They Thought She Couldn't See

Ten years ago, I lost my sight saving Ivan Hardman. Now, a decade later, Ivan lets his mistress live under the same roof as me. Every night, he coaxes me to sleep in the first half, only to spend the rest tangled up with her. Even my son secretly calls her "Mom." What they don't know is, I've regained my sight. And I'm planning my escape. Chapter 1 "Elise, can you help me stage a car accident? I'll be the one who dies in it." Alison Wendell's voice was hoarse as she spoke into the phone to her best friend. On the other end, Elise Leander's anxious voice came through. "What happened? What did that bastard Ivan do this time?" Alison looked up. Her tears had long dried the moment she discovered Ivan's betrayal. Staring at the sunlight she hadn't seen in ten years, she said, "I want to leave. You're the only one I can rely on now." Elise didn't hesitate. "In two weeks, my brother will be in the city next to yours for a contract negotiation. I'll have him take you away." "Okay." Just then, the bedroom door creaked open behind her. Alison quickly hung up. A tall, broad figure came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. "Alison, I'm sorry. Something urgent came up at the office. I promise I'll go with you to the hospital next time," Ivan Hardman said gently. "Oh, right. How did the appointment go? What did Dr. Sterling say?" His questions pulled Alison's thoughts back to that morning. Ten years ago, she had been in a car accident while saving Ivan, leaving her blind. In order to help her regain her sight, Ivan founded Hardman Medical Hospital and spared no expense. He invested billions to gather the world's top ophthalmologists and funded research into optic nerve regeneration. For ten years, she went to the hospital every week. A total of five hundred and twenty-one times. Not once did a miracle occur. She had long since stopped wanting to try. But Ivan knelt before her and begged. Then, after their child was born, he had yet another reason to persuade her. "Don't you want to see our son with your own eyes? Please, Alison… just keep trying, for me… for him." Even their son's birthday wish each year was for her to regain her vision. It was her love for Ivan and her desire to finally see the face of her son that kept her going. On the day her vision returned, she rushed to Ivan's office, heart soaring with joy. But what she saw instead was Ivan pressing a woman onto his desk, hands roaming, bodies entwined. His ragged breathing. Her moaning voice. The sounds poured over her like ice water, instantly freezing every trace of joy in her heart. So this was the "emergency meeting" he claimed he had to attend. Clothes were scattered from the doorway to the desk, and papers were flung across the room. Everything screamed how desperate they were to touch each other. The sight of them tangled on that desk stabbed her like a blade. In that moment, she wished she had never regained her sight. Her body went numb. Her right hand clutched at her chest as if her heart might stop. Gasping for air, she turned and fled. She never expected Ivan would have the audacity to bring his mistress home. Even more shockingly, the housekeepers didn't bat an eye. They kept working as if nothing was wrong. Which meant… this wasn't the first time. What shattered her completely was seeing her son—her own flesh and blood—winking and silently greeting that woman as if it were perfectly normal. Her son. The one she had wanted to take with her when she escaped. He already knew about this woman. He accepted her. Everyone knew. Yet, everyone had been hiding it from her. As all these truths came crashing down in a single day, Alison tore herself from Ivan's embrace in disgust. She turned and saw the bruises, the kiss marks, the scratches covering the skin beneath his collar. All those years she'd spent in darkness, believing his arms were warm, his shoulders dependable… Filthy. It had all been so filthy. Alison shook her head. "No progress," she lied. She had already made up her mind to leave. There was no need for Ivan to know that her world was no longer dark. She would disappear, for good, from both Ivan's and Josh's lives. Father and son alike… She no longer wanted either of them. Chapter 2 Ivan let out a long sigh. It was hard to tell whether it came from regret or relief. "It's okay," he said. "Just remember… even if you can't see for the rest of your life, I'll still love you. Tomorrow, I'll invest another ten million into the ophthalmology department. Maybe it'll help speed things up." Then he added, "But for now, it's time to eat. Come on." He bent down and lifted Alison into his arms. It was a gesture that once felt sweet. Now, it only made her skin crawl. Her body stiffened. They entered the dining room. "I want to sit next to Mommy!" Josh chirped, his