The Day I Opened My Eyes, I Saw My Husband's Betrayal

"Jennifer?" I could barely get her name out. She smiled awkwardly. "It's been a long time, Annika. I came back a few months ago. I'm Matthew's second in command now. I helped plan this operation." Every word cut deeper. Matthew stayed silent. No explanation. No question about why I was looking straight at him. He still hadn't realized I could see again. His phone buzzed, and one of his men walked over. "Don Matthew, everyone's waiting." Matthew looked at me for a second. "I'll explain everything later, Annika. Not now, okay?" Would he? Or was that another lie? Without another word, they walked off together, and I was left standing there alone. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. If my life hadn't changed three years ago, I'd still be standing beside him. I'd be leading that operation with him, not watching from the sidelines. The pain from my wounds pulled me back to reality. I walked off quietly, leaning on my cane whenever someone looked my way. One of the medics let me rest inside an empty SUV. Not long after, voices drifted in through the half-open window. One of Matthew's men laughed. "Boss and Jennifer make a good team now. Almost as good as Boss and Annika used to be." Jennifer laughed nervously. "Don't compare me to Annika. I'll never be as good as she was." Another man shrugged. "Maybe before. But that's the past now. The Annika today..." Jennifer cut him off. "Don't say that. If I hadn't been stupid back then, if I hadn't let my feelings for Matthew cloud my judgment, I wouldn't have wandered into that place. I wouldn't have gotten kidnapped, and Annika wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself for me." Silence. Then Matthew spoke, calm. "You were young. You made a mistake. That's all." Someone else sighed. "Exactly. You spent three years overseas trying to make up for it. You've done enough. Besides, you're a better partner for boss now. You can fight beside him. You're not someone he has to protect." My fingers tightened around the blanket over my legs. Jennifer lowered her voice. "Matthew, don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to replace Annika. I came back because I couldn't keep watching you carry everything alone. You've spent three years taking care of her while running the empire. I just wanted to help lighten your load." Matthew answered after a pause. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, we're working." Three years ago, Matthew would've defended me the second someone called me a burden. He would've looked them in the eye and said, "Annika is my wife. She's never been a burden." This time he said nothing. That silence hurt more than anything they said. Jennifer's mistake cost me my eyesight and my career. Matthew knew what happened. He knew how many surgeries I went through, how hard I worked to recover, how badly I wanted back in the field. He forgave her anyway. He let her take my place. Maybe they were right. Maybe I'd become nothing but a burden to him. Their voices faded. I sat alone in the SUV, colder than when the Assassin King held a knife to my face. The man who promised to stay by my side had already chosen someone else. So had the team that used to wait for me to come back. I was the only one who hadn't noticed. At least they didn't know my eyesight was already back. Not perfectly, but enough. I still wore the glasses and carried the cane because I wasn't ready to say anything. I'd already gotten ready to return to work. I was just waiting on my doctor to clear me. No point now. Jennifer had my position. I called Director Wilson. "Director, I'd like to accept the university professor position." He sounded surprised. "You finally changed your mind? We've been trying to recruit you for years. You were a great investigator, Annika, but you've always been a great teacher too." I smiled faintly. "I've figured it out." I wasn't going back. From now on, I'd live for myself. ... When Matthew came home that night, I was on the couch reading. He smiled when he saw me. "Case is over, and I'm free tomorrow. You've been wanting to check out that new lakeside café, right? Let's go." I closed the book. "I can't. I have a follow-up with my ophthalmologist tomorrow." He sighed and crouched in front of me. "Are you still upset about yesterday? I know what I did bothered you." I"I'm not angry. My appointment matters and I don't want to miss it." He took my hand. "Then I'll come with you. Lunch after." I pulled my hand away gently. "Okay." ... The next morning, we opened the door and found Jennifer waiting outside. She looked anxious. "Don Matthew, the family needs you back right away. Something urgent came up." She glanced at me. "Sorry, Annika." Matthew frowned. "I already told Annika I'd go with her today." "It's fine," I said. "Go handle it." He hesitated, looking at me. Jennifer smiled. "I'll take Annika to her appointment. I'll stay with her until you're done. You can pick us up after." Matthew nodded. "Alright. I'll come as soon as I finish." After he left, Jennifer drove me to the clinic. I sat in the waiting area with my cane beside me while a TV played in the corner. The program switched, and Matthew and Jennifer appeared on screen. It was footage from the Brewster Empire Foundation's charity gala. Matthew wore a black suit, Jennifer an evening gown, walking hand in hand down the red carpet. If only people knew the billionaire on screen was the Mafia Don running the Brewster Empire underneath it all. What got my attention wasn't the interview. It was how he held her hand, the way he watched her, how he guided her through the crowd without thinking about it. It looked natural. I remembered our first year as investigators. We'd been asked to film a promo video for the academy, and the director wanted Matthew paired with another woman. He said no. He took my hand instead and told them, "I'm only filming with Annika." Back then he never wanted another woman standing next to him. Jennifer laughed softly beside me. "It actually aired." She leaned in. "Annika, you should've seen us at the gala. Everyone kept teasing us, we looked so natural holding hands. I was nervous with the cameras on us, but Matthew stayed with me the whole time. He even held my hand because the reporters were pushing too close. I would've been a mess without him." I smiled faintly. "I'm sure you would've." While she kept talking, I looked at her collar. Fresh kiss marks peeked out from underneath it. They weren't there yesterday. My fingers tightened around my cane.

