"I can't do this," I say as I stare at a guideline that Mira quickly prepared for me along with some psychology books on how to approach a person with disabilities. It's not the help part I was worried about, it was the lying aspect of it. Mira told me about how a blind person gets by in life, and how one recognizes space. Frequent movements include body rocking, repetitive handling of objects, and hand and finger movements all that seemed easy, but it felt like that because I wasn't in those shoes.
"Love, you can do this. That man needs help and you need the job. Both of us need you to get the job." Mira says as she hands me the cane.
I take the cane from Mira, my fingers trembling slightly as I feel the smooth, cold metal in my hand. It’s heavier than I expected, but I know this is the first step in the lie I’m about to step into. It all feels wrong, a twisted game I’m not sure I’m prepared to play. And Christian... what about the instant attraction I felt for him? The kind of attraction I haven't felt in a long, long time that lit a flame inside me that I thought was forgotten. I dreamed about those dark honey eyes but once I go along with this lie I will have to forget about ever searching for my reflection in them. But I also owe it to Mira, this job will the roof over our head that has fallen greatly over her back.
"I'll just keep my eyes blank and not react to anything that happens before me. I'll try to use the sunglasses as often as possible." At least that way I can avoid eye accidental eye contact.
"Ask him to give you the tour of the house and pretend to count your steps, I've seen patients do it," Mira says. "A part of me wishes I could come with you but I need to go to work. Call me as soon as you leave and I hope everything goes well."
"Me too," I say not too confidently when Mira stops to look at me.
"Do you think I'm a bad person... for making you lie like this?" She asks me. I've known her for years, she is my family and no, she wasn't a bad person but she always said that people are far too complicated to define them as good or bad and she was right. If I were to put her on a scale the number of good things she has done would weigh more.
"You’re not a bad person, you’ve done more for me than anyone else. And... I understand why I need to do this." I say as she walks over and hugs me.
"You Love are an absolute angel and I have no doubt you will help that man to love life again." She says as she brushes my curls with her hands.
"Now go, or you are gonna be late." Mira hands me my bag and takes some cash out of her pocket. "For the taxi, it's waiting for you downstairs, I called for it. Take it." She puts the money in my hand.
"But, that is what you managed to put aside for the rent."
"It's incomplete anyways so it doesn't really matter and besides it's for your new job." I dont know what would I do in this life if it weren't for her.
"Thank you, Mira. I'll see you later." I say as I hug her before heading out the door. I put on my sunglasses and extended the cane as I reached outside. I wanted to practice and see how other people would react to me.
The driver saw me approach slowly as I taped the cane to the floor and he got out of the taxi to open the door for me.
"Thank you," I say before reaching inside my pocket for the card Christan gave Mira yesterday.
I sat in my seat facing forward, not trying to look out the window or reach for my phone. I kept my eyes focused even tho the driver couldn't see them behind the glasses. The drive was for about half an hour and when they pulled up in front of the beautiful mansion.
"We are here, Miss." The driver says but I'm stuck in place.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"This is the address written on the card." He says as he gets out and walks to my side to open the door for me.
I slowly get out and try to control my mouth from falling open at the sight of this estate as I stand at the bottom of the stairs until I hear the taxi drive away. Christian gave me well-off vibes, he was dressed elegantly in his long coat and shiny shoes. It is the name by the door that catches my attention. Callahan. It can't be the same Callahan I'm thinking about. Not the crazy rich, gold mine owning family thriving in the jewelry business... could it be? But why would a man this rich chase after a thief? Pity... compassion... after all he did think I was blind.
"Good morning, Love." I hear his deep voice behind me and it makes me jump a little when he grabs my hand to steady me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," Christian says. "You didn't hear me..."
"I got a bit lost in my thoughts, sorry." This is not a good impression on the first day of work. If I even get the job.
"Do you mind if we go inside?" He asks, his hand still on me.
