I Gave Him My Sight, He Gave Me Darkness

Blaire's POV

It had been 520 days since Henry Kline told me he wanted to propose. But I didn't see a ring when he dropped to one knee.

Instead, he held out something else.

A request.

Henry asked me to donate my cornea to his mom.

“My mom’s a painter,” he said, his voice tight like he was barely holding it together. “Her sight’s going fast. I was gonna give her mine, but as president of the company, I can’t afford to lose my vision. You’re a big deal on stage, Blaire. You don’t need your sight to perform. Hell, the most famous tenor in Italy is blind.”

I hesitated, the weight of what he was asking sinking in. His eyes, those eyes I’d always thought of as warm, were now filled with desperation.

I couldn’t ignore it.

His voice softened, almost pleading, as he said, “Baby, if you do this, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your eyes for the rest of your life.”

I didn’t think twice. For love, I agreed.

The surgery was long. When I woke up, everything around me was pitch black.

“Henry?” I whispered into the void, but there was no answer.

A cold wave of panic hit me, sharp and fast. I pressed my hands to my eyes, the bandages damp with the tears I hadn’t even realized I’d been shedding. Then, I heard footsteps outside my room.

I scrambled to sit properly, my voice shaky. “Henry? Is that you?”

A cool, detached voice replied, “I’m your surgeon.”

Without another word, he guided me to a spot just a few feet away. A door separated us, but I could hear voices and laughter floating through the air.

Then, Henry’s laugh, cutting through the noise, was unmistakable and harsh in the crowd.

“That Blaire Aldridge is a real fool,” one of Henry’s friends sneered, his voice dripping scornfully. “She actually thought she was donating her cornea to your mom?”

“Yeah, right,” another added. “Henry tossed it in a fish tank when her cornea was cut out. Let the fish feed on it.”

My heart stopped. The floor beneath me tilted, and I felt like I was falling. My ears rang with their cruel words. They couldn’t be true. My cornea hadn’t gone to his mom.

'It was thrown away to feed the fish?' I shook my head in disbelief.

Then, laughter roared on.

“Remember when she broke her arm?” one voice said, almost gleeful. “Henry pretended to get mugged, and that idiot Blaire rushed in to save him. Of course, she ended up breaking her arm.”

“And don’t forget her leg!” another added. “Henry set up a roadblock, got wasted with the driver, and Blaire ran right into it, broke her calf.”

Then, Henry’s voice cut through the laughter, sharp and full of venom. “Your memories are spot on. I planned it all. Every accident. I just wanted Blaire to feel the pain Vivian went through.”

My heart shattered. I could barely breathe. The world felt like it was slipping away.

Then, my mind flashed back to three years ago.

Vivian Kennedy had been the lead in the play, 'Difficult to Cry.' I was the second lead. Normally, I wouldn’t have even stepped on that stage unless something happened to her. But an hour before showtime, Vivian, being Vivian, had overslept, and then the news came. She’d been in a terrible car crash.

The director was frantic, and in a panic, he begged me to take her place. The theater was packed, full of important people and highranking officials. My heart was racing, and my nerves were pulsing in fear, but somehow, I pulled off the performance of my life.

That night, I became the talk of the theater world. But now, Henry’s words shattered that illusion completely.

“I love Vivian,” he sneered, his voice dripping with spite. “Vivian can’t stand Blaire, so neither can I. Blaire’s the one who took Vivian’s future. How could I not get back at her?”

My world imploded as my view of Henry shattered.

“It was easy,” Henry went on. “I seduced her, made her trust me, made her think I was the one. She’s so damn naïve, thinking she could grow old with me. I’ll break her, piece by piece.”

The laughter roared again, each laugh a dagger in my chest. I couldn’t hold it together anymore. My body shook with silent sobs, my legs weak beneath me. I had nothing left.

Then, a calm, steady voice cut through the storm.

"Calm down, take a deep breath," the doctor said, his voice gentle but firm. "You’re better than this. You don’t deserve to be upset over those assholes."