voice cheerful. But he was still standing on a stool, wiping the mistress's mouth with a napkin. Besides, the table was arranged so that he and the woman sat on opposite ends. They clearly had no intention of letting Alison sit beside the mistress. It was all prearranged. And now they were performing, right in front of her. The woman wore a bathrobe and lounged beside Ivan, looking more like the lady of the house than Alison herself. Ivan cut Alison's steak and peeled her shrimp. Josh poured Alison a glass of water. It all looked so familiar. But this time, Alison could see. And what she saw in the other woman's eyes was jealousy. The food tasted bland in Alison's mouth. She stared at Ivan's hands as he peeled shrimp for her—hands that, just this morning, had touched another woman. Her stomach turned. Just as she was about to rise and leave the table, the other woman reached out and shamelessly pulled Ivan's hand under her robe. He flinched, trying to pull away. But she pressed his hand there, guiding his movements. In the end, even when she let go, Ivan didn't move his hand back. The nausea hit harder this time, rising like a tide she couldn't stop. Alison gripped the table and doubled over, retching until the room spun. Josh rushed to get her tissues. Ivan reached out, trying to rub her back to comfort her. But the second she remembered what that hand had just done, she slapped it away. "Dirty," she said coldly. Ivan froze, clearly missing the meaning behind her word. "I used that hand to peel your shrimp! Let me see, how are you feeling? I'll take you to the hospital." "I'm fine," Alison said, pushing him away as she steadied herself. She returned to the bedroom and stepped into the shower. Steam rose around her, and in the fogged mirror, her reflection was hazy. She thought of what she'd overheard outside Ivan's office that day. "Ivan, is it because your wife is blind that you are never turned on by her, leading you to take it all out on me?" "Shut up. You're nothing. Know your place." Ivan hadn't denied it. Alison wiped a hand across the mirror. Her face came into focus. What did she look like when she was blind? Was she so forgettable… so lacking… that Ivan could toss aside their childhood memories, her life-saving sacrifice, and so many years of marriage for another woman? She remembered their wedding night—how he kissed her eyes again and again. She had felt his tears falling onto her cheeks. "Alison, you're finally mine. I love you. Thank you for loving me back. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life. If I break that vow, may the heavens strike me down." And he had taken care of her. That much was true. He hired thirty housekeepers for the home, each one trained with motion sensors. All she had to do was press a button, and someone would appear to help. Even though she couldn't see, he still bought her everything—skincare, jewelry, clothing—anything other wives had, he made sure she had better, more expensive. Afraid she'd be bored at home, he even formed a Braille publishing team to translate books and magazines just for her. Did Ivan really stop loving her? Alison didn't think so. She believed he had simply learned to split his heart in two. One half for her. The other for someone else. Chapter 3 When Alison stepped out of the bathroom, Ivan was already sitting on the couch, waiting for her. He stood and scooped her into his arms, tucking her beneath the blanket, holding her tight. "Alison, what's going on today? Did something happen at the hospital? If something's bothering you, tell me. I'll always be your rock." Afraid he might call Dr. Sterling, Alison gave a vague answer. "It's nothing. Maybe I just didn't sleep well." Right then, his phone rang. He didn't try to hide it. He tapped the screen in front of her. A photo popped up—sent by someone saved under the name Jessica. The woman in the picture wore a tight, cat-like costume and knelt on a bed, eyes glazed, lips slightly parted. Jessica: [Waiting for you in bed, Master!] Ivan's breath hitched. His lips curved up before he could stop them. Ivan: [I'll come once Alison's asleep.] Jessica: [Come now! She's blind. She can't even get down the stairs without help. I miss you.] Ivan locked the screen and pressed a kiss to Alison's forehead. "Something came up at work," he murmured. "I'll be in the study for a bit. Don't wait up." Then he left quickly. Alison lay still, staring up at the stark white ceiling. Maybe, deep down, Ivan had already accepted that her eyes would never recover. That's why he no longer bothered hiding anything. That's why he acted without restraint or shame. She sat up and quietly made her way downstairs. The living room was empty. From a bedroom on the right came soft, playful sounds and laughter of a man and a woman. "Jessica, are you crazy? Alison isn't even