Abigail froze at the sound of his voice.
It was deep, cold, and devoid of warmth. It was smooth, even attractive, yet it scared her. Something about it sent a shiver down her spine. Every word he spoke felt like an order, filled with quiet power that made her knees tremble.
She couldn't see him, but she could feel his presence. It filled the room like a storm barely held in check—commanding, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
Who was he?
What did he mean by her life belonged to him?
"W-Who are you?" she asked, standing up slowly. But the moment she did, dizziness hit her. Her knees buckled. She gasped and reached out blindly for something—anything—to steady herself.
But it was too late. The blanket around her slipped from her hands and dropped to the floor, revealing the tight, short dress that barely covered her body. The room went still. A sharp inhale came from somewhere nearby.
Her soft skin, long legs, and the graceful curve of her body were all laid bare under the harsh light. Ethan's eyes darkened instantly.
"Eyes. Closed. Now," he barked.
His voice was sharp, cold, and filled with fury. Her breath hitched, and panic rose in her chest. The room shifted as she heard the soft rustle of movement. Her eyes widened in shock. Only now did she realize she wasn't alone.
Besides the cold-voiced man, others were in the room too. How many, she didn't know. But the thought of strangers seeing her like this made her tremble. She felt like prey.
And then, came the haunting sound of footsteps approaching her. Her body tensed as she realized that the man was coming towards her.
"S-stay away..." she whispered, stepping back.
But then, her legs hit the edge of the couch. She was trapped with nowhere to run. The strong scent of his cologne hit her. It was clean, masculine, with a soft hint of cinnamon. It surrounded her, wrapping her in something she couldn't see but could feel so clearly. Her heart pounded in her chest.
And then, he stopped.
She could feel him in front of her, tall and still. She didn't dare move. She could hear nothing but his quiet breathing and her own racing heartbeat. Before she could speak, she felt something soft touch her shoulders.
He had picked up the blanket and was gently draping it over her again. Her hands flew up to hold it in place, her fingers trembling. He didn't say anything at first. He just stood there, watching her. Then, his voice came again, quieter this time.
"Don't panic. I am not going to hurt you."
Abigail trembled and tightened the blanket around herself. She didn't believe him. Dangerous men never warned you. They made you believe them first. "W-Who… who are you?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"You'll know soon," he said coldly. "But first, there are a few things you need to understand. The reason I brought you here—"
"Kidnapped," she cut in softly. "You kidnapped me. That's the right word."
Ethan's brows lifted. For a second, he looked almost surprised, not at the accusation, but at the quiet sass in her voice. It was subtle, but it was there. And it caught him off guard.
"If we're being specific," he said, amusement flickering in his cold eyes, "I believe saved is the more accurate term, isn't it, Miss Abigail? Tonight, I stopped that man from ruining your life."
She bit her lower lip. "Did you?" she asked, voice soft, but the defiance was clear.
Behind Ethan, Ian let out a laugh. "I like her already," he said, amused. "She's got fire."
Ethan's lip twitched. A small smirk touched the corner of his mouth, but it disappeared just as fast. "Miss Abigail," he said, voice calm again, "I have a deal for you. And before you say no, know this—you can't afford to."
"A deal?" she asked, frowning. "What kind of deal?"
He stepped back, just enough to give her space, but the weight of his presence still loomed heavily around her. "You have to be my pretend wife," he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She blinked, stunned. Had she heard that right?
"Wh-what?"
"You are going to be my pretend wife," he repeated.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. It felt like she had been pushed into a nightmare that wouldn't end. She pinched her arm, hoping it was a dream. But the pain told her it wasn't.
She tried to make sense of his words, but none of it made any sense. Was this some kind of joke? Pretend wife? Her? A poor, blind girl? But why?
"You're kidding, right?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"No, I'm not," he replied calmly. "You're going to be my pretend wife."
"But why me? I don't even know you…"
"You don't need to," he interrupted. "I need you. That's all that matters. And, Miss Abigail—" He took a step closer. "—you don't have a choice."
She froze. "What… what do you mean I don't have a choice?"
He leaned in slightly. "Because your life belongs to me now."
Abigail took a shaky breath. "I don't understand…"
"I know about your father," he said.
Those words stopped her cold.
"My father?"
"He's fighting for his life in a hospital you can't afford," he said bluntly. "You were ready to give up everything just to save him. I admire your desperation. But it was foolish."
She swallowed hard, her knees feeling weak again. Shame curled in her gut, and for a second, she simply wanted to vanish.
"I moved him to a better hospital," he continued. "Doctors are working on him right now. I bought back the house you sold. I paid all your debts. Every single one. I also doubled the money you spent and put it into your account. You can check it later."
Abigail's lips parted slowly. She couldn't believe her ears. She wanted to say something, but was unable to form words. This man, this stranger, took care of everything. Her father's surgery, her home, the bills....
But why her?
Why would someone like him go to such lengths for her?
Tears burned behind her eyes. Not from relief, but from fear. Because nothing comes for free. Not in this world. Her life had taught her that. "Why me?" she whispered. "You seem rich. You can have any woman you want—pretend or not. Why me? I'm blind…"
For a moment, Ethan just stared at her, especially her face. And, he said quietly, "Because you look exactly like my wife, Vanessa Kingston."