Then her phone lit up on the table. Jennifer didn't notice, and too busy talking. The lock screen was right in front of me. Matthew. Kissing Jennifer's forehead while she wrapped her arms around his neck. I looked away before she noticed. Jennifer kept smiling. "Matthew's actually very sweet once you get to know him. People think he's cold, but he really knows how to take care of someone." Every word landed like a knife. Good thing, the nurse called my name, saving me from listening any longer. ... After the appointment, Jennifer pushed open the clinic door. "Let's grab lunch. Matthew should be done soon. I know a nice lakeside coffee shop. He takes me there a lot." I shook my head. "I'm tired. I'd rather go home." She smiled and held my arm. "Come on. Matthew told me to take care of you. If he finds out I didn't even feed you, he'll scold me." I didn't argue. A few minutes later we were sitting by the window of the coffee shop. The view was nice. Jennifer looked out over the water. "Matthew loves bringing me here. He always orders for me, he already knows what I like." She pointed at a drink on the menu. "You should try this. He says it's my favorite." Months ago I'd asked Matthew to bring me here because I'd heard the lake was nice. He said he was too busy. Now I knew the truth. He wasn't too busy. He just didn't spend that time with me. The coffee arrived, but I couldn't taste anything. Then screams suddenly echoed from outside. People started running past the windows as someone shouted, “Run! Someone's throwing gasoline bombs!” Another explosion shook the building. Glass shattered, and flames spread across the entrance in seconds. My body reacted before I could think. Years as an investigator had trained me to run toward danger, not away from it. I was on my feet before I remembered I was supposed to be blind. I grabbed my cane just as Jennifer was already directing people around us. "Everyone stay calm! Get outside! Move!" she shouted. People rushed for the exits. Jennifer grabbed my arm. "I've got you, Annika." For a second I thought she was helping me. Instead she shoved me forward—Hard! I stumbled toward the burning entrance as one of the attackers threw another bomb. He spotted me, grinned, lit another bottle. "No!" I tried to dodge but it was too late. The bottle exploded at my feet. Fire climbed up my left side, across my clothes. The heat was unbearable. I screamed as it took hold. Someone shouted for water, someone else for a fire extinguisher. The café dissolved into chaos. Only then did Jennifer scream, "Annika!!!" People dragged me away from the flames, wrapped me in a blanket, put the fire out. The pain was so bad I couldn't breathe and everything went dark. --- When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room, the smell of disinfectant thick in the air. My left shoulder, arm, waist, and leg were wrapped in bandages. Nearly half my body had been burned, though not severely. My face was untouched. Matthew sat beside the bed. He stood the moment he saw me awake. "Annika." His voice was full of concern. "You're awake. How do you feel? The doctors say you'll recover. You're going to be okay." Before I could answer, the door opened. Jennifer looked in. "Don Matthew, the doctor needs a family member to sign some paperwork." Matthew squeezed my hand. "I'll be right back." He left with her, the door slightly open behind them. Minutes later he came back alone. The warmth in his eyes was gone. He stood by the bed and looked at me for a long moment. "Annika, did you hire someone to leak the details of the last operation?!" I stared at him. "W-what?" His expression hardened. "Stop pretending! The internet's full of posts praising you for risking your life as bait. Someone released classified photos from the operation." "I don't know anything about that." "You couldn't have uploaded them yourself because you're damn blind," he said. "But you could've hired someone to." My heart dropped. "Matthew—" He cut me off. "There are still members of that organization who haven't been caught. Whoever released those photos put a target on your back." He closed his eyes for a second. "The attack at the coffee shop wasn't random. It was revenge. One innocent customer died because they came after you." I shook my head. "I didn't do this. I swear. I'd never leak confidential information." Jennifer walked back in with her phone. "Annika, I'm sure you never meant for this to happen." She held the screen toward me. Even without taking the phone, I could see the photo, Matthew carrying me out of the warehouse, the comments praising my sacrifice. My blood went cold. Those photos should never have gotten out, not while members of that organization were still free. Whoever leaked them wanted me dead. Jennifer sighed. "Maybe you just wanted people to know what you sacrificed, so you hired someone to post it. You probably never thought it would put everyone in danger." I looked at her. I knew. She was the one who