asleep, and you're already trying to seduce me?" "And yet, here you are." The door hadn't fully closed. Through the crack, Alison saw them wrapped around each other on the bed. The room was done up in soft pinks, stylish and lived-in. At least a year, she guessed. So the happy little family she thought she had… had included a fourth person all along. Ivan had settled both his wife and mistress under the same roof. The first half of the night was for Alison. The second half, he slipped downstairs—to what? To his "real" home? To Jessica? How thrilling it must be. Alison pressed her hand over her mouth, stifling the scream trying to claw its way out. When she turned around, she ran straight into the night-shift housekeeper. "Madam? What are you doing down here?" Before she could answer, the bedroom door flew open. Ivan stumbled out, shirt half-buttoned, hair a mess, face pale with panic. Behind him trailed Jessica, arms wrapped around his waist, her hands roaming freely over his body. Ivan shoved her back into the bedroom, then hurried over. "Alison, did you… hear anything just now?" Alison clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced her palms. The pain was the only thing stopping her from slapping him across the face. "No," she said calmly. "I was just thirsty. Came down to get a glass of water." Ivan visibly relaxed. "I left a glass for you on the nightstand. Why come down yourself? It's dangerous." He guided her back to the bedroom, fussing like nothing had happened. Some time later, he called out softly, "Alison?" She didn't respond. Assuming she'd fallen asleep, he stood. Just then, the bedroom door creaked open. His voice dropped to a whisper, but she could still hear him. "What are you doing up here? Go back down." Then came Jessica's sultry reply, "You left me hanging earlier… I just had to come find you, Master." There was a pause, then the rustle of clothing, followed by Ivan's voice, low and strained. "Downstairs." "No," she said. "Let's do it here. She's blind. She can't see anything. That makes it even more exciting, doesn't it?" The only response was the sound of his heavy and ragged breathing. In the darkness, two bodies collapsed onto the sofa on her side of the room, limbs entwined. Alison lay still, eyes open. Tears slid silently down her cheeks as she bit her lip, holding the sobs in. In the black quiet of night, she saw everything. Right before she pulled the blanket over her head, her eyes landed on the cup of water Ivan had left for her on the nightstand. It had gone cold… just like her heart. 'Ivan, I'll make sure the rest of your life is pure hell,' she swore silently to herself. Chapter 4 The days that followed were no different from the one when Alison first uncovered the truth. The three of them went out together during the day, then came home and pretended silently that nothing was wrong. Every night, Ivan would slip downstairs to vent his desires on Jessica, only to quietly return at dawn. Alison watched their little performance in silence. Eventually, unless absolutely necessary, she stayed in the upstairs bedroom. In the blink of an eye, it was time for another of Alison's treatments. That morning, Ivan followed his usual routine—gently waking her with a kiss and helping her downstairs for breakfast. Just then, Jessica, who had always been careful to keep up appearances, suddenly started gagging. Ivan and Josh both froze. Ivan lunged toward her, trying to cover her mouth. Josh, on the other hand, looked worried. He mouthed silently, "Jessica, what's wrong?" Alison stared at her panicked husband and son, and calmly played along. "What's going on?" "One of the maids," Ivan blurted out, grasping at straws. "She just started vomiting out of nowhere." To make it more convincing, he even turned toward the empty air and scolded the imaginary maid. But Alison saw everything clearly—when Ivan mentioned the maid, a flicker of jealousy and resentment passed through Jessica's eyes. Breakfast ended in an awkward rush. The three of them retreated into Jessica's room. Alison didn't know what they discussed inside, but a moment later, Josh let out a cheer—quick and restrained, as if worried someone might hear. Then the three of them reemerged. Josh ran up and kissed Alison on the cheek. "Mom, I'm off to kindergarten!" Ivan crouched in front of her with a smile. "I have to head to the office again today. I'm going to miss you, my love." If she couldn't see, if she were only listening to his voice, she might have believed it and kissed him back and scolded him for acting like a child. "You promised last time you'd come with me to my treatment today," she said. She saw it in his expression that he had completely forgotten the appointment and his promise. "Oh, right!" Josh suddenly slapped his forehead. "There's a parent-teacher meeting