Chapter 1

Hugh Johnston kissed Kelly Kessler so intensely in the Maybach that it left her dizzy. She was almost bare, while he was still fully dressed, and the difference made her face flush with heat.

He slid a hand around her waist and pulled her even closer, chuckling low in her ear. "The partition's up. The driver won't hear anything, and it's not like he'd try to. So what's with all the shyness?"

Hugh was usually distant, but now his body was moving with so much urgency. Kelly clung to him, her eyes filled with love. Just as the pleasure almost peaked, the sudden ring of a phone shattered the moment.

Hugh scowled at the disruption, but when he saw who was calling, he answered anyway. Breathing heavily, Kelly caught a glimpse of the caller ID. It was Joel Yeager, Hugh's best friend.

"Hugh, are you out of your—"

Hugh's expression hardened as he cut Joel off in flawless Idrenian. "Not a good time. Speak in Idrenian."

Joel took a deep breath. After a moment of silence, he switched to Idrenian.

"You actually married Natalie? What were you thinking? You lost your sight trying to save her. Back when everything hit rock bottom, she turned her back on you and even ran off with someone else. She almost ruined you! And now you're back with her?"

Kelly's brain raced to make sense of the unfamiliar words. The moment it clicked, a cold shiver ran through her.

Hugh didn't notice her reaction.

"The Ashworths will make her marry some old guy if I don't. I can't just stand by and let that happen," he said.

"What about Kelly? She was the only one who stuck around when you went blind. She's been there for you all these years. She's basically in love with you. We can all see it!" Joel's voice cracked with anger.

Hugh's voice stayed even. "I'll figure out how to keep it from her. She won't find out."

"How long do you think you can keep that up? Forever? Isn't Kelly counting on you to marry her as well?"

The more Hugh heard, the more frustrated he became, and his voice grew impatient. "Keep all news about my marriage to Nattie quiet. Don't say a word about it. I'll get a fake marriage certificate for Kel soon."

Then, he hung up before Joel could say anything.

Hugh looked down, tossed his phone aside, and dove back into Kelly. She couldn't stop trembling. They both reached their climax.

While they were fixing their clothes, she opened her mouth to say something, but his phone buzzed again. It was that custom WhatsApp notification tone he'd set.

Hugh quickly checked his phone before telling the driver to pull over.

"Something urgent came up at the office, Kel. Can you get out here and grab a cab home?" he asked.

Kelly nodded silently, opened the door, and stepped out.

The black Maybach sped off down the road.

Standing on the sidewalk, Kelly stared at the never-ending line of cars, lost in a daze. She couldn't hold the tears back anymore. They spilled down her face.

No one knew she'd learned Idrenian just to get closer to Hugh, which meant she'd heard every word he and Joel had said. Each sentence replayed in her mind, slicing through her like a knife.

And with that gut-wrenching heartbreak, old memories she thought were long buried came rushing back all at once.

Hugh was the lofty heir to the Johnston family while Kelly was just the housekeeper's daughter.

Years ago, she'd followed her mother into the grand Johnston residence and had caught sight of Hugh playing the piano gracefully in the sunlight. She'd never heard anything so beautiful, nor seen anyone so refined.

Right then, Hugh's name was carved into her heart for good. She never said a word about her secret feelings for him.

It wasn't just that their worlds were miles apart that kept her silent. It was knowing exactly who held his heart—Natalie Ashworth, his childhood sweetheart.

Hugh had never kept it a secret how much he cared for Natalie, treating her like a precious gem. He got into a car accident when he was 17, trying to save her and lost his sight because of it.

From that day on, Natalie seemed to disappear without a trace. She never returned to the Johnston residence, and soon, she was seen with a new boyfriend.

There were other heirs lined up to inherit the Johnstons' fortune. On top of that, Hugh's parents, Neil Johnston and Emilia Barnett, were too caught up in their business to pay any attention to their blind son.

They sent Hugh off to Johnston Manor, leaving him all alone. Kelly was the one who stepped up to transfer there, taking care of him for seven years.

