He Kept Me Blind to Hide His Affair

Right before our engagement, the eyes I had lost to a car accident years ago miraculously healed. I wanted to rush and share the incredible news with Julian. But as I reached the hallway, I froze. On the first-floor sofa, Julian and his young secretary, Chloe, were tangled together in a passionate embrace. The living room was filled with his heavy, ragged breathing. He kept his hand clamped firmly over Chloe’s mouth, muffling her gasps. I had heard those sounds several times before. Whenever I asked, Julian would always laugh it off, saying he was just working out in the living room. Chloe’s eyes drifted and caught me standing there. There was no panic in her eyes—only a cold, mocking smirk. She pulled Julian’s hand away and said in a drippingly sweet voice, "Baby, let's switch positions. I'm tired." Julian’s familiar, deep voice dripped with affection as he replied, "Fine, but keep it down. Otherwise, that little blind girl will start asking questions again." "I seriously don't get what my mom is thinking. She raised a blind charity case like a princess for ten years, and now she actually expects me to marry her." His tone turned utterly disgusted the moment he mentioned my name. My heart shattered into a million pieces. Clutching the wall, I silently backed away and retreated to my room. I sat in the dark room for what felt like hours, until the front door finally clicked shut downstairs. A moment later, Julian walked into the bedroom. He approached me from behind and leaned in. The scent of fresh sweat mixed with cheap women's perfume made my stomach turn. "What's wrong, Nora? You look sad." I forced myself to suppress the sheer disgust rising in my throat, pretending to know nothing. "Did we have a guest? I thought I heard Chloe's voice." Julian paused for a fraction of a second, his voice smooth and untroubled. "Yeah, she just dropped off an important contract for me to sign. She left already." "Anyway, Nora, working out is so exhausting. I’m going to jump in the shower." As soon as the bathroom door closed, the phone on his nightstand began to buzz repeatedly. I picked it up, typed in my birthday, and it unlocked instantly. His mother, Helen, had forced him to set that password, constantly lecturing him to love and protect me. But Julian didn't have a shred of love for me in his heart. I opened Snapchat. The screen was flooded with messages and videos from Chloe, who had just left. *“Jules, remember to mute before watching! I'll be waiting for you at the Grand Hotel tonight.”* I clicked on the videos. They were explicit, high-definition clips of her and Julian. What made my blood run cold was that they had filmed them right in front of me, taking advantage of my blindness to stomp all over my dignity. Staring at the screen, I swallowed my disgust, forwarded every single video and chat log to my own account, deleted the evidence on his phone, and put it back exactly as it was. When Julian came out of the bathroom, he didn't check his phone. He went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast. Over the years, he had actually taken good care of me. I used to hate breakfast because the housekeeper's cooking wasn't to my liking. So, Julian took it upon himself to learn how to make artisanal toast, smoothies, and oatmeal, ensuring my mornings were always perfect. But looking at the carefully plated breakfast now, my stomach churned with pure acid. He blew on an iced latte and held it to my lips. Seeing that I wouldn't open my mouth, his warm expression cracked. A flash of irritation crossed his face, and he silently mouthed, *“So high-maintenance.”* A second later, he forced a sweet, patient smile. "Come on, sweetie, just a sip." "I don't want it," I said quietly, turning my head away and pretending to fumble blindly for a plate. He glared at me, shoved a sandwich into my hands, and grabbed his phone. The moment he saw Chloe’s messages, his irritated eyes lit up instantly. I chewed slowly on the sandwich, watching him rapidly type out a reply. *“Baby, how about tomorrow? I have to take the little blind girl for her checkup in a bit, and we have family dinner tonight.”* *“I’m sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you as soon as I’m done with her, okay?”* Suddenly, his phone rang. He shot me a guilty look. "Nora, keep eating. I need to take this business call." He hurried out to the far end of the balcony. I held my breath, focusing my hearing. Over the years, my lack of sight had made my hearing incredibly sharp. Before long, Julian’s annoyed voice drifted through the glass doors. "If I don't take her, my mom will literally skin me alive. Do you really want to see me get grounded?" "I must have owed her a debt in a past life. Now I’m stuck serving her like a dog." "I don't get why she needs regular eye exams anyway. No matter how many specialists she sees, she’s still just a little blind girl." Those words pierced straight through my chest. I remembered high school. A group of mean boys had intentionally tripped me when I was leaving the restroom, laughing it off with a sarcastic "sorry." But when I stumbled out, the hallway was in chaos. I heard Julian roaring, throwing punches. He fought like a maniac, his voice shaking with rage: "You pieces of trash! What kind of man bullies a girl who can't see? I'll kill you!" He was suspended, and his father made him kneel on the hardwood floor for two hours as punishment. Back then, Julian truly loved me. He did exactly what his mother asked—he protected me, cherished me, and never let anyone lay a finger on me. For someone with a disability, navigating the world is terrifying. The world is cold and cruel to those who are different. But Julian hadn't cared. He said it broke his heart that I couldn't see the light, and swore that he would