On Our Wedding, He'll Witness the Ballerina He Blinded

Darcey’s POV I contacted Jules Marchal, my fan club president. After I went blind, he’d begged me a million times to try the latest eye-replacement surgeries abroad. But Alexis, that bastard, told me he’d never heard of it and warned me to not trust Jules. Well, fuck that bastard’s opinions. Even if the surgery fucked me up for life, I needed to see. Jules moved fast, like he’d been waiting my whole life for me to say yes. I was in the OR before I even blinked. The next day, when they peeled off the bandages, light slammed into me. Everything was blurry, doubled, but I could finally make out faces, contours, shapes… It was enough to drive me insane with joy. Before I could even call Jules to thank him, my phone buzzed. It was Alexis. His voice was panicked, dripping with guilt. “Babe, where are you? Why didn’t you come home last night?” “I only got home this morning and nearly shit myself worrying! What if something happened to you? I swear, if anything happened, I’d fucking die!” My chest went cold as I gripped my phone. That heat in my heart, just from seeing, felt like it got doused in ice water. Every word out of his mouth sounded sincere. If I hadn’t heard what he’d said last night, I might’ve fallen for it again, like a stupid ass. Who can resist love that sounds that real? But all I wanted to ask him was one thing. Why? How the fuck can you say you love me and destroy my entire life at the same time? The words almost came out, but I swallowed them. I’d never get the truth from him anyway. I took a deep breath, softened my voice, and sounded the way I always did: reliant and tender. “My eyes felt uncomfortable last night, and I couldn’t reach you, so I went to the hospital myself,” I lied. He sounded even more guilty now. “Sorry, babe, I was stuck at a damn business thing last night. I should’ve been there. I’ll pick you up right now.” I hung up and sat in the hospital lobby, squinting, calling my lawyer friend. I needed a favor. I waited and waited, but Alexis never showed up. Just as I was about to grab a cab, two familiar figures appeared across the lobby. I pulled out my phone and opened the camera. There, in full view, were Alexis and Yasmine. He was kneeling on one knee, holding her ankle, rubbing her foot like she was a goddess or something. He acted soft, careful, almost worshipful. My chest tightened, pain crawling up from my gut. I thought about all the times I fell while dancing. He’d pick me up, call a doctor, patch me up. But he never once rubbed my foot like this. Fake love. Real love. Both right there in front of me. Fake love was enough to trick a blind girl. My heart ripped in half. Alexis suddenly looked up and spotted me. His expression shifted but quickly relaxed. Why was he tense? I couldn’t see him. “Darcey!” he called. He pulled me into his arms. His voice trembled with fear. “Sorry I’m late. Are your eyes still hurting?” I’d been soaked in rain all night, numb to cold. But wrapped in his arms… I felt it. That instinctive craving. I almost wanted it. I tried to push him away. Then a quiet gasp came from behind me. “Alexis… my foot hurts… even more,” Yasmine said. He let go of me instantly and rushed back to her side. “Did I use too much force?” he asked. I stood there, still feeling the warmth of him in my arms, and let out a bitter laugh. He hurriedly explained while checking her foot. “Darcey, Yasmine twisted her ankle while dancing. I’m taking her to get it checked,” he said. “We grew up together. She’s like a little sister. Don’t read into it…” I interrupted softly. “Go.” I didn’t cling like I used to. I didn’t beg him to stay. He hesitated for a moment but just shrugged it off. He bent down in front of me and picked up Yasmine in front of me, assuming I couldn’t see. I clenched my hands, my nails digging into my palms. He’d always used the “she’s like a sister” excuse with Yasmine. I’d trusted him because I had no choice. I was fucking blind. But now, seeing everything clearly, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. Hours later, he finally came back to pick me up. Near home, my phone buzzed. Almost home, my phone buzzed. A video from Yasmine came through. It was her performance from earlier that day. At the end of the video, Alexis walked onstage and kissed her amid the applause. Then a voice message followed. Yasmine’s soft, gentle voice sounded. “Darcey, I danced on a new stage today. You must be proud of me. After all, I danced your choreography.” I gritted my teeth, trying not to see it. Trembling, I asked Alexis, “What does she mean she danced my choreography?” I stared emptily in his direction. I still clung to a ridiculous shred of hope. Maybe he would finally tell the truth. Even just a little. But he didn’t even furrow his brow. He answered casually, “Ever since she found out you’re the genius choreographer ‘Butterfly,’ she’s admired you. She’s been practicing your dances.” “She sent the video so you could see her respect… Maybe she forgot you couldn’t see.” What a fucking liar! I almost couldn’t hold back my rage. That dance was the one I had choreographed just a week ago! He had stolen it and given it to Yasmine! The second he got home, like he feared I’d ask more, he pinned me to the door and kissed me, acting scared. “Babe, don’t think about anything else, okay?”