did it. The photos, the leak, the accusation, all of it. And now she was standing here pretending to defend me while quietly convincing Matthew I was guilty. I turned back to him. "You know me. I spent my career protecting confidential investigations. Why would I throw that away now?" His jaw tightened. "We traced the payment. The money used to hire the anonymous account came from one of your personal accounts." I froze. That was impossible. He looked disappointed. "I never thought you'd do something this reckless." Those words hurt more than the burns covering half my body. Jennifer touched his arm. "Don Matthew, please don't be too hard on her. I'm sure she never expected this. It was just one terrible mistake." Matthew rubbed his forehead. "I'll have my people take down every post they can find." He looked at me one last time. "But the damage is done." He turned and walked out. Jennifer followed, closing the door quietly behind them. The room went silent. Neither of them had asked how badly I was burned. Matthew still hadn't noticed I was looking straight at him. He still thought his wife was blind. ... I lay in the hospital bed staring at the ceiling while Cora changed the bandages on my arm. "Careful, Donna Annika," she said, cleaning one of the burns. "This one still looks painful." "I'm fine." "You're not fine. You've been burned, accused of leaking confidential information, and left by your own husband. Please don't tell me you're fine." I looked at her and she lowered her eyes. "Sorry, Donna Annika. I shouldn't have said that." I almost smiled. Cora had been taking care of me while Matthew was busy with his own problems. Or busy taking care of Jennifer. He hadn't even come to see me properly. He didn't believe me. He thought I was reckless enough to leak confidential information, and when I told him I didn't do it, he still looked at me like I was lying. I thought I'd already gotten used to being disappointed by him. I hadn't. The day I was discharged, Cora helped me put on my coat. I put on the dark glasses, took my cane, and the moment I stepped outside my room, I saw Matthew standing there with Jennifer right behind him.

Matthew glanced at me but didn't say anything. "I'm going to settle the bill," he said, then looked at Jennifer. "Stay with Annika." "I'll take care of her, Don Matthew," Jennifer said. He didn't ask if I felt better, or if my burns still hurt. He just walked away. Cora stood beside me. "Donna Annika..." "I'm fine." I wasn't, but I didn't want to say it anymore. What was the point? A few minutes later, an angry woman forced her way into the ward. Security tried to stop her, but she pushed past them and pointed at me. "You! You killed my daughter! You're going to pay!" I stepped back the second I saw the knife in her hand. "Donna Annika!" Cora shouted. I tried to dodge, but the woman rushed at me. Before I could react, Jennifer grabbed my arm. "Annika!" She shoved me again. I stumbled toward the woman, who lost her balance and fell. For a second I thought Jennifer had pushed me by accident, but she wasn't stopping the woman or calling security. Instead she wrapped both arms around me. "Annika, don't be scared! Stay close to me, I'll protect you." I froze. Why was she hugging me? I could see the woman getting back up, the knife still in her hand. Jennifer could've moved away. She could've pulled me back. She didn't. The woman charged again. Jennifer screamed. The knife went into her shoulder, blood soaking through her clothes. "Jennifer!" Matthew's voice thundered from the hallway as he ran in with several of his men. They grabbed the woman, but he went straight to Jennifer. "Jennifer! Where are you hurt? Tell me where it hurts." She clutched her shoulder and shook her head. "M-matthew, I'm okay. D-don't worry about me." "You need a doctor! Someone get the medical team here now." He held her, his face full of panic. I stood a few feet away, my arm still burning from the fire, cuts on my skin from broken glass. Matthew didn't look at me. Didn't ask if I was hurt. Didn't seem to notice I was there at all. His whole attention was on her. Cora moved beside me. "Donna Annika, are you hurt anywhere else? Should I call someone to check?" "I'm fine." My voice was calm. Too calm. While Matthew was busy calling for help, Jennifer leaned closer to me, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "You still don't understand?" I stared at her. She smiled. "I planned everything. The leak, the fire, and this too. I wanted you to lose everything. And you did." My fingers tightened around my cane. "You—" "You lost your career, your place beside Matthew, and even his trust because of me," she whispered. "And the best part is you still can't do anything about it." "Why?" "Because I love him. Now he's finally looking at me the way he should've years ago." She pulled away, and by the time Matthew looked over, she was already crying. ... The hospital incident was all over the internet by morning. Cora sat beside my bed and read the comments to me. She knew I could see them myself, but since I was still pretending to be blind, she had to say them out loud. "Donna Annika, you don't have to listen to this if you don't want to." "Read it." She sighed. "Alright. #AnnikaTheBitch is trending. There's another one, #JenniferTheHero." I almost laughed. A hero? Jennifer? Cora kept scrolling. "Someone wrote, 'Wasn't Annika once a famous crime investigator? Now she's pretending to be a victim just to get attention. Disgusting.'" My jaw tightened. "Here's another. 