Blind Wife’s Cruel Awakening

When I was seven months pregnant, my husband, Ronan Gallagher, the heir to Boston's Gallagher crime family, brought home the woman he loved—Viola Ricci, who was also seven months pregnant.

To make his relationship with Viola official, he publicly declared at a charity gala that we had been separated for years. He then tricked me—blind at the time—into signing away ownership of the family's docks. He didn't know my sight had already returned.

When Viola and I both fell down the stairs and Ronan, without a moment's hesitation, chose to save her, my heart didn't just break. It shattered.

I buried my love for him right alongside our unborn daughter.

It wasn't until I was well and truly gone that Ronan finally began to panic.

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1

"Miss Callahan, the examination is complete," Dr. Sean Murphy said, his expression serious. "You've always been fragile, and this was a difficult pregnancy to begin with. These last two months are crucial."

"You'll need to be exceptionally careful, or you could lose the baby."

"I understand. Thank you, Dr. Murphy."

I lowered my head, my gaze falling to my swollen belly as a hollow ache settled in my chest.

"Oh? Miss Callahan, your sight... has it returned?"

Sean noticed my focused gaze, and a look of genuine happiness spread across his face.

"Yes. It started coming back around the time of my last prenatal checkup. The doctor thinks it might be the pregnancy hormones."

"This is wonderful news! Mr. Gallagher will be overjoyed. Why didn't he accompany you today?"

I hadn't told Ronan. A part of me wasn't even sure he'd want to hear the news.

I offered a faint, tight smile. "He's busy."

He was with the woman he truly loved—Viola Ricci. Of course he had no time for my checkups.

I unfolded the white cane in my hand, a now-familiar prop, and walked out of Sean's office. As I crossed the hospital lobby, Ronan's face filled the large television screen. He was giving an interview.

"Let me be clear. The child Viola is carrying is not fatherless."

"She is carrying my child. Our two families will forge a new alliance."

The host leaned in, intrigued. "But, Mr. Gallagher, aren't you still legally married to Cora Callahan?"

"Yes, but that marriage is over in all but name. I will soon give Viola her rightful place by my side."

"Congratulations to you both. May the alliance between the Gallagher and Ricci families be unbreakable."

Ronan and Viola leaned into each other, offering a practiced, coordinated smile for the camera.

"Thank you," they said in unison.

I lifted my head, my eyes locking onto the screen.

Ronan held Viola protectively, his arm a shield around her.

Bitterness stung my eyes.

"Ronan is so devoted! To think he'd turn his back on the Callahan family for Viola."

"I heard he never loved Cora. He's never once brought her to a public event. They've been married for five years, and the second Viola returns, he's ready to dump his blind wife. Honestly, her situation is just heartbreaking."

"I heard Viola got pregnant after being kidnapped by a rival family overseas. Is that true?"

"That's got to be a rumor. But even if it were true, a man who truly loves her wouldn't care."

"He would only feel sorry for her. Haven't you seen the way Ronan looks at her?"

"If I were Cora, I would have left him ages ago."

The flickering images on the screen stung my eyes. The chatter from the people around me was a chorus of daggers, each one stabbing into my heart.

I stood motionless, watching, listening, as silent tears slid down my cheeks.

A few days ago, Ronan had brought Viola home.

She was also seven months pregnant, her belly as round as mine.

Viola had returned after surviving an assault by a rival family overseas, pregnant with a child whose father she claimed was unknown. To shield her from the shame, Ronan had publicly claimed the child as his own.

I was fighting with everything I had to bring our daughter into this world, and he was out there telling everyone our alliance was finished.

I had given him fifteen years of my life, five of them as his wife. All for nothing. If he was so desperate for this to end, then I would grant him his wish.

I returned to the manor in a daze, my feet feeling disconnected from the ground. The moment I stepped through the door, the maids' whispers died.

"Quiet down, the Madam is back. Quick, turn off the TV."

"What a tragedy. Thank goodness she can't see."

"This would absolutely crush her."

"Welcome home, Madam."

A maid moved to help me, but I didn't respond. I stood frozen, my gaze fixed on the now-dark television screen as the world seemed to slow to a crawl.

I had lost my sight saving Ronan. My heart had been his since I was ten years old, even though his eyes had only ever been for Viola.

Five years ago, Viola and her family left Boston. A heartbroken Ronan had drowned himself in alcohol and violence.

One day, at a chaotic shootout, he was nearly struck by flying shrapnel. I had rushed forward and shoved him out of the way. He was unharmed, but the shrapnel had severed my optic nerves.