After My Husband's Affair, I Made Him Go Blind

Ethan Rivers had been colorblind since childhood, seeing the world only in shades of black and white.

And me, Scarlett Rossi, living under his family's roof? I was the only splash of color he could see.

Growing up, he'd always say to me, Scarlett, you're the only color in my monochrome world. I'd guard that with my life.

But then, someone else entered Ethan's world, glowing with color just like me. After that, I wasn't his exception anymore.

When the explosion ripped through the San Francisco warehouse, Ethan threw himself over that girl, shielding her with his body.

Me? I wasn't fast enough. My back was shredded into raw, ruined meat.

Waking up from surgery, the first thing I heard was Ethan's cold voice cutting through the haze.

"Twenty years of Scarlett's colors? I'm sick of the sight of them. With someone new lighting up my world, who has time for her?"

My barely open eyes snapped shut. My heart turned to ice in my chest.

Fine. If that's how he felt... it wasn't just the Rivers family my family owed a debt to. I'd fulfilled my father's promise.

If he didn't want to see me? Then let him drown in darkness forever!

...

The agony from the explosion was relentless. Even with the morphine drip, my back burned like hellfire.

I fluttered my eyes open, only to be greeted by those words.

"Twenty years of Scarlett's colors? I'm sick of the sight of them. With someone new lighting up my world, who the hell cares about her?"

Ethan finished speaking, placing a cool cloth on my forehead, but his tone was pure irritation.

"Since we were kids, Scarlett only ever wore red, yellow, purple... it was blinding. I couldn't understand why I couldn't see anyone else!"

His mother, Eleanor Rivers, chimed in, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Well, now you can, can't you? That little thing, Vivian. Too bad we don't know why she lights up for you. If we did, maybe we could cure your eyes for good."

My fingers curled into the sheets.

Vivian.

Ethan's second exception.

She'd appeared in his life six months ago. I still remembered the look on his face when he first saw her.

A mix of shock, wonder, and pure delight. Compared to the bored indifference he usually showed me?

That look was a knife straight to my heart.

Hearing Eleanor, Ethan's voice softened instantly.

"Yeah, Viv's... different. Thank God for her. Saved me from wasting my whole life trapped with Scarlett."

My throat felt like sandpaper.

Back when we were kids, he'd stand before me, smiling, bending down to gently ruffle my hair.

"You're the most special thing in my world, Scarlett," he'd say, pulling me into a tight hug. "Promise me you'll never leave? Don't let my world go black and white."

Back then, tucked safe in his arms, breathing in his clean, grassy scent, I'd nod solemnly.

"Never! We'll be together forever!"

Now...

Just... wasted time.

I opened my eyes fully. Ethan hadn't had time to hide the annoyance in his gaze.

"You're awake," he said quickly, stepping closer, checking my temperature. "Still a bit feverish. How's the pain? Your back?"

I stayed silent, just watching him. Disgusted, yet forcing himself to be kind.

Probably just because of what I used to be. I felt a bitter laugh bubble up inside, my eyes turning cold.

Ethan frowned slightly when I didn't answer.

"What now?" He straightened up, his gaze flat. "Mad because I didn't save you? Scarlett, you're not the only color in my world anymore. Viv is too. She was closer to the blast. I had to save her. Be reasonable."

My fingers tightened again. The coldness inside me spread. "The only color..."

I studied his face, really looked at him. A decision hardened within me.

The Rivers ancestors had messed up big time. Their descendants were cursed, most unable to see the world's true colors.

Until the Rossi bloodline came along.

Our blood countered their curse.

Twenty years ago, old Mr. Rivers saved my grandfather's life.

To repay that debt, I was sent to the Rivers family. To be Ethan's special one.

As long as I stayed near Ethan, he could see the colors I wore.

Just then, the hospital room door swung open.

A girl's bright, chirpy voice filled the space.

"Ethan Rivers! You are never doing that again! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Her words scolded, but her tone was pure flirtation, a playful scold.

Ethan glanced at me, hesitated for a split second, then pulled Vivian into his arms.

"Hey, you're special to me. Who else was I gonna save?"

Vivian paused, looking at me with fake concern. "But... Scarlett?"

Ethan pressed his lips together.

"Just some burns. Morphine takes the edge off. She won't blame you." He shot me a warning look, daring me to upset his precious Vivian.

The morphine had long worn off. The searing pain was a constant, gnawing torment.

Combined with Ethan's coldness, it left me freezing in the middle of July.

"Get some rest," he said, avoiding my eyes. "I had your things moved to the guest house. Viv will take your room in the main house. Try not to hang around there too much, okay?"

I managed a twisted smile. "Whatever."

My coldness threw him. He wasn't used to it.

He started to say something, but Vivian tugged his arm, pulling him away.

As she left, she glanced back, lips curving into a smirk. You lost.

When the room was silent again, I finally relaxed.

I called my grandfather.

Told him I was leaving.

Twenty years was long enough to repay a debt.

He sounded surprised. "But Ethan? I thought you loved him?"

A cold laugh escaped me. The pain in my back was a relentless reminder.

"Him? Let him drown in darkness forever. If he doesn't want to see me, then he shouldn't see anything!"

Grandfather was shocked. He knew how I felt about Ethan.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have let me stay with the Rivers family all these years just for a debt.

"Did he... did he do something to hurt you?"

I felt a wave of confusion.

Strictly speaking, he'd never actually promised to marry me.

It was just those intimate nights, him holding me, whispering with fake tenderness,

"Scarlett, don't leave me. Stay with me forever."

That made me believe he truly loved me.

Vivian's appearance shattered that illusion. He just loved the light, the color. Whoever brought it.