"Yes... I mean, no. I dont mind." Fuck my brain. "We can go inside. Sorry, I am a bit nervous." Now that is as true as it gets.
"Dont be. I dont want to scare you but in order to do this job you are going to need to be more self-assured in turn for him not to drive you away like the others." I close my eyes and take a deep breath. That was my second mistake, Christian smelled smooth and grounding like sandalwood yet deep and sensual like woodsy musk... I did not need that to further cloud my judgment.
"No, I'm ready to do this. I'm ready to help." I say while trying to put an honest smile on my face. "Let's go in."
"Alright, now watch your step. There are seventeen steps in front of you and then there is about a meter of open ground before reaching the door." He was giving me directions, something I as a blind person should appreciate.
"Thank you," I say and we start slowly walking upstairs followed by the sound of my cane clicking against the stairs tiles. Going through these doors I entered a new world. Growing up with my parents I knew what it meant not missing anything but this, this was the house of a person whose world was their own. Their limit was as about high as their ceilings and boy was it high.
"Now the layout of the house is pretty open, the furniture is spaced to allow you easier access around it. There are vases and decorations but they are adequately pushed back or to the middle of the table so you won't walk into anything." Christian said as he walked me through the house.
"And your brother? Where is he?" I ask and Christian stops.
"Sebastian prefers not to leave his room and sit in the complete dark no matter how much I've tried to make him come out. I have to warn you he might be rude towards you, he has been to the others." Yet others may not have been as desperate as I am to keep this job.
"Do you mind me asking about his condition? Or rather how he got into it?" I ask respectfully.
"Years ago there was an accident, he got injured and even with a lot of broken bones and multiple surgeries, the worst for him was not being able to see. After several consultations, it was said he wouldn't be able to see ever again and he got depressed, he closed himself off and it's only been downhill from there." The sound of his voice significantly dropped the more he talked about it, his gaze dropped to the floor.
"He feels useless and neither I nor our mother was able to convince him otherwise. You will meet her some other day, she is out of town right now. That is, if you stay."
"I have every intention to help," I say and I mean it. "Let me meet him." Christian stared at me for a second, not saying anything, and then when it seemed like he was about to he simply shook his head.
"Let's go then." He says and we start going upstairs. My hand was on the handrail as we walked, my lips silently counting steps until we reached the room door.
"Ready?" He asks me and I nod my head as he proceeds to knock on the door...
The knock echoes softly through the hallway, Christian’s hand hovers over the doorknob, but he doesn’t turn it right away. After a long pause, he sighs and pushes the door open.“Sebastian,” Christian calls out softly, his voice laced with a tenderness I hadn't expected. “I brought someone to meet you.”The room is dark. The heavy curtains are drawn tight, blocking out any light, and the air feels thick with stillness. I can make out a faint outline of a person sitting in the corner chair. It felt sad.“Who is it now?” The tone is sharp, but there’s a vulnerability that cuts through. “Another one of your... helpers?” Sebastian shifts in his chair as Christia“She’s not here to help. Not in the way you think. She’s just here to... meet you.”I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, keeping my voice steady and gentle. "
The door shuts behind us with a soft finality, and I allow myself a breath, one I hadn’t realized I’d been holding."Thank you so much for doing this," Christian says as we take a few steps away from the door. "I dont know how you did it, but I know you got through to him... something not even his family was able to do." I think that is exactly why they weren't able to get to him in a different way. Family can be smothering, and not always in a good way. "You dont need to thank me, after all, you hired me to help him and that is exactly what I will do in the best way I can," I reply, trying to keep my voice light, but inside, the weight of the moment sits heavy."And I want to take this opportunity to allow you to do whatever you find best, whatever means you find necessary to get through his stubbornness because trust me Sebastian Callahan is one stubborn individual.""Callahan?" I ask."Right, forgive me I dont think I ever formally introduced myself. I'm Christian Callahan." He say
