Chapter 14
1853 Words
The mansion had never been this quiet.
For once, there were no arguments between Miguel and Anya.
No ridiculous competition.
No flowers from Christopher.
No expensive gifts.
No mysterious notes.
No urgent business calls.
Just silence.
And somehow, that silence made Anya more nervous than any danger she had faced.
She stood beside the tall windows of the library, staring at the garden.
She could see more now.
Not perfectly.
Not yet.
But enough.
The trees were no longer vague shadows.
She could distinguish their leaves.
The flowers had colors.
The sky had depth.
And faces...
Faces were slowly becoming clear.
She had spent years imagining what the world looked like.
Now it was returning piece by piece.
And there was one face she wanted to see more than any other.
Miguel's.
She had secretly watched him whenever he entered a room.
She had memorized the shape of his face.
His dark hair.
His sharp jaw.
His expressive eyes.
His smile.
He was handsome.
Far more handsome than she had imagined.
But that wasn't what frightened her.
What frightened her was the question she had been carrying since the treatment began.
Would he still love her when she could see?
She had already asked him once.
His answer had been comforting.
But now that her vision was actually returning, the question felt more important.
Because this was no longer hypothetical.
It was becoming reality.
Miguel entered the library.
"Anya?"
She turned.
"Yes?"
"You've been quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"That's dangerous."
She smiled.
"You say that whenever I'm smarter than you."
"Which is unfortunately becoming frequent."
She laughed.
Miguel walked toward her.
He stopped a few feet away.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Anya noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were staring."
"I was."
"Why?"
He smiled.
"Because I can."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That's suspicious."
"You're beautiful."
Anya became still.
Miguel rarely complimented her so directly.
Especially without sarcasm.
She looked away.
"Thank you."
He stepped closer.
"Anya."
"Hm?"
"There is something I need to tell you."
Her heart began beating faster.
"What?"
Miguel took a breath.
"I've been trying to find the right moment."
"For what?"
"To tell you the truth."
Anya smiled.
"You've already told me."
"I haven't."
"You said you love me."
"Yes."
"Then what else is there?"
He looked into her eyes.
"Everything."
Miguel had faced hostile shareholders.
Business rivals.
Threats.
Enemies.
He had survived situations that should have destroyed him.
But standing in front of Anya, trying to confess his feelings, was somehow more terrifying.
He took her hands.
"When you first came to this mansion, I didn't want you here."
Anya laughed.
"I remember."
"I thought you were going to break everything."
"I only spilled coffee."
"On me."
"You survived."
"Barely."
She smiled.
"But something changed."
"What?"
"You challenged me."
"I did?"
"Every day."
Anya laughed.
"You deserved it."
"I know."
He smiled.
"You made me angry."
"I know."
"You made me laugh."
"I know."
"You made me worry."
"Also true."
"And eventually..."
His voice softened.
"I couldn't imagine the house without you."
Anya became quiet.
Miguel continued.
"I started looking for you whenever I entered a room."
"I started listening for your footsteps."
"I wanted to know where you were."
"I became jealous of anyone who made you smile."
Anya smiled.
"Especially Christopher."
"Especially Christopher."
She laughed.
Miguel shook his head.
"I hated that."
"Why?"
"Because I knew I had no right to be jealous."
Anya squeezed his hands.
"Why not?"
"Because I hadn't told you."
"Told me what?"
He looked directly at her.
"That I love you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I love you, Anya."
She whispered:
"I know."
"No."
He shook his head.
"I need you to hear it."
He moved closer.
"I love you."
His voice trembled.
"I love the woman who argues with me."
Anya smiled through tears.
"I love the woman who refuses to let anyone pity her."
Her smile faded.
"I love the woman who can walk into a room and make everyone else feel small without saying a word."
She laughed softly.
"I love the woman who saved my company."
She looked at him.
"And I love the woman who saved me."
Anya's tears finally fell.
Miguel gently wiped one away.
"I love you."
She closed her eyes.
But then she stepped backward.
Miguel stopped.
"Anya?"
She shook her head.
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Because I need to ask you something."
"Anything."
Her voice trembled.
"If I could see again..."
Miguel's expression softened.
"Yes?"
"Would you still love me?"
Silence.
The question had finally been spoken.
Anya waited.
Her heart pounded.
She needed the truth.
Not a romantic answer.
Not something he thought she wanted to hear.
The truth.
Miguel stepped closer.
He lifted her chin gently.
"I fell in love with the woman who taught me how to see the world differently."
Anya's lips trembled.
"You don't understand."
"I do."
"If I could see..."
"I know."
"If I became different..."
"You wouldn't."
"But what if I looked different?"
Miguel smiled.
"Then I'd have to get used to seeing you."
She laughed through her tears.
"And if I became independent?"
"You already are."
"If I didn't need you anymore?"
Miguel's smile disappeared.
"You don't need me now."
Anya stared at him.
"You never needed me."
He touched her cheek.
"You chose me."
Her tears fell harder.
"Miguel..."
"I don't want you because you need protection."
He leaned closer.
"I want you because you're you."
Anya covered her face.
She began crying.
Miguel gently pulled her hands away.
"Hey."
She laughed through her tears.
"You're making me cry."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
She smiled.