at kindergarten today. Dad has to attend!" "Yes, yes, I completely forgot," Ivan echoed quickly. Looking at the father and son putting on such a seamless act, Alison smiled. "Alright. You go." The moment they walked out the door, Alison sent all the maids to the annex, saying she wanted to be alone. Then she hailed a cab and followed Ivan's car. What she saw was Ivan and his son accompanying Jessica… into the obstetrics and gynecology department of the hospital. So he hadn't come to her treatment because Jessica might be pregnant. And of course, that was more important than Alison was. They hadn't gone to Hardman Medical Hospital. They chose a different facility, somewhere they could celebrate without restraint. "Oh! Jessica is going to give me a little sister!" Josh shouted excitedly. Ivan stood protectively at Jessica's side, his hand brushing gently over her stomach as though it were something sacred. His face lit up with uncontainable joy. "Jessica, you're incredible!" he beamed. Hearing those familiar words, Alison bit back her tears, but they still slipped down her face. She remembered the day she told Ivan she was pregnant. He had reacted the same way—hugging her so tightly, then letting go like she was something fragile and precious. "Alison, you're incredible!" he had said. One of the deepest regrets of her life had been not seeing her own wedding, not seeing the look on Ivan's face when he found out he was going to be a father. Now, she had seen it. Ivan, Jessica, and Josh went off to an auction later, spending lavishly on gifts for Jessica. Meanwhile, Alison arrived at the hospital morgue. Elise had told her that the body that would replace her had been found. Someone was already performing cosmetic surgery on it. Not that it mattered. What Alison wanted to leave the Hardman family was not a lifelike replica, but a mangled, unrecognizable corpse. She wanted to leave them a nightmare—one that would haunt them, night and day, for the rest of their lives. Chapter 5 Ivan noticed that Alison had become a shell of her former self. She used to be full of life. Even though she couldn't see, she loved sitting in the courtyard sipping coffee, claiming it was her way of "feeling nature." She would build blocks with Josh, watch the news with him, and occasionally—even with the help of the nanny—cook a couple of dishes for the family. She had once been radiant and free. But now, aside from meals, she locked herself in the bedroom all day, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring blankly at the sky. She looked like a flower on the verge of withering—drained of all color, stripped of all life. Ivan grew increasingly uneasy seeing such a drastic change in her. "Alison, what's wrong lately?" he asked anxiously. "Are you upset because I missed your last two appointments? Don't worry. Next time, I promise, I'll go with you. Please don't shut me out… I'm begging you." By the end, his voice was trembling, almost choked with tears. But if he was so afraid of losing her, why did he keep another woman? Why did he let them both live under the same roof, without even trying to hide it? Just moments before speaking to her, he had come from Jessica's room, lipstick still smudged at the corner of his mouth. Did he think that just because she was blind, she didn't deserve respect? Had he forgotten why she went blind in the first place? Alison raised her hand. Ivan instinctively reached out, placing her palm against his face. She traced his features with her fingers. His face hadn't changed much, only matured with time. He looked steadier now. But his heart was no longer the same. He was no longer the boy she had once risked her life to save. Just then, a crackle sounded outside the window. Fireworks burst in the sky. The river was bathed in brilliant color. From the lawn below, she vaguely heard Josh shout excitedly into Jessica's ear, "See that? Daddy set off those fireworks just for you, to celebrate that you're giving me a baby sister!" A bitter smile tugged at Alison's lips. "Are those fireworks?" she asked. "I haven't seen them in ages." Ivan looked at her tenderly. "When your eyes recover, I'll set off fireworks for three days and three nights, just for you. You'll see them to your heart's content. How about that? Don't give up on yourself, okay? Our son and I will always be here for you." He pulled her into his arms, whispering comfort into her ear. So that's what Ivan believed—that she was upset because her recent medical treatments hadn't gone well. 