Chapter 1 The Mute and the Blind

• "I won't marry a blind man!"
• A dress covered in pearls flew down from upstairs, hitting Clara Davis's face. She caught it and walked into her sister, Leslie Davis's, room.
• Today was meant to be Leslie's wedding to Mason Smith, but she had a change of heart.
• Their father, Henry Davis, paced around Leslie anxiously. "My dear, even though Mason can't see and has lost some favor, he's still from the Smiths. We can't afford to upset them!"
• "I don't care! I won't marry him, no matter what!"
• Leslie threw things around the room in frustration, creating a mess.
• Leslie's mother, Karen Frost, added, "If she doesn't want to marry him, she won't! How could Leslie marry a blind man?"
• "The car's ready outside!" Henry exclaimed, feeling frustrated. "My dear, I can't marry him in your place, can I?"
• Leslie suddenly saw Clara standing at the door.
• Her eyes lit up, and she pointed at Clara, shouting, "Let her marry him!"
• Henry noticed his youngest daughter at the door. "But she's mute!"
• "I've never spoken in front of Mason. He always thought I was mute!" Leslie replied sharply.
• Henry was surprised. "Why did you do that?"
• "Dad, don't ask so many questions. A mute marrying a blind man? It's like they're meant for each other! She's a better match for him than I am!"
• Both Karen and Henry glanced over at Clara.
• Karen's eyes gleamed. "I'm all for it," she said, nudging Henry. "Considering Mason's blind and she's mute, isn't it just perfect?"
• Henry, filled with optimism, stepped closer to Clara. "Clara ... "
• Clara clutched her dress tightly, feeling the prick of each small pearl against her palm.
• Her gaze calmly scanned everyone in the room.
• When it landed on Leslie, Leslie looked away, feeling uneasy.
• "Clara ... "
• Before Henry could say anything, Clara signaled to him, "Okay."
• Then, she went back to her room to change into the dress.
• Even though Mason had promised to come back and marry her when they were kids, he ended up falling in love with her sister when they grew up.
• But it didn't matter. After all, she was the one marrying Mason today.
• Despite his blindness, she remained resolute.
• The gown was a tad oversized, but that didn't matter to her, as long as she could marry him.
• Clara exited the Davis estate, stooped, and entered the car.
• As the car commenced its journey, it headed towards the Smiths' villa on the city outskirts.
• There were no nuptials or formalities.
• *
• The car halted before an ancient villa. Clara got out, unlatched the rusty gate, and walked through the unkempt garden before stopping at the villa's entrance.
• A middle-aged woman, munching crisps, greeted her. Clara was met with a cloud of dust upon entering.
• In the sunlight filtering through, Clara surveyed the aged villa.
• The building was decades old, its decor outdated and reeking of decay.
• Dust danced, suggesting years of vacancy.
• Does Mason really live here?
• The middle-aged woman said leisurely while spitting out shells, "Mr. Mason is upstairs, second room on the left."
• Clara ascended the creaky wooden stairs, worn from neglect.
• Behind her, the woman hummed, "The bride's quite pretty; it's a shame she married a blind man!"
• Clara halted on the stairs, glaring back at the middle-aged woman, who nervously retreated.
• At the landing, Clara overheard noisy banter emanating from within.
• "Like the video and leave me a tip, and I'll make our ex-CEO eating dirt live!
• "You don't believe me? Look! Isn't this Smith Group's ex-CEO, Mason?
• "If I get over 1,500 dollars in tips, we'll make a live video of the ex-CEO eating dirt! Haha ... "
• Clara pushed the door open with force. Inside the dusty room, two young individuals were pointing their phone camera at a man's face.
• That man, sporting sunglasses, was seated on a weathered rattan chair next to the window, donning a white shirt. The chilly breeze swept in through the window, which lacked glass.
• It was late December, and the weather was freezing cold.
• The cold wind had caused the man's complexion to pale and his lips to become dry and chapped. His shirt sleeves remained rolled up, exposing skin tinged purple from the cold.
• Despite his haggard appearance, his face retained its handsome features.
• He was turned sideways, silent like a statue carved from stone.
• To Clara, he seemed unchanged, save for the sunglasses.
• She remembered the luster of his once bright eyes, akin to aged amber.
• While the youths rambled, he appeared lost in thought.
• Clara's presence momentarily startled them. "Who is she?" one queried.
• "How would I know? Maybe she's a new hire!"
• "Why are there so many servants for Mason? Not like he needs it!"
• They continued filming, one suggesting, "This is lame. Let's strip him!"
• "We can't. The platform will ban us!"
• "Then, why not force-feed him dirt? It'll boost views!"
• Enraged, Clara strode over and grabbed one of them by the wrist before smashing his phone to the ground.
• The owner yelled angrily, "Who do you think you are? Don't think we won't do anything to you just because you're a woman!"
• "Speaking of which, she's quite pretty. Let's strip them both!"
• The two sneered sinisterly.
• "Mr. Charles, Mr. Keith." George Garner, the butler, stood at the door with a polite smile. "Let's call it a day. It's Mr. Mason's wedding day, after all."
• "Fine." Charles circled Clara, lamenting, "She's pretty, but Mason can't see. What a shame."
• "She's mute," clarified George.
• "Really?" The two laughed manically. "Wow! What a perfect match! A mute with a blind man!"
• The room echoed with vile laughter, though Mason remained stoic. Facing the window, he seemed to be looking at somewhere far away, but he couldn't see anything aside from darkness.
• "Mason, did you hear that? Mrs. Smith is mute. A blind man and his mute wife. A divine pairing!"
• Suddenly, one of them snatched Mason's sunglasses, jesting, "You're blind already—no need for these!"
• "They're cumbersome. Mason, why don't we draw one on for you? You don't even have to take it off when you sleep with your new wife. Keith, grab me the paint."
• After Keith grabbed the liquid paint, he opened the cap and said excitedly while searching for a brush, "I'll do the drawing."
• "No need for drawing. Just splash it over his face," Charles said, raising the paint to Mason's face.
• Seeing that, Clara ran over at top speed.