be my eyes forever. Now, my sight was back. I thought I was finally going to see the beautiful light of the world. Instead, the first thing I saw was the pitch-black darkness of his heart. Tears spilled silently down my cheeks. Even now, a stupid, pathetic part of me still couldn't believe the boy I loved didn't love me back. I walked back to the bedroom, threw the rest of the sandwich into the trash, and forced myself to calm down. After finishing his call, Julian walked into the room, looking hesitant. "Hey, Nora," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Something urgent came up at work. I don't think I can take you to the hospital today. Can we reschedule?" Right on cue, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Another text from Chloe. Chloe was his newly hired secretary. Sweet, pretty, and she had Julian wrapped around her little finger. I forced a faint smile. "It's fine. Work comes first. Honestly, I don't even care about the checkup anymore." His eyes lit up with pure relief. "Nora, you're the best. I'll come home right after I finish." He turned to leave, but stopped, looking a bit guilty. "Uh, about the family dinner tonight... do you think you could..." "I'll call Helen and tell her I'm not feeling well. I'll skip it." *You must be thrilled, Julian. Now you can use me as your shield and run straight into Chloe's arms.* Perhaps sensing something off in my demeanor, his brow furrowed slightly. But before he could ask, another Snapchat notification from Chloe pulled him away. The front door slammed shut. I walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling window and watched his sports car roar out of the driveway. I slid down the glass, burying my face in my knees, my shoulders shaking violently. I didn't understand. How could someone change so fast? Just because I couldn't see, did I deserve to be treated like garbage?I went to a different hospital alone for my checkup. When the doctor confirmed my vision was fully restored, a massive weight lifted off my chest. At least I would never have to live in darkness again. But as I stepped out of the clinic, I ran right into Helen. My heart leaped into my throat. Thank god I had instinctively brought my white folding cane. Otherwise, my secret would have been blown. Helen rushed over and supported my arm, her face filled with confusion. "Nora? Why are you here alone? Where is Julian?" I couldn't tell her he was currently in bed with Chloe. I lied, "He had an emergency meeting at the office." "That idiot! How could he leave you to do this checkup alone? He’s asking for a beating." She pulled out her phone to call him. I tried to stop her, but it was too late. Julian picked up, but he sounded completely out of breath and incredibly angry. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm busy? Why the hell do you keep calling?!" he snapped. In the background, I could hear faint, breathless giggles. Helen’s face hardened. She shot me a quick look, then stepped a few paces away, covering the microphone. "Julian Sinclair, say that again. Where are you? What exactly are you doing?" The line went dead silent. A few seconds later, Julian’s panicked voice came through. "Mom... sorry, I was in the middle of a meeting. I didn't see it was you." "I don't care what kind of meeting it is. You do not leave Nora alone at the hospital. I’m giving you exactly ten minutes to get to the medical center, or don't bother calling me your mother ever again." No matter how rebellious Julian wanted to be, he didn't dare cross his mother. Helen took me to a nearby coffee shop to wait. It didn't take long before Julian arrived, looking flushed and disheveled, his eyes burning with suppressed rage when they landed on me. Helen spent the next thirty minutes chewing him out. He sat in silence, but I could feel the sheer resentment radiating off him. Once Helen left to run some errands, telling him to drive me home safely, his mask slipped completely.The anger in Julian's eyes flared. He grabbed my arm, dragging me out of the cafe and shoving me into the passenger seat of his car, completely ignoring whether a "blind" person could handle his rough grip. He slammed his door, buckled his seatbelt, and slammed his foot onto the gas pedal. "Nora, do I have to revolve my entire fucking life around you for you to be satisfied?!" Each word was laced with venom and disgust. The window was rolled down, and the freezing wind roared into the car, swallowing my response. "Julian, slow down... please... I'm scared..." Memories of the car accident flashed before my eyes. My parents had been arguing violently in the front seat. In a fit of rage, my dad accelerated, crashing head-on into an overturned semi-truck. My mother had thrown her body over mine, saving my life at the cost of her own. "Julian... please..." The wind howled. Julian's profile remained cold and unyielding, completely indifferent to my terror. I gripped the seatbelt so hard my knuckles turned white. Just when I thought my chest would explode from panic, he finally slammed on the brakes. I fumbled for the door handle, pushed it open, and stumbled out. My foot slipped, and I hit the pavement hard. My stomach churned, and I dry-heaved, vomiting nothing but bitter stomach acid onto the asphalt. "Nora... are you okay?" Julian's voice carried a sudden hint of panic. I clutched my chest, ignoring him. "I was just mad, okay?" he muttered, his tone turning defensive. "We had a deal, and then you went and ratted me out to my mom. Of course I lost my temper." Shaking, I pushed myself up from the ground. He reached out to help me, but I shoved his hands away with all my strength. Julian stared at his rejected hands, his jaw tightening. "Nora, can you stop acting like this? You’re the one who did something wrong, so why do I always have to be the