Darcey’s POV Babe? Seriously, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fucking nerve Alexis had, calling me that after personally ruining my life. “I nearly shit myself when I got home and didn’t see you,” he said, rubbing against me, like some sweet fiancé. There was a time when that would melt me. His gentle kisses, his firm embrace, they always gave me the illusion that I was needed, that I was cherished. Every time he got close like this, I would forget whatever I had been questioning him about. My whole stupid heart softened, and somehow, I would end up comforting him instead. But this time, I felt nothing but disgust. Every image in my mind screamed at me: him, on stage, kissing Yasmine in front of everyone. I gagged, shoving him away. “I’ve got a cold. Don’t wanna infect you.” My voice was tight, but I forced it to sound calm. He froze. It was the first time I’d ever pushed him away. His brows furrowed. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, then faded when he heard my “don’t wanna infect you” excuse. He sighed, his tone softening again. “Babe, I’d never be afraid of catching your cold.” Right. Because last night, he told his friends he was saving himself for Yasmine. But that was just some bullshit. He’s a grown man with needs. Sometimes, halfway through getting intimate with me, there’s no way he wouldn’t have called Christoph to finish the job. I only realized it when I felt his body react earlier. The thought of being a fucking pawn in their little game made my skin crawl. I almost puked on the spot. Luckily, whatever lust he had earlier was gone. He reached for my arm like usual instead. “Come on, babe, I’ve got a surprise for you.” I didn’t resist. I couldn’t let him know my eyes were recovering. “I upgraded the dance studio. From now on, your choreography can be digitally recorded by AI.” “You can post it on ‘Butterfly’s’ account on Instagram.” “Even if you can’t see for a while, people can still see your work. You like that, babe?” If he said that before, I might have been moved to tears. To a blind girl who loves dance, leaving a mark on the world is enough. But now, all I felt was cold. Because I knew exactly why he had made the effort to upgrade the studio. It was not for me. Six days later, on the day after our wedding, Yasmine would be competing for principal dancer. And “Butterfly’s” choreography was her ticket. I created Butterfly’s Insta account before my parents had acknowledged me. At the time, I’d started it to make money, posting my choreography online without showing my face. I didn’t expect it to go viral overnight. Quite a lot from the industry were willing to pay an absurd price for a single piece from the so-called genius choreographer “Butterfly.” But I had never intended to reveal myself. To me, choreography had always been a hobby. Now, Yasmine was using my work to build her reputation. It was fucking absurd. “I don’t want to choreograph anymore,” I said. He stiffened. His voice dropped sharply, the irritation no longer concealed. “If you don’t choreograph, what exactly are you going to do? Sit around and be useless?” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake. He quickly corrected himself. “I mean—” “Babe, don’t you want to dance again at our wedding six days from now? I’m already preparing a custom stage for you. Even if you can’t see, you won’t fall. You can dance safely.” Dance at our wedding six days from now? I let out a silent, humorless laugh. The one dancing that day would probably be Yasmine. Seeing that I wasn’t reacting the way he expected, his jaw tightened. “And your foster dad woke up recently, didn’t he?” “Don’t you want him to see you dance again?” I almost admired the audacity. He was willing to use even my father as leverage just to make me choreograph for Yasmine. Fine. If that was what he wanted, then I would give it to him. I let my voice waver slightly, as if I were hesitating. “Then I’ll choreograph one more piece.” That made him let out a sigh of relief. “Good. I won’t disturb you.” With that, he turned and walked out of the studio. Through the narrow gap of the door, I heard him make a call. “Yasmine, she agreed. The studio’s