'I feel sorry for Jennifer. She was stabbed protecting Annika. Hope she recovers soon.'" I closed my eyes. "There's more, Donna Annika. But I don't think you need to—" "It's okay, Cora. Keep reading." She hesitated. "'This comment said: How did Annika even get into the Brewster Empire? Wouldn't be surprised if she only got her position because she married Don Matthew. Someone should investigate her.'" I opened my eyes. That one hurt. Not because of Matthew, but because I'd spent years earning my place. Before I married him I was already a respected investigator. I'd risked my life more times than I could count, solved cases no one else could touch, earned every award myself. Now people were calling me a fraud. Cora kept going. "Someone dug up your old records. They're saying you didn't deserve your awards." Then Matthew pushed open the door and walked in. He looked tired, but I knew better than to feel sorry for him. He'd probably spent the whole night beside Jennifer's bed. Not mine. He stopped in front of me. "You've seen what's happening online. The only way to stop this is for you to publicly apologize to Jennifer and admit you made a mistake because you were confused when you hired someone to posted the operation details." "I didn't post anything!" "I know you don't want to hear this, Annika, but it's getting worse. The Brewster Empire's getting dragged into this, my people are being questioned, the investigation's being affected." "So you want me to take the blame?" "Just temporarily," he said, softer. "Once things calm down, I'll handle the rest." I almost laughed. Handle the rest? Was that what he called destroying my reputation? "Matthew, do you remember who I was before I lost my eyesight? I was a crime investigator. I spent years chasing criminals, protecting people, putting my life on the line. I didn't marry you and become useless. I didn't get stupid just because I went blind." His jaw tightened. "I never said you were stupid." "But you believe I'm guilty!" "Annika, the evidence is against you. The IP address came from our home." "And I'm telling you I didn't do it." I gripped my cane. "Someone framed me." He sighed. "Then help me understand why you won't just apologize to Jennifer." "Because I won't apologize for something I didn't do." His face went colder. "Annika." "I won't apologize to her, and I won't admit to leaking anything, because I know who did it." He froze. I lifted my chin. "Jennifer planned all of it. The leak, the fire, the attack at the café. She pushed me toward that woman with the knife, and she let herself get stabbed on purpose so you'd see her as a hero. She wanted you to blame me. And it worked." Matthew stared at me, and for one second I thought he might actually listen. Then screams came from the room next door. "Jennifer!"

Matthew's entire expression changed, and he immediately turned and rushed out. Just like that, he didn't even ask me another question. I sat there alone, listening to his footsteps disappear down the hallway. I almost called after him. Matthew, she did this. Jennifer is lying to you. But what was the point? Would he believe me? He had already chosen her. So I swallowed the truth and said nothing. --- Matthew returned a while later with a complicated expression. “Annika.” I didn't answer. He sat down beside my bed. “Jennifer's injuries are worse than we thought. The knife damaged her shoulder, and she lost a lot of blood. The doctors said she needs a blood transfusion.” “Then give her your blood.” Matthew hesitated. “Your blood type matches hers.” My fingers slowly tightened around my cane. “What?” “You're one of the few compatible donors.” “No.” I refused immediately. “Annika, listen to me. She needs blood.” “Then find someone else.” “She's your second in command, Annika. She's also a trained criminal investigator, your friend, and your employee.” “She is the woman who tried to kill me,” I said, my voice finally breaking. “And now you want me to save her?” Matthew's expression hardened. “She was stabbed while protecting you!” “She was stabbed because she pushed me toward that woman!” “You don't know that.” “I saw it.” The room went silent. I almost said it. I almost told him that I could see but I stopped myself. Matthew reached for my arm, but I pulled away. “Annika, Jennifer needs your blood.” “I said no.” “She could die.” I looked at him. “And what about me?” He froze. “What about