Chapter 1

For three years, I had been Samuel Jackman's secret girlfriend. And I was meant to stay in the shadows as I lost my sight three years ago.

In the fourth year of my blindness, I clung tightly to the dry, large hand I remembered from memory, my voice trembling as I asked, "Samuel, where's Lucky? W-Where are we?"

Lucky was my guide dog—a gift from a friend when I first lost my sight.

"Theeland," he replied.

"I-I know we're in Theeland. But why don't I hear any voices? I'm scared…"

I knew Samuel had brought me to Theeland the day before. But now, a strange, indescribable scent wafted through the wilderness—a hot, putrid smell.

"Do you know the price of abandonment?" Samuel's voice, usually so gentle, now carried an icy, chilling edge that was devoid of warmth.

I turned blankly toward the direction of his voice, utterly puzzled.

What was he saying? Abandonment?

"Do you know why your family went bankrupt? It was all my doing," Samuel said coldly. "If they weren't ready to adopt a child, they shouldn't have abandoned Yvie!"

My thoughts drifted back to three years ago, to the moment I witnessed my father jumping off a building and my mother holding me tightly as creditors banged on the door. She kept apologizing to me over and over as she covered my eyes with her hand.

Through her trembling fingers, I caught a glimpse of the gash on her neck—a deep wound from a fruit knife. It was spurting blood uncontrollably. Eventually, her hand grew cold and stiff.

Only now did I realize that Samuel was the one responsible for my parents' bankruptcy.

I shook my head desperately. "They didn't abandon anyone. I don't know anything about abandonment—"

Suddenly, Samuel yanked my hair viciously, snarling, "Your family adopted Yvie, but you couldn't accept her—an elder sister who appeared out of nowhere. You pushed her into traffic, causing her severe injuries at just seven years old! But that wasn't enough. Later, you even forced your parents to abandon her."

Before I could respond, Samuel shoved me forward. The relentless sound of honking cars surrounded me, but I couldn't see anything—not the vehicles, not even a single ray of light.

"It's time for you to experience the helplessness she once endured," Samuel said, his voice icy.

The memory of being pushed into a bustling road when I was five came flooding back. Horrified, I screamed, "Lucky! Lucky! Lu—"

Something suddenly hit my leg and landed against my foot. It felt furry. Trembling, I crouched down to touch it, only to find the cold, stiff body of a guide dog.

My hand traced along the collar, and I found its name tag. The engraved letters spelled "Lucky".

Tears streamed down my face instantly.

A car zoomed past me, its tires crushing Lucky's body with a sickening crunch. Panicked, I stumbled backward, engulfed by the blaring of horns.

Covering my ears, I sobbed uncontrollably. I wanted to live. I didn't want to die…

Suddenly, without thinking, I bolted in a direction where I thought I could faintly see light. With a loud thud, I slammed into a railing, and the overwhelming sensation of falling took hold of me.

"Jules!"

I heard Samuel's scream, followed by screeching brakes and the abrupt silence of horns.

"So, these cars were arranged by Samuel."

That was my final thought before plunging into darkness.

…

The impatient sound of knocking jolted me awake. I opened my eyes abruptly, wincing at the harsh glare of a fluorescent light.

Instinctively, I raised my hand to examine my fingers—clenching and unclenching them, noting every tiny detail with perfect clarity.

I was alive? And I could see?

"What are you doing in there? Everyone's waiting for you." Samuel's voice came from outside the door.

I sat up in shock, feeling my blood run cold as I clenched my fists and stared at the door.

Frantically searching for something to defend myself, my gaze landed on the hotel tissue box with its logo printed on it—Holiday Ski Resort.

I distinctly remembered that the day I died had been the hottest day of summer, and I had been right in the heart of Theeland. So why was I now at Holiday Ski Resort?

I had only visited this resort once—three years ago when Samuel brought Yvette Stone and me here to ski.

That day, Yvette got injured, and Samuel drove her to the nearest hospital, leaving me alone at the resort. That night, someone entered my room, tore my clothes, and took photos of me.

What was supposed to be a medical leave from school turned into an expulsion for "bad social influence". I was left without family or friends—not even classmates.

Ever since then, I was like a caged canary with clipped wings, bound to Samuel's side as his secret girlfriend. Samuel even told Yvette that I was just a pitiful friend of his.