monitoring system is already synced to you. Six days from now, at the wedding, you can tell everyone that you’re ‘Butterfly.’” “With the footage, you’ll be able to explain every movement in detail. There won’t be any inconsistencies. And the next day, your audition for principal will go much more smoothly.” “After that, you’ll be the principal dancer.” “And the genius choreographer. Butterfly.” I bit down so hard I nearly drew blood. So this was their plan, huh? They weren’t just stealing my choreography. They were going to take my name, my identity, everything I had fought so hard to earn. Tears burned in my eyes, but I forced them back. There were cameras in the studio. So I continued practicing, as if I knew nothing. Yasmine wanted to become Butterfly? Then let’s see whether she’s actually worthy of it. I stayed in the studio for an entire day and night. My vision recovered quickly, the once-blurred world gradually sharpening into clarity. And during that time, I made sure to gather evidence that would ruin Alexis completely. The next day, he suddenly pushed open the studio door. “Babe, take a break today,” he said. “I’ll take you to pick out a wedding ring.” I tried to refuse, but he had already led me outside. By the time we reached the car, someone was already seated in the passenger seat. Yasmine turned around, flashing a friendly smile. “Darcey, Alexis said you can’t see, so he asked me to help you choose a ring.” “You don’t mind, right?”

Darcey’s POV I got into the back seat without a word. As if afraid I might misunderstand, Alexis explained, “Darcey, Yasmine’s about your age. You two have similar taste, so I asked her to help pick out the ring.” Taking advantage of the fact that I was “blind,” Yasmine leaned closer to him, her fingers slipping over to idly play with the hand he wasn’t using to steer. “Oh, Darcey, I really envy you,” she said. “You have a fiancé who loves you this much. He’s even this attentive when choosing a wedding ring.” Their movements were subtle and practiced. It clearly wasn’t the first time these two had flirted right in front of me. A dull ache spread through my chest, but I kept my face blank. “You have plenty of admirers,” I said evenly. “If you want to get married, there’ll always be someone lining up to pick out a ring for you. There’s no need to envy me.” Her smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before returning. “When would I even have time to get married?” she said lightly. “I’m about to compete for principal dancer.” She paused, as if suddenly realizing something. “Oh, did I say the wrong thing? I’m sorry, Darcey. Did I touch a nerve?” Before I could respond, Alexis reached out and gently patted her hand in reassurance. “Don’t overthink it,” he said calmly. “Your sister won’t mind. She isn’t that fragile.” My heart still lurched despite myself. There was a time I would have fallen for exactly this. Back when I first lost my sight, everyone thought I was finished. Alexis was the only one who held my hand again and again, telling me, “Darcey, you won’t stay down here forever. You’ll stand on that stage again.” Back then, I thought he understood me, believed in me, and held me together. Now, every word just like like a fucking joke. Finally, the car stopped in front of a jewelry store. The moment we stepped inside, Yasmine became noticeably more animated. “This one’s pretty.” “Oh, this one’s nice, too.” She picked out several rings in a row but never once placed one in my hand. Instead, she slipped them onto her own fingers, turning her wrist under the light, then lifting her hand toward Alexis. “Alexis, does this look good?” He answered her patiently. At first, he still glanced at me out of habit. But when he saw my blank expression, like I truly couldn’t see anything, he gradually relaxed. He reached out and lightly patted Yasmine’s head, his voice soft. “Take whichever one you like.” The indulgence in his tone was barely concealed. The sales associate smiled at me. “Oh, so you’re here accompanying your younger sister and her fiancé to pick out rings?” Yasmine immediately waved her hand with a laugh. “No, no. My sister can’t see, so I’m helping her and my future brother-in-law