me, Matthew? Did you ever care if I died? She was the one who got stabbed, but I was the one she pushed into the attack. She leaked the information that put a target on my back, she helped destroy my reputation, and you're still asking me to save her.” Matthew's voice became harder. “Because she's dying.” “So am I.” My voice was barely a whisper. “Just not in the way you care about.” Matthew stared at me. I looked away. “Get out.” “Annika...” “Get out.” But he didn't. Instead, he called the doctor. And because he was Matthew Brewster, the billionaire Mafia Don who controlled half the city, everyone listened to him. I was taken away without anyone asking for my permission. No one cared that I had said no. Matthew signed the consent forms as my husband, and then he used his authority to force the blood donation. I lay on the bed while the needle went into my arm and stared at the ceiling as my blood slowly flowed into the bag. The same blood that could save the woman who had destroyed my life. Matthew stood beside me, but I didn't look at him. “Annika...” “Don't.” He stopped talking. I closed my eyes. I thought losing my eyesight had been the worst thing that ever happened to me. I was wrong... At least when I was blind, I couldn't see who Matthew had become. Now I could see everything. --- Jennifer had a severe reaction to the blood, and her condition suddenly became critical. The doctors rushed her into emergency treatment while Matthew stayed outside the entire time. When the doctors finally allowed him to see her, he immediately went inside. I didn't want to follow, but Matthew came back for me. “Come with me.” “No.” “Annika.” “I don't want to see her. I gave her my blood, and that's enough.” He grabbed my hand. “Just come.” I pulled my hand away. “Matthew, I said no.” His eyes turned cold. “She's dying.” “And you think I care?” He stared at me. I laughed quietly. “I don't. I don't care anymore.” But he still forced me to follow him. I stood outside Jennifer's ICU room with Cora beside me, and I could see everything through my glasses. Jennifer was lying on the bed with tubes connected to her body, and her shoulder was heavily bandaged. The moment she saw Matthew, tears filled her eyes. “Matthew...” Her voice was weak. “I'm okay. Don't worry about me.” Then she looked toward me. “Annika, I'm sorry. I never wanted you to get hurt.” I almost laughed. She was still acting, even now. “Please don't blame Matthew,” Jennifer whispered. “He only wanted to help me. I know I've caused you so much trouble, so please don't hate him because of me.” Every word sounded innocent, but every word pushed Matthew closer to her. Matthew held her hand. “Don't talk. Save your strength.” Jennifer's eyes filled with tears. “I just don't want you to blame yourself. I'm sorry I came back, and I'm sorry I caused so many problems between you and Annika.” I watched her carefully. She was still playing the victim, and Matthew was still falling for it. Suddenly, the heart monitor started beeping. “Jennifer!” Matthew immediately stood up as the doctors rushed into the room. Jennifer grabbed Matthew's hand. “Matthew...” Her voice was weak. “If I don't make it...” “Don't say that.” “I've always...” She started crying. “I've always loved you. If there's another life, I'll still... I'll still want to be with you.” Matthew's eyes turned red. “There won't be another life. You're going to live, and when you get better, I'll stay with you.” Jennifer looked at him through her tears. “Really?” Matthew held her hand tighter. “Yes. I'll be here, and when you recover, we'll get married.” I stood outside the ICU, completely still. … They called the Brewster Empire branch office right there in the ICU and told someone to prepare the divorce papers. I heard every word. Matthew had just promised Jennifer that they'd get married once she recovered, and now he was already arranging my divorce. Jennifer immediately started crying. “No, Matthew, please. I don't want to be the reason you and Annika get divorced. If she's still your wife, then you should stay with her. I don't want you to sacrifice your marriage because of me.” I almost laughed. She was still pretending to be kind, still pretending she didn't want my husband, but when Matthew wasn't looking, I caught the smug smile that briefly appeared on her face as she stared straight at me. So this was what she wanted. She wanted my husband, and now she was finally getting him. One of the men from the Brewster Empire came toward me. He used to be my partner when I was still working as a crime investigator, and back then, he had been one of the people I trusted most. Now, he looked at me with nothing but anger. “Annika, look at what happened to Jennifer because of you! She's lying in that bed because she tried to protect you, she's barely alive, and you're still holding on to this marriage?” His voice became louder as he continued, “If you've got even a little conscience left, then let Matthew be with Jennifer!”