A pitiful and pathetic friend, indeed. For I had mistaken my enemy as my lover.

The sound of the door unlocking brought me back to reality. Samuel handed the room card to a staff member and walked in with a disdainful look.

When he saw me sitting on the bed, his expression grew even more annoyed.

In my previous life, I hadn't been able to see his expression due to my blindness. Now, I could clearly observe every detail of his irritated face.

"Why didn't you answer me if you've been here all along? Everyone's waiting for you!"

I suddenly stood up, grabbed the cane beside me, and tapped my way toward the door. Before I could reach the doorknob, Samuel yanked me back forcefully.

I saw a young lady standing outside the room in the hallway. She had to be Yvette. So, this was what she looked like—a sweet lady with innocent eyes and fair skin.

When she saw me, Yvette smiled, looking like a well-protected princess. No wonder she was Samuel's treasure, the one he held dearly in his heart.

Samuel's displeased voice sounded behind me. "Why aren't you in your ski suit yet? Do you want me to give you a hand?"

Yvette turned to Samuel. "Stop teasing Jules, Samuel. Don't tell me you'll actually help her get dressed? You're a man; you shouldn't be helping Jules with her clothes."

Sensing he had misspoken, Samuel's expression shifted slightly. He quickly flashed her a smile before pushing me back to the room and then leaning against the door with a smug look.

"Heh, what are you implying, Yvie? Of course, she dresses herself. She's just a little slower. She's just a friend of mine. I took pity on her, so I brought her here to lift her mood. Why would I help her get dressed?

"Why don't you head downstairs first? Jules may take some time, and the air here isn't great. You might get bored waiting for us."

Despite Samuel's considerate tone and seemingly light movements, the force of his hands was harsh. I nearly hit the wall. I felt as if I were hurled into the room like cargo.

In front of Yvette, Samuel claimed I was only a pitiful friend. Yet I couldn't help but wonder if she had never suspected anything about our relationship in the following three years. How adorably naive.

After Samuel gently persuaded Yvette to go downstairs, he returned to the room and locked the door behind him. The warmth on his face vanished completely.

He began undressing me. "Looks like you really want me to dress you, huh?"

I grabbed his hands and clutched my collar tightly. "I can do it myself. Get out."

He pinned my shoulders and shoved me onto the bed. "Why are you acting up today? It's not like I've never dressed you before. Once we're done, we'll go downstairs immediately."

As I began to struggle violently, I noticed his breathing growing heavier and heavier.

The next moment, he pinned my wrists above my head, bit my neck, and sneered, "What a bitch. Trying to seduce me with resistance?"

I froze.

I had always been his obedient secret lover for three years, never once defying him. Therefore, he had never spoken to me like this before.

His gaze was filled with contempt, yet there was a hint of desire buried within it.

Chapter 2

"Let go of me!" I demanded calmly, gradually regaining my composure. I tried to keep my expression blank, avoiding any sign that I could see.

Over the past three years I had been with him, Samuel had remained faithful to Yvette, never crossing the ultimate boundary with me.

However, he had dressed me, kissed me, bathed me—things that pushed far past the line.

I had once thought he did these things because he cherished me. But now, I finally understood—he was simply humiliating me, exacting cruel revenge for Yvette.

"Looks like I've been far too kind to you. What's with the angry, humiliated look?" Samuel sneered coldly, pressing his fingers hard against my lips before swiping them across.

To my surprise, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then let me go.

"Change your clothes right here in front of me," he commanded, pulling me to my feet and settling himself leisurely on the edge of the bed. He even unzipped his jacket collar to cool off, his gaze lingering on my neckline as he swallowed hard.

"Your friend is still waiting downstairs," I reminded him.

Samuel stood abruptly, frowning as he zipped his jacket back up.

I knew he wouldn't let Yvette wait too long downstairs, nor would he reveal his darker side in front of her.

"Hurry up and come down. And don't test my patience again," he said before striding out of the room.

The room fell into complete silence. I stumbled to sit on the bed, finally feeling a sense of reality.

I had been reborn.

The excruciating pain, as though I had fallen and smashed onto a boulder, couldn't have been a dream. Even now, the ache lingered in my tailbone and head.

Suppressing the fear of death clawing at me, I changed into my ski suit, grabbed my cane, and headed downstairs.

