Chapter 1: The First Thing I Saw
My wife was kissing another man three feet away from me when my eyesight returned.
And the first thing I saw clearly after eight months of darkness wasn't the woman I had married.
It was the man she had been calling her cousin.
For eight months, I had learned to recognize the world through sounds, smells, and the familiar touch of objects beneath my fingers. I knew the number of steps between my bedroom and the kitchen. I could identify Vanessa's footsteps from the sharp clicking of her heels against the hardwood floor.
I even knew when Adrian entered the house.
His leather shoes made a distinctive double click whenever he crossed the hallway.
He always smelled of cedarwood cologne.
And whenever Vanessa laughed at something he said, he made a peculiar noise through his nose, as though he were trying not to laugh too loudly.
I had noticed everything.
I simply hadn't known what any of it meant.
Until that afternoon.
The rain tapped against the bay window while I sat in my wheelchair, listening to the two people I trusted most in the world discuss my future.
Then the darkness disappeared.
At first, there was only a painful explosion of white light.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my head pounding. For months, doctors had warned me that my damaged optic nerves might never recover. My accident had left me with severe bilateral vision loss, and although there had been occasional flickers of light, nobody expected meaningful improvement.
But now, through the haze, shapes began appearing.
A coffee table.
A fireplace.
The red dress Vanessa had bought for our anniversary.
And two people standing beside the window.
My wife had her arms around Adrian's neck.
His hands were resting on her waist.
Their mouths were pressed together.
I couldn't move.
Then Vanessa pulled away and laughed.
"He's completely oblivious," she whispered.
Adrian adjusted his jacket.
"Maybe we should stop doing this here.""
"Why?""
"What if someone comes over?""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Who? His friends? They stopped visiting months ago. And even if someone did, Marcus wouldn't know the difference.""
I felt something inside my chest go cold.
For eight months, I had imagined losing my business, my independence, and perhaps even my marriage because of my disability.
I had never imagined my wife would celebrate those losses.
Adrian leaned against the window.
"How long until the house is ours?""
Vanessa glanced toward me.
"Once he signs the transfer agreement, everything becomes easier.""
"And the accounts?""
"Already being handled.""
"You're sure he won't ask questions?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Marcus doesn't refuse anything anymore.""
I lowered my head.
My eyesight was still unstable. The room appeared blurry, and my eyes burned whenever I tried to focus. But I could see enough to recognize the thick folder on the coffee table.
I remembered that folder.
Twenty minutes earlier, Vanessa had placed it in my lap and told me it contained insurance paperwork.
She had even guided my fingers toward the pen.
I had asked whether I needed my attorney to review it.
She had laughed.
"Sweetheart, it's just routine paperwork. You know you can trust me.""
Apparently, I could.
I could trust her to kiss another man in our living room.
I could trust her to steal my house.
And I could trust her to lie directly to my face while pretending to love me.
Footsteps approached.
Vanessa's perfume reached me before her voice did.
"Are you hungry, sweetheart?""
I kept my eyes lowered.
"No.""
"You haven't eaten much today.""
"I'm not hungry.""
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Adrian came over to help with some paperwork. I thought we could finish everything before dinner.""
I turned toward her voice.
"More paperwork?""
"Just a few things for the house.""
"Your cousin seems very interested in our house.""
Silence.
Adrian cleared his throat.
"I'm only trying to help, Marcus.""
"That's generous.""
"I know things have been difficult since your accident," he continued.
"Vanessa has been carrying a lot. You should make things easier for her.""
I almost smiled.
The man sleeping with my wife was explaining how much she had sacrificed for me.
Vanessa pulled a chair closer.
"Adrian is right. I've been doing everything. The bills, the appointments, the business correspondence. It's exhausting.""
"I'm sorry.""
"Then sign these papers.""
She placed the folder in my lap.
"Where do I sign?""
"At the bottom.""
"What's the document called?""
She hesitated.
"Insurance authorization.""
I opened my eyes slightly.
"No. What's it called?""
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the folder.
"Why are you making this difficult?""
"I'm asking a question.""
"Legal documents are complicated for you now, Marcus. You don't need to worry about every little detail.""
I slowly turned a page.
The words swam before my eyes, but I could read the heading.
PROPERTY TRANSFER AGREEMENT.
Below it was my full legal name.
The document authorized the transfer of my house to a company called Aster Holdings LLC.
I had never heard of it.
I looked at the signature line.
Someone had already typed my name beneath the authorization.
"Vanessa.""
"What?""
"Why does an insurance form transfer ownership of my house?""
Her expression changed.
"Give me that.""
I held the folder against my chest.
"Why?""
"Because you're confused.""
"I'm reading.""
"No, you're not.""
Her voice sharpened.
"You can't even see what you're holding.""
I lifted my head.
For the first time in eight months, I looked directly at my wife.
Her face was pale beneath her makeup. Her lips were slightly parted. I could see the tiny gold necklace I had bought her for our fifth anniversary.
I could also see the faint red mark on her neck.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Marcus, maybe you should calm down.""
I looked at him.
Then at Vanessa.
Then back at him.
"Funny," I said.
"You sound exactly like someone who has something to hide.""
Vanessa waved her fingers in front of my face.
"Marcus? Can you hear me?""
I watched her hand move.
Then I smiled.
"Yes, Vanessa.""
She froze.
"Why are you looking at me?""
"Because I can see you.""
The folder slipped from her fingers.
Adrian stopped breathing for a moment.
Vanessa took one step backward.
"That's impossible.""
I looked down at the document.
"Apparently, so is your loyalty.""
She grabbed the folder.
I caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
"Let go of me!""
I released her.
She stumbled backward, knocking the coffee table. The pen rolled onto the floor.
I picked it up.
Then I snapped it in half.
Ink splashed across the transfer agreement.
"What's wrong with you?"" she shouted.
"Nothing.""
I looked at the man standing behind her.
"But I think your cousin should leave.""
Adrian's face reddened.
"Listen, you miserable—"
"Careful," I interrupted.
"You might accidentally say something your wife wouldn't want to hear.""
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she whispered something that made my blood run colder than her betrayal.
"Marcus, how much did you see?""
I held her gaze.
"Enough.""
She reached for her phone.
I watched her fingers tremble as she unlocked it.
And then I noticed something on the screen.
A message from Adrian.
*DID YOU GET HIM TO SIGN? THE LAWYER NEEDS THE ORIGINAL BEFORE FRIDAY.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked up.
"Vanessa?""
She quickly turned the phone facedown.
"What?""
"What's happening on Friday?""
Neither of them answered.
And suddenly, I understood something.
May you like
They weren't simply trying to steal my house.
They were running out of time.