one apologizing? Just because you're bli—" He cut himself off, but the blow had already landed. My body trembled. Tears escaped my eyes, hot and unstoppable. He kicked the car tire in frustration, running a hand through his hair. He looked at me with a messy mix of guilt and annoyance. "Look... I didn't mean it like that." I shook my head, wiping my tears away as I turned my face. "No, you're right. I complained to Helen. I'm a helpless cripple, so you're obligated to babysit me for the rest of your life." My words ignited his temper again. He let out a harsh scoff. "You know what, Nora? I don't owe you a damn thing." "There are plenty of cabs here. Get home yourself." He got back into his car, slammed the door, and sped off without looking back. I stared at the empty road, feeling completely hollow. Was this really the same boy who had promised to protect me from the world? He used to say that as long as he was around, he would never let anyone hurt me. But now, the person hurting me the most was him. Crying silently, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time. "Ethan? Is that voice-acting gig still open?"Ethan Hayes was my college senior. He had recently directed an indie animated film and had invited me to voice the female lead. At the time, I had politely declined because of my upcoming engagement to Julian. But now, I was done. I refused to be a useless vine clinging to someone else's tree. I wanted to grow into my own tree, strong enough to weather any storm. Ethan’s studio was based in New York. Without a second thought, I booked the earliest flight for the next morning. I hailed a cab, planning to go home and pack my things. While waiting at a red light, a familiar figure caught my eye through the window. In a restaurant across the street, Chloe was sitting opposite a heavily built man with sharp, predatory eyes. Instinctively, I pulled out my phone and started recording. Chloe pulled a thick envelope from her purse and handed it to the man, her expression dark. Through the rolled-down cab window, their voices drifted over clearly. "This is all I have for now," Chloe said, her voice tight. "Give me more time. I’ll pay off the rest." The man pocketed the envelope, looking at her with a sleazy grin. "You know, instead of breaking your back sleeping with that pretty boy, you could just submit to Boss Sterling. Not only would your debt be cleared, but you’d also get a nice, comfortable life." "That Sinclair kid is about to get engaged. Do you really think he'll keep giving you money forever?" Chloe gritted her teeth, silent. As the man leaned in to say something else, she cut him off. "Don't worry about that. I’m not just after his money." A dark smirk spread across her lips. "I want his status, too. The Sinclair name will be mine." "Well, well. Looks like you've got it all figured out, Chloe..." The light turned green, and the cab pulled away, swallowing the rest of their conversation. I lowered my phone, a sense of dread settling in my chest. Something was terribly wrong, and Julian was walking straight into a trap. I texted Ethan, asking for the contact info of a reliable private investigator. I hired them immediately to dig into Chloe’s background. Even though I had resolved not to marry Julian, I couldn't stand by and watch Helen and Richard get ruined by a con artist. They had taken me in after the crash and raised me as their own daughter. I owed them a debt of gratitude I could never truly repay.When I got back to the apartment, the first thing I saw on the coffee table was a framed family photo. It was taken at our college graduation—me, Julian, Helen, and Richard. Chloe had knocked it over and shattered the glass a few days ago, and I hadn't had time to fix it. I slipped the photo out of the broken frame, sighed softly, and tore my portion off. "I'm sorry, Helen. I can't be your daughter-in-law." I walked into the bedroom and started packing. I had accumulated a lot of things over the years, but I only packed a few changes of clothes. Once my suitcase was zipped, the apartment fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. On the wall hung a photo of Julian and me when we were eighteen. The boy in the photo had looked at me with such fierce, undivided devotion. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Julian. My heart skipped a beat. For a fleeting second, I wondered if he had finally found his conscience and was calling to check if I made it home safely. I swiped to answer. Instead of his voice, the sound of heavy panting and muffled groans came through the speaker. "Jules... do you love me, or that little blind girl?" Chloe’s voice gasped. "You, babe. Always you," Julian groaned, his voice thick with lust. After a brief pause, he muttered, "Don't bring her up right now. I don't want her ruining the mood." My heart physically ached, trembling in my chest. I swallowed the rising anger, raised my voice, and spoke clearly into the receiver. "Julian. Is that you?" The sounds stopped instantly. A second later, the call was abruptly cut off. The floor-to-ceiling window reflected my pale, exhausted face. I looked pathetic. I didn't sleep a wink that night. The next morning, I called Helen to let her know I was moving to New York. She was shocked and confused, but then she fell silent, likely remembering the strange sounds from her call with Julian the day before. Through the phone, I heard her let out a shaky sigh, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears. I politely declined her offer to drive me to the airport, dragged my suitcase out the door, and hailed a cab. Before boarding the plane, I sent Julian one last text. [No one will ever disturb your mood again.] I attached all the forwarded sex tapes and chat logs, blocked his number, deleted him from my contacts, and turned off my phone.