I wasn't the only guest staying on this floor. As I approached the elevator, a kind young man stepped forward to press the button for me.

"Thank you," I said.

"Don't mention it," he replied, his face flushing as he locked his gaze on me. "Which floor are you going to? I'll press it for you."

"First floor, please," I answered.

After he pressed the button, I asked, "By the way, is there a store around here?"

"Yes, of course," the man responded. "By the way, I'm Jack Baker. Why don't you tell me what you need, and I'll go buy it for you? Do you have a number I can call, or—"

I listed a few items, and when the elevator reached the first floor, Jack mumbled the list under his breath as he hurried out.

Before long, he returned, panting slightly, and handed me a bag. "Here, I bought them for you."

Feeling for the plastic bag, I replied, "Sorry, I don't have a phone. Why don't you leave me your contact number? I'll pay you back as soon as I can."

I removed my gloves and held out my palm. "You can write it here."

"No, no, no. That's not necessary. It wasn't much—" Jack stopped himself mid-sentence and added, "No, wait. If you insist, I'll take it. I-I'll leave you with my number. Just give me a second. I'll write it down for you. You can add me on WhatsApp with my phone number. When you're ready to pay me back, just send me a message."

Jack's face flushed bright red as he asked the front desk for a pen. However, just as he was carefully writing the digits on my palm, the pen was abruptly snatched away.

Toying with the pen between his fingers, Samuel smiled before snapping it in half with a sharp cracking sound.

Jack frowned. "Sir, what are you—"

"This is the woman I ordered from an app. First come, first served, right?" Samuel's voice was laced with coldness.

My face turned deathly pale at his words.

Jack froze for a moment, then looked at me in disbelief. "No way… You're what they call a… No, it can't be. I don't believe it. You—"

Samuel, growing impatient, wrapped his arm around my neck and dragged me outside.

My nails dug into my palms. They had been trimmed short, so they caused only a faint sting, but even that slight pain was enough to keep me clear-headed.

I had to stay calm no matter what. I had to survive this new life—long enough to send Samuel to hell.

Samuel grabbed the plastic bag from my hand and tossed it into the trash without even glancing at its contents.

"Stop doing things that piss me off," he said.

In my previous life, I often heard Samuel say that. Back then, I was naive enough to believe he said it out of jealousy.

But now, it was clear he was simply venting his frustration at me for wasting his time. He felt sorry for his true love—Yvette—who was waiting outside in the cold.

As soon as we stepped outside, the biting cold wind swept over us, but I gritted my teeth and endured it. Yvette, standing not far away, sneezed.

Samuel strode across the snow and handed her the hand warmer he'd been carrying. "Take this before you catch a cold."

Yvette's nose was red from the cold. She blinked her innocent eyes and said, "No, you should give it to Jules. Leonardo gave me one before I came here. One is enough."

In truth, I didn't know Yvette well at this point. Yet despite it being our first meeting that day, she kept calling me "Jules", sounding so friendly and familiar.

In my previous life, I had been completely fooled by such a warm address and thought of her as a friend.

Samuel stubbornly pushed the hand warmer into Yvette's arms. "Mine's better."

Yvette glanced at my frozen hands, then shifted her gaze, pouting as she tucked the hand warmer into her clothes. "Alright, alright, yours is better, Mr. Childish."

I remained quiet, like an invisible presence. After regaining my sight, I noticed the world was somehow different from my memories.

Clearly, Yvette was aware of what these people were doing to me. Yet she ignored it—and perhaps, she even orchestrated it all.

As I was pondering, someone lightly bumped into me, nearly causing me to fall into the snow.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there."

I turned around and saw a young man smiling at me apologetically.

"Is this your first time here?" he asked. "Want to hang out with me?"

Before I could respond, Samuel stepped in and said impatiently, "Get lost!"

Startled by Samuel, the man quickly walked away, his expression dark.

"Jules sure is popular! All the men want to talk to her. But it's understandable. After all, Jules is the most beautiful lady I've ever met," Yvette said with a smile.

She came closer, hooked her arm around mine, and waved her finger before my eyes innocently. "It's a pity Jules can't see. Samuel, will she regain her sight?"

"It's not likely," Samuel replied, his expression still sour.

Yvette sighed softly. "What a shame. She should see how beautiful this world is for herself!"

