Chapter 3

3 I returned to my apartment, still lightheaded. Mark grabbed me. "You okay, Anna?" I rubbed my stomach. "Sorry, Mark. I had surgery on my stomach a while back. I can’t handle much alcohol." He frowned, then noticed the business card. His eyes widened. "Is that Mr. Hayes’s personal card?!"

I nodded, remembering the encounter. It was the legendary, almost mythical, direct line to Ethan Hayes himself. Uneasy, I asked, "Why would Mr. Hayes give such a valuable opportunity to a nobody reporter like me?"

He’d smirked. "Maybe... he likes you." That sounded like Ethan. As we grew closer, he’d show his rebellious side… especially in certain moments. I'd grit my teeth, stifling moans, tugging his hair. "...You can't see, stop moving." In the dim light, he’d tilt his head, his soft bangs brushing his unfocused eyes. He’d lick his lips, his fingers tightening around my neck. "Everywhere else is fine. So, be louder. Let me hear you."

… I snapped back, making up an excuse for Mark.

The next day, my boss called me in. "Anna, we need you on that popular live relationship talk show as a guest commentator. Prepare yourself." Later, I found out the next episode's guests were Ethan and Chloe. Their engagement had been trending since the interview, a publicity stunt for the show. Fans were going crazy online. "Overcoming hardship together, now reaching the peak of success. True love!" "Apparently, the Williams’ family business was dying, but with Hayes Corp’s support, it’s thriving again.” "Power couple! Must ship!" I skimmed through it, closing the comments.

Daisy, the host, was reviewing the script, chatting with me. "If we can dig up the story of Mr. Hayes and his fiancée during those two years, the ratings will skyrocket." I gripped my pen, quietly agreeing. I knew every detail of those two years, but I couldn't say a word.

With Hayes's resources, Chloe was now an A-list actress. The livestream began, millions tuning in. Under the spotlight, Daisy began: "We hear wedding bells are ringing for you and Mr. Hayes. Can you share your journey?"

Chloe smiled at Ethan. "I never believed the rumors and accusations against him. He’s always been the one I love." She gazed at him adoringly.

Ethan chuckled. "...Liar. Have you forgotten how much you despised me when I first went blind?" Chloe froze, glancing at me with venom. On camera, she forced a smile. "I don’t really remember. I guess as our love grew, I only remember the sweet parts." I glanced at the live comments scrolling by: "So sweet!" filled the screen.

I put down the script, gripping the microphone, addressing Ethan. "It seems you two have differing opinions. Is there more to the story? Perhaps you could share how you two worked through it?" I didn't expect him to answer. But after a pause, he spoke.

"When I first lost my sight, I was depressed, angry at the world, and I didn't like her. She worked long hours, and still took care of me. One day, she was so tired, she left fish stew on the stove, went downstairs to buy salt, and forgot to turn off the heat. By the time she came back, the kitchen was on fire."

My throat tightened. I was back in that moment, the heat of the flames lingering in the air. I dragged Ethan out of the room, grabbed his collar, and slapped him. "Are you trying to die?!" I yelled, my whole body trembling. He didn’t fight back. After a long silence, he croaked, "Wouldn’t it be better if I died? Wouldn’t it be a relief for you?"

In that moment, I realized the once-arrogant Hayes heir was now a broken, insecure puppy. I shoved him into his room. The walls were blackened by the flames. I unbuttoned his shirt. "I missed dinner. You owe me."

He seemed to understand. "Are you sure―"

I silenced him with a kiss. "Ethan, you're not a burden to me."

That night, the world spun, leaving only us.

Now, he recounted this story with Chloe, his supposed soulmate, by his side. The world believed it was their memory. A suffocating sadness bloomed inside me. Ethan’s familiar yet distant scent enveloped me, overwhelming, yet no longer mine.

He paused, then finished, as the audience applauded, "I’ll never forget the moonlight that night. It was bright enough to see everything. I couldn’t see, but she talked to me all night.” I clutched my pen, looking down, my eyes stinging.

My improvised questions uncovered unknown details, making the interview a huge success. By the end, over ten million were watching. I was the first to unearth the hidden story of the Hayes heir. Everyone was ecstatic. Backstage, Daisy patted my shoulder. "You’re a natural! Those on-the-spot questions were brilliant!" She turned and saw Ethan and Chloe approaching. She went silent.

Ethan's gaze swept over us. "You prepared the questions today?"

I nodded. Chloe said sweetly, "Ms. Taylor, you certainly know how to hit a nerve. But let me remind you about professional ethics. Don’t aim for what’s out of your league."

I said nothing, looking at Ethan. He remained impassive. "Ms. Taylor is very capable. She’ll be our media contact from now on."

Chloe’s eyes widened with fear and hatred.

She cornered me later, her eyes venomous. "Anna Taylor, you're insatiable. You took my money, and now you're back for what?"

I met her gaze calmly. "I graduated. I’m back to work."

"Work? Do you think I’m stupid?" She threw her Hermès bag at me. "Get lost! Tell him you’re giving up the media contact position, or you’ll regret it!" The bag hit the floor, spilling its contents. I walked away.

Chloe kept her word. Suddenly, I was hitting roadblocks everywhere. Job opportunities vanished. One evening, my boss called me in. "There's a major annual development conference next month. You’ll be the host." I stared, then he continued, "Mr. Hayes specifically requested you."

After work, a familiar Rolls Royce waited across the street. The window rolled down, revealing Ethan’s impassive face. "Ms. Taylor, since you’re so curious about my past, why not ask me directly?"

I lowered my head. "I wasn't prying, Mr. Hayes. It was for work."

"Even for work, you have my personal card. You could have contacted me."

I bit my lip. "...It wasn’t necessary." I realized this wasn’t three years ago. He was the powerful Ethan Hayes, not the insecure boy who’d crave my kisses after being scolded.

The Williams family was struggling. Without Ethan's support, Chloe wouldn’t dare target me so openly. Perhaps those two years were a shameful memory he wanted buried. I turned to leave.

"Stop." He stepped out of the car, blocking my path. "Ms. Taylor, can we talk?"

I clutched my bag. "What do you want to talk about, Mr. Hayes?"

He smirked. "Work. Is that acceptable?"