"Don't apologize."
He wiped another tear away.
"I love you."
Anya nodded.
"I love you too."
Miguel smiled.
"Really?"
"Really."
He stared at her.
Then leaned closer.
Their lips met.
The kiss was gentle at first.
Almost uncertain.
Then Anya wrapped her arms around him.
Miguel held her tightly.
For once, neither of them cared about secrets.
No enemy.
No company.
No danger.
No past.
Only them.
When they finally separated, Anya rested her forehead against his.
"I can see your face now."
Miguel smiled.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much."
"Good."
"But..."
"But?"
"You're even more handsome when you're jealous."
He groaned.
"Don't ruin the moment."
She laughed.
For several hours, everything felt perfect.
They had dinner together.
Miguel attempted to cook.
Anya immediately became suspicious.
"What are you making?"
"Dinner."
"Should I call the chef?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
A few minutes later, something burned.
Anya covered her mouth.
"Miguel."
"I know."
"You burned the steak."
"I was distracted."
"By what?"
He looked at her.
"You."
She smiled.
"That's a good excuse."
"It's the truth."
She laughed.
They ate the slightly burned dinner together.
Anya declared it terrible.
Miguel insisted it was excellent.
They argued for ten minutes.
Then both started laughing.
For one night, they were simply two people in love.
Later, they sat together in the garden.
Anya leaned against Miguel's shoulder.
"I never thought I'd have this."
"What?"
"A normal life."
Miguel looked at her.
"You deserve one."
"I don't know if my life has ever been normal."
"Neither has mine."
She smiled.
"Maybe that's why we fit."
"Maybe."
She reached for his hand.
"I want to tell you everything."
"You don't have to tonight."
"I know."
"But I want to."
Miguel nodded.
"Then tell me when you're ready."
Anya took a breath.
"There are things about my past you don't know."
"I know."
"I was sent here."
"I know."
"I wasn't originally hired as a maid."
"I figured."
She smiled.
"I was investigating the company."
"I know."
"And there are people who still want me dead."
Miguel's expression darkened.
"We'll deal with them."
Anya squeezed his hand.
"I don't want you to keep risking your life."
"I can't promise that."
"Why?"
"Because if you're in danger, I'll come."
"Even if it's dangerous?"
"Especially then."
Anya sighed.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard."
She rested her head against him.
For several minutes, they watched the stars.
Then Anya noticed something.
A light.
At the edge of the garden.
She frowned.
"Miguel."
"Hm?"
"Did you leave one of the garden lights on?"
"No."
She stared.
The light disappeared.
Anya's heart began beating faster.
"Someone's there."
Miguel immediately stood.
"Where?"
She pointed.
"There."
Miguel moved in front of her.
"Stay behind me."
"I'm not helpless."
"I know."
He looked toward the darkness.
"That's why I'm asking."
The garden was silent.
Nothing moved.
Miguel called security.
Within minutes, guards searched the grounds.
They found nothing.
Anya remained uneasy.
"Maybe it was nothing."
Miguel looked at her.
"Maybe."
But he didn't believe it.
Neither did she.
That night, Anya returned to her room.
She closed the door.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
Something was wrong.
She walked toward her desk.
A piece of paper sat there.
She hadn't left it.
Her heart raced.
She picked it up.
Only one sentence was written.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED BLIND.
Anya's hands began shaking.
Someone had entered her room.
Someone had been inside the mansion.
Someone knew about her recovery.
She looked toward the door.
Then at the note.
Her relationship with Miguel had just begun.
And already, someone was threatening to destroy it.
Across the city, a man sat in a parked car.
He looked at a photograph.
It showed Miguel and Anya together.
The man smiled.
"They're finally together."
The woman beside him asked:
"Should we proceed?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Even after Victor's arrest?"
"Victor was careless."
"And Anya?"
The man looked at the photograph.
"Anya is the real problem."
He turned the photograph over.
On the back was an old name.
Not Anya Margo.
Her original name.
The one she had spent years trying to forget.
The man smiled.
"She thinks her past is buried."
He folded the photograph.
"It isn't."
Back at the mansion, Miguel stood outside Anya's door.
He knocked.
"Anya?"
No answer.
He knocked again.
She opened the door.
"Miguel?"
He studied her face.
"Are you all right?"
She forced a smile.
"Yes."
"You don't look fine."
"I'm just tired."
He didn't believe her.
But he didn't push.
Instead, he took her hand.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Somewhere safe."
"Where is that?"
He smiled.
"With me."
Anya's heart softened.
She followed him.
Neither of them knew that someone was watching from a distance.
Neither knew that their happiness had already attracted a new enemy.
And neither knew that the greatest secret of Anya's past was about to be exposed.
But for tonight, they had each other.
And that was enough.
Anya looked at Miguel.
She could finally see him.
Really see him.
And she realized something.
She had spent years fearing the darkness.
Now she understood that darkness wasn't the absence of sight.
Sometimes, darkness was the secrets people kept.
And soon, those secrets would come into the light.
No matter how painful the truth might be.
No matter how dangerous it became.
Anya was ready.
Because she was no longer alone.
She had Miguel.
And Miguel had her.
But somewhere in the shadows, someone whispered her forgotten name.
And the past began moving toward them.
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