Blind Wife’s Cruel Awakening

That night, Ronan and I lay in bed, our backs to each other. The silence between us was a taut, suffocating thing. My belly had grown so large that I was often short of breath.

I shifted uncomfortably, about to ask him to pass me a pillow. But when I turned, I saw him propped against the headboard, the phone's glow illuminating his smiling face as his thumbs moved quickly over the screen, texting Viola on WhatsApp.

They were laughing about something. The sight of his smile was a deep, twisting wound in my gut.

I didn't know what they were discussing, only that Ronan suddenly looked up and glanced in my direction.

I squeezed my eyes shut, feigning sleep. A moment later, I heard the bed creak as he slipped out.

He thought I was blind. He thought I couldn't see a thing. It was the only reason he dared to be so brazen.

After he left the room, I rose and followed him.

Viola's bedroom door was slightly ajar.

I stood outside, a silent observer. Inside, Ronan was gently massaging Viola's swollen calves, his focus absolute.

As he worked, Viola suddenly sat up and pulled his face to hers, kissing him deeply.

Ronan caught her hand, his breath catching. "Viola, don't. You're pregnant."

"It's fine, Ronan. The doctor said it's safe in the third trimester, as long as we're careful."

She let a strap of her nightgown slide from her shoulder. "Don't you want me, Ronan? For five years, I was gone, and I thought of you every single day. I ached for you."

"If I hadn't left to protect my family, I never would have been—" Viola's voice broke, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek.

Ronan leaned down and wiped the tear away with a kiss, his gaze full of pity and tenderness.

"That's enough, Viola. I'm sorry. Don't worry. I'll make it all up to you."

A spark ignited between them, and they surrendered to it completely, their bodies tangling on the bed.

I stood frozen at the door, one hand clamped over my mouth as hot tears streamed through my fingers.

The man I had loved for fifteen years, my husband of five, was in bed with another woman—another pregnant woman—while I carried his child just down the hall.

I shook my head, backing away in disbelief.

My shoulder bumped into a decorative suit of armor in the hallway. The dull thud echoed in the quiet hall, and Ronan froze on the bed.

"What was that?"

"What are you afraid of? You think it's Cora?" Viola scoffed.

"Have you forgotten she's blind? Even if she walked all the way here, she wouldn't know what we're doing!"

Ronan's voice trailed off. He nodded, but his gaze drifted toward the doorway, where the darkness seemed to thicken. A ripple of unease tightened in his chest.

Cora couldn't see, but she could hear. What if she'd heard them? Would she fall apart?

"Ronan, what are you thinking about?" Viola turned his face toward hers, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "Is it Cora? You're not allowed to think about her."

She reached up and kissed him again.

God, why was he even thinking about Cora? It was her fault. If she hadn't tricked him into her bed that night, she wouldn't be carrying his child at all.

I don't remember how I got back to my room.

Waves of pain cramped my abdomen. I fumbled for the medication my doctor had prescribed, and after I swallowed a pill, the ache began to subside.

My mind was made up. As soon as this child was born, I would leave him.

All I wanted was to give birth safely. Then, I would end this sham of a marriage and walk away with my child.

The next morning, I went downstairs for breakfast.

Fiona quietly placed my portion of the restorative broth at Viola's seat. In front of me, she set a bowl of plain, clear soup.

They all thought I wouldn't know. A blind woman couldn't see, so they assumed I'd be too oblivious to tell the difference by taste.

I said nothing, silently taking a few bites before setting down my spoon.

"Good morning, Cora. You're up early."

Viola descended the stairs, taking a seat beside me. Her voice was a purr, laced with a barbed, teasing quality.

"Unlike you, I can't handle mornings like this. I was so worn out last night that my whole body felt like it was falling apart."

My gaze fell to Viola's neck, which was littered with the dark marks of his kisses.

They screamed of the passion she and Ronan had shared.