The Blind Heir's True Love, Revealed

During my broke years, I impersonated my sister to take care of her blind fianc for fifty grand. The day he regained his sight, I vanished. We met again at a business interview. I was a nobody intern reporter, while he, restored to his former glory, was the powerful young heir of the Hayes family. He was being interviewed: "We heard that during your illness, you were indebted to your fiance, Ms. Chloe Williams, for her unwavering support. Are you two getting married soon?" He smirked, raising his hand to reveal a ring: "Yes, Chloe and I are getting engaged." Yet, his gaze, through his glasses, drifted towards me in the corner.

...

Before the interview, the room buzzed with gossip. "The young heir being interviewed today is the head of the entire Hayes empire." "I heard five years ago he went blind and was kicked out of the family. If it weren't for his fiances constant care, hed probably be dead." "Shh, keep it downD"

I sat to the side, forcing a smile, my nails digging into my palms. Suddenly, Mark, the senior reporter mentoring me, turned: "Hey, Anna, grab me some water, will ya?"

Id just reached the water cooler by the door when it swung open. A familiar figure filled my vision, my mind blanking. Three years had transformed Ethan Hayes drastically. The once-thin teenager was now tall and imposing, his features sharper. His once-cloudy eyes were now cold and clear.

"Excuse me," he said flatly, his gaze sweeping past me like I was a stranger. He walked onstage, flanked by bodyguards. As he passed, a crisp, woody scent lingered.

I froze, then it hit me. The two years Id spent with him were Ethans darkest. Exiled and blinded by a car accident, of course he wouldn't recognize me. ...Good.

By the time I returned with the water, the interview had begun. Ethan sat onstage, fingers steepled, calmly surveying the room, answering business questions. Suddenly, the side door opened. Chloe Williams entered, smiling at Ethan: "Sorry, Ethan, darling. There was a hold-up on set. I'm late."

She glided to the seat beside him, her champagne gown shimmering. The room hushed, then buzzed with excitement. Mark, sipping his water, looked at me like hed made a discovery: "Hey Anna, you and Chloe Williams you kinda look alike."

I forced a laugh. "She's a movie star, Mark. You're too kind."

Of course we looked alike. We were sisters.

"We heard that during your illness, you were indebted to Ms. Williams for her unwavering support. Are you two getting married soon?"

My throat tightened as I watched Ethan. He smirked, revealing a plain silver ring on his left ring finger ?C the one I'd bought him years ago to cheer him up. It looked out of place on the wealthy heir, yet he traced it with his finger as if oblivious. "Yes, Chloe and I are getting engaged." He said, his gaze sweeping across the audience, lingering on me for a fleeting moment before moving on.

The microphone was passed to Chloe. "Ms. Williams, we hear you're currently filming Director Lucass movie. He rarely casts new actors. Did Mr. Hayes have any influence?"

She smiled, admitting, "Of course. I'm confident in my abilities, but I won't deny Ethan's support. And I absolutely deserve it." Her self-assuredness earned the crowd's approval.

Someone asked, "Could you share any stories of how you and Mr. Hayes supported each other during his difficult time?"

Chloe's smile faltered. In the awkward silence, time seemed to slow. Finally, Ethan chuckled, taking the microphone. "Nothing much to tell. Our memories are for us to keep."

Tears pricked my eyes. I gripped my pen, looking down. Closing my eyes brought back memories. During his downfall, people had harassed Ethan. Once, protecting him, I was shoved down some stairs, bleeding. The attackers ran. I got up, pretending nothing happened, and returned to his side. "Let's go home."

Ethan grabbed my hand. "You're hurt. We're going to the hospital."

"I'm fineD"

"I smell blood!" His voice rose, tears spilling from his cloudy eyes like dust-covered stars. He pulled me close, his thin arms tight. He spoke, but called me by my sisters name: "Chloe. When I recover, Ill give you the grandest wedding in the world.

After the interview, the sky darkened, a fine rain falling. Mark patted his pockets. "Anna, I left my memory card inside. Grab it for me, would ya?"

