I Quit the Night His Eyes Healed

Chapter 4

When Liam was blind, he had never actually seen me. Back then, it was easy for him to imagine whatever kind of girl he wanted in his head.

Now that his eyesight was back, disappearing before reality ruined the illusion suddenly felt like the smartest option.

After all, people always seemed perfect when they only existed in someone's imagination.

"Wow, Maya, this is probably your first time in a boutique like this, isn't it?"

A woman's amused voice drifted in from the entrance, smooth and lightly mocking, and I immediately straightened into professional mode.

Then I froze.

Maya.

There was no way I could mistake that name. It belonged to the heroine.

I glanced toward the front of the store and immediately recognized the two women standing there.

The woman in front wore an expensive runway coat layered over a fitted designer dress, a striking sapphire detail glittering at her waist. She carried herself with the careless confidence of someone who had spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted.

Quinn Hall, the story's villain.

Standing beside her was Maya. Compared to Quinn, she looked almost understated in a simple denim shirt and dark jeans, but it didn't matter. Her beauty hit people instantly, the kind that made an entire room look twice. Quiet, elegant, impossible to ignore.

Maya looked at Quinn calmly, her expression unreadable.

"Are you planning to introduce me, little sister?"

She lingered over the last two words just enough to make Quinn's expression snap.

"Don't call me that. I'm not your sister."

The whole situation between them came straight out of one of those messy Upper East Side family scandals.

Maya was the biological daughter. Quinn wasn't.

Years ago, the Hall family had discovered their real daughter had been switched at birth. By then, Quinn had already been raised as their child for most of her life. After learning Maya's adoptive parents had passed away, the Halls decided to bring Maya home while still keeping Quinn in the family.

From the outside, it sounded like everyone got a happy ending.

Reality was messier.

Quinn had been spoiled for far too long, and she couldn't stand Maya from the moment she arrived. No matter how hard the Hall family tried to keep the peace, Quinn never treated Maya kindly.

She and Liam had grown up together, and everyone knew she'd been in love with him for years. Ironically, during the one year Liam lost his vision, Quinn had been overseas studying in London.

She'd only recently returned, which meant she still had no idea I existed.

Later, after finding out Liam had feelings for Maya, Quinn completely spiraled. One bad decision after another eventually pushed even her own family away.

Still, none of that had anything to do with me.

I was just a side character trying to survive my shift.

Quinn walked farther into the boutique, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

Zara immediately stepped forward with her practiced sales smile.

"Welcome in. Let me know if there's anything I can help you find today."

"Bring me every new arrival from this season."

Quinn still sounded irritated, though she quickly pasted on another sweet smile before turning back toward Maya.

"So? See anything you like? I'll buy it for you."

Maya slowly glanced around the boutique before answering in the same calm tone.

"No. Nothing really stands out."

Quinn let out a soft laugh.

"Please. Our family's not exactly hurting for money. Don't make people think we can't afford a handbag."

Then her gaze landed directly on me.

"You, come help her pick something."

I stepped forward with a professional smile.

"Of course, miss."