I smiled silently. When Yvette said the same thing in my previous life, I felt deeply hurt and inferior. Now, I finally realized—she was intentionally rubbing salt into my wounds.

Chapter 3

After Yvette finished her sentence, she quickly covered her mouth as if she just realized she had misspoken. Her expression was full of reproach.

Samuel pulled her hand down, amused by her reaction. "It's fine. Don't worry."

Yvette tried to withdraw her hand and said, "Samuel, you should stay here with Jules and make sure she's safe from strangers. Who knows who might approach her next? I can get a skiing coach to teach me."

Samuel frowned and sighed. "No one can ski better than me. Since I promised to teach you, I'll make sure you learn properly." His tone was full of affection.

"What about Jules, then?" Yvette looked at me.

Samuel glanced at me, then called over a middle-aged skiing coach, Michael Lawson. After sizing him up, Samuel handed me over to Michael. "She's blind, so take extra care of her. If you lay a hand on her, you can kiss your job goodbye."

With that, Samuel helped Yvette off to go skiing.

Whenever Yvette was around, Samuel couldn't spare a glance for anyone else; his mind was entirely focused on her.

Yet that provided me with a good opportunity.

Michael was very polite to me. Samuel was not only a regular here but also a VVIP, so Michael didn't want to upset him.

"Mr. Lawson, may I borrow your phone?" I asked.

"Sorry, Ms. Sutton. Mr. Jackman doesn't allow that."

I fell silent.

This was one of Samuel's schemes—keeping me away from phones and cutting off all my contact with the outside world.

For a blind person stranded at a remote ski resort without a phone or money, it was as good as being chained up. However, he didn't know I had regained my sight, though I wasn't sure whether the recovery was temporary or permanent.

While Michael was distracted, I quickly grabbed my cane and headed outside. I had been observing the ski resort and noticed the parking lot was behind the hotel.

But I only managed to take a few steps before Michael stopped me.

"Ms. Sutton, where are you going?" he asked.

"I've lost my way."

"You can't see, so you'd better not wander around. Mr. Jackman told me to keep an eye on you. If you get lost, I'll lose my job."

I had no choice but to follow Michael back. It wasn't because I was worried about him losing his job but simply because I realized I couldn't escape from here. I had learned that from the short distance I tried walking earlier.

The only way to leave this ski resort was by car. Yet I didn't have a license, let alone a car.

Michael was a serious coach. With my eyesight restored and a little practice, I managed to ski a few dozen miles.

"Wow, Jules is amazing! She can ski so far even though she can't see a thing. Samuel, am I just too bad at this?" Yvette's disappointed voice came from nearby.

I turned around and saw Samuel patiently comforting her. "No, Yvette. It's just beginner's luck."

Yvette pouted coquettishly. "It's alright, Samuel. I'll admit it—she's incredible. Oh, I'm beat. I don't think I can keep going."

"Alright, I'll take you back to your room," Samuel said, and the two of them headed toward the resort.

I skied a couple more laps with Michael before Samuel came back and intercepted me. He glanced at Michael and then turned to me. "Why are you even skiing? You can't see."

Annoyed, I shot back, "You brought me to this ski resort and hired Michael to teach me. Now, you're saying I shouldn't ski? What am I supposed to do here, then?"

Samuel was left speechless.

Of course, I knew exactly why he had brought me here.

While skiing was fun, it was an entirely different story for the blind. As others reveled in the thrill, the blind were left in darkness, their isolation only amplified.

All the pain I was feeling now had been carefully curated by Samuel as a gift for Yvette. I could imagine him eagerly wanting to say to her, "Look at how pitiful the blind person you hate is now."

However, Samuel hadn't told Yvette who I was—probably because I wasn't miserable enough yet.

"Just do as I say and stop asking questions," Samuel snapped, dragging me back to the resort before I could even take off my skis. Predictably, I fell face-first into the snow.

The icy snow seeped into my collar and sleeves, and the biting cold sent sharp pain through my head.

Frowning, Samuel pulled me up. "Stop pretending. A simple fall isn't going to break you. Your acting is terrible!"

He brushed the snow off my clothes and continued to drag me back toward the hotel.

Yvette was still waiting at the entrance. When she saw us approach, concern flickered across her face. "Samuel, Jules looks like she's freezing. Take her back to her room to rest. I'll head to my room and lie down for a bit."

