Chapter 1

Tags: Cornea destruction, sweet revenge through the truth, manipulative childhood friend, karma.

After waiting in line for three whole years, a matched pair of donor corneas finally became available.

Yet just because his childhood best friend whined that she “wanted to see what corneas look like,” my fiancé went behind my back, intercepted them, and had them moved from the hospital.

Naturally, his precious little friend clumsily dropped the transport cooler. The preservation fluid leaked, the vials shattered, and the corneas were completely ruined.

Furious, I lashed out at him for being so utterly reckless.

He just shrugged it off with complete indifference. “Whatever. The blind person who needs them is your mom anyway. What does that have to do with me?”

I laughed.

I had completely forgotten to mention that the person currently blind and desperately waiting for that transplant was actually his own mother—the very woman he had sworn on his life to take care of.

Three years ago, I registered on the transplant list at the hospital. After waiting over a thousand days, I finally got the call.

“Miss Vance, a donor cornea match has cleared. We can schedule the transplant surgery for next Monday.”

Thrilled, I immediately called my fiancé, Mark.

Every single call went straight to voicemail.

I thought he was just swamped with work, but when I opened Instagram, I saw he had just posted two new photos.

*Heading back to our childhood memories.*

*Back to the green hills where we grew up. The view hasn't changed, and neither has the person by my side.*

Attached were cozy photos of him and his childhood friend, Rachel.

Unable to hold back, I sent him a text.

*Too busy to pick up my calls because you're out playing with her?*

Thirty minutes later, Mark finally texted back.

*Chloe, could you not be so petty? Rachel and I haven't seen each other in forever. What's wrong with catching up? Keep bugging me and I'll block your number right now.*

I quickly sent another message.

*The hospital just called. The corneas are finally here.*

A few seconds ticked by before his reply popped up.

*Stop bothering me. Rachel and I have things to do.*

This wasn't the first time Mark had picked a fight with me over Rachel. He had blocked me plenty of times before. Sometimes it was because I accidentally chipped a souvenir Rachel had bought him; other times it was just because I pointed out one little flaw about her.

“Throwing another tantrum, is he?”

My best friend, Hannah, patted my shoulder. “Mark is absolute trash as a boyfriend. Throwing a fit at you over another woman just proves he doesn't love you enough. Chloe, stop walking on eggshells for him.”

I let out a helpless sigh.

“My grandfather is breathing down my neck to get married. If I don't finalize the engagement by the end of this month, I'm cut off.”

Right now, besides Mark, I didn't have anyone else ready to walk down the aisle. We had been dating for three years, and marriage was just one step away.

“Didn't you say you need to head to the hospital? Get in. I'll drive you,” Hannah offered.

Just as she finished speaking, my phone rang. When I answered, it was a familiar doctor from the hospital. “Miss Vance, has there been a change in plans regarding the cornea transplant? I'm calling to remind you that corneas are extremely delicate during transit. Even the slightest bump can ruin them and make the surgery impossible.”

I froze.

Since when had the corneas been moved without my knowledge?

“Your boyfriend came in person and checked them out. All the paperwork has already been processed.”

So when Mark said on Snapchat that he had “things to do,” he meant cutting me off and stealing the donor tissue!

Without thinking, I bombarded Mark's phone with calls. After a dozen attempts, he finally answered, barking into the receiver, “Chloe Vance, are you insane? Do you have any idea how annoying you are!”

“Where are the corneas? Do you have any idea how fragile they are? Any impact can destroy them! Send me your location right now. I'm coming to get them.”

“Oh, really?” Mark's tone suddenly turned light and dismissive. “Too bad you're late. Rachel bumped the case by accident, and it dropped. The glass broke and even gave Rachel a tiny cut on her hand. Come clean up the mess if you've got time. I'm taking Rachel to urgent care right now to get a bandage.”

Pure rage flared in my chest.

How could he treat something so serious like a joke?

“Mark, do you have any idea whose corneas those were—?”

“Yeah, I know. They're for your blind mother,” Mark cut me off. “You've already waited three years. Waiting another five or ten won't kill her.”

His voice dripped with mockery.

“Besides, I hate nagging old women breathing down my neck anyway. It's better that your mom stays blind. At least now she won't be around to boss me around.”

“Whatever, I'm hanging up.”

My knuckles turned white as my fists clenched, veins pulsing at my temples. I could barely catch my breath from the sheer anger.

I spent a full minute calming myself down, and then a strange sense of relief washed over me.

What did this have to do with me anyway?

When the dust settled, Mark would be the one labeled a monster.

After all, the person lying in that hospital bed waiting for the transplant was his own mother.