Broken Vows, True Hearts

When my vision finally returned, I realized the man I had married was actually my boyfriend's younger brother, Hurst Owen.

Meanwhile, Brady Owen, who had promised to end all ties with his ideal love, Betty Kirk, was actually next door with her all along.

That night, I overheard their conversation.

Hurst frowned. "Brady, Della Guzman lost her sight because of you. Do you think that's fair to her?"

Brady replied impatiently, "Just wait another month. Once Betty is taken care of, I'll be back."

"It's been ten years. Aren't you afraid I might genuinely fall in love with Della?"

"Your marriage is fake. Don't entertain thoughts you shouldn't have!"

I silently returned to bed, without revealing to anyone that my sight had returned.

On the twenty-ninth day, I took Hurst to get the marriage certificate.

Honestly, I still wanted to continue being Hurst's wife.

......

The day I regained my vision was in the dead of night.

I woke from a dream, and as I opened my eyes, the once murky darkness transformed into clarity.

But after the initial rush of joy came an overwhelming fear.

The man beside me was breathing evenly, deeply asleep.

Yet he wasn't my husband Brady, but his twin brother, Hurst.

I broke into a cold sweat, blinking hard to see more clearly.

The dim moonlight seeped in, casting shadows on the man's prominent nose.

It was indeed Hurst, whom I had only met once before.

In my panic, I subconsciously shrank back.

The man holding me woke, his touch gentle as he brushed my hair, his voice raspy yet familiar, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

I didn't tell him I could see again.

Instead, I cautiously shook my head and turned over.

"Just woke up from a dream, it's nothing."

He pulled me closer, his firm chest pressing against my back, his voice soothing and soft. "Move in a bit, don't fall off."

This familiar, comforting feeling had enveloped me for the past decade.

Yet now, all that filled my heart was unease and confusion.

How did things end up like this?

Wasn't Hurst supposed to be abroad? Wasn't I married to Brady? How did it come to be him instead?

When did he appear beside me-recently or ten years ago?

The more I pondered, the more fear crept in, robbing me of any desire to sleep.

I wanted to wake him and demand answers but knew he wouldn't tell me the truth.

Once the breathing beside me became steady again, I cautiously slipped out of bed and stepped outside.

The villa's courtyard was still lit, filled with the lilies I adored.

The koi swam energetically in the pond, even in the deep of night.

By the entrance, two peach trees stood tall, ones Brady and I had planted together.

They had grown high enough to blossom and bear fruit now.

Back then, I lost my sight saving him, and he would grant any wish I had.

Anything I liked or wanted, he would provide.

But it took me ten years to finally see it for myself.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from next door. "Brady, are you really going back to Della in a month?"

I froze, my blood ran cold.

It was Betty, Brady's ideal love...

I quietly made my way to the low wall and peeked over, seeing Brady and Betty chatting in the courtyard.

Brady's voice was emotionless. "I promised to stay with you for ten years, and I've fulfilled that."

Seeing him, my breath caught, and I struggled to keep my composure.

My foot shifted, with a sharp "crack", snapping a dried peach branch underfoot.

Brady's gaze shot towards me, cold and piercing.

I straightened, my voice lost and helpless, "How did I end up here?"