choose.” When she said “brother-in-law,” she enunciated it just a little too clearly. The sales associate hesitated, then gave an awkward smile. “In that case, would you like to try one of our new designs? It was created by the well-known designer Windy. It’s very beautiful and one of a kind. I think you’ll like it.” She took out the ring and was about to help me try it on. But Yasmine’s hand reached out first. “I’ll try it.” She slipped the ring onto her own ring finger, then raised her hand toward Alexis. “Hey, look. Does it look good?” The sales associate couldn’t help but murmur, “Isn’t it usually the bride who tries it on for the groom? It’s not like the groom can’t see…” Her words struck like a needle. Yeah. The groom could see. It was just that the woman he wanted to look at had never been me. Alexis cleared his throat lightly and turned to me. “Darcey, do you want to try it?” Before I could answer, Yasmine had already taken the ring and walked over. She stood close enough for me to clearly see the undisguised malice in her eyes. I instinctively tried to pull back, but she had already grabbed my hand. “Here, let me put it on for you, Darcey.” The next second, she forced the ring onto my finger. The size fit her perfectly. On me, it was one size too small. The sharp edge scraped against my skin instantly. Pain shot through my finger, and I flinched, reflexively shaking her off. I hadn’t used much strength. But she let out a sharp scream and fell backward dramatically. “Ahhh!” At the same time, the ring was dragged off with her movement, scraping hard across my finger. A thin line of blood split open immediately. But Alexis didn’t even notice. All he saw was his childhood sweetheart falling. His expression changed instantly as he rushed to check on her. “Yasmine!” After confirming she wasn’t hurt, he turned on me, anger flashing in his eyes. “Darcey, what the hell are you doing?! Yasmine was just being kind, trying to help you pick a ring. Why did you push her?!” His voice was sharp and urgent. “What if she hurt her leg? She has a competition coming up!” My finger was still bleeding. He didn’t even glance at it. Yasmine leaned weakly against him, her voice trembling with grievance. “Alexis… forget it. It’s my fault. It seems like my sister still doesn’t like me. I shouldn’t have tried to help her with the ring.” She lowered her head. “If I got hurt and couldn’t dance anymore, maybe she would feel a little better...”

Darcey’s POV “Apologize,” Alexis demanded. Every word was sharp, leaving no room for argument. “Darcey, apologize to Yasmine.” I froze in place, feeling the blood drain from my body. I was the one who had been hurt. Yet I was the one forced to compromise. I forced myself to speak. “The ring didn’t fit. She was going to put it on me anyway. I just pushed her, and she fell herself!” “Enough!” Alexis snapped. His face was dark as iron. “Are you seriously trying to accuse Yasmine? She’s about to compete for the principal position. How could she possibly hurt herself just to frame you?” “Or are you just jealous that she’s about to become the ballet company’s principal and want to ruin her?” I almost laughed out of anger. Me, jealous? Of a thief? Over my dead body! “I’m not jealous of someone who’s clearly less capable than me,” I said coldly. “Darcey!” he roared. His anger and his blatant defense of Yasmine were impossible to miss. Sure, I’d known all along that his love for me had been an act. Even so, seeing him protect her without hesitation while withholding trust from me made my chest ache, making it hard for me to breathe. Alexis lowered his head toward Yasmine, his voice concerned. “Where does it hurt, Yasmine? Tell me.” She pressed her lips together, speaking quietly. “My hand hurts a little.” Her fingertip was only slightly red. But Alexis immediately turned to me with a stern expression. “Darcey, you hurt her out of jealousy. You must be punished for what you did.” My heart sank as he pulled a pen from his suit pocket and handed it to Yasmine. His voice was frighteningly cold. “Yasmine, poke the finger that hurts on her. Only when she feels the pain will she understand that hurting you is wrong.” I