I couldn’t stop shaking. “No. I’m not good. I’m blind now. I’d be better off dead…” I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

I felt despair like never before, like I was falling endlessly into a deep abyss, surrounded by nothing but darkness and cold. The doctor’s hand gently grasped mine, steadying me.

“You’re not blind, Miss Aldridge. Not really,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “If you agree to leave with me, if you go abroad and never see Henry again, I can make you see again.”

My mind spun, thoughts slipping away like grains of sand. All I could think about was getting my sight back.

I didn’t care who the doctor was. I’d do anything to get out of Henry.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I’ll go. I’ll go with you. Just make me see again, and I’ll never see Henry Kline again.”

Blaire's POV

The doctor carefully removed the bandages from my eyes and gently massaged specific pressure points on my forehead and the back of my head. My mind was still foggy from the lingering effects of the surgery, but then something incredible happened. Slowly, faint light began to filter through my vision.

Blurry shapes and colors followed, as if I had seen the world again for the first time.

“Oh my God... I’m not blind!” I gasped, my voice filled with disbelief.

My heart raced as I turned to the doctor, my excitement bubbling. “I can see! I can actually see!”

The doctor smiled, his appearance striking yet calm. He had this quiet confidence about him that I couldn’t quite place. Something familiar about him was there, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Blaire, do you recognize me?” the doctor asked, his grin widening.

“I'm Julian. Julian Young.” His voice was gentle, completely opposite of what I expected from someone with his bold, good looks.

'Julian Young...'

The name hit me like a ton of bricks.

It clicked.

'Julian.'

My mind raced. The student I’d helped was the one I had guided through such a rough time years ago.

Julian continued, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now, it’s my turn to return the favor.”

I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around it.

He paused for a moment before adding, “I overheard Henry and his cronies planning to throw away your cornea. So, during your surgery, I didn’t actually touch your eyes. I just activated a few pressure points to blind you temporarily. It wasn’t permanent.”

The weight of his words sank in. 'So that’s why I hadn’t truly lost my sight...'

But then, the horror of it hit me. Henry’s betrayal had been planned from the start. It wasn’t just carelessness. It was all deliberate.

Julian kept going, explaining further. “When Henry asked for your cornea, I soaked two plastic pieces in water and handed them over. They’re useless, and he didn’t know that. Now, you’ve got a chance.”

I felt my thoughts spiral. "But...Henry and his people—they had connections everywhere. They controlled everything in this city. Running away wouldn’t work. It'll be hard to escape."

Julian squeezed my hand gently, his gaze locking with mine.

“Blaire, if you trust me, if you cooperate with me, I’ll get you out of here. I promise I can take you far away.” His words were like a weight on my chest, heavy and final.

But then, something else pulled me back. 'But what about my upcoming play?'

“I’ve got to finish my play,” I said, my voice firm despite the emotions swirling in me. “The premiere of The Sapphire Blade is on June 20th, at the biggest theater in the city. I’ve been working toward this moment for three years and need to see it through.”

Julian’s expression darkened, his brows furrowing in concern. “That means you’re stuck with Henry for another month. Hm, that’s going to be tough.”

I could feel my heart sinking. But there was no way around it. 'The Sapphire Blade' was my life. I’d built it from the ground up, poured everything into it. I couldn’t just abandon my team.

After a deep breath, I made my decision. I would keep pretending to be blind. It was the only way to keep Henry from suspecting anything.

The door to my hospital room opened, and Henry walked in, his usual smug grin replaced with a look of concern.

“What are you doing?” he asked, noticing me staring blankly at my phone.

I tilted my head, pretending to be lost in the moment. “I don’t know. I was just tapping the screen. I can’t see anymore…”

Henry’s face twisted in shock as he rushed over to me. Grabbing my phone, he flipped through my photo album with rising panic.

“Baby, you accidentally deleted all our photos,” he said, his voice trembling.

I intentionally wiped them. I didn’t want any reminders of him. Of us.

“Oh? Really?” I said, sounding uninterested. “That’s too bad. But even if I kept them, I wouldn’t be able to see them again, would I?”

