Chapter 1

Three years ago, I lost my eyesight in an explosion while helping Matthew Brewster build his empire.

To the world, Matthew was the untouchable billionaire behind the Brewster Empire. What almost no one knew was that he was also the Mafia Don running everything from the shadows.

Back then, I was one of the best criminal investigators in the country. People said I had a future no one could touch.

Now I'm just Matthew Brewster's blind wife.

There were nights I wanted to give up.

But on our wedding day, Matthew held my hand, kissed my forehead, and said, "Annika, stay with me. Live. I don't care if you never see again. We'll face everything together."

That promise kept me alive.

So I got through every surgery, every treatment, every hard day.

Three years later, my doctor finally smiled at me.

"Donna Annika, it's a miracle. Your optic nerves responded better than we expected. Your vision is back."

Tears ran down my face as the blurry world slowly came into focus.

The first person I saw was my doctor. The second was my maid, Cora, who started crying beside me.

I smiled through my own tears.

"Please," I told the doctor. "Don't tell Matthew. I want to surprise him on our anniversary."

After a moment, he nodded. "I understand."

From then on, I kept pretending to be blind whenever Matthew was around. Only Cora and my doctor knew the truth.

I couldn't wait to tell him myself. He'd be happy, right?

That afternoon, Cora took me to one of the Brewster Empire's branch buildings. I still carried my white cane and wore my dark glasses, keeping up the act.

Then everything went black.

A hand covered my mouth. Cora screamed and got knocked down. Someone grabbed me, and when I woke up, I was tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse.

I kept my eyes half-closed, still pretending I couldn't see.

A cold knife rested against my cheek.

Through barely open eyes, I watched the man smile like he was enjoying this. The blade slid across my skin. I bit my lip to keep from screaming.

Is this how I die?

No! Matthew will find me. He always does.

Right when I thought the knife would cut deeper, sirens went off outside. Gunshots. Footsteps closing in fast.

"Nobody move! Drop your weapons!"

Then the one voice that could calm me down.

"Annika!" Matthew shouted.

Relief hit me so hard my whole body went weak.

He pulled me into his arms the second his men untied me. "I'm here," he said, holding my face. "I'm sorry. I should've gotten here sooner."

I wanted to tell him I could see him but I'd lost too much blood, and the words wouldn't come.

So I just rested my head against his chest. His scent, the same one from every night he'd guided me through the dark, every fever he'd stayed up through, every time he told me, "Don't be scared. I've got you."

I believed him. I always believed him.

After the medics treated my wounds, they told me to rest.

I refused.

Still pretending to be blind, I followed the voices toward the command center, Cora guiding me.

I was a few steps away when I heard laughter inside.

"The risk was worth it!"

"We finally got him."

"If Don Matthew hadn't used Annika as bait, the Assassin King would've disappeared again."

I froze.

Bait? What did he just say?

Another man laughed. "Seriously, boss, it was genius. The Assassin King's been hunting blind women for years. Nobody could've played bait better than her."

"Yeah," someone else added. "She didn't even have to pretend. It all looked real."

My fingers tightened around my cane.

No. I must've heard that wrong.

Matthew finally spoke. "Enough. It's over. Stop talking."

One of his men sighed. "But boss, why hide it? Annika used to work with us. She gets that sacrifices have to be made."

"Exactly," another said. "One life to catch the Assassin King? Anyone would've taken that deal."

My chest started to hurt. Every breath hurt.

This wasn't an accident. I wasn't kidnapped because I was unlucky.

Matthew knew. He knew that killer was coming for me, and he let it happen anyway.

He used me. His own wife!

"So it's true? You knew he was coming after me, and you still handed me over?! Tell me, Matthew. When did I stop being your wife and start being just bait?"

Matthew rushed toward me when he saw me sway.

"Annika." He reached for my shoulder. "Why are you even out here? You're hurt and blind! You should be resting."

I knocked his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

My voice cracked as I made myself look straight at him. For three years I'd imagined the moment he'd finally see me looking back.

He didn't even notice.

"Just answer me."

He didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then his face went cold again, the same look he wore whenever he was handling business.

"Yes," he admitted. "We knew the Assassin King had chosen you as his next target. Using you was the fastest way to draw him out."

I stared at him.

"S-so you decided for me? You couldn't even give me a choice?" My chest tightened. "I was blind, Matthew, not useless. I used to fight beside you. If you'd told me the truth, I would've helped you! I would've walked into that trap myself if it meant stopping him. So why lie to me?"

A soft voice cut through the silence.

"Annika, please don't get upset."

I turned toward the voice.

That voice. No. It couldn't be!

Standing beside Matthew was Jennifer Swanson.

My stomach dropped.

Three years ago, Matthew and I were sent to rescue a hostage. That hostage was Jennifer, Matthew's junior. The woman who'd confessed her feelings to him over and over, even after everyone knew he and I were together.

I remembered the fear on Matthew's face before that mission. I smiled and promised him we'd bring Jennifer home safe.

And I did. Almost.

While I was leading her out, Jennifer accidentally made a noise. Our location was exposed. The explosion came seconds later.

I pushed her out of the way. She survived but I lost my sight and that moment ended my career.

Afterward, Jennifer cried, knelt in front of me, and apologized over and over. She said she'd never forgive herself. She even left the country because she couldn't live with the guilt.

So why was she here?