"Okay," Samuel agreed without hesitation this time.

Yvette was slightly startled but quickly smiled, saying nothing more.

Despite the sharp ache in my head, I caught every detail of their expressions.

In my previous life, I hadn't gone skiing. I had just stood there, blank and lost, listening to the laughter and joy around me. All I could do was lower my head and shrink into a corner.

Hence, Samuel hadn't taken me back to my room then. Instead, he spent his time with Yvette—teaching her to ski and later dining with her.

I had lost count of the times I had wished he would bring me back to my room and stay by my side. But it never happened.

This time, when I fervently wished he would stay as far away from me as possible, he chose to take me back to my room.

When we returned to my room, I was soaked through. The snow that had melted on me left me shivering uncontrollably.

Samuel stared at me for a moment, gently brushing away a strand of hair stuck to my cheek. Then, without warning, he pinched my face hard and said, "I take back what I said earlier. You really do seem like you could break."

Frowning, I grabbed his wrist and pushed his hand away, my disgust toward him written all over my face.

"Looks like someone has learned a new trick and dares to act up with me now," he remarked, a peculiar smile tugging at his lips. His voice deepened as he added, "Go warm up in bed. I'll take a shower."

I was freezing to death, so I made my way to the side of the bed with a frown on my face. I peeled off my ski jacket, tossed it onto the floor, and burrowed under the covers. The room was warm as the heater was on, and after a while, I could feel my frozen limbs slowly thawing.

The bathroom door opened, and Samuel walked out in a bathrobe. Without a word, he approached the bed and pulled me out from under the covers.

"What are you doing?" I asked sharply, instantly on alert.

He carried me to the bathroom and set me on the sink. "What else? Giving you a bath, of course," he said with a meaningful smirk.

My face flushed—not with embarrassment but with anger.

This was Samuel's most repulsive trait. While he was devoted to Yvette, claiming he would sleep with no one else but her, he saw no need to restrain his other desires. How utterly disgusting!

"No!" I said firmly.

"You're literally in my hands now. What makes you think you have the right to refuse?" Samuel leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear as he whispered, "You're thin, powerless, and blind. You have no choice but to be my toy."

A toy?

The word struck me like a lightning bolt, igniting a wave of hatred within me.

I gripped the hand he had placed on my waist tightly. "Get out! I can bathe myself."

"Okay," he replied, chuckling lightly.

I frowned, puzzled. Samuel wasn't the type to give in so easily. What was he up to?

He walked toward the bathroom door, opened it, and said, "I'm leaving."

Then, he closed the door with a snap even though he was still inside the bathroom.

The room fell into an eerie silence, creating the false impression that he had left.

I couldn't believe my eyes. So, this was how he had taken advantage of me in my previous life when I was still blind!

He never actually left, contrary to his claims.

Chapter 4

I was nothing more than a toy, completely fooled and manipulated by Samuel.

Losing my parents—the only support I had—had turned me into a helpless blind woman with no one to stand up for me.

That was why Samuel hadn't hesitated to kill Lucky, my guide dog of three years, and leave me to die in my previous life.

Calming myself down, I held back my tears as best as I could. Pretending not to see anything, I slowly climbed down from the sink.

From the mirror, I noticed Samuel's suspicious gaze. I realized I had frozen in place for too long, raising his suspicions.

Without my cane, I could only feel my way along the wall until I found the bathtub. I turned on the tap. I intentionally let the water trickle down without plugging the drain. What flowed in simply flowed out.

But I knew this couldn't last. Pretending to just notice the open drain, I started properly filling the tub. I was stalling for time.

When the tub was full, I fumbled around and added some bubble bath supplies. Even without turning around to check, I could sense Samuel's growing impatience.

As he quietly approached, I braced myself. He was about to undress me.

But just then, the buzzing of a phone shattered the tense silence.

Sitting on the edge of the tub, I saw his expression in the mirror. The moment he saw the caller ID, his irritation morphed into tension. Without hesitation, he answered the call and hurried out of the bathroom, leaving the door ajar.

I sighed in relief. I was right to stall.

In my previous life, Samuel had pinned me to the bed before answering a similar call. This time, the same thing happened.

