Chapter 1

“Mr. Allen? I’m Nelly Sullivan,” said a warm, melodic voice. “Your assistant said you wanted to see me?”

Ethan’s heart slammed against his ribs. He had caught a glimpse of her in the waiting room ten minutes ago—tall, with dark chocolate skin that seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights, her curves wrapped in a modest pencil skirt and blouse. She had been reading a book, her fingers tracing the spine, and something in him had shifted. He couldn’t marry the cold, proper Korean heiress his parents had chosen. He wanted someone real. And this woman—this stranger—felt real.

He had made a decision instantly. “Ah, Ms. Sullivan. Yes. Please, have a seat.” He gestured vaguely to the chair across from him, careful to turn his head as if listening for her movement. “I apologize—I didn’t catch the orientation of the furniture. My condition, you understand.”

He heard her hesitation, then the rustle of fabric as she sat. “Yes, sir. I was told you are… blind.”

“Since birth,” he lied smoothly. “But I’ve adapted. I run this company with my other senses. Unfortunately, my previous personal secretary left suddenly, and I require someone who can assist with tasks that require sight—reading documents, describing visitors, guiding me through the building. Are you comfortable with that?”

Nelly shifted in her chair. Her voice was quiet, but steady. “I’m not a trained assistant, Mr. Allen. I just moved here from the countryside, and I’ve only worked at a small diner before. I’m not sure I’m qualified.”

Ethan leaned forward, a small smile on his lips. “Qualifications are easy to teach. I need someone trustworthy and observant. Someone who won’t feel sorry for me.” He heard her breath catch. “From what I’ve gathered, you’re patient and listen well. That’s enough.”

“But… why me?”

He paused, then said softly, “The first time I heard your voice, Ms. Sullivan, I knew you didn’t pity me. You just spoke like a person. That matters more than any degree.”

It was the truth. Even if he had seen her first, her voice had sealed it.

She was silent for a moment, and he imagined her biting her lip. Then she said, “I can start tomorrow.”

“Today,” he corrected gently. “I have a board meeting in an hour. I’ll need you to describe the room and read the agenda to me.”

He could almost feel her resolve strengthen. “Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”

She helped him stand, her fingers light on his arm for guidance. The warmth of her touch shot up his arm, and he forced himself to breathe slowly. He followed her lead, tapping his cane just enough to sound convincing, navigating the hallway he knew by heart.

For the next few days, Nelly proved invaluable. She read contracts aloud in a steady rhythm, described the expressions of visiting clients, and guided him through the bustling office without complaint. Ethan found himself inventing reasons to keep her close. He asked her to bring him coffee just to hear her footsteps. He pretended to struggle with elevator buttons so she would press them for him, her shoulder brushing his chest.

Each evening, he sat alone in his penthouse, guilt gnawing at him. He had tricked her, but the lie felt necessary. How else could he be sure she liked him for who he was, not his money or his family name?

One afternoon, a week later, the boardroom door opened. Nelly’s voice was clipped. “Mr. Allen? Your father is here to see you.”

Ethan’s stomach tightened. He had avoided his father’s calls. “Thank you, Nelly. You may wait outside.”

“Ethan,” his father said in Korean, heavy accent coloring the English words, “why do you pretend? Everyone knows you can see.”

Ethan kept his face calm, though his jaw tightened. “I don’t know what you mean, Father. I am blind.”

“Nonsense. Your mother and I have seen you walk without the cane when you think no one watches. You cannot fool us. Stop this charade and come meet your fiancée next week.”

Ethan shook his head, raising his voice slightly. “I will not marry someone I don’t love. And I am blind. Leave it alone.”

He felt Nelly re-enter the room. His father said nothing more, just turned and left. The door clicked shut.

“Mr. Allen, are you all right?” Nelly asked, her voice tight with concern.

Ethan turned his head toward her, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just family disagreements.”

She stepped closer. “Your father spoke in another language. What did he say?”

Ethan’s heart pounded. If he told her, she might realize he understood because he was Korean, not because he was blind. “Nothing important. He wants me to marry someone I don’t love.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “That must be hard.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing hers. “It is. But I have you, Nelly. You make it bearable.”

She did not pull away. He felt her gaze on his face, and for a second, he forgot the pretense. He wanted to look into her eyes, to see if she felt the same spark. But he was supposed to be blind. So he held her hand and said nothing.

The silence stretched, charged with something unspoken. Then Nelly whispered, “I’ll get your coffee now, sir.”

She slipped her hand from his, and he let her go. The lie was working, but each day it grew heavier. He didn’t know how long he could keep it up.

That night, as he reviewed financial reports alone in his office, he heard the door creak open. He didn’t bother to look up—no, he could not look. But he knew it was Nelly by the soft cadence of her breathing.

“Mr. Allen?” she said. “I forgot my scarf.”

She crossed the room, and he heard her fingers graze the coat rack. Then she stopped. He realized he had been staring at the wall, his face aimed at the desk where he had been reading. It was a minor slip—a blind man would have turned toward the sound, not sat motionless,

He held his breath, his heart pounding in his ears.

Nelly did not move. “Mr. Allen?” she repeated, her voice different—uncertain, searching. “Your eyes… were you just looking at the wall?”

He said nothing.

She took a step closer. “You were, weren’t you? You were staring straight ahead.”

Ethan felt the ground shift beneath him. He had to say something. But what could he say that wouldn’t shatter everything?