Chapter 173: Scheming
Ronan and Helen bolted straight to the hospital. Brad was MIA. Emma froze for a sec when she saw them, then gave a slight nod and said, "Helen, we're square now."
Helen, fighting back tears, grabbed Emma's hand and said, "No way, Emma, we owe you big time."
Emma's shoulders slumped at Helen's words. Sadness poured out of her like a broken dam. "Helen, don't say that."
"Daniel saved Jane's life. He'll pull through."
They clung to each other, eyes red, trying to comfort one another.
A car crash had somehow patched up old wounds, bringing Helen and Emma back together.
This was probably the best thing since the accident.
Daniel was awake. He heard the door creak open and stared at it, not moving an inch.
Those eyes were familiar, but the look was stiff, lifeless, empty. A new scar marked his forehead, and a faint five-finger bruise was on his left cheek. These weren't there yesterday.
He must've woken up after I left and tried to hurt himself again, getting smacked for it. No clue who did it, though.
"Mom, who came?"
Helen wanted to speak, but Emma shook her head slightly, stopping her. Helen respected Emma's wishes and swallowed her words.
"It's just the nurse, checking your IV. What's up? You feeling off?" Emma adjusted his blanket, tucking his hand under it, her touch light and gentle, like Daniel was made of glass.
"It's so dark." He turned his gaze away, staring at the ceiling, lifeless, like he didn't care about anything anymore, breaking hearts all around.
Yeah, a world without light, just darkness.
Without a miracle, his world would stay dark forever.
And it was all my fault. I was the sinner here.
I closed my eyes, picturing a life without ever seeing light again, living in cold darkness. In just five minutes, I felt despair and loneliness.
It was like walking a path with no end, never reaching the finish line, endlessly groping, finding no exit, then being let down over and over, finally withering and dying in despair.
Was this Daniel's future?
I leaned against the wall, feeling drained.
Right then, I wished it was me who got hit by the car, me who lost sight and legs. Bearing all this myself would be better than standing here, powerless with unshakable guilt.
In the end, I owed him.
I never wanted to owe him, but I did, and it was a debt that might never be repaid.
I lowered my head and silently cried.
Daniel, if I could, I'd give you my eyes and legs. Really, I wanted you to be okay.
Helen's eyes welled up, and she covered her mouth, starting to sob quietly.
Suddenly, a spark lit up in Daniel's eyes. He reached out his left hand towards the door.
Emma held his hand and asked, "Daniel, what do you want? Tell me, and I'll get it for you."
"Mom, I want Jane, can I?"
I stumbled, almost face-planting, my body shaking like a leaf in the wind.
It felt like a boulder was crushing my chest, making it hard to breathe, like a barbed hand was ripping my heart apart, leaving it raw and bloody.
The thing I dreaded most since his accident, the thing that kept me up at night, had finally come crashing down!
I suddenly got why Daniel said that to me that morning, sitting on his couch.
That day, he said, "Repay a life-saver with your body."
So, this was his game all along. He'd been waiting for this moment.
The rainy day, the blurry road, the speeding car, Brad sick in the dorm—it all fit perfectly into his long-hidden plan.
Everything was just right.
Me, Brad, our loved ones, even himself, were all pawns in his game.
To get me, Daniel had calculated everything, even risking his own life.
He was using his life to keep me from being with Brad.
Daniel, you cold-hearted bastard!
He wasn't just ruthless to me but even more so to himself.
But all these crazy things he did, risking his life, just for me, the girl he once tossed aside like trash—was it worth it?
"Daniel, what the hell are you talking about?" Brad stormed in just in time to hear this, catching me as I almost fell, and shouted angrily.
"Bro, is Jane here? I can smell her. It's her, right?" Daniel asked softly, like he didn't even hear Brad's outburst.
He made such a ruthless plan for me, and I should hate him.
But seeing him lying there, with empty eyes, useless legs, and as thin as a paper doll, I couldn't bring myself to hate him.
He did scheme against me, did make me suffer again.
But he also really saved me. To save me, he lost his sight and legs. How could I hate him!
Once wanting to love but couldn't, now wanting to hate but still couldn't—such helplessness.
I wanted to speak, but Brad held me tight, his eyes red, saying, "No, Jane has class today."
"You're lying to me. You all think I'm blind and are lying to me. I can smell it. It's Jane, and Helen, Ronan is here too. I know it's them. You're lying to me."
His voice was light, like a feather in the wind, ready to disappear at any moment.
I had a moment of doubt.
Books said that when a person's eyes couldn't see, their other senses got super strong. Like Daniel, he couldn't see light, but his nose was sharp enough to easily tell the different scents on each person.
Was this all true?
I was numbly held by Brad, my heart desolate, my vision dark, even though it was sunny outside, spring having come, I couldn't see the light or feel any warmth.
A voice told me that if Daniel stayed like this, my future would be endless darkness too.
In my life, there might never be light again.
Repay a life-saver with your body!
This was a curse.
Brad tightened his embrace. His tall body stood stiffly. His hug was as warm and comforting as always, yet I still felt overwhelming despair.
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