Perhaps humiliated that she couldn't ski while a blind woman could, Yvette had secretly sought another coach, only to fall and break a bone.

In my previous life, as soon as Samuel heard the news, he rushed to take her to the nearest hospital, leaving me alone at the hotel. Back then, I had only recently lost my sight and hadn't yet adjusted to handling daily activities independently.

Without sharp sensory abilities, I relied entirely on my cane. I hadn't dared wander around the hotel in such a state and could only wait in my room. I had been certain Samuel wouldn't forget about me and would come back for me.

But hours later, the person who entered the room with a key card wasn't Samuel. It was an intruder who tore off my clothes and took photos of me.

When I told Samuel about it afterward, he did nothing about it.

I had gone to the police, but being blind, I couldn't provide any details. The surveillance footage was gone, and there were no witnesses. In the end, the culprit was never caught.

This time, I had to see with my own eyes who the person was.

…

After changing into my ski suit, I grabbed my cane and left the room. During my earlier trips, I observed the positions of the surveillance cameras. The hallway cameras left virtually no blind spots, making it impossible to avoid surveillance.

Continuing to fake my blindness, I made my way to the stairwell. Through the cracked door, I could see the elevator.

As time passed, a middle-aged man wearing a mask appeared.

I didn't walk out but tilted my head to listen, counting his footsteps. After hearing the beeping sound of a room key being swiped, I waited.

The man stayed in the room for about eight minutes before rushing out and pressing the elevator button in agitation.

I put away my retractable cane, placed it in my bag, put on a mask, and pulled up the hood of my ski suit before heading down one floor. I pressed the elevator button. When the elevator doors opened, I glanced at the middle-aged man inside.

His face was unfamiliar, but the faint scent of alcohol and sweat on him immediately brought back distant memories. It was the foul smell of the man who had ripped off my clothes and taken photos of me in the dark.

Suppressing my fear, I clenched my fists and suddenly recalled how Samuel had thrown me into a bathtub after that incident.

He had run cold water over my face, the stream choking my mouth and nose as he coldly interrogated me about whether I had been touched by the old man.

He had even taken me to a hospital for a full-body examination. Only after confirming I hadn't been assaulted did he drop the matter.

The middle-aged man started making a call. "Hello? It's me, Bob Fry. She's not in the room."

From the phone came a voice I knew all too well—it was my father's cousin, Benjamin Sutton.

"What do you mean she's not there? She's blind. How could she not be there? Don't tell me you laid a finger on her!"

"I wouldn't dare!" Bob panicked. "I know you're planning to sell her to that rich man as his mistress, so I was just following your instructions to take photos of her. But she's not in the room!"

"She's not in the room? Where could that blind woman go? She doesn't even have a phone, so there's no way to reach her. Just come back for now and keep it low. We'll wait for the next opportunity. There's always another chance."

Bob hesitated. "Are you sure about this? She's your niece, after all. And doesn't Mr. Jackman have his eyes on her? Won't I offend him by doing this?"

"Don't worry. Mr. Jackman won't blame us for this. My niece is so full of herself. She's blind, but she spends hours every day learning Braille to the point of hurting her fingers. She even has the audacity to dream about getting into that university! She should know they'd never admit a blind student!

"Mr. Jackman told me to break her spirit and crush her pride. This is the way to do it, isn't it? If we don't do this, she won't willingly stay by Mr. Jackman's side. And if she doesn't, how can I negotiate a deal with him?

"If I don't get the money, how am I supposed to repay what I owe you? We agreed on 15% interest, totaling 260 thousand dollars with principal and interest, didn't we?"

Every word from Benjamin fell clearly into my ears.

In my previous life, Benjamin had come to comfort me after the incident, promising to find the culprit who had hurt me. He even told me he was my only family and that everything he did was for my own good.

He urged me to stay with Samuel, assuring me that perhaps one day, I might marry him, securing a lifetime of wealth and prosperity.

I had always been aware of Benjamin's true nature, but I never expected him to go this far for money.

It was evident Samuel had learned of Benjamin's actions after that incident, yet he had let it slide—because Benjamin's actions aligned perfectly with his own plans.

Bob stepped out of the elevator. I waited for a moment before making my way to the front desk.

"Good day, miss. Is there anything I can help you with?" the receptionist asked politely.

"Call the police for me," I said.