Henry flinched at my cold words. He quickly looked down, avoiding my nowblind eyes.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise,” he said softly.

Inside, I could feel my heart ache, but I couldn’t let him see it. My lashes fluttered, and hot tears slipped from my eyes—eyes that couldn’t see anything.

I quickly blinked them away.

Henry, in his usual overbearing way, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“No, I’m fine.” I shook my head slowly, forcing a soft smile to mask the emptiness inside.

Henry seemed anxious, gripping my arm tightly and asking over and over, "You alright, baby? With me here, being blind ain't that bad. You can’t just give up!"

I couldn’t help but scoff inside. Henry was putting on this big show like he actually gave a damn, but I knew better.

Deep down, I couldn’t help but wonder what was next on his list.

My kidney?

My heart?

He played the part of the doting boyfriend so well, it was almost convincing.

Almost.

I shook my head again and said, "Don’t worry, I’m not giving up. I still want to see the premiere of The Sapphire Blade."

Then, he said, “Speaking of the play, I’ve got a suggestion for you. Since you’re blind now, why don’t you give the lead role to Vivian?”

Blaire's POV

I couldn't believe what was happening to me. Whenever I thought Henry couldn't sink any lower, he surprised me with just how far he'd go. It wasn't enough that he had manipulated me into donating my cornea to his mother.

Now, he was pushing me to step aside for Vivian, just like he had done everything else. I didn’t even know how much more of this I could take.

“No,” I said firmly, my voice steady even though my insides were a mess. “I’ve already trained a successor. Both Amelia and Carol are great candidates for the role. Vivian isn’t qualified to take over.”

But Henry wasn't listening. He completely ignored my refusal and kept pushing, insisting I go to a party at Vivian’s house.

“Vivian just got back from abroad,” he said casually, as if that somehow made everything okay. “Our friends are throwing a welcome party for her. She’ll sing a few songs. You should come. Trust me, she’s better than your successor—maybe even better than you.”

I didn’t want to go. I really didn’t want to go, but Henry wouldn’t drop it.

So, three years after our last encounter, there I was, facing Vivian again.

She walked in like she owned the place, her haute couture dress sparkling under the lights. Her jewelry glinted as if it was its own damn light source. She was radiant, commanding every pair of eyes in the room, completely opposite me.

And here I was, playing the part of the blind woman in my sunglasses and leaning heavily on my cane. My steps were deliberate, and I kept my expression vacant, like I was trying my best to stay lost in the world I was pretending to live in.

Then she saw me. And the look on her face? Pure disdain.

“Well, look at that,” Vivian mocked. “A blind person in our midst. Blaire doesn’t sing opera anymore? Did she switch to Moonlight Over Sonata now?”

The laughter that followed from Henry’s friends felt like nails being driven straight into my heart.

Through the dark lenses of my sunglasses, I saw Vivian casually slide her arms around Henry’s neck and plant a kiss on his cheek, right in front of me. I’m sure she thought I couldn’t see, and that made her all the more bold.

Vivian even dared to smile haughtily, sticking her tongue out at me.

Willing participant in her game, Henry stroked her hair as they exchanged those affectionate little gestures. Their chemistry was so obvious that it practically suffocated me.

A sharp, aching pain gripped my chest. I could feel it burning, raw and intense. It felt like my heart was bleeding.

But I couldn’t let it show.

Not now. Not in front of them. I had to keep up the act.

“WWhat’s going on?” I asked, gripping my cane tighter, my voice faltering as I feigned confusion.

Henry, unfazed by their little show, leaned in and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “Nothing. Let’s just go listen to Vivian sing.”

My heart twisted, but I kept my mouth shut.

As he pulled away, I quickly wiped the spot where his lips had just touched my skin, trying to scrub away the disgust that was rising in me. It was like I couldn’t escape the filth of it all.

Vivian sang two songs, and although she lacked any real vocal talent, I couldn’t sit there and pretend everything was fine.

I had to speak the truth.