I hurried back inside, my shoes squelching on the wet floor. The elevator reached the first floor. The doors opened, and I bumped into Ethan and Chloe. Chloe was talking to Ethan about filming, and he, despite his aloof expression, listened patiently. They looked intimate.

Seeing me, Chloe's face hardened. "...Sorry," I mumbled, turning to take the stairs.

"Stop," Ethan said. I froze. "Aren't you taking the elevator? Go ahead."

I slowly turned, lowering my voice. "Thank you, Mr. Hayes."

He told me to use the elevator, yet blocked the way, staring. "You were a reporter at the interview? I didn't hear any questions from you."

I lowered my gaze. "Mr. Hayes, I just graduated and returned to the States. Im an intern. I don't have the privilege to ask questions."

"I see." He replied flatly, lost in thought.

Chloe glared at me. "Let's go, Ethan. Were meeting Director Lucas and the others tonight."

Ethan finally looked away. "Let's go."

Alone in the elevator, I was lost in thought. After my parents' divorce, my dad took Chloe and became Mr. Williams, marrying into her mother's family. I hadn't seen Chloe since I could remember. Five years ago, shed suddenly contacted me. "Ill give you $50,000 to pretend to be me and take care of someone." My mom had just passed, leaving a mountain of debt. I had no choice but to agree.

I later learned the "someone" was Ethan Hayes, her fianc who'd had his accident shortly after their engagement. "A blind guy, a discarded heir whod want to take care of him?" she scoffed. "If it wasn't for my reputation, I'd have broken it off already." Chloe's acting career was taking off. Afraid of being labeled heartless, shed dumped this burden on me.

Used to a privileged life, Ethan was bitter after the accident. In the beginning, he was constantly sarcastic. I was getting paid, so I didn't argue back. Until one day, I visited my mom's grave and returned late. He lashed out: "Chloe, stop the act! You think I don't know you're disgusted by me? Youre just staying for appearancesD"

He stopped mid-sentence. Id leaned down and kissed him. It was my first kiss, clumsy and angry, more like a bite. Ethan went silent, his ears red. "YouD!" I nipped at his lip again, then pulled back slightly, bracing myself on his shoulders, breathing hard. "Feel that? Still think I'm disgusted?"

I returned to Mark with the memory card. He grinned. "Good work, Anna. Youre quick! Perfect timing ?C there's a dinner tonight. Ill introduce you to some people. Networking is key in this business." I thanked him.

When we arrived, I froze. In the parking lot was a familiar black Rolls Royce. "Mr. Hayes is he here tonight, too?"

Mark winked. "Thats the dinner Im taking you to! Dont underestimate your old pal Marks connections." Too late for regrets. I followed him inside.

Thankfully, the room was huge. Small-time reporters like us weren't even at the same table as Ethan. Mark introduced me to several senior reporters. This is Anna Taylor, our newest recruit. Smart kid. Anna, say hi to everyone. Being the newbie, I had to make the rounds with toasts. By the end, I was dizzy. Muttering an apology, I rushed to the restroom.

I rinsed my mouth, splashed cold water on my face, and stepped out. The hallway lights were dim. A familiar figure stood by the window in the shadows. My heart pounded. I tried to slip past unnoticed.

"Anna. Taylor." Ethans low voice stopped me.

I froze, swallowing hard, hearing his footsteps approach. I closed my eyes. The footsteps stopped in front of me, a familiar scent drawing closer. I opened my eyes to his deep, dark gaze. "...Mr. Hayes." My throat was tight. "How do you know my name?"

He was silent for a moment, then straightened. "Your mentor was introducing you while you were making toasts. The whole room knows your name." Thinking of Marks booming voice, I blushed. "I'm sorry. He's very enthusiastic. If we disturbed you, Mr. Hayes, I apologize." I stammered, afraid of getting Mark in trouble.

Ethan remained silent, studying me with a faint smile. "Do you think I'm someone who holds grudges, Ms. Taylor?"

I mumbled, "That's not what I meant."

A gold-embossed business card was offered. "You're still an intern, right? Interested in a job opportunity?"