When she was 23, she even spent three days and nights kneeling outside a well-known doctor's house before finally convincing him to come out of retirement and restore Hugh's sight.

Like a pearl pulled from the dirt, he was shining once again. He regained his rightful place as heir to Johnston Group in just a year.

Kelly was the one who stuck by him through it all, who kept him company from midnight to dawn, who helped him survive those seven long, agonizing years. She was the one who kissed him, held him, and shared his bed.

She never expected that the moment he got his power back, the first thing he'd do was marry Natalie, the very woman who'd walked away from him.

For all these years, Kelly had pushed herself to keep pace with Hugh, giving it everything she had. But no matter how much she changed or grew, Neil and Emilia still saw her as unworthy of him.

Again and again, they tried to pay her to leave. Hugh always fought them, adamant about keeping her by his side. Not wanting to disappoint him, Kelly never even considered walking away.

That was, until today. She couldn't handle it any longer.

Wiping her tears, she pulled out her phone and called a number. "Mrs. Johnston, I'll take the 50 million and leave Hugh for good."

Chapter 2

The moment Emilia heard Kelly's words, she couldn't contain herself.

"You've finally come to your senses, huh? It's about time. You're just the daughter of a housekeeper. How could you possibly be good enough for Hugh, the heir to Johnston Group? Where are you? Get over here, so we can sign this thing."

She sent Kelly the address without wasting any time.

A wry smile crossed Kelly's face as she looked at it. Then, she hailed a cab.

When she arrived at the café, Emilia grilled her with questions. Kelly answered every one of them. Once done, Emilia looked satisfied as she slid the agreement across the table.

"It's all here, in black and white. There's no turning back once you sign. After you sign, I'll transfer half the payment to your account. You'll get the rest the day you leave. And you need to swear that once you take it, you'll never show your face to Hugh again. Understand?"

Kelly's eyelashes fluttered as she stared at the jaw-dropping amount on the paper. She'd never see him again—not in this life or the next.

Without a second thought, she picked up the pen and signed her name in one clean stroke.

Emilia finally eased up.

She retrieved the agreement, got to her feet, and gave one last instruction. "You've got two weeks. Whether you change your name or leave the country is up to you. Just make sure Hugh never sees you again."

"I understand, Mrs. Johnston. You have my word."

After watching Emilia walk off, Kelly headed home.

Making sure Hugh never saw her again was the easy part. The Johnstons had been tied to the military and government for generations, so no one in the family's last three generations was allowed to leave the country due to their background.

All Kelly had to do was move overseas. That way, Hugh would have no chance of finding her.

She spent half the night looking into different countries before settling on Atheland. After making her decision, she checked the time on her phone, only to find a new Instagram notification.

She tapped it open and found Natalie's latest post. It was a collage of nine photos—three selfies with a bouquet of roses on the top row, three shots of her marriage certificates in the middle, and three pictures of two hands clasped together at the bottom.

Kelly knew Hugh wanted to keep their marriage a secret, so there was no way he'd given Natalie the green light to post anything. But she did it anyway and made sure only Kelly could see it. No doubt, Natalie was showing off.

Kelly liked the post.

She had just closed the app when a message from Hugh popped up. "I've got a business trip, Kel. I'll be gone for a few days."

Kelly replied with a simple "Okay" and went to freshen up.

…

The next morning, Kelly got up early to handle her temporary residence paperwork, paying extra to have it rushed.

The clerk assured her it would be ready in half a month, and Kelly felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

Back in the car, she checked Instagram again. Natalie had posted something new. This time, half of Hugh was in the frame, their hands intertwined as they looked at possible homes before finally choosing a villa in Bayview Estates.

Just like the day before, Kelly tapped the heart icon.

…

On the third day, Kelly went to her office and handed in her resignation.

She came home with her things, only to find another post from Natalie. She was wearing a wedding dress, a diamond ring sparkling on her left hand.

Kelly hit "like" as usual and curled up under the covers.