“Your breath control’s weak,” I said, my voice remaining professional, detached. “Your high notes are too sharp, your low notes tremble. Your foundation is lacking. You know it yourself when you don’t practice for a day. When you don’t practice for three days, your peers notice. When you don’t practice for ten days, the audience notices.”

Vivian’s face immediately turned red with fury. She laughed, but it was forced, cold. “I see. Not only are you blind, but your ears must be broken, too, huh? Hey, guys, tell me—does my singing sound good?”

Her friends, predictable as ever, chimed in unison, “Yeah! It’s fucking amazing!”

Vivian turned to Henry, her eyes glinting with almost sinister satisfaction. “So, what do you think, Henry?”

There was a long pause before Henry finally spoke, his voice flat and dismissive. “You sing very well. Anyone who says otherwise must have something wrong with their ears.”

Vivian smirked and turned back to me with a cruel smile. “Did you hear that? Henry thinks your ears are the problem. Maybe you should get them checked.”

The laughter that followed was deafening, but I didn’t flinch.

Without warning, they escorted me to the hospital and locked me in a cold, metal room for a hearing test. The moment the door slammed shut, a sharp, jarring sound blared into my ears, like firecrackers going off at full volume.

I instinctively covered my ears, but it only got worse.

The sound intensified.

Nails scraping on a blackboard.

Screams.

The relentless sound of the water dripping.

I felt like my head was going to explode from the pressure.

A mechanical voice cut through the noise. “Please answer, what sounds are you hearing? Please answer, what sounds are you hearing?”

Then I realized that this wasn’t just some test. They weren’t just torturing me physically or trying to break me. They wanted me to lose my mind and to make me deaf.

Panicking, I screamed, pressing my hands harder against my ears, desperately trying to block out the nightmare. Through the thin window of the metal room, I saw Vivian standing outside, watching with cold amusement.

Her laughter echoed.

“Why the long face?” Vivian teased, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “What? You feeling sorry for Blaire?”

Standing beside her, Henry immediately relaxed. His frown melted into a fake nonchalance. “No, not at all. I just… think this is a bit much. It could have some serious consequences.”

Vivian sneered. “You don’t trust my cousin’s skills? Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”

Her ear specialist's cousin adjusted some equipment, chuckling as he worked. “She won’t die, don’t worry. The sound is only at 85 decibels. She won’t go deaf for at least another hour.”

Then, they turned to leave.

“Let’s go grab dinner,” Vivian said with a laugh, as if everything was just a joke.

Inside the room, I screamed Henry’s name with all my might. “Help me! Please, let me out!”

But the only thing I saw as I cried out was Henry’s back, walking away, leaving me to endure the torment alone.

Blaire's POV

I could barely keep my mind together,the noise grinding at my sanity like a thousand needles.The shrill,jarring sound filled every corner of my head,making it impossible to focus on anything else.

It felt like it was pushing me to the edge.I might lose myself completely if I didn't get away from it soon.

Then,the pressure in my ears became unbearable.

Blood trickled down my nose,and I could feel the dampness spreading beneath my fingers as I desperately tried to block out the noise.But it wouldn't stop.No matter how hard I pressed my ears,the sound seeped in like water filling a cup.

This...this was worse than death.

My head was spinning,dizziness overwhelming me,when suddenly I heard the metal door slam open.

My heart skipped a beat,and through the noise,I saw him.

'Julian...'

He charged in,his face etched with worry.

Without saying a word,he slipped noisecancelling headphones over my ears,cutting off the maddening sounds that had tortured me for so long.I could feel the relief instantly as if the air had finally cleared.

"Don't be afraid.I got you,Blaire,"he mouthed to me,his lips forming the words with a comforting yet urgent look."I'm here to protect you."

He then gave me a reassuring nod,signalling I was safe.I collapsed into his arms,weak,sweaty,and trembling.I felt a breath of peace wash over me for the first time.The warmth of his embrace was like stepping into a safe haven,so completely different from the chaos I'd just endured.

However,just as I felt pleasant,my heart sank as I heard a man silently enter with a heavy presence.