froze, unable to believe what I was hearing. I turned to leave, but it was too late. With Alexis’s help, Yasmine caught my wrist, looking hesitant. The next moment, the pen jabbed toward my ring finger. But just before it touched me, her hand twisted suddenly. “Ah!” The pen plunged straight into the center of my palm. Pain exploded instantly. I couldn’t control my scream. My entire palm was a bloody mess. Yasmine seemed terrified, letting go and stepping back with tears. “I’m sorry… I was scared, and my hand shook…” she sobbed. Alexis clearly didn’t expect this to happen. There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but Yasmine had already supported me first. On the surface, it looked like she was helping me. But from an angle Alexis couldn’t see, her sharp nails dug into the bloody hole in my palm! Pain ripped through me, leaving me voiceless. It was then that all the hate and anger I’d held back finally exploded. I swung my hand and slapped her across the face. Alexis’s face went pale. “Darcey! Are you crazy?!” he yelled. Before I knew it, he had already shoved me hard. I stumbled and slammed into the glass display case in the jewelry store. With a crash, the glass shattered instantly. Sharp fragments cut into my back, arms, and legs, exploding with pain. In that instant, blood soaked my clothes. While I trembled from the pain, Yasmine’s eyes flashed with anger. She dove into Alexis’s arms, playing the victim. “Alexis… I just wanted to check her wound, but she suddenly hit me…” “Maybe she’s frustrated from being blind for so long… and took it out on me.” “I’m fine. But what if she goes crazy at the wedding and hurts someone?” Alexis’s face darkened completely. He looked at me as if I were insane. “Darcey, your mind is twisted. Since you’ve lost control, a psychologist will treat you.” Yasmine spoke softly. “She still has dances to choreograph. Maybe… bring the doctor home?” Just like that, they decided my fate. That day, the psychologist Alexis hired moved into the villa. The “therapy” was nothing but needles, intimidation, and humiliation. Any resistance was met with hair-pulling and slaps until I submitted. The scars I had from my breakdown after losing my sight were treated as sins by the goddamn psychologist. He ground off the skin layer by layer with a file. The raw flesh burned with pain. I was sweating cold, pinned down, unable to move. Until the old scars were covered in fresh blood, leaving a red, blurred mess of skin. Only in the dance studio, while choreographing, could I escape him. I practiced with hatred, pushing myself to the limit. I choreographed dances for Yasmine by day and my own by night. Only in the bathroom could I secretly contact my lawyer for a moment. Three days later, I had lost a lot of weight. The old scars were gone, replaced by countless fresh needle marks and bruises. Alexis hadn’t come home in days. Meanwhile, Yasmine’s socials were updated every day. She was trying on wedding dresses, choosing flowers, checking the venue, setting up decorations. In every photo, Alexis was by her side. They were brazenly preparing their final revenge, knowing I “couldn’t see.” Of course, I was preparing, too. That night, Alexis finally returned. He stopped in his tracks, clearly surprised at how much weight I had lost in just three days. A flicker of pity crossed his eyes. He walked over and held me in his arms. “Why have you gotten so thin?” he asked. I said lightly, “Isn’t this what you wanted?” His body stiffened with concern. The next moment, he kissed me. The kiss was soothing, but I resisted with all my strength. He thought I was sulking and hugged me tighter, helpless. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t think he would be so harsh on you.” He handed me a glass of milk. “Drink some milk to calm down. Tonight, I’ll be with you, okay?” Seeing the milk, I realized immediately what he wanted. He was trying to get Christoph, that idiot, to “comfort” me in bed for him again! I refused immediately, saying, “I’m not feeling well. You don’t need to stay tonight.” Alexis frowned, clearly thinking I was throwing a tantrum. Next thing I knew, that psycho was forcing the milk into my mouth!

