Chapter 3

3

"Are you breaking up with me the second you can see again? Why, Kaelen? I need an explanation!"

I blinked, forcing back the moisture in my eyes.

I gave her a calm, distant smile.

"Mia, I'm not the man you love. You don't need to sacrifice your life to take care of me out of pity."

"If you can't let go of Rowan, go to him. He's the one you want. Stop running from your feelings."

Mia opened her mouth to argue, but her phone suddenly buzzed.

She glanced at the screen, and her entire body stiffened.

I followed her gaze. The caller ID read "Rowan."

"Kaelen, wait here for a second. I have to take this!"

My heart sank even further. My mind felt sharper than ever.

See, Kaelen? Rowan is always her priority.

Just let it go. Don't look back.

I laughed at myself and didn't wait for her to finish her call. I hailed a cab and left.

It's annoying being a man sometimes; you can't even cry after a breakup without the driver giving you a weird look.

Mia had no idea how much I was hurting. She didn't realize how deep the wound went.

Goodbye, Mia. Someone else will bake cakes for you now.

I silenced the incoming calls from her and blocked her number, deleting every photo of us.

When I was blind, I was stagnant. I had no drive.

But now that I could see, the world was vivid again.

I found a remote job I could do from home.

I spent my free time relearning how to paint, reclaiming the skill I thought I'd lost forever.

Slowly, I realized that being alone wasn't so bad.

Two months later, I attended a college friend's wedding.

I thought it would be a simple dinner, but I didn't expect to run into Rowan Miller.

"Kaelen! Long time no see. How's the vision? Have you had a follow-up at the clinic?"

Rowan spotted me instantly and walked over with a smug grin.

I had to admit, the guy had a certain charm that drew people in.

I wasn't intimidated by his fake friendliness, but something caught my eye.

The lucky charm on his wrist―it looked hauntingly familiar.

The people around us started whispering. They knew the history between Mia, Rowan, and me.

Gossip was the lifeblood of these events.

"Is it just me, or does Kaelen look even better now? He's so sharp. Now that his eyes are fixed, he's actually quite a catch."

"Why do you think Mia didn't stick with him?"

"Kaelen? What does he have? He was a shut-in for years. Mia basically supported him like a pet."

"Look at Rowan. He and Mia are the power couple of the finance world. They're perfect for each other."

"But Kaelen used to be brilliant. His designs won international awards. He's not exactly a nobody."

"Who cares about talent when you're broke? Mia made the right choice with Rowan."

I gripped the fabric of my trousers, feeling a surge of annoyance.

I truly hated these types of scenes.