'But oh, Ivan… If you had come with me to the hospital even once, you would've known the truth. But you didn't. And that's why this chapter between us is coming to an end,' Alison thought. With that thought, Alison gently pushed him away. "No need," she said. "It's a waste." Ivan tapped her nose playfully. "How could it be a waste? Don't you remember what I said? Whatever others have, you must have too. I want the whole world to know that I love you, that I can't live without you." Alison said nothing. Because she knew, the man whispering sweet words in her ear now would sneak downstairs at night and spend hours wrapped in another woman's arms. Maybe sensing her lingering gloom, Ivan and Josh suggested taking her to a party. She had no interest and was about to decline when Ivan had already called for the car and started picking out a dress for her. Josh rummaged through her jewelry box, holding pieces up to her. "Mommy, wear this one! It's pretty!" Ivan chuckled. "Your mom looks good in everything. Who needs fashion advice from a little rascal like you?" They dressed her with care, helped her gently down the stairs, and escorted her into the car. Along the way, Josh chattered about amusing stories from kindergarten, trying to lift her spirits. Eventually, the car pulled into a grand estate. Alison had been wondering why Jessica hadn't come… until she saw her. Dressed in jewels and silk, with a slight swell in her belly, Jessica stood at the center of the crowd like the true hostess of the evening. Chapter 6 It wasn't until they arrived that Alison realized the party Ivan and Josh had brought her to was Jessica's birthday party. Not only that, but Ivan's parents and friends were all here too. She stared at the familiar faces from her memory, all gathered around Jessica, doting on her. So this was what Ivan meant when he said he wanted her to be happy? They seated her near the sound system, handed her a bottle of water, and a small slice of cake. "Honey, just rest here for a bit. I'll take our son to go around the room to meet the others." Cold and composed, Alison watched as Ivan knelt before Jessica, kissed her stomach, and whispered something Alison couldn't quite hear. Beside them, Josh bounced with excitement, calling Jessica "Mom." Ivan's friends joined in, laughing and teasing Jessica and Ivan. Ivan shot a quick glance in her direction, then raised a finger to his lips to shush them. "Watch what you're saying. If Alison hears—" Ivan's mom, who had once kept vigil by Alison's bedside for a whole week after she was injured saving Ivan, now slapped him on the arm with a scowl. "So what if she hears? What can she do? She's blind. Where could she possibly go without you? Besides, Jessica is carrying my grandchild now." His friends chimed in with no hint of shame. "Exactly. It's common for men like us to have more than one woman! You've only taken one more; that's pretty generous toward Alison." Ivan's face darkened. "Alison is my wife, and she will remain my only wife. None of you are to breathe a word of this outside." They waved off his warning with casual promises. "Sure, sure. Our lips are sealed. Besides, you keep Alison locked up at home. It's not like we ever see her." They assumed Alison couldn't hear from where she sat near the speakers. But ten years of blindness had sharpened her hearing beyond that of an ordinary person. Alison listened to their laughter in silence. It wouldn't be long now. Her escape was near. What she hadn't expected was for Jessica to be brazen enough to approach her while Ivan and Josh weren't paying attention. "Alison, do you even know who I am?" Jessica sneered. "Your darling husband, Ivan, climbed out of my bed just this morning. And now, you're sitting here at the birthday party he organized for me. "Ivan's parents already see me as their daughter-in-law. And the son you suffered so much to bring into the world? He calls me 'Mom.' "Ivan and I have been together for nearly two years. I moved into your villa a year ago. Every night, we roll in the sheets right downstairs while you lie in bed upstairs, blind to the way he looks at me with obsession. Just now, he even kissed my belly and teared up—so moved he could hardly speak. "I was willing to stay quiet. After all, compared to you, I've always lived more like Mrs. Hardman. But now I'm pregnant. I want a name for my child. "If you're smart, you'll step down and hand over the title. Do that, and maybe, just maybe, I'll convince Ivan to set you up in a nice apartment and keep you like a discarded pet out of pity for the fact that you lost your sight saving him." Alison stared at Jessica's smug, victorious expression, her lips sealed in perfect silence. Jessica seemed surprised by her calm. "You don't believe me? I—" Before she could finish, hurried footsteps approached. Ivan glared sharply at Jessica, then forced a relaxed tone as he spoke. "Honey, what are you two chatting about?" Alison offered a faint smile. "Nothing much. Jessica was just saying how much her husband loves her. I was feeling a little envious, that's all." Ivan visibly relaxed. A trace of mockery flickered in Alison's