The Photographer's Blindness

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my wife Chloe threw a lavish fireworks display for her first love, Ethan, who had just returned from abroad.

Under the beautiful fireworks, they kissed, showing a picture-perfect moment.

This scene was captured by a renowned photographer and featured in today's exhibition, where it won the gold medal.

Sitting in the audience, Chloe's best friend, Amber, smirked at me.

"Such a stunning photo. Ethan and Chloe look absolutely made for each other. Not like some useless deadweight who needs his wife to support. Don't you think?"

I replied calmly, "It is lovely."

"After all, I'm the one who took it."

I was actually there when Chloe Sinclair and Ethan Hayes kissed.

At that anniversary night, I cooked dinner myself.

Not just a full meal, but I went the extra mile, baking Chloe a cake from scratch.

But her phone kept going to voicemail.

Worried something was wrong, I called her best friend, Amber Taylor.

Amber was instantly annoyed.

"Chloe married you, but not owned by you! Maybe she's just sick of you and doesn't want to be around you tonight. Is that a crime?"

Amidst her ranting, I heard sweet laughter in the background.

Chloe's clear, sweet voice pierced through the phone,

"Ethan! It's been so long! I've missed you!"

That one sentence froze the blood in my veins.

I caught a hint they were at the beach, so I drove there.

What I saw next is seared into my memory.

As brilliant fireworks lit up the sky, Chloe and Ethan shared a look, a smile, and then melted into a passionate kiss.

People nearby murmured with envy,

"I heard he's Chloe's college sweetheart. They haven't seen each other in five years."

"He just got back today, and Chloe arranged this whole fireworks show just for him."

"Is this the legendary power of the 'first love'?"

But when they mentioned me, their tone turned dismissive:

"Chloe's husband? Pfft. That useless lump? She probably can't stand the sight of him! Don't bring him up and ruin the mood!"

My heart grew cold beneath the blazing, brilliant fireworks.

Why would her employees hate me for no reason?

It could only be because Chloe herself treated me with contempt in front of them, and they followed her lead.

When I first pursued Chloe, the Sinclair Group was on the brink of bankrupt.

I abandoned my own career, poured almost all my inheritance from my parents into saving her family business, working tirelessly for years to pull them through.

That's why her parents essentially arranged our marriage.

I knew she loved someone. I also knew that when her family hit rock bottom, that so-called childhood sweetheart had bolted straight for the airport.

I thought Chloe would see who truly cared for her.

I thought if I loved her sincerely, she'd eventually love me back.

But the scene before me was a brutal slap in the face.

The first love remained the first love. The man who gave up everything for her, wasted years for her, was just

"useless deadweight."

I raised my camera.

I'd brought it to capture our anniversary.

Instead, it captured my wife kissing her first love.

Holding the photo, I gave myself a stern warning:

Tyler, give it up. Stop clinging to any illusions about her!

Later, an exhibition requested my submissions.

Sifting through my photos, the one I was most satisfied with was...

this one.

Unsurprisingly, it won gold.

But when Amber heard I took it, she and the other girls burst into laughing.

"Tyler, you're unbelievable! Everyone knows the famous photographer, Leo Woods, is Chloe's idol! He's a genius! And you? Who are you?"

"You useless idiot! Trying to impersonate him just to get Chloe to notice you? How dare you!"

Chloe herself frowned, her beautiful face etched with disdain as she looked at me impatiently.

"Bullshit! Don't sully my idol's name, and don't dirty my eyes!"

This expression was a world away from the gentle, joyful woman in the photo.

A wave of bitterness washed over me.

I've loved photography since I was a kid and I was talented. My work in college won awards and got noticed.

Leo Woods was my pseudonym.

If Chloe had paid even the slightest bit of attention to me, she would have noticed.

I was always fiddling with my camera.

Letters addressed to "Leo Woods" sometimes arrived at our house.

I'd been waiting for her to discover it herself, to excitedly hold up my work and ask me about it.

But why, after five years of marriage, she know nothing about me.

Why did she cut me off impatiently whenever I tried to bring it up?

I think there's only one answer

She didn't love me. She despised me. She despised me so much that she wouldn't even spare me a glance.

Finally admitting this brought a strange sense of relief.

"Chloe, since you despise me so much, let's get a divorce."

Chloe burst out laughing, her pretty face flushing red.

She didn't take me seriously at all.

"Ooh, caught impersonating and now you're throwing a tantrum?"

"Tyler, don't bother playing these push-and-pull games with me. You think I care? You think I'd beg you to stay?"

"Go ahead! Bring me the divorce papers, and I'll sign them right now!"

Her friends giggled behind their hands.

In Chloe's world, I was the joke. None of them respected me.

Leaving the exhibition, Chloe's eyes suddenly lit up. She fluttered out the door like a butterfly.

And threw herself into a man's arms.

"Ethan!"