"The police?"

"Yes, I'd like to report a theft. A million-dollar bracelet was stolen." I slowly removed my mask and hood.

The mask was something I had asked Jack, the young man, to buy for me earlier during my first trip downstairs. Before Samuel discarded the plastic bag, I had secretly pocketed the mask.

"A million-dollar bracelet?" The receptionist drew a sharp breath, clearly shocked. "H-How did it happen?"

She looked at me with suspicion, likely wondering how a blind woman like me would own such a valuable piece of jewelry.

"Samuel Jackman bought the bracelet," I replied.

I was certain every employee at this resort knew Samuel's name. Although there were hundreds of VVIP members here, each with prestigious status, the staff undoubtedly committed the names and backgrounds of those at the top of the pyramid to memory.

"Oh, that's right. You're the lady who came with Mr. Jackman," the receptionist exclaimed. "My apologies, Ms. Sutton. Please wait a moment. I'll call the police right away!"

The police arrived promptly and attempted to call Samuel, but he didn't answer.

I had anticipated this. With Yvette injured, I doubted he would divide his attention, let alone take a call from an unfamiliar number.

Chapter 5

The staff promptly locked down the entire ski resort after I reported the incident to the police. No one was allowed to leave unless they were VVIP members.

A crowd had gathered in the lobby, demanding explanations. The police arrived shortly afterward.

"Ms. Sutton, could you give us more details about how you noticed the theft?" a female officer asked as she helped me sit down, placing a cup of warm water into my trembling hands.

"I wasn't feeling well earlier and thought I might have a fever, so I went out to look for Samuel," I said, my tone uneasy. "I couldn't find him and ended up getting lost. After finally finding my way back to the room, I discovered the door was open…"

I continued, "I was very anxious, so I went straight to the front desk and asked the receptionist to call the police for me."

Nathan Black, the hotel manager, had been standing nearby, listening. Hearing this, he promptly offered to check the surveillance footage.

I recalled that in my previous life, Nathan had been extremely uncooperative. He had insisted that company policy prohibited revealing surveillance footage due to customer privacy concerns.

Now, however, he seemed more than willing to cooperate, likely to avoid liability. After all, the stolen item was a million-dollar bracelet.

Clearly, a young woman's dignity and future couldn't be compared to jewelry worth a million dollars.

Of course, while he agreed to cooperate, he only provided a short segment of the hallway footage—starting from after Samuel had left the room.

In the footage, a man around five foot seven, wearing a black baseball cap, appeared shortly after Samuel left.

"I think I saw this man earlier," a curious female tourist said, sneaking a glance at the footage. "He was at the main entrance just now, arguing and demanding to leave."

The police acted swiftly and soon brought Bob to the scene.

"What bracelet? I didn't steal anything!" Bob protested loudly.

When the police searched him, they found my room's key card in his pocket.

"Where did you get this?" one of the officers asked sternly.

Bob hiccuped, and the smell of alcohol was heavy on his breath. He stole a nervous glance at me before stammering, "I-I picked it up off the floor. Officer, I swear I didn't steal anything! I'm innocent! Search me all you want!"

The police observed his guilty demeanor, their suspicion deepening.

I said softly, "Officer, how many years will a thief get for stealing jewelry worth a million dollars?"

A law-savvy tourist among the onlookers chimed in, "Ten years at least. If you get a good lawyer, he might never see the outside of a cell again."

"No! I really didn't steal anything!" Bob panicked, his voice trembling. "I was just there to take photos! I didn't touch anything else! When I saw no one in the room, I immediately left!"

Back in the elevator, I noticed Bob's timid nature. Now, under the weight of the situation, he cracked and confessed everything without restraint. The surrounding crowd erupted into discussions.

"Photos? What kind of photos?"

"What else? Just look at the lady sitting there—she's stunning, even prettier than a movie star. That guy makes me sick."

"You mean those kinds of photos?"

"Oh my god, that's vile! Thank goodness he didn't get the chance."

"Get this scumbag out of here already! How could someone like him even get into the hotel?"

"Does this mean the hotel isn't safe?"

Nathan quickly interjected, "Our hotel is extremely secure! This key card isn't one of our spares. All spares are kept here—"

Someone interjected, "If it's not a spare, does that mean it's Mr. Jackman's card?"