I returned to my apartment, still lightheaded. Mark grabbed me. "You okay, Anna?" I rubbed my stomach. "Sorry, Mark. I had surgery on my stomach a while back. I cant handle much alcohol." He frowned, then noticed the business card. His eyes widened. "Is that Mr. Hayess personal card?!"

I nodded, remembering the encounter. It was the legendary, almost mythical, direct line to Ethan Hayes himself. Uneasy, I asked, "Why would Mr. Hayes give such a valuable opportunity to a nobody reporter like me?"

Hed smirked. "Maybe... he likes you." That sounded like Ethan. As we grew closer, hed show his rebellious side especially in certain moments. I'd grit my teeth, stifling moans, tugging his hair. "...You can't see, stop moving." In the dim light, hed tilt his head, his soft bangs brushing his unfocused eyes. Hed lick his lips, his fingers tightening around my neck. "Everywhere else is fine. So, be louder. Let me hear you."

I snapped back, making up an excuse for Mark.

The next day, my boss called me in. "Anna, we need you on that popular live relationship talk show as a guest commentator. Prepare yourself." Later, I found out the next episode's guests were Ethan and Chloe. Their engagement had been trending since the interview, a publicity stunt for the show. Fans were going crazy online. "Overcoming hardship together, now reaching the peak of success. True love!" "Apparently, the Williams family business was dying, but with Hayes Corps support, its thriving again. "Power couple! Must ship!" I skimmed through it, closing the comments.

Daisy, the host, was reviewing the script, chatting with me. "If we can dig up the story of Mr. Hayes and his fiance during those two years, the ratings will skyrocket." I gripped my pen, quietly agreeing. I knew every detail of those two years, but I couldn't say a word.

With Hayes's resources, Chloe was now an A-list actress. The livestream began, millions tuning in. Under the spotlight, Daisy began: "We hear wedding bells are ringing for you and Mr. Hayes. Can you share your journey?"

Chloe smiled at Ethan. "I never believed the rumors and accusations against him. Hes always been the one I love." She gazed at him adoringly.

Ethan chuckled. "...Liar. Have you forgotten how much you despised me when I first went blind?" Chloe froze, glancing at me with venom. On camera, she forced a smile. "I dont really remember. I guess as our love grew, I only remember the sweet parts." I glanced at the live comments scrolling by: "So sweet!" filled the screen.

I put down the script, gripping the microphone, addressing Ethan. "It seems you two have differing opinions. Is there more to the story? Perhaps you could share how you two worked through it?" I didn't expect him to answer. But after a pause, he spoke.

"When I first lost my sight, I was depressed, angry at the world, and I didn't like her. She worked long hours, and still took care of me. One day, she was so tired, she left fish stew on the stove, went downstairs to buy salt, and forgot to turn off the heat. By the time she came back, the kitchen was on fire."

My throat tightened. I was back in that moment, the heat of the flames lingering in the air. I dragged Ethan out of the room, grabbed his collar, and slapped him. "Are you trying to die?!" I yelled, my whole body trembling. He didnt fight back. After a long silence, he croaked, "Wouldnt it be better if I died? Wouldnt it be a relief for you?"

In that moment, I realized the once-arrogant Hayes heir was now a broken, insecure puppy. I shoved him into his room. The walls were blackened by the flames. I unbuttoned his shirt. "I missed dinner. You owe me."

He seemed to understand. "Are you sureD"

I silenced him with a kiss. "Ethan, you're not a burden to me."

That night, the world spun, leaving only us.

Now, he recounted this story with Chloe, his supposed soulmate, by his side. The world believed it was their memory. A suffocating sadness bloomed inside me. Ethans familiar yet distant scent enveloped me, overwhelming, yet no longer mine.

He paused, then finished, as the audience applauded, "Ill never forget the moonlight that night. It was bright enough to see everything. I couldnt see, but she talked to me all night. I clutched my pen, looking down, my eyes stinging.

My improvised questions uncovered unknown details, making the interview a huge success. By the end, over ten million were watching. I was the first to unearth the hidden story of the Hayes heir. Everyone was ecstatic. Backstage, Daisy patted my shoulder. "Youre a natural! Those on-the-spot questions were brilliant!" She turned and saw Ethan and Chloe approaching. She went silent.

