A sudden chime broke the tension. Austin’s phone vibrated on the table.
Instinctively, my eyes shifted to the screen. A message notification popped up, the sender was saved as “Ruby Baby.”
[Haven't you succeeded coaxing that blind woman yet? I'm dying to see you.]
My chest tightened as my gaze lingered on the next two images. It was a photo of Ruby sprawled provocatively on our bed. She was clad in scanty lingerie, her poses both suggestive and shameless.
Austin’s expression darkened, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he swiftly tapped out a reply.
[Impatient, aren’t you? Don’t worry, babe. Your husband will be there to satisfy you soon.]
Her response came almost instantly, accompanied by a playful emoji.
[What we did earlier was so exciting! When she opened her eyes, I almost couldn’t hold back!]
[You’re so bad ... What if she finds out?]
Austin glanced at me and he murmured with affection, “My precious baby,” before resuming his typing with an indifferent expression. [What’s there to fear? She’s been blind for six months. Every potential retina match that’s come up? I’ve made sure it never reached her. Let her stay blind forever and we’ll keep this going. Isn’t it exciting?]
The next message came quickly. [What if she finds out about this someday?]
He paused for a brief second before kissing my forehead. His lips lingered there as he typed his reply. [As long as she stays blind, she’ll never leave me. Ever.]
I froze. A chill surged through my veins and my body became cold and I trembled.
Is this truly the man I’d loved for five years? The one who used to look at me like I was his entire world? The man who would get panicked over a mere scrape on my hand?
He must have forgotten about the fire six months ago. That day, I’d used every ounce of strength to shove him to safety, only to be trapped inside myself and burn my eyes.
That same day, he knelt by my hospital bed, his tears falling freely as he gripped my hand. He’d sworn, with a fervor that shook me, that he’d do everything possible to find me a compatible retina donor.
However today I found out that he had stopped all opportunities for me to regain my sight back. He did that just for him to have a more exciting affair. He even wanted me to stay blind forever. It was truly socruel.