…

On the fourth day, Kelly woke up to even more updates on Natalie's feed. This time, the camera focused on a framed wedding photo in a room.

She stared at it for a long while, then shook herself out of the daze and hit the like button again. After that, she did her makeup and went out to meet her close friends to say her goodbyes.

That evening, Kelly came back with a few boxes and started tossing out everything related to Hugh. She threw away every gift he had given her, their matching toothbrushes and mugs, and all the photos they'd taken together.

By the time she finished, it was already well past midnight. Just as she was about to switch off the lights, Hugh appeared out of nowhere.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw how empty the place looked, his brow furrowing. "Why does it look like so much of our stuff is gone?"

"I got tired of them, so I threw them out. We can always get new things," Kelly said.

Hugh nodded and tossed his jacket onto the couch. Then, his eyes landed on something on the table.

"You quit your job?" He paused, then glanced at the papers on the coffee table. "And why are you looking at your residency papers?"

"I was burned out, so I quit. The residency stuff is because I've got some paperwork to handle," Kelly said, slipping the documents into her bag.

She was completely unbothered by it. So, Hugh just let it go.

He pulled her into his arms, his voice soft. "I've been swamped the past few days and haven't had time for you. Your birthday's coming up in two days. Let me take you to the auction tomorrow and pick out a gift."

Kelly had no objections.

…

The next day, as soon as Hugh and Kelly took their seats at the auction, Kelly spotted Natalie. Natalie strolled over confidently and took a seat next to Hugh.

For the rest of the evening, Hugh kept his attention on Kelly, talking only to her. He didn't glance at Natalie once. When the auction ended, he took Kelly's hand and led her downstairs without hesitation.

Before heading home, Kelly stopped by the restroom. On her way out, she spotted a group of guys blocking Natalie in the stairwell, making fun of her without holding back.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ms. Ashworth. You turned your back on Hugh after all he did for you, and now look at you. Karma's a real bitch, huh?"

"I heard your dad's marrying you off to some old geezer on his deathbed. But hey, you've still got that pretty face. Why not come with us instead? We'll make sure you—"

The guy didn't get to finish.

Hugh was already coming down the stairs, his face twisted in anger. He stomped down, kicking each of those sleazy guys.

Chapter 3

Hugh slammed the guy in charge to the ground, raining punch after punch without holding back. He took down the whole group, leaving them with busted heads, bloodied, and pleading for mercy.

"We're sorry, Mr. Johnston! We messed up! Please, show us some mercy and let us go!"

"Get lost! You'll regret it if I ever catch you near Natalie again!" Hugh shouted, his voice seething with fury.

Terrified, the men scattered like rats.

A crowd had gathered in the stairwell, drawn by the noise. Hugh ignored their nosy looks and helped Natalie to her feet.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Natalie threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "I twisted my ankle. It hurts so bad."

Hugh's expression turned grim. He scooped her up and shoved his way through the onlookers, moving fast. As he shielded Natalie in his arms, his elbow accidentally knocked Kelly down.

Kelly's head slammed into the edge of the steps, splitting open, and blood started pouring out. The crowd gasped in horror.

"You're bleeding! Somebody call 911, now!"

Kelly's face twisted in pain as cold sweat broke across her skin. Warm blood seeped through her fingers, dripping onto her lashes, every drop weighing her down like a ton of bricks.

She watched Hugh walk away without sparing her a glance, the bitter taste of it spreading in her mouth.

She couldn't help but think back to when she'd nicked her finger making soup for him. He'd freak out, insisting on calling a doctor just to be safe, worried she might end up with a scar. She'd always joke that he was overreacting.

He'd look down, kiss her hand, and softly say, "Kel, you're the one I care about most. When you're hurt, it hurts me even more. Things are better for us now. You shouldn't be doing that kind of work. One day, your hand will wear the ring I give you, and scars would only mess with its beauty."

But now, she was hurt, and he didn't even notice. The ring he promised her was now on someone else's finger.

An ambulance took Kelly to the hospital. She checked in, saw the doctor, and picked up her medication on her own.