I tugged Julian’s hand as I immediately realised it was the sound of Henry’s footsteps.Fear crawled to me but Julian kept patting my back.

“What are you doing here…?”I gulped as I tried to distance myself from Julian.

I didn't want Henry to do something to him.He always seemed cool on the surface,but I knew who he really was.

"Let go of her!"I flinched as Henry’s voice thundered across the ward.“What a great audacity you have to stand there,holding my girlfriend.”

I bit my lips and tried to push Julian away but he didn't move away.Instead,he held me tighter,rubbing my hands.

And,before I could realise it,Henry launched a kick as Julian groaned in pain.

“Julian,are you okay?Does it hurt?”I asked,anxiously.But as I remembered about Henry,I pushed him away.

"Where did you come from,loser?How dare you touch my woman?"he sneered before he observed him carefully."Oh,you're the ophthalmologist,I said,mockingly laughing."Do you really think I can't ruin your career with a single phone call?"

“Julian…”I murmured as I signed him to leave but he remained on my side.

Sighing,I said,"If it weren't for Dr.Young,I'd be deaf by now."I clenched my teeth.My heart throbbed with pain as tears dropped down."Henry,I'm already blind.Can you really bear to let me suffer more?"

"No,I never wanted this for you.I'm just worried about you.That's why I came back without even eating..."Henry rushed to explain.

I didn't believe Henrynot for a second.But I had to play along.

For Julian's sake,I had to pretend.

So,I forced myself to take a deep breath and put on a smile,the kind that didn't reach my eyes.

"Yes,I know you were just trying to help me with my hearing.This must've been a medical accident.It's okay,"I said,my voice hollow,the words bitter as they left my mouth."Let's go home now."

The moment I said that,I saw the change in Henry's face.

His eyes lit up with some twisted kind of joy,and before I could stop him,he pulled me into a tight,suffocating embrace,pressing kisses into my cheek,his arms wrapping around me possessively.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as his lips touched my skin.His scent was all over me,and I could feel him inhaling deeply like I was something he owned.

My insides churned in suffocation.

As we returned back to the mansion,my heart was again filled with anxiety,fear,and a subtle anger.

I was again back at this hopeless mansion.

As I was trying to get some water for myself,I overheard Vivian and Henry.

I didn't mean to eavesdrop but hearing Vivian’s voice,I froze.

"Have you changed your mind?We agreed to make her blind,deaf,and mute!We've only managed to complete one of those!Are you stopping the plan from moving forward,Henry?"

My heart clenched.She had never once liked me.And,I had suffered all because of her.When will they finally let me go?

"Vivian,when you had your car accident,you just had a few fractures.I've already made Blaire suffer a broken bone.Do we really need to strip her of her sight,hearing,and voice?"

My lips widened.Was he protecting me?It was funny.I was sure my ears were playing a trick on me.

Vivian’s voice cracked."You don't love me anymore!Fine,I'll leave!We'll never see each other again!I'll tell my dad to stop doing business with you!"

I pursed my lips.I knew what was going to happen now.

Henry rushed,his voice filled with panic,"Wait,Vivian..."

I sighed.I didn't need to listen to know what was going to happen.Shaking my head,I returned to my room.

An hour later,Henry arrived at my room.

"Baby,I've come to see you,"Henry said softly,his fingers brushing against my face."How's your ear feeling now?"

I could see Vivian sitting right behind him,but I had no choice but to pretend I didn't.So,I stared at the ceiling,playing the part of the blind woman once again.

"There's still some ringing in my ears,"I replied flatly."I'm fine.You can go ahead and do your thing."

Out of the corner of my eye,I saw it.

Vivian was kissing Henry,her hand slipping under his shirt and tracing Adam's apple.The scene was a slap to my face.This pair of shameless lovers thought I couldn't see,that I was just a stupid,blind woman.

My heart burned with fury.It was like someone had set fire to my insides.I wanted to scream.I wanted to throw myself at them and tear them apart.But I couldn't.I was trapped in silence,unable to do a thing.

