Chapter one
Even though I was born a princess; golden spoon in my mouth, diamond teeth, crying in a Mercedes Benz, I was extra large.
I wasn't an hourglass-figure princess with long, dazzling hair. I could say I almost looked ridiculous.
If not for my parents' money, I would probably have looked like a monkey. But even the golden crown sitting on the frizzy hair I inherited from my father didn't make any difference, It only made it worse.
But everything changed when I saw Neo. I was ready to go under the blade for him and transform myself even when I was just sixteen.
After I turned eighteen, I tried everything to win his heart. I did everything—cut down my meals, pushed my body beyond limits, did things I never thought I could until I finally gained that perfect figure everyone fell for.
Eventually, he looked at me once.
Things changed. He started seeing me, and the twenty-year-old me was the happiest girl on earth.
Time flew. I was happiest being on earth when Neo proposed to me. Since we were college sweethearts, the news of our engagement spread like wildfire. The news of Neo about getting married to the wealthy heiress soon reached everywhere.
But a few days after our engagement, everything changed. My parents unfortunately died in a car accident, and I… I lost my sight on my way to the morgue.
But what didn't change was the fact that Neo loved me. Despite my condition, he loved me nevertheless.
"I always told you not to go out alone without your caregiver," Cassie, my best friend, scolded me like I was a three-year-old.
I chuckled slightly, my fingers brushing over the leather bag Neo bought me on my last year birthday.
"It's been three years already, Cassie. I'm used to this now. I can do everything on my own, all thanks to my walking stick." I smiled, feeling the soft breeze on my face as the driver drove through one of the streets in Los Angeles.
I wanted to do something special for Neo, that's was part of the reason I didn't take my personal maid with me, I didn't want to raise suspicion.
I wanted to make Neo my next of kin, Something he once asked for after my parents died. He had asked for it after my parents' passing, after we finalize our marriage.
The thought of our marriage brought a warm smile to my face, it was the best thing that had ever happened to me But the next words I heard from the bank staff shattered everything.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Our records show no marriage certificate registered under your name."
"What do you mean?" I adjusted in my seat, knowing that couldn't be possible.
Three years ago, we registered our marriage. Neo helped me sign the documents. I was still grieving, and my blindness was new. He suggested we get married so I wouldn't feel lonely or scared. With his help, all our marriage registrations at the bureau were smooth.
"That can't be," I said, confused. "My husband provided our marriage certificate when we opened our joint account."
"We only see documents related to property transfers you authorized. May I read them aloud to you?"
Those words struck me to the core.
"What property? I… I never did that."
"Ma'am, we have multiple property transfer documents signed by you three years ago. All documents indicate these properties were transferred to Mr. Neo Vargas."
I froze.
That was my husband but I never transferred any property.
"I never transferred any property."
"The documents bear your signature, ma'am. They were signed on May 5, 2024—that's exactly three years ago."
I froze completely.
That was the day I married Neo.
Today was our wedding anniversary. I had wanted to surprise him by giving him what he wanted—what I thought belonged to him as my husband.
Reality slapped me hard, but I refused to believe it.
The marriage certificate I thought I signed… was it actually a transfer of all my properties to Neo?
All the properties my parents gave me?
All my father's companies?
That couldn't be true.
My breath ceased. There was no way Neo would do this to me. Why would he?
I tried grabbing my purse to stand, but my knees were too weak. I crashed to the floor.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" my driver, Noah, rushed to my side.
A tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it quickly. There had to be a mistake. Neo would never do this.
"Take me home, Noah."
Throughout the drive, my thoughts were consumed by Neo—our quiet wedding at the altar, just the priest, him, and me, and the promise he made to love me and be there forever.
There was no way he did this. No way.
"We're home," Noah announced.
I hurriedly tried to open the car door, eager to tell Neo everything so he could sort it out. My fingers fumbled, unable to find the handle.
Noah helped me.
I rushed inside, but my body failed me. The banker's voice replayed in my head. My legs gave way, and I fell, even with the walking stick that had been my support for three years.
"Do you want me to help you inside, ma'am?" Noah asked.
I always hated being helped. I hated being treated like I was helpless because of my blindness. But I nodded.
He helped me inside. My mind was racing—I was going to talk to Neo. He wouldn't do this.
But then I heard it.
Soft moans.
The couch creaking.
The familiar leather sound.
Neo's voice.
And worse, the smell of his cologne mixed with a strange perfume… A woman's scent.
Noah's hands slipped from mine. "I… I'll be outside, ma'am," he whispered and left hurriedly.
A tear slid down my cheek.
Even though I couldn't see it, I wasn't dumb not to know what was going on. Neo my husband was with another woman not even noticing my presence for a minute.
"How could you do this to me?" I screamed, my voice cutting through the moans.
Every creak, every sound, everything stopped. They stiffened, probably turning toward me.
He couldn't even get a room, doing it right here in my father's living room, disgracing me in front of the workers.
That was when everything began to make sense, everything I heard at the bank.
"How long?" My voice cracked. "How could you do this to me, Neo?" My tears rolled freely.
"Oops. Looks like she finally found out," the woman said.
My brows furrowed.
That voice…
"She must've found out at the bank," the woman laughed. "Now she should leave my Neo alone for me."
I froze.
That voice belonged to Cassie, my bestfriend.
"What's going on? Why are you with Cassie, Neo?"
"No way! She is blind, how did she find out it's me?" Cassie laughed.
Her laughter faded, and I heard her walk closer to me. "Don't tell me you've been tricking us all this while," she said, and immediately I felt a sharp pain in my eyes. She poked my eyes deliberately. It hurt so badly that I groaned in pain.
Cassie laughed again. "She isn't pretending. She's really blind. Neo did a great job turning her blind."
Those words froze me completely. My whole body trembled, and the pain in my eyes suddenly disappeared.
"What… what are you talking about?"
"Oh, you didn't know?" Cassie gasped.
"I thought you will also find that out at the bank." She chuckled mockingly.
"well…Neo planned the accident. He wanted you paralyzed. Killing you after marriage would've been easier. But you dodged it—only your eyes were damaged. Lucky brat."
My breath hitched.
W…Was this a prank?
"Neo… tell me this isn't true."
"Why are you feeding her all the details?" Neo muttered casually probably grabbing his shirt laying on the bare floor.
My heart sank.
"Did I?" Cassie clicked her tongue and mumbled, "My bad."
My knees completely weakened. I dragged my feet backward in disbelief.
"Don't tell me all this is true, Neo." Tears spilled freely as I shook my head, unwilling to believe any of it.
"Why don't you just tell her the truth and let us end all this, Neo?" Cassie sighed frustratedly.
"That can't be true. We were together for years, and you loved me… you really did Neo."
"I never loved you Estelin. Our marriage was never real. I only used you to get close enough to destroy you and your family." Neo revealed.
My body stiffened.
"And your parent accident , do you think it was just a coincidence?" Neo scoffed.
My whole body trembled
"What did I do to deserve this?" My tears followed freely.
"You acted like the world revolved around you," Cassie snapped. "You said you'd give him everything, and this is him taking everything from you."
"But not this way Neo. You.. you didn't have to break me this way ." I sobbed
"This isn't the time for tears," Neo said, stepping closer. "You should be worried about how to escape from here."
I suddenly felt the cold fear ran through me
Then Neo snatched my walking stick.
I fell.
"What… what are you going to do to me?"
"No one is coming to save you, Princess," he said coldly. "Get on your knees and beg for your life."