I flinched and curled up, clutching my arms tightly as I turned toward Bob, my voice shaking. "D-Did Samuel send you to take photos of me? Why would he do that?"

Bob froze, his expression one of shock as though I had hit the nail on the head. According to Benjamin, Samuel had indeed given his tacit approval.

My face turned pale as I struggled to steady myself in my seat. "Why would he want to take those kinds of photos of me? What does he plan to do with them?"

Jack, the young man I had met earlier, stepped forward from the crowd, his face filled with righteous indignation.

"Is Mr. Jackman crazy or what? I helped this lady press the elevator button earlier this afternoon, and he insulted her horribly, saying things that were completely disrespectful to women."

"I saw Mr. Jackman earlier too," another onlooker chimed in. "There was another lady with him. So, he didn't just bring one but two ladies here. What a scumbag!"

I continue trembling uncontrollably, my head spinning with dizziness.

I had made many assumptions about how Bob might have obtained the key card. He could have found it lying around after Samuel accidentally lost it.

That was why I took the initiative to question him directly, asking if Samuel had sent him. Bob's startled reaction and guilty look said it all.

The juicy gossip excited the crowd, and the murmurs of discussion grew louder.

Before losing consciousness, I tightly grasped the female officer's arm and whispered, "Please…take me to my university dormitory. I-I don't want to be anywhere else—"

The fever I suspected earlier was real. Before leaving the room, I had already felt my forehead burning.

With that, I passed out amidst a flurry of shocked gasps.

…

When I regained consciousness, I found myself staring at a stark white ceiling under the bright glare of fluorescent lights.

My throat burned, and I was so parched that I couldn't form a word. The moment I sensed the faint scent of cigarettes amidst the strong smell of disinfectant, my scalp prickled with unease.

Before I could react, a hand clamped around my neck, pinning me firmly to the hospital bed.

Samuel loomed over me, his tall frame radiating menace. His expression was dark, his fury palpable as his long fingers tightened around my throat. The disdain in his eyes was like a dagger, sharp and cutting.

I felt like an insignificant insect in his hands, ready to be crushed anytime.

Was this how it ended? Was this a fate I could never escape? The suffocating feeling consumed me completely.

Coughing and gasping for air, I clawed desperately at his hand, my nails digging deep enough to draw blood. He winced but didn't loosen his grip.

"What were you doing when people were slandering Yvie?" he demanded, his voice low and seething. "They said I brought two women to the ski resort for my own amusement, that I spent the night with both of them. Ha!"

His eyes narrowed as he continued, "Why didn't you defend me? Do you even know what they're saying about Yvie now?"

I couldn't breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just as I thought I might die of suffocation, Samuel suddenly let go.

His fingers brushed the corners of my eyes before trailing down my ears and jawline, finally slipping beneath my collar.

"Let me see just how cruel and heartless you truly are," he said, his tone dripping with malice.

I grabbed his hand with all my strength, coughing violently as I struggled to steady my voice.

"Did you tell the police I had someone take nude photos of you?" Samuel asked, withdrawing his hand to grip my chin. "If I wanted to see you naked, I could make you strip anytime I wished. Why would I need someone to take photos for me?"

I forced myself to remain calm, though my eyes stung with unshed tears.

To him, I was nothing more than a plaything to torment at will. Every word he spoke stripped away my dignity.

I began hoarsely, "Samuel, I called the police because something was stolen. I didn't explain anything because I didn't know how to. The truth is, you did bring Yvette and me to the ski resort."

I continued, "As for those rumors about spending a night with two women, I know nothing about them, nor did I spread them. I fainted shortly afterward from a fever. If you still think this is somehow my fault, then it's no wonder Yvette would never fall for a scum like you."

Yvette had always loved someone else. Even in my past life, Samuel had never won her heart. He remained her pathetic admirer until my death.

Samuel suddenly laughed, loosening his tie. With a sudden kick, he nearly overturned the hospital bed.

The bed shook violently, but I didn't flinch.

Yvette's love for another man was Samuel's greatest weakness. He knew it, but he couldn't bear to hear it spoken aloud.

Most importantly, Samuel didn't know who Yvette loved. He only knew that her heart belonged to someone else.

He didn't dare confront Yvette, instead letting his frustration fester in silence.

But I knew exactly who Yvette loved.