Chapter 52 Clear Sight
*Mia’s POV**
+25 BONUS
“Your vision is definitely improving,” Dr. John said as he clicked off his penlight. “Though I have to say, you’re recovering faster than expected.”
I blinked away the afterimages from the examination. “Fast enough to go home?”
“Eager to escape?” He raised an eyebrow, making another note of my chart.
“I have materials I need from my room.” I tried not to fidget. “And hospital lighting isn’t exactly ideal for design work.”
7
“Already thinking about work?” He gave me that knowing look doctors seem to perfect in medical school. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I managed my best innocent smile. “Please? I’ll take it easy, I promise.”
“Hmm.” He studied my chart for what felt like ages. “Blood pressure is stable… vision improving… alright. But there are conditions.
“Anything.”
“Minimal screen time. No driving – get a car service if you need to go somewhere. Sunglasses outside, no exceptions – your eyes will be sensitive for a while.” He fixed me with a stern look. “And if you experience any changes or increased headaches-‘
“Come straight back,” I finished. “I know.”
“I mean it, Mia.” His voice softened slightly. “You gave us quite a scare this week.”
After what felt like endless paperwork, I was finally free. The sunlight felt amazing on my skin as I stepped outside, even through the dark glasses John had insisted I wear. I pulled out my phone, fingers finding Scarlett’s number by muscle memory.
*Lunch? Our usual place?* I texted. *Need to catch up.*
Her response was instant: *Finally! Thought you’d disappeared off the planet. See you in 20.*
***
“Nice shades,” Scarlett said as I slid into our usual booth. “Very celebrity–in–hiding.”
“Doctor’s orders.” I adjusted the sunglasses, still feeling slightly self–conscious. “My eyes need protection for a few days.”
“You went to the doctor? What for?” Scarlett pushed her half–eaten croissant toward me. “Here, you look like you haven’t eaten
in days.”
I picked at the pastry, trying to figure out where to start. “So… you know how I’ve been kind of MIA lately?”
“Yeah, thanks for that by the way.” She rolled her eyes. “Left me dealing with those contractors alone. The marble guy keeps hitting on me, it’s getting weird.”
I had to smile – trust Scarlett to make everything sound like gossip. “I was in the hospital, actually. Something happened with my eyes.”
“What do you mean ‘something happened‘?”
“I woke up one night and couldn’t see anything.” I kept my voice casual, though my hands shook slightly. “Like, completely blind.”
“Shut up.” Scarlett’s spoon clattered against her coffee cup. “You’re not serious.”
“Totally serious. High blood pressure or something. It’s getting better now, but…” I shrugged, aiming for nonchalant. “It was pretty scary for a few days.”
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Chapter 52 Clear Sight
“Days? How many days exactly were you sitting in a hospital withet telling me?”
“Four? Maybe five?” I winced at her expression. “I know, I know. I should have called.”
“Damn right you should have.” She paused, studying me. “So how did you even get to the hospital?”
+25 BONUS
I focused very intently on iny coffee. “I kind of… fell. In the dark. And Kyle was there.”
“Kyle?” Her eyebrows shot up. “I thought he was staying at
“The penthouse, yeah.” I cut her off. “He just happened to be at the house that night.”
“Uh–huh.” Scarlett’s tone was carefully neutral. “And then what?”
“Then nothing. He called John, got me to the hospital. End of story” I stirred my coffee unnecessarily. “The marble guy really hit on you?”
“Don’t change the subject.” She leaned forward. “Has he been around since then?”
“Sometimes. Bringing stuff from home, checking with the doctors…” I tried to keep my voice even. “It’s whatever.”
“It’s not ‘whatever‘ and you know it.” Scarlett watched me over her cup. “What’s his game?”
“I don’t know.” I slumped back in my seat. “I don’t want to know. just… I can’t keep doing this, you know?”
“So what did the doctors actually say?” Scarlett asked after I’d explained about the hospital stay. “About your eyes, I mean.”
“Stress–induced something or other. Blood pressure went crazy.” shrugged, trying to seem casual about it. “They’ve got me on like six different medications now.”
“And Kyle’s just… what? Playing devoted husband?”
I fiddled with my napkin. “He’s been around. Checking with doctors, bringing stuff from home. It’s-”
“If you say ‘whatever‘ one more time, I swear-
”
“Fine.” I sighed. “It’s weird, okay? Him being there all the time, asking about medications, making sure I eat. Like suddenly he remembers I exist.”
“Funny timing.” Scarlett’s voice was carefully neutral.
“Yeah.” I took off my sunglasses, rubbing my eyes tiredly. “You know what it reminds me of? When I was little, after Dad moved Taylor and her mom in…”
“What about it?”
“Just… the way he’d suddenly pay attention when I was sick or hurt. Like he remembered he had another daughter.” I laughed, but it came out bitter. “Then Taylor would need something, and poof – back to being invisible.”
“Sounds familiar?”
“Maybe.” I stared into my coffee. But even I could hear the defensiveness in my voice. “I just… I can’t keep doing this. Hoping he’ll change, hoping he’ll choose me over her. It’s like being fifteen again, watching Dad choose Taylor every single time, thinking if I was just better somehow…”
“Oh honey.” Scarlett reached across the table. And stopped suddenly, her eyes focusing on something behind me. “Oh. My. God.
“What?” I turned carefully, following her gaze through the café window.
There was Taylor, looking perfect as always in a cream designer suit. But instead of Kyle beside her, she was arm–in–arm with a man I’d never seen before. They looked… intimate. Comfortable. His hand rested on her lower back as they walked, and she was gazing up at him with an expression I recognized from all the times I’d seen her with Kyle.
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Chapter 52 Clear Sight
“Well,” Scarlett said with vicious satisfaction. “Isn’t that interesting?”
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“Maybe it’s not what it looks like.” But even as I said it, I watched Taylor stretch up to whisper something in the stranger’s ear, her hand lingering on his chest.
“Really? Because it looks exactly like what it is.” Scarlett was already reaching for her phone. “Want me to send Kyle a picture?”
“No.” The word came out stronger than I expected.
“Why not? Don’t you want him to see-‘
“See what?” I turned back to her. “That Taylor’s exactly who we always knew she was? That she’s playing him just like she plays everyone?” I shook my head. “Let him figure it out himself.”
Scarlett studied me for a long moment. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” I put my sunglasses back on, the world taking on a gentler tint. “I’m done playing their games. Done trying to prove I’m worth choosing.”
Chapter 53 It Was Better This Way
Chapter 53 It Was Better This