I looked at him, my former partner, the man who used to trust me with his life. Now, he didn't even believe a word I said. I lowered my gaze to my hands. They were cold, and I couldn't feel anything anymore. I thought about arguing with him, and I thought about telling them the truth. Jennifer had planned everything. She had pushed me toward the attacker and staged the entire thing, but what would be the point? Matthew had already made his choice. I looked out the window for a long time before quietly saying, “Fine.” Everyone went silent. I turned my face toward Matthew. “I agree to the divorce.” Jennifer's eyes widened, but I caught the faintest hint of satisfaction behind her shocked expression. “Annika...” “Don't worry,” I said calmly. “You don't have to pretend anymore. You can have him.” Matthew stared at me, but I couldn't read his expression, and at this point, I didn't care anymore. In fact, this made things easier. I didn't have to think about how to end a marriage that had already fallen apart. I turned around and reached for my walking cane, and Cora immediately came to my side to assist me. --- I was halfway down the corridor when I saw a couple walking together. The man was supporting the woman by her arm as she leaned against him, and they were laughing quietly as they walked. For some reason, I suddenly remembered my wedding day. Matthew had held my hand and promised me, “From now on, we'll face everything together. Whatever happens, I'll never leave you.” I remembered how he'd stayed beside me whenever I was sick. When I had a high fever, he'd sit beside my bed all night and force me to take my medicine, and whenever he had to leave for a dangerous mission, he'd always hold my hand before walking out the door. “Don't worry about me, Annika. I'll come back.” I used to believe him. I used to believe every promise he made. But that Matthew was gone. Or maybe he'd never existed at all. My tears finally fell, and I quickly wiped them away before Cora could notice. ... Jennifer survived the stabbing. The doctors said she'd need time to recover, but she wasn't in danger anymore. I wasn't as lucky. Because I'd spent days dealing with my burns and refused to properly rest, the wounds on my legs became infected, and my fever kept coming back. I was barely conscious when a famous dermatology professor arrived at the hospital. He was only staying for a short time, and according to the doctors, he could only treat one patient before leaving. They were preparing to take me into surgery when Matthew suddenly stopped them. “Professor, please see Jennifer first. Her condition is more urgent.” I lay on the hospital bed, burning with fever, and I could barely keep my eyes open, but I heard him. I heard his choice. Again. I almost smiled. This used to be so easy for Matthew. He always chose me. I remembered the time we were still working as crime investigators. During a competition, Matthew was about to win first place when he saw me get injured. He didn't even think twice. He walked away from the competition and ran straight to me. I remembered another night when we were watching a movie. The main characters had to choose between saving themselves or saving the person they loved, and I'd asked Matthew what he'd do. He'd pulled me closer and said, “If I ever have to choose between you and anything else, Annika, I'll choose you. There's no question.” Back then, I was his first choice. Now? I wasn't even worth waiting for. That was fine. Maybe this was exactly what I needed. If Matthew kept choosing Jennifer, then there'd be nothing left for me to hold on to. I endured the treatment and surgery. The pain was unbearable, but I didn't complain. I'd survived worse. I'd spent years chasing criminals for him, facing enemies who betrayed him and walking into dangerous situations, so pain wasn't something I was afraid of. What I couldn't survive was staying in a marriage where my husband had already chosen another woman. Matthew came to see me while I was recovering. He stood beside my bed for a long time before finally speaking. “I know we need to talk about the divorce.” I didn't answer. He waited. I still said nothing. Eventually, he stopped trying. He left without another word. That was the last time we talked about our marriage. … After I discharge... A few of Matthew's men passed by at the end of the corridor, and the moment they saw Matthew and Jennifer together, they grinned. “Yo, Don Brewster! Jennifer! Fucking congratulations!” “Finally! About damn time!” “Don't forget our wedding booze and cigars!” “Yeah, Don! We're expecting a hell of a party!” Their laughter suddenly died when they noticed me standing nearby. The men exchanged awkward looks, and one of them scratched the back of his neck. “Shit.” Another quickly looked away. I lowered my head and pretended I hadn't heard anything, but I heard every word. Wedding. So they already knew? How long had Matthew been planning to marry Jennifer? I tightened my grip around my cane. Three years ago, these same men had congratulated Matthew and me when we got married. Back then, they called me their future Madam. Now, they were celebrating another woman's wedding to my husband. Funny. Before I could leave, Jennifer called my name. “Annika, wait.” I stopped, and she quickly walked over. “There's a little gathering tonight. Some of the senior members are coming, and everyone wants to see you. Come with us, okay? It's been years since you've sat down with everyone.” She turned toward Matthew. “Don Matthew, you don't mind, right?” Matthew looked at me. “If Annika wants to go, let her. If she doesn't, then don't force her.” I almost smiled. How considerate. After everything he'd done, he suddenly cared whether I wanted to go? I lowered my dark glasses and said, “I'll go.” Jennifer looked surprised, but she quickly smiled. “Great. It'll be fun.” Fun? Was that what she called it? Going to a dinner where everyone was celebrating her upcoming marriage to my husband? I almost wanted to see how far this joke would go. “Let's go.” Cora quietly came to my side and guided me away, and I didn't say another word. The dinner that night was fucking awkward. Matthew's men were usually loud. They drank, cursed, laughed, and talked about everything under the sun, but the moment I sat down, everyone suddenly remembered how to shut their damn mouths. Nobody talked about business, the recent bloodshed between the Brewster Empire and the rival syndicate, or the traitor we'd recently buried. Most importantly, nobody talked about my divorce. They were treating me like I was some fragile fucking porcelain doll. I sat quietly at the table with my dark glasses covering my eyes and my cane resting against my chair. Cora stayed nearby, helping me whenever I needed it. Everyone still thought I couldn't see, and they had no fucking idea that I could see everything. The nervous looks. The whispers. The way some of Matthew's men kept glancing at me. The way Jennifer sat beside Matthew and how he kept leaning slightly toward her whenever she spoke. I saw all of it. One of the older men had a few too many drinks and suddenly slammed his glass onto the table. “Fuck, you know what I miss?” Everyone turned toward him. “The old days, back when Annika and the Don were partners.” A few men laughed.