Darcey’s POV As my consciousness slowly sank, I heard Alexis curse in a low voice by my ear. “Fuck! If that idiot hadn’t gotten a taste for women and started pestering me every damn day, threatening to tell Mom if I refused, I wouldn’t have had to go this far.” I bit down hard on my tongue, forcing myself to stay awake. The door opened, and Christoph walked in. Before, when I couldn’t see, I could never tell them apart, But now that my vision had returned, I could easily see the difference. He stood by the bed. There was nothing foolish or vacant in Christoph’s eyes. My pupils shrank suddenly. So he had been pretending to be stupid all along! He had been brought into the Bersteins by Alexis’s mother and had grown up dependent on them; in order to survive, he played dumb and acted like a fool. But in reality, he coveted everything: the Bersteins’s inheritance, Alexis’s position, and even Alexis’s woman. Maybe because he thought I still couldn’t see, he didn’t even bother pretending anymore. He lunged forward and shoved me down onto the bed. My whole body trembled as fear and hatred exploded in my chest at the same time. “Get the hell off me!” I struggled with everything I had, but my strength was nothing compared to his. His grip was like iron as he pinned my wrists down, his movements rough and unrestrained. No. I would rather die than let them keep trampling me like this! The moment he lowered his head, I suddenly lifted my leg and kicked him hard between the legs. He let out a sharp scream and doubled over instantly. Before I could react, a heavy slap crashed across my face, sending me straight to the floor as a ringing filled my ears. Then I felt a warm flow spreading between my legs. I froze completely, my mind going blank. Christoph looked at the blood rapidly spreading beneath me, then rushed to the door and yanked it open, instantly switching back to that stupid, panicked act as he shouted, “She’s bleeding!” Alexis rushed in, and the moment he saw the blood on the floor, it looked like all the blood in his face was drained. Soon after, the sound of an ambulance filled the air, and I was lifted onto a stretcher. When the test results came out, I felt like I had been struck by lightning. I was pregnant. There was no joy, only a wave of nausea so strong it made me want to throw up. Alexis’s reaction, however, was completely different; when he realized the child might be his, a trace of excitement actually surfaced in his eyes. Christoph also showed a flicker of surprise, clearly convinced that the child must be his. Each of them calculating their own interests, Alexis sent Christoph away and then pulled me tightly into his arms, saying, “Babe, I’m so happy. We… We’re actually having a child.” He had no intention of getting rid of it. I had been with him long enough that he was used to me, and if the child turned out to be his, then after the wedding, even if he wouldn’t marry me, he could still keep me by his side as a mistress. I simply looked at him coldly. Happy? Had he been acting for so long that he actually started believing his own bullshit? In just two days, he would completely discard me, yet here he was, still playing the role of a loving fiance. It was fucking disgusting! He even made a video call, saying, “Dad, I have some good news.” When the screen lit up, I saw my adoptive father for the first time since my vision returned, and my breathing stopped instantly because his body was covered in dense burn scars, ugly and horrifying, all of it caused by Alexis. Tears fell silently as the hatred in my chest grew even stronger. “What’s wrong?” my father asked in panic. “Darcey, saeetie, are you feeling unwell?” Alexis also froze for a moment, frowning slightly as he looked into my eyes, as if he had briefly thought I could see. I forced myself to act as if I still couldn’t see and squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying as I said, “Dad, I’m pregnant. Are you… happy?” He smiled and said, “Of course, I’m happy.” But the hatred inside me burned even more fiercely. Alexis, you son of a bitch! I swear I will make you suffer more than I ever did! After ending the call, he casually asked, “By the way, babe, is your choreography finished? Will the pregnancy affect your dancing?” Just a moment ago, he had been talking about how happy he was. And now, he was already worried about whether my pregnancy would delay the choreography. He was worried that it would affect Yasmine’s competition. I clenched my teeth and said, “It’s almost done.” His voice softened again to an almost gentle degree as he said, “That’s good. You can finish it while it’s still early, and then perform it at our wedding.” That night, after we returned to the villa, he went to take a shower, and the moment I heard the water running, I immediately got up, walked to the study, and opened his safe. The password was something he had entered in front of me these past few days; he thought I couldn’t see, so he didn’t bother hiding it. I took photos of all the documents, sent them to my lawyer, and then carefully put everything back in place, though the tightness in my chest didn’t ease. I walked into the back garden, where the pool reflected a cold light under the moon, and the child inside me had appeared so suddenly that I didn’t even know how to deal with it. Before I could sort out my thoughts, I noticed that Yasmine had appeared at some point. Thinking I couldn’t see, she quietly approached me, her gaze falling on my stomach as her expression twisted for a brief moment. Earlier, when she tried to get close to Alexis, she must have realized something was off, especially when she saw that he actually showed concern for the child. And with how perceptive she was, she immediately understood that Alexis had slept with me, which meant the child wasn’t necessarily Christoph’s. It could very well be Alexis’s. “If it can’t be confirmed… then maybe it shouldn’t exist at all,” she murmured, her tone turning resolute as she stepped closer to me. “Help! Someone help!” Now that my vision had returned, I was no longer going to let her do as she pleased, so I immediately shouted for help. Her expression changed, clearly not expecting to be exposed, but in the next second, she suddenly smirked. “Well, in that case, let’s see,” she said softly, “between you and me, who Alexis will choose.” As soon as the words fell, she gave up trying to push me into the water. Instead, that lunatic suddenly threw herself backward with a splash, falling straight into the pond.