"Why aren't you saying anything,baby?"Henry asked,his voice soft,like he was trying to soothe me.He gripped my hand while keeping Vivian close."Aren't you happy to see me?”

My voice trembled under the weight of everything."I...I'm very happy."

Henry didn't seem to notice the pain in my words.He allowed Vivian to continue kissing him before leaning down to kiss me.

His voice was soft,coaxing like he was trying to calm me down."Do you love me?"

The question made my stomach turn.I struggled to hold back the tears.

I had to force a smile,even as the disgust threatened to choke me."I think I'll answer

that question after The Sapphire Blade's premiere."

"Why's that?"he asked,clearly puzzled.

My heart twisted,but I held my ground."Because'The Sapphire Blade'represents everything I feel for you,Henry.You'll understand after you watch it.”

Blaire's POV

I had been secretly in contact with Julian.

During the day, everyone thought I was completely blind and couldn't even use my phone. But when the night fell quiet and the world around me settled down, Julian and I would exchange messages. They were the only thing that kept me going. I hated being with Henry, being trapped, and how easily I let myself get lost in the fantasy of a life outside of this hellhole.

Also, I feel sorry for Julian. He had been dismissed from the hospital after reporting Vivian’s cousin, the ear specialist, for abusing his power. Of course, Vivian's cousin denied it all and made up some story that Julian had ulterior motives.

As if!

In the end, the hospital sided with Vivian’s cousin and tossed Julian aside. I hated seeing him lose everything he had worked for. Julian was young, driven, and had a future ahead of him, but now it was all gone.

And for what?

For sticking up for what was right? I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around it.

One night, after another exhausting rehearsal, Julian sent me a message:

[It’s okay, Blaire. I have no regrets. I plan to study medicine abroad for a few more years and then join Doctors Without Borders.]

I had to smile at that. His resilience was something else. Even with everything that had happened to him, he still had hope. I couldn’t help but feel inspired, but then a pang of sorrow crept up on me.

I replied, "I want to perform stage plays abroad, show them what our nation’s art really looks like."

The idea of the future sounded so beautiful, but every day in this twisted situation with Henry felt heavier. Vivian was glued to Henry, flaunting their relationship with anyone who would look, and there I was, pretending to be his loving, obedient girlfriend. The suffocating pretense was killing me.

The worst part? Henry noticed the change in me.

He didn’t understand why, but he could feel it. He always had a way of sensing when I wasn’t all in, and it made him more desperate.

One afternoon, he asked, “Blaire, it seems like you’re paying less attention to me than you used to. Do you not love me anymore?”

It took everything in me not to scream at him. 'How could he even ask that? Why did he want me to love him when he was the one who had broken me over and over?'

I turned away from him and replied calmly, “The premiere of The Sapphire Blade is next week. I’m busy with final rehearsals.”

Just one more week.

That’s all I had left before I could finally get out of there. I’d leave him behind, pack my things, and fly away with Julian. It felt like freedom was right there, just within reach. But I hadn’t expected what was about to happen next.

The night after our final rehearsal, Henry was in the theater, tearing up over the play. The singing, the stage design, the lyrics—it was all perfect to him, and it hit him like a wave. He didn’t even realize it, but he was seeing me in every word, every note. He could feel the love I’d poured into the play, the love I’d given to him when I wrote it. The irony was almost too much to bear.

Vivian, of course, couldn’t handle it. She had to step in and try to ruin everything, just like she always did.

With a sickly sweet smile plastered on her face, Vivian offered, “I think the play could be improved. I’ll help you rewrite it, Blaire. For free, of course.”

The blood drained from my face.

No. Absolutely not.

She wasn’t touching my work. I couldn’t let her anywhere near it.

“No,” I said firmly.

Vivian wasn’t one to back down. She contended, “I’m just trying to help! Back when we were at the provincial theater, you were just a supporting role! If it weren’t for my car accident, you wouldn’t even be in this position!”

I felt my jaw tighten. She was still holding onto that grudge like it was her lifeline. And now, she was using it to destroy everything I had worked for.

