Chapter 4
He always leaned on our childhood friendship to excuse his infidelity, constantly pressuring me to compromise. Now he expects me to donate my corneas, essentially destroying my own vision. He gradually extinguished every ounce of love I once held for him without even realizing it. I wondered, when I finally left, would he regret crossing these boundaries?
Sitting silently on the edge of the bed, I gazed at the wedding photo on the dresser, feeling a deep sadness in my heart. Augustus Hernandez strode out of the living room and knocked on my bedroom door.
"Seraphina, I'm going to tell you one last time. Khloe is blind now, and she's emotionally fragile. Don't you dare go and upset her again," he said. "I've been considerate of her to maintain my image as a successful businessman in the public eye. It's beneficial for you too, you know, if the company's brand reputation remains solid. Plus, Khloe is well-educated and an heir to heritage crafts; her partnership in my overseas clothing business is invaluable. You just sit at home all day spending money; you don't understand my hard work."
He played an audio message on his phone, letting me hear Khloe's sweet voice repeatedly apologizing, each word cutting deeper into my heart.
"You're just a housewife. Whether you have your eyes or not doesn't matter. I can always hire help to take care of you. Khloe, however, has her career and numerous opportunities for collaborations with luxury brands. How could you ruin her future?"
Listening to him endlessly praising Khloe's independence and accomplishments, he seemed to forget that my fashion designs once captivated Europe with unparalleled embroidery skills. Just one appearance at Paris Fashion Week had fashion houses clamoring for me as a designer. Yet, because he claimed his company lacked exceptional original designs, I stayed to support his budding company.
With my help, his obscure brand managed to climb the ladder. When he was nearly destroyed by plagiarism accusations from competitors, I worked tirelessly for two weeks, providing exclusive designs that saved him from bankruptcy. He once risked everything for me, and that's why I reciprocated with equal dedication and love.
During a research trip to a quaint French countryside, while trying to win over a stubborn embroiderer, I nearly fell off a cliff gathering rare flowers for dye. It was Augustus who held me tightly, his arm scraped to the bone by the rough cliff's edge. Tears streaming down, I begged him to let go, but he jokingly told me not to worry.
"Seraphina, I’d love to let you go. If you fall into the branches, maybe your injuries will make you notice me and agree to be my girlfriend. But if you hit those rocks, I’d lose my wife."
His lips were as pale as snow, sweat pouring down, yet he kept joking to divert my attention. It wasn't until dusk, when some hunters passed by, that we were rescued. With his still-functional left hand, he gently wiped away my tears.
"I was kidding earlier. Your eyes are so beautiful; how could I bear to lose them?"
Promises as grand as the ocean whispered in my ears—why did everything change? The person remained the same, yet now he claimed I didn't need my eyes and should give them to someone else.
As someone who was always emotionally reserved, fearing pain, after that incident, I became his girlfriend and helped his company soar in the fashion world. Later, when his company went public, amidst everyone's praise, he naturally took all the credit for himself. He proposed, wanting me to return to being a homemaker. He clipped my wings and then resented me for being unable to fly.
Outside, Augustus's furious knocking suddenly ceased. Khloe wanted him back at the hospital to help with her medication. After straightening his clothes, he left behind a few cutting words.
"For someone of my status, which CEO doesn't have admirers lining up? Yet I've always loved only you, and you still can't be grateful, harboring such hostility towards a girl I grew up with. Have Rory make you more chicken noodle soup these days to lift your mood, so you don’t look so bitter all the time. It's quite off-putting."
"When I come back next time, I don't want to see you in this jealous state. It's revolting."
The house fell silent. He was so accommodating to another woman, slicing my heart open and rubbing salt in the wound. The tree I helped nurture now despised me for being nothing but a clinging vine, even suggesting it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to have a few lovers.
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