By the time she got home, it was already well past midnight. The pain kept her tossing and turning until dawn. Hugh never came back that night.

…

The next morning, Kelly dragged herself out of bed to change her bandage. That was when she saw Natalie's Instagram post.

It was a video of Hugh down on one knee, massaging her foot, and putting on some medicine. Kelly replayed it over and over, her eyes getting redder, until she fell asleep without even realizing it.

When she woke up again, night had already fallen. Her phone was buzzing nonstop beside her pillow.

She answered the call, and Hugh's voice came through. "Orcella Retreat, Room 703. Get here now."

Kelly hesitated for a moment before climbing out of bed. After a quick wash-up, she made her way over.

When she opened the door, the first person she saw was Natalie. Her eyes were red, looking like a defenseless little bunny, fragile and hurt. Hugh was sitting there, staring at Kelly, his face unreadable.

The room was still, the silence hanging heavy.

Finally, Kelly couldn't hold it in anymore. "Why'd you call me here?"

Hugh sat up straighter, hands clasped before him as if he was in charge. "Kel, did you send those thugs from last night after Natalie on purpose?"

Kelly froze. Her eyes darted to Natalie, catching a brief flash of satisfaction in her gaze. In that split second, she realized Natalie had probably set this whole thing up to pin it on her.

She let out a dry laugh. "I didn't do it. I don't even know those people, and I'm not interested in pulling something like that."

Hugh's face stayed serious as she explained.

He lowered his gaze, his voice steady. "Kel, I moved on from Natalie the moment she walked out on me all those years ago. We've been together for seven years now. You should know where my heart is.

"Yeah, the Ashworths are finished, and there are plenty of people lining up to take them down, but you don't have to be one of them. You don't need to go after her because of me."

Evelyn felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She remembered those late nights when Hugh broke down, their frantic search for doctors and treatments, the way silence took over after he was misdiagnosed and told he might never see again.

This man, who had been above all others, had lost his sight for Natalie's sake. But now, he was brushing off those seven long years of pain like it was nothing.

Finally, Kelly remembered Hugh and Natalie's legally sealed marriage certificate. A faint shimmer of tears gathered in her eyes.

"Seven years together, and it's only now that I see who really has your heart," she said.

Hugh's eyes sharpened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kelly shook her head, a wry smile on her lips. "It means I'm just the daughter of a housekeeper. How would I have the power or connections to gather a bunch of thugs and go after her?"

She laid it out as clearly as she could, but Hugh still wouldn't believe her.

Exhausted, Kelly let out a deep breath, giving up on any hope of getting through to him. "If you don't believe me, just tell me what you want me to do."

Hugh pinched the bridge of his nose. "Apologize, Kel. You owe her an apology now that you've messed up."

Natalie, who had been quietly playing the victim, finally spoke up. "Forget the apology. Just down all of these if you're truly sorry."

Chapter 4

The table was loaded with amber-colored whiskey. Kelly looked up to Hugh, searching for an answer, but his face stayed unreadable in the dim light.

The silence in the room felt heavy, almost suffocating. Her breath quickened as memories came rushing back.

When Kelly first moved into Johnston Manor, Hugh had been drinking every day, using it to drown out the despair of his blindness. Concerned about his health, she'd tried countless times to get him to stop, but he never listened.

Then one night, Hugh was drunk again. He sneered and shoved a few bottles toward her.

"Now, even the housekeeper's daughter thinks she can tell me what to do. Have I really sunk this low? Fine. Drink up, and I'll do whatever you want."

Kelly wanted to tell him she wasn't trying to control him and was just concerned about him. But for his sake, she grabbed a bottle and knocked it back in one go, even though she knew she was allergic to alcohol. A few minutes later, she was rushed to the hospital.

When she woke up, Hugh was sitting by her bed, his face full of anger. "I was the one who was drunk, not you! You knew you were allergic. Why would you risk your life like that?"