“Yeah, those were some crazy fucking days.” “Those two were monsters together.” “Remember that kidnapping job in the southern district? Seven hostages, thirty armed bastards, and somehow, those two idiots walked in and came out with everyone alive.” The old man laughed. “Annika and the Don were fucking unstoppable. One looked left, and the other already knew what the hell to do. Nobody else could keep up with them.” I quietly held my glass, and my fingers tightened around it as I remembered. How could I forget? Matthew and I had worked together long before we became husband and wife. We'd spent years inside the Brewster Empire, investigating rival syndicates, tracking traitors, hunting kidnappers, uncovering informants, and walking into fucking hell together. During that kidnapping case, Matthew and I had been surrounded by armed men. Seven hostages were being held inside an abandoned warehouse, and we were completely outnumbered. One wrong move would've gotten us killed, but Matthew looked at me just once, and that was all it took. I knew what he wanted, and he knew exactly what I was going to do. We rescued all seven hostages, and that operation made our names legendary inside the Brewster Empire. Back then, whenever Matthew looked at me, I could see the trust, respect, and admiration in his eyes. He believed in me without question, and I believed in him with my whole damn life. One of the men suddenly laughed. “Shit, Don, you two really were something.” I lowered my head because I didn't want them to see my face. I remembered the way Matthew used to look at me, and now I knew that look belonged to Jennifer. Jennifer smiled modestly. “Those were good times. Annika really was incredible back then.” Her tone sounded sincere, almost too sincere. “But things have changed. Criminals are smarter now, and the syndicates are using more advanced methods. We can't keep relying on the old ways.” She turned toward Matthew. “That international fraud case would've been a nightmare without the new profiling system. Matthew made the right call when he brought it into the Brewster Empire.” Matthew nodded. “Technology changes the game.” Jennifer smiled. “And the Don always knows when to change with it.” A few of the men chuckled. “Look at you, Jennifer, kissing the Don's ass again.” “Fuck off,” Jennifer said with a laugh. “I'm just telling the truth.” Matthew's lips curved slightly. “Let her talk.” The men laughed again, and I sat quietly. Jennifer suddenly changed the subject. “Actually, there's someone I'm really curious about.” “Who?” “Viper.” The table went quiet. Jennifer's eyes lit up. “Have you guys heard of him?” One of the men whistled. “Who the fuck hasn't? That bastard's a genius.” “Viper solved that murder case in two days.” “Two fucking days.” Jennifer laughed. “I heard he's one of the best criminal investigator in the world. Apparently, he can study a case and figure out what kind of person the killer is before anyone else even knows where to start. If I ever get to meet him, I'd probably lose my mind.” Someone laughed. “Jennifer, you're already working for the Don. Why the hell do you need another genius?” “Because he's Viper!” she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. “Don't be stupid.” Everyone laughed. I said nothing. Viper. That was me. My codename. The name I'd used when I worked on the most difficult cases inside the Brewster Empire. Jennifer had no fucking clue. None of them did. They were sitting around a table praising me while treating me like I was nothing more than Matthew's blind, useless wife. I picked up my water glass and took a slow drink, using it to hide my eyes because they were burning. I couldn't think about the past anymore. Every time I did, it felt like I was slowly tearing myself apart, so I stopped. I put the glass down, picked up my cane, and quietly left the dinner without saying goodbye or giving anyone an explanation. I didn't need either. I just wanted to go home, or at least, what used to be my home. ... I returned to the house Matthew and I had shared for three years, and the moment I walked through the door, memories came rushing back. This place was full of them, too many. I remembered Matthew coming home late after dealing with some problem inside the Brewster Empire and finding me waiting for him in the living room. Sometimes I'd fall asleep on the couch with case files scattered around me, and sometimes he'd come home covered in blood while I pretended not to panic as I cleaned his wounds. On nights when neither of us could sleep, we'd sit together in the kitchen at two in the morning, eating whatever I could quickly make. Those days felt so far away now, and I didn't want to remember them, so I started packing slowly, one thing at a time. I packed my clothes, my books, my files, and the few things that still belonged to me. I was almost done when the front door opened, and I froze. Matthew. He stood there for a moment, looking at my luggage, and his expression changed slightly. “You don't have to leave. You can stay here, Annika.” I kept folding my clothes and didn't turn around. Matthew's voice became quieter. “About the divorce... the situation was complicated. Jennifer was badly injured, and I had to make a decision.” “Complicated?” “Yes. It was an emergency, and I had to make a decision.” I finally stopped and looked at him. “So the divorce was only temporary?” I stared at the suitcase in front of me as the word settled in my mind. Temporary. Three years of marriage, five years of knowing him, every sacrifice I'd made, and every time I'd stood beside him while the Brewster Empire was covered in blood could all be reduced to one word. Temporary. How convenient. I slowly turned my head toward him. “You really think you can call it temporary and everything will be fine?” Matthew's expression tightened. “That's not what I meant.” “Then what did you mean?” He didn't answer, and I gave a small smile. “Forget it. I won't stay here.” “Annika...” “No. I'm leaving.” The door suddenly opened again, and Jennifer walked inside. “Matthew, why didn't you tell me you were coming back?” She stopped when she saw my luggage, and her eyes immediately fell on me. “Annika? Are you leaving?” I didn't answer, so Jennifer walked closer. “Do you need help with your things?” Before I could say anything, she accidentally bumped into the table, and a photo frame fell to the floor. Crack! The glass shattered. I froze because I knew that photo. It had been taken after Matthew proposed to me, when I was smiling in his arms and he was holding me so tightly, as if he never wanted to let me go. I remembered that day and how happy I had been. Jennifer immediately crouched down. “Oh, shit. I'm sorry!” She reached for the broken frame, but a piece of glass suddenly cut her finger, and blood appeared instantly. “Jennifer!”

