Zach was not going too fast. He was quite good at riding the motorcycle. I did not know when he learned how. Some people seemed to have a lot of skills up their sleeves. Who knew when they mastered them? I could hear the sound of the wind, and it was music to my ears. Eventually, Zach stopped in an empty plot. He got down from the motorcycle and said, “Try it. It’s really easy to ride.” “You’re asking me to ride the motorcycle?” I looked at the big vehicle and felt that I would be able to ride it. “You’re so smart. Riding a motorcycle would be very simple for you. This is the accelerator. You just need to twist it slightly. Don’t you know how to ride an electric bike? It’s the same principle.” “But…” I was still hesitant. “Your birthday’s almost over. You still have 10 minutes left. Don’t you want to try something you’ve never tried before your birthday is over?” Zach successfully convinced me. I had temporarily forgotten that I was pregnant. I braced myself and too
As I fell, I thought that I would be going to hell since I was not a good mother.Then, I blacked out, like I was dead.When I regained consciousness, the back of my head hurt like crazy. I knew that I was still alive because a dead person would not feel pain.However, I could not open my eyes. All I could hear was the noise around me.Sophie’s angry voice was very clear. “Zach! You knew she was pregnant, yet you still let her ride a motorcycle! Are you trying to kill her or the babies?”This was followed by a loud slap; Sophie must have hit him.She had always been hot-headed. Even though she could not beat Zach, she would still swing at him.I wanted to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt glued shut.“Zach, if anything happens to Cassia, I swear I’ll stab you!” Sophie cried out.“Zach!” Mary said angrily. “What’s wrong with you? What the hell were you doing? Cassia’s pregnant! Why did you let her ride a motorcycle? You’re usually careful. What’s gotten into you?”It was noi
“Cassia, you’re awake?”“Hurry up and call the doctor.”“Cassia, does anything hurt?”I heard a lot of voices around me. I knew whom each belonged to, but I could not see their faces.I touched my face and felt around my eyes. There was nothing. The white film was not on my face but on my eyes.I was desperate to remove whatever it was blocking my vision. I tried to pull it away, but that did not work.Right then, someone grabbed my hand. “Cassia, what’s wrong? What are you doing?”It was Mary. Her hand felt warm, but I was freaking out.My voice quivered. “I can’t see.”The room went quiet for a second before I heard my mom’s panicked voice. “Doctor, check on her! My daughter says she can’t see!”“Let me take a look. Everyone, please leave the room.”Everyone left, so it was just me and the doctor.He pulled back my eyelids and gently asked, “Can you see anything?”“Just a white, net-like film.”“Can you see any shadows or shapes?”“No.”“Don’t worry,” the doctor sai
“Cassia.” It sounded like Sophie was crying. “D*mn it. You’ve been through so much.”“Watch your language. It’s not good for the babies,” I said. “Just leave for now.”After Sophie left with my mom, Eloise and the others followed suit.However, one person remained in my room. She sat by my bed and cried softly.I knew that it was Mary. She had to be feeling a mix of emotions.She was heartbroken and angry all at once.I reached out, and she immediately took my hand. “Cassia.”Her voice was filled with sadness.“Mary, it’s just temporary blindness. I’m not going to be blind forever. Besides, the babies seem okay, so it’s fine.”“You’re so strong, my child.” Mary got choked up.Yeah, I had always been strong—sometimes too strong for my own good.What else could I do? Things had happened, and I could not just die.Death was too scary, so every other bad thing did not seem as bad in comparison.Mary did not say much after that. She probably did not know what to say either.Sh
Being blind had its perks. I did not have to see Zach’s expression. I thought that he would just stand by and leave after a while. However, I heard him pull a chair over and sit beside my bed.I became flustered. “You can go. There are nurses and doctors here. The loss of sight won’t kill me.”After he sat down, he became silent like a statue.I should have kept quiet too. Anyone in this situation would be too sad to talk, but I was just rambling on. The talking helped to distract me from my worries. Just because I did not ask him anything did not mean I had not thought about it.What was Zach’s real reason for taking me on that motorcycle ride?Anyway, I was as strong as a madwoman. I would not even shed a single tear for myself.Eventually, I fell asleep. Being blind was so boring that I started counting the holes in the net-like film over my eyes. One, two, three… It was like counting sheep, and soon, I drifted off.While I was half-conscious, I felt someone touching my h