All Kelly said was, "Because I was worried about you, Mr. Johnston. One day, you'll get your sight back. And even if you don't, I'll stay with you for as long as you need. So please, don't waste your life like this, okay?"

From that day on, Hugh gave up drinking. For years, there wasn't a single bottle of alcohol in the house.

Looking back now, Kelly let out a small laugh, though her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. She didn't say anything more. She reached for the mustard powder nearby and poured it into a glass.

Her voice was firm. "A couple of drinks don't mean anything. Let me add a little punishment. Will that work?"

Then, she grabbed the glass, tilted her head back, and knocked it back. One glass, then another. The sharp, bitter burn scraped down her throat, clawed at her stomach, and tightened her chest in an unrelenting ache.

By the time she got through the seventh glass, Hugh couldn't take it anymore. "That's enough!"

Kelly glanced at the dozen or so glasses left untouched and smiled. "That's all it takes? So, am I done with the apology now? Have I finally pleased your beloved?"

Hugh shot to his feet, grabbing her wrist. His usual poise disappeared, his face darkening with a stormy expression.

"You know that's not what I meant! Kel, I've told you. I'm done with Natalie. My family disapproves of you marrying into ours. If you keep pulling stunts like this, they'll use it against you. I'm just trying to keep you out of trouble!"

Hugh's tone was righteous, even reasonable.

Kelly let out a dry laugh. The Johnstons would never let a housekeeper's daughter into their family, but would they welcome Natalie, the woman who repaid Hugh's kindness by walking out on him?

And still, no matter how slim the chances, Hugh married Natalie as long as she said the word, didn't he? It all came down to one thing. He just didn't love Kelly enough.

Kelly didn't bother arguing. She yanked her wrist free and headed for the door. But just as she reached it, her legs gave out, and she collapsed.

"Kel!"

Hugh's heart twisted. Without thinking twice, he rushed over and lifted her in his arms.

As he turned to go, Natalie grabbed his sleeve, her voice shaky. "Hugh, I feel dizzy."

He hesitated for a second before walking away. "I'm taking Kel to the hospital. Call Ben to look after you."

…

Kelly found herself in a hospital when she woke up. Hugh, who hadn't gotten a wink of sleep, exhaled a long breath of relief when she finally opened her eyes.

Their eyes met, and they stayed like that, wordless, for what felt like an eternity. He handed her a glass of water, tucked the blanket around her, and called the doctor in for a checkup. He made sure to hold onto every word the doctor said.

Ben Fawkes, his assistant, had kept bringing up the meetings, but Hugh brushed off every single one.

Kelly noticed Ben hanging anxiously by the door and finally spoke up. "You should go. I'll be fine. You shouldn't be the one handling all of this anyway."

Hugh reached for the knife, but her voice stopped him cold, his hand frozen in midair.

"This is exactly what I should be doing. Don't you remember, Kel? You did the same for me back then," he said, his voice steady and slow.

A brief wave of nostalgia flickered in her eyes. Back then, when Hugh lost his sight, the Johnstons had cast him aside like he was nothing.

Only Kelly stayed. She'd learned Braille just to help him, stayed by his side through every lesson, took him outside so he could feel the sun, and cooked delicious meals for him.

It was like she had the moon all to herself. Her world, which used to feel dull, seemed overflowing with light. Those seven years had been the best of her life.

But the moon was never hers to keep. And time couldn't be turned back.

That evening, the doctor took Kelly in for more tests. About half an hour later, a nurse helped her back to her room.

As she walked in, she saw Hugh holding her phone, his face tight with frustration as he argued with Emilia.

"I've already told you. Kel and I are in love. I don't care about her family or where she's from, so stop trying to change my mind. I'm marrying her, and she's not leaving me," he said.

When Hugh heard the noise, he glanced up at Kelly.

Emilia's voice came through the phone, sounding confused. "What do you mean she's not leaving? Don't you know? Kelly agreed to go abroad a few days ago…"

Chapter 5

Emilia's voice suddenly cut off.

Kelly staggered forward, her steps unsteady. She snatched her phone back and ended the call.