"Sorry I couldn't make the exhibition today," Ethan said, deliberately glancing at me, "leaving you stuck with... whatever he was."

With Ethan, Chloe transformed into someone gentle, almost unrecognizable.

"It's fine! I know you're busy! Not like some useless layabout with nothing better to do!"

"Oh! Great news! Leo Woods won!"

"He was so famous in college, then he just vanished for years. What a pity! Thank god he's back. Remember when we used to analyze his work together?"

Suddenly, I felt upset.

The year I was at my peak, Chloe's radiant smile accidentally wandered into my frame.

That's when I fell for her at first sight.

Where was I during those 'vanished' years?

I was abandoning my photography career to help Chloe save her family's company, loving her, caring for her with everything I had!

Ethan ruffled Chloe's hair, giving me a smug look.

The guy was pure poison, dripping with fake sweetness.

"Don't talk about this in front of Tyler. Someone without an artistic bone in their body wouldn't understand."

My expression turned cold as I turned and walked away.

Chloe's annoyed voice followed me:

"Ethan was trying to be nice, and you just walk off without a word? Where are your manners? We're going for drinks. Aren't you coming? Where else would you possibly need to be?"

I answered coldly,

"To get divorce papers drawn up."

Chloe paused, studying my face.

Maybe she finally sensed I was serious.

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

Ethan tugged her hand, urging her constantly.

Chloe hesitated for a second, then said to me with condescending mercy.

"Threatening divorce over nothing? You are useless and petty. Fine. My bad. I apologize. Okay?"

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.

She's always like this.

Chloe knew I loved her deeply, so my feelings never mattered. Whatever she offered was a gift I had to accept.

I shook my head wearily.

But not this time.

I didn't delay.

I hired a lawyer and got the divorce papers drafted.

Meanwhile, Chloe kept texting:

[Where the hell are you? My friends and employees are here! Where's my husband? Get your ass over here NOW!]

I, who always replied instantly, just calmly muted my phone.

On her fifteenth call, I arrived at the bar with the divorce papers.

The bar was hosting some event, and everyone was in costume.

Chloe, tall and slender, naturally drew all eyes with her looks and presence.

So I spotted her instantly.

I also noticed she and Ethan seemed to be wearing matching outfits.

Chloe was still pissed I hadn't replied, deliberately ignoring me, refusing to even look my way.

Her employees and friends followed her lead, treating me like air.

Only Amber suddenly walked towards me, smirking.

Seeing that look in her eyes, I instinctively wanted to dodge.

But it's too late.

She and a couple of others grabbed me, dragged me over, and tied me to a giant spinning wheel before I could protest.

Ethan was tied to another wheel nearby.

Amber laughed and joined in teasing.

"Time to choose! Chloe gets one 'save' ticket! Who do you save? The other one becomes the pointer!"

Chloe frowned slightly.

"Amber, that's a bit much."

Before Amber could reply, Ethan piped up in that sickeningly sweet tone.

"It's just a bit of fun! Let everyone enjoy themselves. Chloe, I'll be fine. Save Tyler."

People murmured,

"Ethan's such a good guy. The difference between the two is glaring."

The looks thrown my way grew even more contemptuous.

Then, Amber spun both wheels at once.

The world blurred.

I heard Chloe's panicked and concerned voice.

"Stop Ethan's wheel! He can't handle the dizziness!"

Amber cackled.

"I knew it! Chloe would pick Ethan!"

"So this one," she pointed at me, "becomes the pointer! He should thank me! Useless as he is, at least I made him useful!"

The game caught everyone's interest.

People took turns spinning the wheel.

Round and round I went until I was dizzy and nauseous.

When it finally stopped, I was upside down.

Blood rushed to my head.

Just as I was about to pass out, I heard Chloe say,

"Enough. Let him down."

The moment my feet touched the ground, I collapsed, unable to get up.

My embarrassment amused everyone, and they burst into roaring laughter.

A pair of high heels stopped in front of me.

Chloe. She held some ointment, looking almost...

concerned.

That's when I noticed the raw, bleeding skin on my wrists and ankles from the ropes.

She knelt down, showing a rare act of mercy, and applied the ointment herself.

"Don't blame Amber. She just wanted some fun."

"And don't get the wrong idea. I didn't save you because... well, Ethan has his photography career. If he got hurt, especially his head... it wouldn't be good. But you..."

She stopped.

But I knew exactly what she meant I had no career, no passion or no use.

So, getting hurt didn't matter.

Maybe because I'd already given up on Chloe, hearing this didn't even sting.

I pulled the divorce papers from my jacket and said calmly,

"You said if I brought the papers, you'd sign immediately."

"I'm taking nothing. You won't lose out."

Seeing the papers were real, Chloe's face changed instantly.

Her dark, clear eyes widened in shock.

After a long moment, she snatched the papers, tore them to shreds, and threw them in my face.

"A useless lump like you? You think you could survive without me? Tyler Reed, forget about divorce! It's never happening!"