I could not tell if it was his blood or Zach’s.I felt him shaking, and I understood his anger. “Hayden, if fighting is how we solve problems, what kind of world would we have?”“Are you worried that I’ll kill him?”“I’m worried that he’ll kill you.” I held on to Hayden’s hand tightly. “I can’t see you. I don’t know how badly you’re hurt. You need to bandage that wound now.”My voice sounded calm. I felt much more at peace without being able to see.Conversely, Hayden was breathing heavily in front of me. He was usually a gentleman, and I rarely saw him angry.He seemed to only lose control whenever it concerned me. I realized that there were still people in this world who loved me deeply.I gently pushed him. “You need to go. Do you want to bleed out in front of me?”“It’s not serious,” Hayden said through gritted teeth. “Zach’s hurt a lot worse than I am.”“I don’t care about him. I only care about you,” I told him.Maybe my words had an effect because Hayden soon left the
Suddenly, I touched something wet that had not been there before.I felt around and realized that it was Hayden’s eyes.I was touching his tears. He was crying.Was he in that much pain?“Hey, real men don’t cry.”Then, Hayden hugged me tightly, so tightly that I could barely breathe.I could not see how sad he was, though.Sometimes, I thought being blind was good because it made things less awkward.I stretched out my arms, like a goose about to take flight.I could almost hear him sobbing. When I gently patted his back, he tightened his hold on me.“Cassia,” he called my name.I replied, “Yeah?”“Forget about Zach and be with me, okay?”I patted his head, and his hair felt much softer than Oliver’s.I was pregnant with twins, and he had confessed his feelings for me. I did not see why I should hesitate.“Okay. Once I’m out of the hospital and feeling better, we’ll date,” I said.“Really?”“Really. Just remember that I’m blind and pregnant, so don’t regret it.”Ha
“What do I need sympathy for? Can I eat it?”I did not need anyone’s pity. What good would it do me?It was not like I would be blind forever. Even if that was the case, I still had to live.I finished my soup, and Sophie went to wash the dishes. After a while, I heard her whispering with the nurse at the door.I caught Zach’s and Hayden’s names.So, I called her back in. “What’s going on?”“Nothing.”“If you don’t tell me, I’ll make you regret it.”Sophie sighed. “Hayden punched Zach and messed up his eye. His retina got detached, and he needs surgery. Some nosy doctor reported it, and the police just took Hayden in.”I shot up in bed, but Sophie held me down. “Hey, you’re hooked up to the IV. If you move too much, the needle’s going to come out.”“It’s that serious?”“Are you worried about Zach or Hayden?”“Isn’t it obvious? Figure out what’s going on. Hayden just got his job back. He can’t lose it over this.”“I don’t know who’s unluckier—you or Hayden,” Sophie muttered
It was late at night, and everyone was too tired to do anything. I was heavily pregnant, and Sophie had no energy left. So, she stopped fighting back. She just collapsed onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her head.Lucy had already fallen asleep. She was young, and she could sleep through anything, including all our talking.Austin was as cold as ice while he sat on the couch. Since I could not convince him to budge, I gave him some water and went back to sleep.He could do whatever he wanted.When I closed the door, I saw him staring at the bed. The look in his eyes was soft and almost dreamy. I could sense love from where I stood.Did he really love Lucy? I could not believe it because I never thought he felt that way about her.I was exhausted, and my mind was all over the place. I went to sleep and had no idea when Austin left.The next morning, Sophie appeared at my door with a pillow.“If you didn’t sleep well last night, you can sleep a little longer. You’re
“I’m not scared. With Austin to protect me, what do I have to worry about? But I think you’re pretty pathetic, Sophie. I show up, and you just give me your room. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Lucy shook her head. “So pathetic.”Sophie simply stared at her. Lucy was nervous, but she was trying to put on a tough front.Right after, Sophie wore an eerie and unsettling smile.“Fine. You want to sleep with me? Let’s do it. After all, I’m scared of you.” With that, she went back into the room. “It’s time for a shower. Who’s going first, you or me?”Since Lucy had won, she gave me a smug look. “Sophie’s so easy to deal with.”“I don’t think you’ll enjoy sleeping in the same room with her as much as you think,” I warned.The room next door became eerily quiet after I returned to my room.I knew that Sophie would not hurt Lucy. She was not one to go overboard.I texted her. [If you don’t want to share a room with her, come to mine.][It’s fine. The bed’s big enough,] Sophie replied.Alright, then.