Hugh stared at her, stunned, not getting why she was so shaken. "What's going on?"

When she saw the confusion on his face, Kelly realized he hadn't heard everything Emilia had said. She let out a breath of relief and looked away, doing her best to keep her voice steady.

"It's nothing. I just don't want you two arguing over me."

Lately, the Johnstons had been making a scene about Hugh being with Kelly, doing everything they could to tear the two apart. Hugh had gotten into more than one fight with them.

After hearing her explanation, he didn't push her further and instead asked about her medical exam results.

"The doctor said it's nothing serious. I can leave the hospital," Kelly answered.

Once they were home, Hugh barely left her side. He stuck around, but she wasn't the same.

She wasn't as lively or full of energy as before. Most of the time, she just sat off to the side, staring into space, looking exhausted and out of it.

Unsure of what was going on, Hugh tried to comfort her by pulling her into his arms, but she pulled away and headed to the bedroom.

"I'm not feeling well. I'll rest for a bit," Kelly said.

Hugh was taken aback, watching her walk off. He thought she was still upset about the time he made her apologize to Natalie, so he had Ben set up a surprise for her.

Hugh threw Kelly a birthday party. Given his status, most people from their circle came.

They were polite enough to Kelly while he was around, but they huddled together the moment he stepped away, gossiping like there was no tomorrow.

"I wouldn't be caught dead at the housekeeper's daughter's birthday party if it weren't for Mr. Johnston. This is just embarrassing!"

"I don't get what Mr. Johnston sees in her. She looks so cheap and tacky. She practically screams poverty!"

"Well, at least he's loyal. If it were me, I'd throw some cash and send her on her way. It'd be a total embarrassment for the Johnstons if he actually married her!"

Even though it was her birthday, Kelly was left all alone, completely ignored. Surrounded by their open insults and snide comments, she felt completely drained.

She wouldn't have come if she hadn't been so worried about Hugh noticing something was off. The way everyone deliberately shut her out made every second there feel unbearable.

At 7:00 pm, a noticeable shift swept through the banquet hall. All eyes turned to the entrance. The disdain that had been so obvious moments ago disappeared, replaced by smiles dripping with insincerity.

Word spread fast in their circle. Everyone knew that Hugh had just gotten into a fight over Natalie, which made it pretty obvious how much he still cared for her. People wasted no time in trying to flatter her.

"Mr. Johnston! So that's why you left earlier. You went to pick up Ms. Ashworth, huh? It's clear you two still share a special bond after all this time!"

"Exactly! Childhood sweethearts, without a doubt. Just look at how graceful Ms. Ashworth is and how handsome Mr. Johnston is. They're practically made for each other."

As the speculation swirled around her, Kelly's gaze fixed on Natalie and Hugh, their arms linked as they made their grand entrance—and suddenly, everything clicked.

Natalie stepped in wearing a jaw-dropping couture gown that fit her like a glove, a dazzling diamond necklace catching every bit of light. Her delicate, graceful features gave off an effortless elegance. She radiated wealth and privilege.

She never faded into the background even beside Hugh, who naturally drew attention. She held her own with ease.

Suddenly, Kelly remembered the faceless sketch Hugh had drawn after he regained sight. He'd brushed it off, claiming he was just doodling out of boredom.

At the time, Kelly had thought it was beautiful but hadn't really given it much thought. It wasn't until now, seeing Natalie, that she realized that the sketch hadn't been just some random drawing.

Hugh hadn't just reconnected with Natalie after losing touch. The truth was, he had never really let her go.

Kelly looked down and quietly turned away, but Natalie's voice stopped her.

"Ms. Kessler, I heard it's your birthday today. I hope you don't mind me showing up uninvited. I even brought something for you!"

She waved her hand, and someone came forward, leading a snow-white puppy on a leash.

"This is Kelsey. Isn't she the cutest?"

As the puppy bounced toward Kelly, she stepped back in fear, knocking into a table. Her face drained of color, and her eyes widened in alarm.

"Please, get it away from me. I don't like dogs."