It could be me. It could be anyone else.

Disgusting.

"Nothing important. I'll be home in a week."

I didn't tell him about my injuries. The doctor said the bandages would come off in a week.

Hanging up, I thought back to when I first arrived at the Rivers estate.

He was ten.

I was six.

He had the servants who bullied me thrown out and beaten severely, swearing to me,

"Little Scarlett, I'll protect you forever. This is your home now. I'll always be with you."

Now, I couldn't bear to think how much of those passionate vows were love for me, and how much was just selfish desire for the color I brought to his world.

That evening, fresh bandages on, the door opened again.

"Scarlett," Ethan approached, frowning. "My eyes..."

I stayed silent. He must have noticed something.

Ethan swallowed his questions, clear irritation on his face.

After leaving this morning, he had noticed the color around Vivian in his vision beginning to fade.

Blinking hard, they'd snap back. But the panic lingered.

Sitting on the bed, I sneered inwardly.

He thought Vivian was special. But during the explosion, I remembered something. Six months ago, I'd donated blood at a crash site. The recipient was Vivian.

That's why Ethan could see her color. But it wasn't permanent.

He didn't press further, just shot me an irritated look and changed the subject.

"That explosion... I shielded her, but Viv still got burned around her waist. Badly. She needs skin grafts to heal properly."

My body went rigid.

"So?"

Maybe my stare was too raw. Ethan flinched, looking away.

It took him a moment to speak.

"So... you'll donate skin from your waist for her grafts. Your blood types match. And..."

He swallowed hard. "Your back is already ruined. What's a little more skin, right?"

I actually laughed. It felt absurd. And the last shred of love I had for him vanished.

"Ethan Rivers, are you out of your damn mind?" My voice was ice. "Donate my skin? To her? Who the hell does she think she is!"

Ethan wasn't used to this defiance. "Scarlett Rossi, remember your place! You're just an orphan the Rivers family took in! Viv is the future Mrs. Rivers! It's your duty to provide for her!"

My breath hitched. Ethan didn't know my true background or why I was really there. He thought I had no backing.

Mrs. Rivers...

I whispered the words. In my mind, the boy Ethan surfaced again.

On his eighteenth birthday, he gave me a bracelet.

"This belongs to the future Mrs. Rivers." He looked down, his hair ruffled by the wind, effortlessly stealing my heart. He said,

"I'm giving it to you, Scarlett. You're mine now."

Snapping back to reality, I touched the bracelet I'd worn for years.

I looked deep into his eyes, then slowly slid it off my wrist. Under his shocked gaze, I threw it in his face.

"Ethan Rivers, get the hell out."

"Scarlett!"

The sting on his cheek made Ethan's face darken.

Anger mixed with an inexplicable frustration.

"Don't think I'll tolerate you forever! Get this straight! My world isn't monochrome just because of you anymore! You're not that special! You're not unique!"

I watched his outburst calmly. Finally, I spoke.

"Finished? Good. Now get out. And from now on, we're done."

He froze mid-step, turning back, disbelief written all over his face.

His chest heaved, anger making his eyes redden.

"Fine! You said it!" He spun around, giving me a cold sneer. "If we're nothing, then you're just a Rivers servant! Servants donate skin to the lady of the house. That's how it works!"

"Guards!"

My eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"

Ethan barked orders at the three black-suited men who rushed in.

"Restrain Scarlett Rossi! Take her straight to OR. Prep for skin graft surgery. Now!"

"You're insane!" Seeing the guards advance, I struggled to get up and slapped him hard across the face. "Ethan Rivers, you bastard!"

He licked his split lip, closing his eyes briefly. "Do it!"

With my injured back, I was no match for three grown men. I could only watch as they tied my wrists and ankles.

Just as Ethan reached the door, I locked eyes with him, burning with intensity.

"Ethan Rivers, remember this. From now on, we're enemies!"

His hand froze on the doorknob. He paused.

"You brought this on yourself, Scarlett. I told you. I can spoil you, but you don't get to defy me!"

After Ethan left, I was rushed to the OR.

As the anesthetic flooded my veins, the image of the gentle boy surfaced again.

"Don't be scared, little Scarlett! I will always protect you!"

When I woke again, it was pitch black outside.

Besides the agony in my back, a new, sharp pain radiated from my waist.

I closed my eyes, feeling utterly parched.

My phone buzzed. I picked it up.

"Mr. Sinclair. What do you want?"

The voice on the other end paused. "Scarlett? Are you okay? You sound..."

My nose stung. Even an outsider could tell, yet Ethan could be so cruel.

"Fine. What is it?"

He got straight to the point. "The same thing I've asked a hundred times, Scarlett. I need you. I need you here with me."

Back when I loved Ethan, I always refused instantly.

Now...

"Do one thing for me."

He didn't hesitate. "Anything. Name it."

A moment later, I hung up. A strange sense of relief washed over me.

"Who were you talking to?"

Ethan walked in but avoided my overly cold eyes

He stepped closer, offering painkillers, his voice softer now.

"Look, this is over, okay? You can still stay by my side. Just... stay away from Viv."

I snorted. Where did he get this arrogance?

"Ethan Rivers, you think way too highly of yourself. What makes you think I'd ever want to be near you again?"

The question threw him. In his world, me leaving or not loving him wasn't an option.

"Stop being dramatic. I know you won't leave. Besides, where would you go? You've got no one."

With that, he turned and left.

I laughed, the sound full of scorn.

Thinking about what Mr. Sinclair had promised, imagining Ethan's future misery, a dark anticipation stirred.

But I never imagined Ethan would go this far for Vivian!