As I approached Sophie’s room, the yelling got increasingly loud and made my ears hurt.I opened the door to see her dragging Lucy out by the ear. Lucy was screaming, “Sophie, let go! You’re a barbarian! Austin told me to stay here! Who are you to kick me out? This isn’t even your house!”“This is my house.” I stepped aside to avoid the chaos. “And I’m telling you to leave.”“Austin said I could stay!” “Austin isn’t the king of the world.” I sneered. “Why should I listen to him?”Before I could finish, Sophie had already dragged Lucy to the door. I opened it wide so that she could toss her out.Lucy clung to the doorframe like her life depended on it. “I’m not leaving! Sophie, if you kick me out, what will you do when Austin comes looking for me?”Sophie grabbed a feather duster that Mrs. Gibson had left behind and marched toward Lucy.She started screaming, “Sophie, what are you doing?! Don’t hit me! Sophie! Stop!”Sophie raised the feather duster up high. I knew that she wo
Sophie completely ruined a happy moment.I looked at her. “You’re not still hoping for something with Austin, are you?”“Of course not!” she raised her voice. “I’m not a masochist!”Just then, Mrs. Gibson knocked on the door. “Ms. Cassia Freeman, Ms. Sophie Freeman, someone’s here to see you.”Who could it be this late?We went downstairs and saw Lucy at the front door with a suitcase.She simply would not leave us alone.My head hurt when I saw her.Lucy saw us and walked right in without taking off her shoes. “I told you Cassia and Sophie know who I am! Cassia, your housekeeper’s so rude. She wouldn’t let me in.”“Hey, what are you doing?” Sophie blocked her path. “Take another step, and I’ll get security to throw you out.”“Starting today, I’ll be staying here.” Lucy sat on her suitcase and grinned.“What are you talking about? Are you sure you’re not crazy?”I did not want to argue with her. “Did Austin kick you out?”Lucy was like glue. Once she stuck to you, you coul
“Do you want to talk to Sophie?” I asked, even though I knew he would not say anything nice.As expected, he wore the usual mocking smile. “Talk to that idiot? No thanks.”He hung up, and the screen went black.I was so mad that I felt like my heart might stop. Austin never got angry or showed big emotions, but his calm sarcasm was enough to drive anyone crazy.Just then, Sophie ran over and held out her hand. She was sweating and out of breath. “Where’s Rachel’s water bottle? She’s thirsty.”I gave it to her, and she asked, “Who were you talking to?”“An idiot,” I replied.“Oh.” She ran off again without giving it a second thought.We ended up playing there until sundown. Rachel was all sweaty, so I helped her change in the car. Although it was already spring, it was still a little chilly without the sun.We headed home and invited Kingston to join us for dinner.He gave Sophie the mechanical kite. Our garden was big, so she could fly it anytime.We did not usually have gue
“Let Bob go. Tell Zach to hang the thermos on its neck.”“Isn’t that a bit much?”“He told me that if I didn’t drink his soup, Bob could have it. So, what’s the problem with letting Bob fetch it?”Mrs. Gibson walked away with a troubled expression, and I continued building the sandcastle.Rachel suddenly looked up and asked, “Cassia, don’t you like that guy anymore?”“I don’t like him anymore,” I said.“Is he bad?”“He’s not bad. I just don’t like him anymore.”“You can like my dad, then. He’s handsome, and he knows how to make cheese pizza.”Well, my standards were a little higher than someone who could make cheese pizza.I was not sure what happened to Zach’s soup because I never saw it. His cooking was not that great, and we already had good cooks at home. Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Ziegler, and Mrs. Harrison made amazing soups. They were from different places, so I got to try food from all over.As such, Zach’s soup was not needed.I never thought there would come a day when I
“When did your head get so square?” I looked at the metal block for a while, but I could not see how it resembled Sophie.“This robot doesn’t have to look like me. The important part is its core. It can follow my commands, and Kingston said he’ll add my voice to it later.”“What can it do? A two-hundred-dollar smart box can already do things like turn lights on and off or flush the toilet.”“Tch, this is different. Apart from following my commands, it can also read my emotions. It’ll then play the appropriate music to improve my mood.”That sounded interesting. “It should be a mood helper instead of a robot.”“Kingston also mentioned that it has a special function if I get really upset.”“Will it explode into fireworks?”“Tch.” She rolled her eyes and hugged the robot. “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”Sophie seemed to like the gift.However, Kingston did not really give it to her because she was fond of it. He just happened to study this stuff.I was incredibly tired, so I turn
“I think it’s great that he has his own principles. A lot of people today don’t have any,” Sophie interjected.It was time to change the subject. Everyone had their own views on such things anyway.“Let’s toast to those with principles,” I said to Rachel.She raised her juice cup in response. “Cheers!”“Alright, cheers.” Oscar and Ellie smiled as they clinked glasses with us.We finished eating, and Sophie had two glasses of wine. I did not allow her to have more. Kingston finally returned as well.He was not full, so he ate the leftovers.Sophie asked him how things went, and he looked up in confusion. “The head of the company whose tech was stolen came too. He claimed that it wasn’t their tech, but they’re working on something similar. He kept promoting it.”“What happened after that?”“Nothing. The police just let those two individuals go.” Kingston shook his head and went back to eating.The whole thing seemed strange. I thought about it, but I could not put my finger on
After a while, Kingston came downstairs. He looked upset, so Sophie asked, “What’s wrong?”“Two people visited the company today to discuss a deal. They offered a high price,” Kingston said.“Isn’t that good?”“At first, I thought so too. But as we talked, something felt off. They brought some tech for the collaboration, but I realized that another company had just created it. They might have stolen it.”“How can they steal someone else’s stuff?”“There are lots of ways.” Kingston peeled an orange and gave half to Sophie before eating the rest himself. “I turned them down, but they kept trying to rope me in.”“Would that tech be useful to you?” I asked.“Of course. It would save us at least a month of work.”Sophie’s eyes lit up as she looked at him. Just then, Ellie brought over a plate of fruit and teased, “Kingston’s too stubborn. If he were a bit more flexible, he’d be super successful by now.”“A gentleman earns money the right way.” Kingston’s stubbornness was somehow