"Are you okay?" His voice is calm, his tone concerned. "I’ve got you," he adds as he helps me stand firmly on my legs again. I feel like an idiot, next to Christian I might as well be blind... the cane in my hands doing me no favors."I'm alright, a bit clumsy... I wasn't paying attention... to the space." I feel something stir inside me, but I push it down and remind myself that this is professional, this is about Sebastian. But it’s hard to ignore the fluttering feeling that lingers, even after he’s released my arm."I guess it will take time to get to know the house, for some reason parts of the house have these steps that separate the room instead of a door. I was the cause of me losing a lot of chases when I was younger." Christian says with a laugh at the memory."I'll make a mental note to remember that... to avoid future accidents." The last thing I need is to be fired for clumsy. "Can we go now?" I ask."Sure, let's go." He says, then proceeds to walk slowly beside me until we
Christian’s POVThe drive back to my place feels longer than it should, my mind wandering back to Love with every passing block. It’s strange how quickly I found myself drawn to her, wanting to be near her, wanting to understand her. It’s unsettling how I crave her presence in a way I haven’t in a long time. From the moment I saw her yesterday, something inside me sparked...a feeling I haven’t had in years. I am caught in the strange and impossible desire to get closer to her, and what's worse I feel like I am using my brother to keep her close. I hadn’t been looking for love. Hell, I gave up on it long ago, the same time Sebastian gave up on life.If he couldn’t have it, who the hell was I to think I deserved it?I can’t help but blame myself. I am responsible for Sebastian’s blindness.If I hadn’t stolen that car when we were teenagers, then that accident would never have happened. He wouldn’t have come rushing to pull me out of the burning car, wouldn’t have been there when the expl
Love’s POV The next day... I got up early, mostly because I was not able to sleep. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I still had a hard time processing what I was doing. I hadn't felt this conflicted in a long time. The weight of the lies pressed against me like a second skin. I knew why, it was to save this roof over our heads and help Mira put food on our table yet still I wish I didn't have to lie in order to do that. I hate that I am lying to Christian, to Sebastian and God only knows how many more people are going to get sucked into this. Help is all I want to do and hopefully, Sebastian lets himself be help so that my job there ends soon allowing me to cut ties with them. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the knots of frustration tighten in my chest when a knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts, and I turned quickly, my heart pounding. "Love?" Mira's voice came through, soft but tinged with concern. "You up? Y
I knocked on Sebastian's door without hesitation mostly because I didn't want to give myself time to second-doubt myself. My heart was racing, my palms clammy, but there was no backing up now. "Come in." I hear his dry voice coming from inside and I wrap my hand around the door knob before turning it open. "Good Morning, Mr. Callahan. How are you doing today?" My voice was steady like I was playing a part in a script already written for me. Sebastian didn’t immediately answer but I was so glad to see him sitting in the sunlight. It almost looked like he wanted to suck all the rays of the sun into himself... like he was grasping for hope. Something that he couldn’t seem to hold onto for long. Like someone who had once believed in something more than this cold shell of a man he had become. "Good morning, " Sebastian says, his voice low but measured. "What’s the plan today?" He asks as he ignores my question. "I was thinking we could start with the house. Maybe take a walk and you f
One week later... "I can't believe you are making me do this. I am going to lose a finger." Sebastian complained as Mrs. Swan tied an apron around his waist. "We are going to make cookies, no knives needed. And besides we have our lovely Mrs.Swan here to supervise us." I say as Sebastian huffs, feeling the unfamiliar fabric of the apron snug against his body. "She was kind enough to put everything we need on the counter, basicly all we need to do is put it in one bowl and mix it." "Fine," he muttered. "But if my fingers end up in the dough, I’m blaming you." Ohh but my plan is to get him elbow-deep into the dough. "Mr.Callahan, I'm sorry to inform you the whole point of this is for you to get your hands a bit dirty." I make sure to keep my tone light and teasing. Sebastian shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t know, Love. I can’t exactly see what’s happening with the dough.” That is why this is a perfect exercise for him, it will allow him to focus on other sens