“I also regret what happened,” I said, my voice cold. “But that accident wasn’t my fault. I don’t owe you anything.”

Vivian’s eyes filled with fake tears, and she immediately turned to Henry, shaking his arm. “Henry, she’s bullying me again! You’ve got to back me up! I just want to help rewrite 'The Sapphire Blade.' Don’t you want to support me?”

Henry’s eyes flickered between us, and I could see the shift in him. He was caught in the middle, and I wasn’t sure which way he’d fall. Vivian was playing him like a fiddle, but she had one hell of a hand to play.

Vivian wasn’t even trying to hide her manipulation anymore. She knew exactly what she was doing. “This theater is under your name, Henry. With just one word from you, Blaire’s play won’t be performed.”

I kept my eyes on him, watching for any sign of weakness, anything that would tell me he cared about the play, about me. He’d been moved to tears by it.

Surely he wouldn’t let Vivian ruin it, right?

“Henry?” I asked, my voice shaking ever so slightly. “This play represents my love for you. Don’t you like it? Please, don’t change it. Please.”

But his expression hardened, and he spoke with finality, “I’m not satisfied with the play. Let’s do what Vivian says. She’s talented, and she’ll help you improve it.”

Blaire's POV

I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

It felt like I was watching my life spiral out of control, one word at a time. Vivian had completely rewritten The Sapphire Blade after two hours of revising.

I don’t even know how to describe the mess she’d made of it. All the soulstirring, beautiful lyrics I had poured my heart into were gone. In their place were crude, vulgar lines that felt like they came straight out of an AI program with no soul behind them.

It was offensive.

This wasn’t just a play to me. It was my vision, my heart, and my soul. I had spent years making this script what it was, and now Vivian was tearing it apart. I couldn’t just sit back and watch her ruin everything.

“This can’t be changed,” I said, my voice tight with desperation. “The premiere is in three days! If we change the script now, the actors won’t have enough time to memorize the new lyrics.”

Vivian just rolled her eyes. “If they can’t memorize it, then let them get lost. This theater troupe deserves to close down. I offered to be the leading lady, but you didn’t want that. Honestly, I don’t even want to work with people who can’t remember new lyrics.”

I could feel my chest tighten. 'How could she be this cold?'

The actors all came down from the stage, rallying around me. Their anger was palpable as they denounced Vivian.

“If we don’t perform, we won’t perform,” one of the actors said loudly. “Blaire's play is a masterpiece. What you’ve done to it is like throwing manure all over it, Vivian. You have no idea what you’re doing. Stop pretending to be a master in front of real artists!”

Vivian, her face flushed red with fury and her eyes starting to water with fake tears, turned on the charm. She clung to Henry’s sleeve, putting on her best damselindistress act.

“They’re bullying me!” she sobbed dramatically, her voice dripping with fake hurt. “They’re calling my work trash, Henry!”

Henry, predictably, jumped to her defense. “You all have some nerve! Do you really think I won’t cancel your premiere qualifications?”

I stood tall, gripping my cane for support. The pain in my chest was overwhelming, but I knew I couldn’t back down.

“Henry, do as you please,” I said, my voice steady even though my insides were anything but that. “Even if we can’t perform in your grand theater, we’ll take it to the streets. We’ll perform for anyone who wants to see it.”

The room fell silent, and I could feel Henry’s gaze shift.

He hadn’t expected me to stand up for myself like this, to have the guts to push back. My strength wasn’t lost on him, and neither was the loyalty I had from my actors. They respected me, and that meant something to him, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“Mr. Kline,” the secretary whispered in a low voice, “The Sapphire Blade’s tickets have already sold out. If you cancel now, you’ll have a PR nightmare on your hands with all the ticket holders.”

Henry froze, the reality of the situation hitting him.

After a long pause, he made his choice. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he knew this wasn’t just about Vivian and me. It was about money and reputation. The play had already been sold out. The last thing he needed was a PR disaster.

“Alright,” he said reluctantly, pulling my hand with an air of finality. “No need to change it. Are you happy now?”