Darcey’s POV “Yasmine!” Alexis’s eyes went bloodshot. Without a second of hesitation, he dove straight into the water to save that crazy childhood sweetheart of his. Within moments, she was carried back onto the shore, soaked from head to toe, crying like she was the victim. “Alexis, I was… I was just worried my sister couldn’t see the path near the pond, so I wanted to remind her to be careful.” “Who would’ve thought she’d suddenly go crazy and shove me into the water?” Alexis’s face darkened in an instant, terrifyingly cold. “Damn it, Darcey. Looks like three days of ‘training’ and treatment didn’t fix what’s wrong with you.” “If that’s the case, I’ll teach you myself!” That psycho grabbed me without warning and shoved me straight into the pond. The freezing water swallowed me whole in a second. I struggled desperately, but every time I managed to grab onto the edge, he stomped on my hands like he was trying to crush them. “Apologize to Yasmine.” “You don’t get out until you admit you were wrong.” “I didn’t—” I tried to explain. But the water rushed into my throat, choking me before I could finish. I finally fought my way back to the surface, trying to speak again. Right then, Yasmine suddenly frowned. “Alexis… my foot really hurts.” His expression changed instantly, all the anger gone, replaced with panic. “Where does it hurt?” “I think I twisted it just now…” His face tightened, and he immediately picked her up. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” I dragged myself onto the shore, my body trembling, blood pooling beneath me. I called out weakly, “Alexis, my stomach hurts… so bad. Please… call 911. D-Don’t leave…” Even if I hated this child’s existence, some instinct in me still wanted to protect it. Alexis hesitated for a split second when he saw the blood on me. But the moment Yasmine whimpered again, he forgot about everything else. He said he would have a doctor check on me later. And just like that, he turned around and left without another glance. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “J-Jules, can you come pick me up?” The person on the other end agreed immediately. I didn’t dare wait near the villa, so I forced myself to walk out the gate, step by step. A Rolls-Royce stopped in front of me not long after. Right before I passed out, I vaguely saw a tall man step out of the car and catch me in his arms. In the end, the baby didn’t make it. I lay in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, my face completely numb. Jules stood by the bed like he had a thousand things he wanted to say, but in the end, he only murmured, “Focus on recovering. On the principal casting day, I’ll be the first one to bring you flowers.” He turned to leave, but I grabbed the corner of his shirt. I hated asking anyone for help, but right now, he was the only one I could rely on. “Can you take me away the night before my wedding?” I asked. “Why not leave now?” he countered. “I still haven’t gotten the evidence I need,” I explained. Finally, he agreed. I stayed in bed for two full days. On the third day, I was finally able to get up. When I reached the hallway, I overheard a couple of nurses whispering in the corner. “I heard a ballerina was admitted to the next department a couple days ago.” “She only had a mild fever, but every specialist in the hospital came to consult.” “I heard her boyfriend stayed by her side the whole time.” “Meanwhile, the pregnant woman in our ward miscarried, and she doesn’t even have a single family member with her.” “Poor girl.” I let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh and walked over to the water dispenser to pour myself a cup. I no longer had any expectations for Alexis. Hearing how carefully he treated Yasmine didn’t stir anything in me anymore. To him, neither I nor my child meant even a fraction of what Yasmine did. The files I sent to the lawyer had already gotten good feedback anyway. It was time to close the net. At the same time, on the other side of the hospital, Alexis had just walked out of Yasmine’s room when his gaze suddenly froze. That woman he was watching just now… looked a lot like me. But the next second, he shook his head. ‘That’s impossible.’ ‘Darcey is blind.’ ‘She can barely walk without help.’ ‘There’s no way she could calmly pour water and walk back to her room like that.’ Just as I returned to my room, Yasmine sent me a video. In the video, she was pressed up close to Alexis, her neck covered in obvious hickeys. A voice message followed right after. “Hey, blind girl.” “If only you could see.” “Then you’d see all the marks Alexis left on me.” She let out a soft, venomous laugh, dripping with smugness. “I suggest you record the dance you choreographed today and send it to me ASAP.” “Don’t try anything clever.” “Otherwise, I’ll have Alexis throw your blind ass into a nightclub, and while we’re at it, we’ll kick your useless dad right out of the hospital.” She was getting desperate. The principal casting was the day after tomorrow, and she still didn’t have my choreography. I closed my eyes, and the memory of my adoptive father’s burn scars made my chest ache. Yasmine had no idea I had already arranged for him to be transferred somewhere safe. She still thought she could threaten me with him. But that’s fine. She wants the dance. I’ll give it to her. So I went back to the villa’s dance studio and performed the piece I prepared for her. Not long after, Alexis pushed the door open, a strange hint of anticipation in his voice. “Babe, the wedding’s tomorrow.” “You haven’t tried on your dress yet. Do you want to put it on today?” I didn’t understand what kind of act he was putting on now. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t see anyway, so what’s the point?” I said flatly. He frowned, noticing something was different about me. I used to cling to him. If he didn’t come home for a few days, I would panic and call him nonstop. But these past few days, he hadn’t contacted me at all. And I hadn’t reached out once. Something about that made him uneasy. Right then, his phone buzzed, and he stepped aside to answer it. His buddy laughed on the other end. “Bro, we’ve got a gift prepared for your wedding tomorrow.” I quietly stepped aside and started recording on my phone. The voice continued, “Tomorrow, we’re bringing that idiot Christoph to the wedding.” “We’ll have him call Darcey his bride in front of everyone, then guide him to kiss her right there.” “Everyone will think she’s been screwing around with a retard.” “You’ll walk away clean as hell.” My whole body went cold, but they weren’t done. “And we’ll find a way to break Darcey’s legs.” “She won’t be dancing ever again, and Yasmine will be the only ballet genius left.” My hand was shaking so badly I could barely hold the phone. Just how much do these devils fucking hate me? How far do they need to go to feel satisfied?! Alexis seemed hesitant for a moment, but in the end, he said, “Fine, but don’t hurt her belly.” His buddy on the other end sounded shocked. “No way, bro. Are you actually catching feelings for that blind girl?” Alexis immediately denied it. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want her miscarrying at the wedding. That’d be bad luck.” I stopped the recording before they finished and went back to my room. Not long after, Alexis came in and stood by the bed, his voice gentle. “Babe, it’s the night before our wedding, so I have to go back to the old villa to prepare.” “You’ll be alone tonight, but don’t be scared.” “Tomorrow will definitely be a very happy day.” I looked at him and smiled softly. “Yeah.” “Tomorrow will be very happy.” Like hell it will. Alexis. Tomorrow, you’re going to fall straight into hell! After he left, I immediately called Jules to come get me. I walked out of the villa and looked up at the world. The light was clear, and the colors were real. In the distance, a familiar Rolls-Royce pulled up. Jules opened the door for me and handed me a bouquet. “Congratulations, Butterfly.” “You can see again. You’ve been reborn.” I took the flowers, smiled, and thanked him before getting into the car and leaving the place that had trapped me for two years. Of course, before I left, I made sure to leave the groom three very special wedding gifts. Alexis, I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you find them.