“It’s lovely to finally meet you, Love.” Her voice was soft, laced with a bit of cautious curiosity. She took my hand, but there was something almost reverential in the way she did it as if she understood...just by looking at me...that my role in Sebastian’s recovery had been far more than just helping him with a recipe. "My son, Christian told me about you. Honestly, I had my doubts but now... seeing all of this... I have no doubt you are the best thing that could have happened to us." Christan told her about me. He told his mother about me. Me. I managed to stay clear of him for most days after I figured out his schedule, the last thing I need is to fall into temptation. A God was he tempting.“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Callahan." I shook her hand firmly."Whatever you’re doing, Love... keep doing it. I’ve never seen him like this.” She says as she still holds my hand."Mom," Sebastian said driving her attention back to him. "Dont. Here have a cookie." He says as he moves aside letting
He didn’t respond. Then, footsteps. Slow, deliberate. He moved closer, and my breath hitched in my throat even though I tried not to let it show. I turned my face slightly toward where I thought he was standing, listening for the soft rustle of his suit, the shift in the air. I didn't need my eyes to feel the gravity of him near me. "You wore a mask, every single day. Lied, to our faces... and you say it was for our own good. You are no better than the bastard I had for a father." His voice was closer now, a whisper laced with venom. "But I am not him." "Perhaps you are even worse. He at least didn't pretend to love us, at least not in the end." Christian says, anger blooming inside of him. "I love you, Christian. More than I ever thought was possible." I say trying to reach him but he pushes back at me, my back against the wall. "Shut up, you lie so well I might believe you for a second." “If I wanted to keep lying, I wouldn’t have told you the truth, I wouldn't still be here
Four weeks later...The last night in the dark...I am on the edge.I can't take this darkness anymore. I keep telling myself it's soon going to be over, that at least I will be able to act freely, even walk into the world alone free of pretenses. I want my parents to see that the lie is over, and I want Bash to get over everything soon, even if that means that whatever this is I have with Christian comes to an end.We have been living in this penthouse for three weeks now, and every second for me has been hell. His indifference at times is worse than his hate, at least hating me meant he still had me somewhere in his soul, in silence alongside this darkness that was eating at me.If it weren't for Mira I would be completely alone, she is the only good thing here. She told me to take off the bandages while Christian was at work but I just couldn't. He was far too unpredictable, popping in and out at different times as if trying to surprise me by doing something wrong and I didn't feel
Hearing the voices of people I love around me made me feel peace, so much so that I never wanted them to leave. In front of them, Christian was the man, the husband I always thought he would be. He was loving, kind, and caring. I never wanted it to end.But all that is good has its end, so did this.My friends were about to leave, at least Grace and Bash would be around. At least not until Christian makes us move again.Tamara and Bash were aside, talking. It is nice to hear that the friendship between them is blooming, hopefully into something bigger and better. Grace pulled Christian away to the office for a moment leaving me alone with Mira."Love, call me crazy but something here doesn't feel right. Are you sure you are as happy as you say you are?" I knew she would sense something, and despite promising Christian I would say anything I needed to let go with someone, and who better than Mira? I need someone on my side, someone to stand in my corner... make me feel less alone."Mira
"People are still talking about the wedding. It's the talk of every event since." Grace says as we sit at the table. Christian is right next to me, holding my hand, his thumb tracing the side of my knuckle. It feels nice. Too nice. "And no one thinks you are pregnant anymore, so now they believe it's true love." Bash comments. "Good, because it is. As true as it gets," Christian says as he kisses my cheek. I smile. It is so hard to be in this darkness. The voices around me keep surprising me. Every movement strikes a nerve within me, and I have to pretend to be relaxed. "Why didn't you tell us about doing the surgery?" Bash asks. "We wanted you to see firsthand that the surgery you will go under would work because she will be taking off the bandages just before you go under. That will give you all the training you need to go there without a doubt in your mind that this will work." Christian’s words are calm like he’s presenting a plan instead of revealing something deeply personal.
