Chapter 3

The day before I planned to leave, Shane Anderson rented out a private yacht to throw himself a grand birthday party. As his girlfriend, I was expected to attend.

The moment I stepped on board, I felt the weight of all the judgmental stares. Their hushed voices weren't hushed at all.

"Can you believe a blind girl has the nerve to hang onto Shane Anderson as his girlfriend? A masseuse, no less. God knows how many people have had their hands on her."

"I heard she got stripped at the train station. How does she still have the guts to show her face? If it were me, I'd have jumped overboard already."

The sharp scent of flowers hit me like a slap. My skin began to itch and burn as hives broke out across my body.

I was allergic to pollen. Shane knew this.

But as I looked around, the entire venue was decorated with white roses—symbolizing pure love.

The centerpiece of the display?

Photos of Shane and Tessa Brown.

"I'm having an allergic reaction," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I need to go take my medication."

Shane ignored me, pulling me closer instead. "I've got fireworks planned just for you. Stay with me a little longer, alright?"

Soon, the sky lit up, the fireworks reflecting off the ocean waves.

Leaning close, Shane whispered in my ear, his voice gentle and full of affection:

"My birthday wish is to be with you, Leah, forever and always."

If my vision hadn't been restored, I might have believed the sincerity in his eyes.

But the fireworks that Shane claimed were "just for me" spelled out Tessa's name in bright, glowing letters.

Laughter erupted around us. Someone shouted, "Kiss! Anderson, give her a kiss!"

Shane smiled, tugged my hand—and kissed Tessa instead.

Cheers filled the air as they kissed passionately, completely ignoring me.

Then I felt it—an unfamiliar pair of lips suddenly pressing against mine.

Shane had signaled to one of the men nearby, and now this stranger was kissing me.

The cheers grew louder as Shane and Tessa continued their display, while I was left reeling, my mind blank.

How many times had Shane played out this sick scene behind my back while I was blind? No wonder he was so confident, so practiced.

The way they looked at me—like I was some kind of circus act—made my stomach churn.

"I'm leaving," I said, grabbing my white cane and stumbling through the crowd.

The yacht hadn't docked yet, so I found a small storage room to hide in.

As I sat there, trembling, my phone buzzed.

Shane had posted a new listing on the same resale platform.

To appease the growing number of buyers, he added a new photo: me in the lace dress I was wearing that night, a bow tied around my waist like I was some kind of gift waiting to be unwrapped.

Just then, I heard voices outside the door.

"Anderson says she can't see. As long as we keep quiet, she won't even know we've swapped out."

"Man, there's so many of us. She's gonna have the night of her life."

"Should we give her something first? You know, to loosen her up?"

Their laughter echoed in the narrow hallway, their words sending a chill down my spine.

Then my phone rang. Shane's name lit up on the screen.

Panicking, I silenced it immediately, praying the sound of the waves had drowned it out.

I stayed frozen until their voices faded away, then quietly slipped back into the main cabin.

When I opened the door to my room, the lights came on.

Shane was there, leaning casually against the wall, a group of strange men standing behind him.

Their eyes roamed over me, greedy and predatory.

I felt bile rise in my throat as I tried to play it cool, pretending I hadn't noticed anything. I took a step toward the door, desperate to escape.

A hand suddenly grabbed my waist.

The room erupted into laughter. Someone even whistled.

Shane glared at the man who had touched me, then pulled me into his arms.

"It's fine. It's just me," he murmured.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he added, "These guys are curious about your massage skills. Why don't you give them a session?"

I shook my head instantly, pulling away from him.

"It's my birthday, Leah. Don't ruin the mood."

Gripping his sleeve, I pleaded with him, my voice breaking.

"I don't want to stay here anymore. Please take me home."

Before Shane could respond, Tessa appeared out of nowhere.

She crouched down, meeting my gaze with a smirk as she tilted my chin up.

"You want to leave?" she said sweetly. "Fine. Eat this gummy first."