eyes. Ivan believed she was still the same woman who couldn't tolerate betrayal. If Jessica had truly said something offensive, he expected Alison would've already confronted him about it. But he'd forgotten she was no longer the same woman from ten years ago. People change. Ivan pulled Alison into his arms. "There's nothing to envy. Haven't I treated you well enough?" Alison didn't answer. "I want to go home. I'm tired." … Later that night, Ivan went to shower. A voice message popped up on Alison's phone. "Do you really think Ivan still loves you? It's all just an act. He's already promised to make it up to me." Alison didn't respond. Instead, she reread a message from Elise. Elise: [Everything's ready. My brother will pick you up at the agreed time.] A sudden voice above her made her jump. "What are you doing with your phone? Can't find your book?" Ivan's voice was right overhead. Alison quickly locked the screen and pretended to fumble around with her hands. But instead of handing her the book, Ivan scooped her into his arms. His warm breath brushed against her neck. "Honey…" A wave of nausea surged. Alison instinctively furrowed her brows and pushed him away coldly. "I'm tired." What did he mean by this? Was it because Jessica was pregnant, and he didn't want to exhaust Jessica? In the middle of the night, Ivan got out of bed and went downstairs. Soon after, sounds began echoing from the bedroom below—the deliberate, exaggerated moans of a woman, followed by muffled gasps, the kind made when someone covered her mouth. Chapter 7 The next morning, Josh threw himself into Alison's arms, pouting sweetly. "Mom, our kindergarten is organizing a study tour, and they said parents have to come along. Can Daddy and I go?" So this was what Jessica meant by Ivan "making it up" to her. Alison lowered her gaze. In her arms, her son was chattering excitedly while secretly making faces at Jessica. When he finished, he affectionately rubbed his cheek against hers. She gently cupped his face, her fingers tracing the soft curves. This was her son. Aside from his mouth—so much like his father's—everything else was a reflection of her. If Ivan had cheated for the thrill, then what about Josh? Back then, she couldn't see a thing. Every time the doctor described her baby during a prenatal check-up, she would quietly imagine what he might look like. Because of her blindness, she had to be ten times more cautious than other expectant mothers. To avoid any mishaps, she'd even sacrificed her dignity—refusing to use the bathroom unless the nanny was right there, as she was terrified of bumping into something. After all the months of carrying Josh, she finally brought him into the world. And now, her son was calling the mistress "Mom" behind her back. If it weren't for the striking resemblance between his face and hers, she might've suspected someone had swapped her child. Sensing her silence at last, Josh finally looked up at her. "Mom?" Ivan chimed in from the side, "Traveling and seeing the world in person is always better than just reading about it. And this trip is organized by the kindergarten. It's not something we can just skip. If your eyesight weren't an issue, we'd never leave you behind." They'd come up with the one reason she couldn't possibly reject. Confident in her answer, Ivan had already instructed his secretary to book the tickets. So much for asking her opinion. It was just an official notice. Alison glanced at the destination. It was that European town she'd always wanted to visit, back when she could still see. "It's fine. You two go ahead," she said. Before leaving, Ivan gathered all the nannies and gave them detailed instructions, like he were preparing to hand over a billion-dollar project. "Put a glass of water on Alison's bedside table before she goes to bed. Make sure she won't get thirsty at night." "Help her take a walk around the garden every day. She needs the exercise." "Feed her blueberries and other essential fruits by hand. She might hurt herself using a fork…" He went on like this for half an hour. Finally, he gave her a quick kiss. "We're leaving now. If anything happens, call me. I'll come back right away. The study tour won't last long. We'll be back in time for your next eye treatment." Josh clutched her hand. "Mom, I'll bring you a present!" Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Alison watched Ivan holding Jessica in one arm and leading Josh with the other. They really looked like the perfect happy family. Ignoring the sympathetic glances from the nannies, she turned away and went back to her room. From what she could tell, her husband and son were having the time of their lives. Before, when Ivan worked a full day at the office, he'd call her ten times. Now, she hadn't heard from him once. Even Josh seemed to have forgotten her. The only person who seemed to remember her at all was Jessica, who took every chance to gloat. "Today, Ivan kissed me in front of a priest at the church. He said he loves me." "Your precious son keeps calling me "Mom." Everyone at the hotel thinks we're a perfect family." "Even though I'm pregnant, Ivan can't keep his hands off me. We ran out of protection, and he had to go buy more." Every word was a show of how deeply Ivan loved her. But none of it stirred the slightest emotion in Alison anymore. She was waiting for the day she'd already planned… to leave. It was almost here. Chapter 8 Today was Alison's hospital appointment. It was also the day she had chosen to leave. When Alison came downstairs, fully dressed, Ivan had just stepped through the door. Behind him were Josh and Jessica. She had known Ivan would rush back to accompany her for the eye consultation. After all, her recent changes in behavior had already made him uneasy. "Honey, we're home!" Ivan opened his arms, trying to spin her around in the living room, but Alison gently pushed him away. There was no trace of joy on her face at their return. Ivan's smile faltered. "Honey?" "Mom." Josh eagerly shoved a model building into her hands. "This is your souvenir. Feel it. Do you like it?" Alison set it aside without a glance. Her voice was distant and cool. "I'm heading to the hospital. We'll talk later." Ivan wrapped an arm around her. "I'll go with you." Josh clung to her leg. "Me too! I feel like I haven't spent time with Mom in forever." Before getting into the car, Alison turned to glance at the villa one last time. Ivan asked with concern, "What is it?" She shook her head. "Nothing." Just... saying goodbye to the place she had lived in for the past ten years. The Hardman Medical Hospital was located on the outskirts of the city, near the sea. The car cruised down the wide highway. Josh grinned. "Daddy rushed all the way back just to take you to the doctor." Alison turned to look out the window. "Weren't you on your school research trip? How did they let you come back early?" Realizing he'd said too much, Josh quickly shut his mouth. Ivan held her hand. "Yes, we came back early. I promised I'd be there for you. Promises should be kept." Just like how he once promised to love her forever, to never betray her. So many promises… Perhaps that's why he forgot some of them. Alison didn't respond. The car fell into silence. Suddenly, Ivan's phone rang loudly. Without even checking, he hung up. But the caller was relentless and kept calling, one call after another—over a dozen times. Alison said, "Pick it up. What if it's something urgent from the company?" Ivan rolled down the window, letting the roar of traffic flood the car. Whatever was said on the other end made his face go pale. He snapped at the driver, "Stop the car!" The vehicle screeched to a halt. Ivan softened his tone and turned to her. "Alison, something urgent came up at the company. I have to go now. Josh will wait with you by the road. I'll send another driver to take you guys to the hospital." As he spoke, he opened the door. But Josh was quick to catch on. He knew that in his father's eyes, no business matter could outweigh his mother. So it must be something to do with Jessica! Josh immediately made up an excuse. "I want to go too! I'm the future heir of Hardman Group. I should start young!" "But what about your mom?" The wind tugged at Alison's skirt as she said, "It's fine. Go." Ivan hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. "Honey, just stay right here and don't move. The driver will be here in ten minutes." Without waiting for her to nod, he turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, Alison tugged at the corner of his shirt. "Can you... not go?" Ivan pried her hand away. "Alison, this is really important. Be good and stay put, okay?" And with that, he shut the door. The car sped off down the road. From that same direction, a large truck approached. The driver climbed out and unloaded the body of an unidentified woman. As he prepared to drive over it, a hand suddenly covered Alison's eyes. She pulled the hand away, only to see a broken, mangled corpse and blood staining the pavement. She wondered, 'What will Ivan and Josh feel when they return to see this scene?' They would believe that while chasing after another woman, they had abandoned a blind wife and mother on the side of the road, and she had died in a tragic car accident. Today would be the last time they ever saw her. For the rest of their lives, the memory of this moment would haunt them. Grief would devour them, and regret would tear at their hearts. "Don't look. I'll take you away now." Alison nodded and walked away, head held high. From this day on, under boundless skies and across endless seas, she and Ivan would never cross paths again.