Love's POVI think I understand Bash now better than ever. Being trapped in the dark was horrible. No wonder he felt the way he did. Even when I knew well that this would last only four weeks, walking around with my eyes bandaged up was hard. even harder than I imagined it would be.But one thing was good... as long as I couldn't see I wouldn't have to look at the hatred that grew inside Christian's eyes. This situation goes from bad to worse. The silence between us felt like it was splitting me in two. I could feel Christian beside me, his presence so tense, so tightly wound. I couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. I could feel the sharp edge of his anger cutting through the air between us. The hatred I’d seen in his eyes before, that dark, simmering look, now felt like a constant companion. He didn’t even have to say anything. I could feel it in the way he handled me, the way he spoke, the way he didn’t speak.But I liked the fact we were back home. Perhaps that way I won't fe
"How long is this going to take? We have a plane to catch." That's not true. It's not like my private plane would go somewhere without me, but I wanted out of this doctor's office as soon as possible."I thought you were returning in a month. If it's supposed we just did the surgery she wouldn't be recovered by now. The world won't believe it." The good doctor says as Love glances up at me."Plans change. Tell her what to do to fake it, she's good at that." I was on edge. Playing nice was so hard and I needed all the willpower I had to do this charade infront of my family, not him."We would need to bandage her eyes... keep her like that for about three to four weeks. And even after that she would need to use sunglasses outside for a period of time... pretend to adjust." Somehow that sounded perfect in my head. She would, even for a short four weeks be forced to walk around blind. She would get to taste her lie on her own skin. "She can do it," I say as I glance at her. "In fact, wrap
Christian's POV I hate her. But somehow I hate myself more for still loving her. I hate how I still want her, and I hate even more the thought of another man having her. The image of the doctor's hand on her filled my chest with rage. She was mine. In every way possible, she was mine. Mine to torture, mine to punish, mine to hate. I wanted to break her. I wanted to watch her unravel beneath me until she knew, without a doubt, who she belonged to. My own torment, my own suffering, would be her punishment. But would it be enough? Would it ever be enough? I have never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her, but with every passing day, the love I thought I had for her had twisted into something darker. The same shade of dark I once felt for my lying father. He was the first and only lesson I need to understand how much a lie can destroy a life. He lied to my mother, he betrayed another woman. He would lie and leave us, his family, to be with someone else. A woman who probably just wa
I didn’t know how I felt anymore. I still loved him, but a part of me was starting to fear him. The love that once felt so pure, so effortless, was now tangled in a web of control and lies. Every interaction, every word exchanged between us, left me more uncertain. The warmth I once felt in his touch had turned into something that made my bones feel frozen.I wanted to reach out, to say something that would make him hear me, make him understand the pain that I was going through. But every time I opened my mouth, the words felt wrong, twisted by the fear of saying the wrong thing, of pushing him further away. Every time I tried to speak, I felt like I was walking on a tightrope, the fear of falling into his wrath too great.After spending a week and a half not leaving the villa, he finally decided to leave. Here he would just casually reach for my hand as we walked but he did not talk much. At a spot with a beautiful view, he asked a stranger to take a photo of us, and he hugged and eve
Christian kept his word. To the outside world, we were this perfect, happy newlywed couple. So in love, so eager to start our honeymoon. But behind the facade, everything was different. Every touch, every word, every look felt hollow. His arms around me were nothing more than a carefully constructed performance, a show for the people around us. As we walked through the airport, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the eyes on us. The casual paparazzi snapped their pictures, capturing our smiles, our closeness, and the image of a perfect couple. But it was all just that, a picture. A snapshot of a life that didn’t belong to us.Christian kept his distance from the photographers, his presence almost protective. He would always make sure no one got too close, his hand gripping my arm just a little tighter whenever the flashes started. In that moment, I felt both protected and imprisoned, wrapped in a cocoon of control that had nothing to do with love and everything to do with appearanc