Matthew's expression changed as he rushed toward her. “Don't move.” “I'm fine, Matthew.” “No, you're bleeding.” He grabbed her hand and looked at the cut. “How the hell did you manage to hurt yourself like this?” “It's just a cut.” “Just a cut? Look at your finger.” He pulled her up. “Come on. Let's clean that.” I stood there and watched. He didn't even look at the broken photo, not once. The picture that represented the beginning of our marriage was lying shattered on the floor, but Matthew's entire attention was on Jennifer's tiny cut. I looked down, and something inside me finally went quiet. So that's it. That's really it. I'd spent years wondering when Matthew stopped loving me, but maybe I shouldn't have wondered. Maybe I should've just looked at the way he treated me. I slowly crouched down, and my fingers brushed over the broken pieces of glass before I picked up the photograph. My younger self was smiling, and Matthew was smiling too. We looked so happy. I stared at the picture for a long time before laughing quietly. “What the hell happened to us?” I placed the photograph inside my suitcase and was about to close it when something inside me suddenly snapped. No. I wasn't taking this with me. I was done pretending. I stood up and reached for my dark glasses. Matthew was still standing beside Jennifer, ready to treat her wound, so I slowly removed my glasses and dropped them onto the table. After that, I let go of my cane, and it fell against the floor. The sound made Matthew turn around. His eyes widened. “Annika?” I looked straight at him. For the first time in years, I wasn't pretending. I wasn't looking through dark glasses, I wasn't pretending to need my cane, and I wasn't acting like I couldn't see the man who had destroyed my marriage. Matthew stared at me, and I could see the shock on his face. “What the fuck...” Jennifer froze. I smiled bitterly. “My eyes are cured.” Silence filled the room. Matthew took one step toward me. “Annika...” “Yes.” I looked directly at him. “I can see.” His face changed completely. “Since when?” “Long enough.” I picked up my suitcase. “Long enough to see everything.” Matthew's jaw tightened. “You've been pretending?” “Yes.” “Why?” I laughed quietly. “Why do you think?” He stared at me, and I could see the questions racing through his head. How much had I seen? How much did I know? I didn't answer any of those questions because I didn't owe him an explanation. Matthew suddenly moved, and his eyes shifted toward the stairs. “Jennifer!” I turned just in time to see Jennifer standing near the staircase. She suddenly stumbled backward. “Ah!” Her body fell down several steps. “Jennifer!” Matthew's face changed, and he immediately rushed toward her. She landed at the bottom of the stairs and started crying. “Matthew...” Her voice trembled. “My leg...” Matthew ran to her without hesitation. “Don't move!” “I'm scared.” “Fuck, Jennifer, stay still!” He dropped to his knees beside her. “Where does it hurt?” “My back...” She started crying harder. “Matthew, I think I hurt my back.” “I've got you.” He immediately reached for his phone. “Call the doctor. Now!” I stood there and watched him. A few seconds ago, he had been demanding answers from me, but now he'd forgotten everything because Jennifer had fallen down a few stairs. I looked at the woman crying on the floor, and Jennifer met my eyes. For the briefest second, her tears disappeared. And I saw it. That tiny smile. She knew exactly what she was doing. Of course she did. My eyes narrowed. So this was her final move? I almost laughed. Matthew didn't notice because he was too busy holding her. I looked at Matthew one last time. I tightened my grip around my suitcase. “Matthew.” He looked up, and our eyes met. This time, he couldn't hide from me, and I couldn't hide from him. “Take care of her.” His face went pale. “Annika...” I turned around. “Don't worry. You don't have to choose anymore.” I walked toward the door. This time, I didn't need my cane, I didn't need my glasses, and I didn't need anyone to guide me. I could see perfectly well. And for the first time in three years, I could finally see my way out of the Brewster Empire.