I wanted to rip my hand away from his, scream at him, tell him to never touch me again, but I couldn’t. Not yet. For now, I needed his theater, even if every part of me hated him for what he’d done.

I swallowed my disgust, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. “Mm, I’m very happy. Thank you.”

Standing off to the side, I could see just how irritated Vivian was. She stormed over to Henry, dragging him into a quiet corner backstage.

...

“Why?” Vivian demanded, the frustration choking her voice. “Back then, Blaire took Difficult to Cry from me, and my career went down the drain. She’s thriving now, writing and directing, and I’m stuck in her shadow. How can you stand it? I can't stand it!"

Henry’s voice softened, a tone Vivian hated to hear from him. “I understand how you feel, Vivian, I really do. I’m on your side. But for the sake of business, I have to let the play go on. Don’t worry, I’ll only let them perform once. After that, they’ll never see another stage.”

Vivian threw myself into Henry’s arms, the tears coming easily, the act practiced but no less effective. “Not even once? You can’t just let her get away with it. You promised me, Henry. You said you would handle it! Unless you—”

Henry cut she off. “Unless what, Vivian?”

Vivian pulled back slightly, her face still drenched in fake tears, “Unless you get rid of Blaire after this performance, I’ll never forgive you. You can’t let her walk away unscathed, not this time.”

I watched everything unfold from the safety of the terminal software on my phone, trying to control my breath as I kept my eyes glued to the surveillance footage.

From the camera angle in the hallway, I could see everything clearly. Vivian and Henry’s conversation was unfolding right before me, and I felt my stomach churn.

What was I hearing? It was bad. Really bad.

Henry’s voice came through first, full of uncertainty. “No, no matter what... she doesn’t deserve to die.”

Vivian, already simmering with anger, reacted sharply. I could hear the smirk in her voice as she spoke, “Oh, I was just joking. I didn’t really mean to kill Blaire. I just wanted to teach her a lesson, like scaring her with a fire.”

I froze. My breath caught in my throat as Vivian’s words hit me like a slap.

It was a threat. A clear one.

Suddenly, a plan formed in my mind. 'If they were planning a fire… what if I faked my death?'

What if this was the way out, the way to escape from Henry’s manipulations for good? I’d vanish, leave everything behind, and he’d never come after me again.

It was the perfect plan.

...

That night, Julian and I went over the details.

Julian devised a plan to make it seem real. He would provide a blood pack and arrange for a charred body to match my outline, ensuring that when the fire happened, everything would be convincing.

We rehearsed everything, preparing in secret. We even made sure that everything backstage was set up so that no one would see what we were doing until it was too late.

Then, the day of The Sapphire Blade’s premiere arrived.

I could barely breathe.

My nerves were shot, every detail of the plan running through my mind over and over. I spent the day organizing the final touches, my stomach tight with anxiety.

By the time 9 p.m. rolled around and the performance ended, the applause was deafening, and it felt like a dream.

The last notes of the harp and violin echoed through the theater as the curtain fell, but that wasn’t the moment I was waiting for.

No, it was what would happen next.

Through the surveillance footage, I had already learned about their plans. Vivian and Henry were setting the fire in the prop room, where costumes would catch flame, and the fire would spread to the makeup room.

The theater staff was instructed to lock the back door for ten minutes, trapping me and the rest of the troupe inside. But I had the key to that door.

As soon as the fire started, I would let everyone out and lock the door behind me. It would look like I died in the fire.

And then I could finally be free from Henry and Vivian.

I smiled and dragged the fake corpse that Julian had prepared for me to the scene.

Henry, you hurt me and tortured me again and again for her.

This time it's my turn to torture you.

I left my phone behind, turned on the prerecorded cry for help, and pressed play without hesitation.

"Help!!! I'm trapped in the fire here! Save me!"

After finishing everything, I resolutely left the theater according to the route planned in advance.

Soon, the alarm sounded at the theater, the smoke was thick, and the flames shot up to the sky, illuminating the night and my bright future.