "Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt, please leave. I want to speak to A.J. alone."

They exchanged glances, but left. The room fell silent.

I bit my lip, tears blurring my vision. "I’m sorry…"

He shook his head. "I don’t blame you. It’s my fault for joking."

My heart trembled.

"A.J., I’m blind now. I’m not worthy of you. You deserve better. You said you wanted to break off the engagement—I agree."

His voice was hoarse, but firm.

"Nathaniel—"

"After we break off, I won’t bother anyone else. I’ll just live out my days alone. As long as you’re happy, I don’t care how much it hurts."

His forced strength made my heart ache.

I hurt him, yet he didn’t blame me.

Would someone like him really do what Marissa said…

Maybe I’ve been too quick to believe my own assumptions.

"Nathaniel, I need to ask you something."

I took a deep breath. "At Jackson’s party, did you get drunk and end up in…"

I gripped my palm, staring at him. "Marissa’s room?"

"How did you know?" he was surprised.

My heart plummeted.

"Wait! A.J.—" His face turned grim. "What did Marissa tell you?"

Tears stung my eyes. "It doesn’t matter."

I started to leave, but heard a crash and a muffled groan.

My body moved before my mind, and I rushed to help him back to bed. He clung to me. "I can’t see. Don’t go—"

I bit my lip, unsure how to face him.

"You—"

"Nothing happened with Marissa." His voice was low and firm.

I froze.

"She’s crazy," he said coldly. "Don’t believe a word she says."

"What… do you mean?"

He lowered his head, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"That night, the mayor’s butler took me to a deserted room, locked the door, and there was a weird incense burning. Luckily, I noticed and held my breath, or I’d have been in trouble."

"That butler…" I said.

"I checked—he works for Marissa."

I broke out in a cold sweat, gripping his hand.

What was she planning…

"After I got out, I heard something happened at the party, and your name was mentioned. When I got back, Jackson had already helped you."

His face was calm, but his voice was bitter.

"After you left, I drank a lot. I vaguely remember someone helping me, and when I came to, I was in Marissa’s room, my jacket gone."

My breath caught. "What did she do to you!"

"Nothing."

He squeezed my hand, as if to reassure me. "I wouldn’t let her."

I relaxed a little.

"She said she’d been married a year without a child and needed one to secure her position. She wanted my help."

I was stunned. I never imagined she’d be so ruthless.

"And?"

"I refused and left. Oddly, she seemed relieved."

I remembered how the mayor doted on her, and just snorted.

Wait—

I suddenly glared at him. "You liar! She said you have a mole on your left waist! If nothing happened, how would she know!"

He blinked. "I don’t have a mole there. Want to check—"

He reached for his waistband. My face went hot. "N-no need, I believe you!"

Damn, Marissa should write soap operas!

He laughed softly.

I looked up at him, his gentle smile making it hard to look away, even if his eyes were blank.

I looked down, guilty.

I hadn’t trusted him, had accused him without asking, and now he’d ended up like this.

"A.J., actually I—" he hesitated.

I sniffed, cutting him off. "Nathaniel, no matter what happens to you, I’ll stay by your side."

I leaned up and kissed his eyes. "Let’s get married soon. I’ll be your eyes from now on."

He stiffened, his dazed look lingering.

After a long time, he murmured, "Three days from now is a good day."

Three days?!

I gripped my sleeve. Wasn’t this too rushed?

But then I saw his blank eyes, his dejected face, and he said bitterly, "I’m just a blind man. What bad intentions could I have? I’m just afraid—afraid to be apart from you. But if you don’t want to, forget it."

Snap.

Something inside me broke.

He’d ended up like this because of me. I was going to marry him anyway—why hesitate?

Impulsively, I agreed. "Three days it is!"

So our wedding was moved up, and even Jackson, who married a month later, was impressed.

Three days later, the Rowe family’s white wedding limo waited at my door.

Under the veil, I was overwhelmed with emotion, tearfully saying goodbye to my parents before being helped into the car.

A gust of wind lifted the veil, and I peeked out to see Nathaniel waiting outside.

I was stunned.

He wore a sharp red tux, his hair slicked back, a smile on his face, his eyes shining like amber. Already handsome, he looked even more striking today.

My face burned.

He really was a rare beauty…

But that wasn’t the point!

The point was—

Why did a "blind" man have such sharp eyes?

A suspicion flashed through my mind.

Was Nathaniel faking it?

As the wedding procession reached the Rowe house, the officiant handed me to him. His warm hand trembled, squeezing mine before letting go, as if afraid to hurt me.

I was dazed, hearing him whisper in my ear, "A.J., I’m so happy."

Everything went as planned. Under the veil, I could sense him kneeling and bowing with me. A strange feeling spread through me.

After the ceremony, I was led to the bedroom. The noise faded away.

He stayed to greet guests. With his eye condition, he’d be excused soon.

I twisted my fingers, nervous and a little excited.

The only sounds were the crackle of candles and distant laughter.

After a long wait, my back ached and I grew hungry. I almost lifted the veil to get some cookies, but remembered the bride’s veil had to be lifted by the groom for good luck.

I bit my lip and gave up.

He had eye trouble, there were guests, and probably lots of wine. He’d need time.

Besides, thinking about what would happen next, my heart raced.

So I waited, face burning.

And waited—a whole year.

…

That year, Nathaniel treated me well. He gave me the keys to the accounts and storerooms the day after the wedding. He bought me the best clothes and jewelry, even hired the best band in town for my entertainment.

But he never touched me.

Not just on our wedding night, but for a whole year, he never came to my room, staying in the guest room instead.

He kept his distance from everyone, except for the housekeeper who helped him walk.

One night after dinner, he returned to the guest room as usual. I snuck in.

A lamp cast a soft light over his calm, handsome face. The housekeeper was reading documents to him, but when he saw me, he froze. My glare sent him scurrying out, closing the door behind him.

"Why’d you stop reading?" Nathaniel frowned.

I walked over, staring at him silently.

Seeing him like this, I dismissed the idea that he was faking blindness.

He looked puzzled, propping himself up to stand, but I pressed him back down.

His face darkened. "You—"

"It’s me."

While he was stunned, I threw my arms around his neck, straddled his lap, and kissed him wildly.

He froze.

After a while, I whispered in his ear, blushing, "If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you."

He trembled.

After a long silence, just as I grew uneasy, he sighed, cupped my head, and kissed me back—gentle and lingering.

My heart raced, and I hugged him tighter.

Desire filled the room, breaths growing faster.

My hand slid into his shirt, clumsily teasing him.

His breathing grew rough, his kisses deeper, until suddenly he pushed me away, his voice hoarse. "No…"

He stood, fumbling toward the door.

My pride shattered.

I’d thrown myself at him, and he still wouldn’t respond.

He said it wasn’t possible—I thought he just wasn’t able!

As he opened the door, I choked out, "Are you regretting marrying me?"

He turned, a complicated look on his face, then shook his head, finally saying, "The mayor wants the golden boy to deal with the flood. I’ve been busy helping, not avoiding you."

I laughed coldly. "Do you think I’m stupid?"

He fell silent, his blank eyes staring at me like dead water, making me swallow my questions.

After a long time, he turned away. "A.J., I’m sorry. Please give me a little more time."

I watched as the housekeeper led him away, his back vanishing from sight.

I could feel his intense restraint, but didn’t understand what he was holding back.

Was it still because of Marissa? Was she threatening him?

But what happened next made that theory fall apart.