Ethan's gaze swept over us. "You prepared the questions today?"

I nodded. Chloe said sweetly, "Ms. Taylor, you certainly know how to hit a nerve. But let me remind you about professional ethics. Dont aim for whats out of your league."

I said nothing, looking at Ethan. He remained impassive. "Ms. Taylor is very capable. Shell be our media contact from now on."

Chloes eyes widened with fear and hatred.

She cornered me later, her eyes venomous. "Anna Taylor, you're insatiable. You took my money, and now you're back for what?"

I met her gaze calmly. "I graduated. Im back to work."

"Work? Do you think Im stupid?" She threw her Herms bag at me. "Get lost! Tell him youre giving up the media contact position, or youll regret it!" The bag hit the floor, spilling its contents. I walked away.

Chloe kept her word. Suddenly, I was hitting roadblocks everywhere. Job opportunities vanished. One evening, my boss called me in. "There's a major annual development conference next month. Youll be the host." I stared, then he continued, "Mr. Hayes specifically requested you."

After work, a familiar Rolls Royce waited across the street. The window rolled down, revealing Ethans impassive face. "Ms. Taylor, since youre so curious about my past, why not ask me directly?"

I lowered my head. "I wasn't prying, Mr. Hayes. It was for work."

"Even for work, you have my personal card. You could have contacted me."

I bit my lip. "...It wasnt necessary." I realized this wasnt three years ago. He was the powerful Ethan Hayes, not the insecure boy whod crave my kisses after being scolded.

The Williams family was struggling. Without Ethan's support, Chloe wouldnt dare target me so openly. Perhaps those two years were a shameful memory he wanted buried. I turned to leave.

"Stop." He stepped out of the car, blocking my path. "Ms. Taylor, can we talk?"

I clutched my bag. "What do you want to talk about, Mr. Hayes?"

He smirked. "Work. Is that acceptable?"

Over the next few weeks, Ethan met with me twice to finalize details for the conference. Finally, he handed me a document. "This major tourism project hasn't been announced yet. It's a direct collaboration with the state. You can announce it at the conference as your exclusive scoop." I took it, thanking him.

Mark, hearing about this, urged me, "Mr. Hayes seems to like you. Why not subtly mention Chloe's sabotage?" I edited the script, smiling faintly. "No. Would he really upset his fiance for a random reporter?"

The day of the conference arrived. The venue was packed. Ethan's seat remained empty. Under the spotlight, I announced Hayes Corps upcoming partnerships.

Suddenly, a reporter yelled, "Where did you steal this confidential information?!"

I frowned. "My collaboration with Hayes Corp is entirely legitimate."

"Legitimate? You slept your way to the top! You have the nerve to say that?!" He shouted. "I have proof!"

Chloe walked onstage, staring at me, sighing dramatically. "Anna Taylor, it's understandable you'd be attracted to Ethan. I wanted to spare you, but youre forcing my hand." The screen behind me switched from the presentation to explicit photos... of me. "These are the photos you sent him, you knocking on his hotel room door in a slip at midnight, and security footage of you and your boss checking into a hotel." The screen changed again, showing me entering a hotel with my boss. "Youre a habitual offenderD"

The room erupted. The doors burst open. Ethan strode in, his gaze sweeping across the room, passing over me without stopping. My heart sank. The spotlight glared on me, a public execution. Murmurs filled the room. "Disgusting! A disgrace to journalism!" "She should be fired!"

I stared at Ethan, watching him turn to Chloe. "What did you just say?"

Chloe teared up. "Ethan, youve been tricked! She pretended to be an interviewer to steal confidential information, to harm Hayes Corp. Even this hosting gig she slept her way into it!"

Ethan paused, looking at me. "Do you have anything to say?"

What could I say? I saw the triumph in Chloe's eyes. It was absurd. We were sisters, only two years apart. After our mother died, we should have been each other's only family. I smirked. "I want to say this, Mr. Hayes: Your fiance is lying. I only had professional interactions with you, nothing personalD"

"Nothing personal?" Ethan interrupted. "You gave me a ring. Aren't you going to take responsibility?"