Chapter 4
The table was loaded with amber-colored whiskey. Kelly looked up to Hugh, searching for an answer, but his face stayed unreadable in the dim light.
The silence in the room felt heavy, almost suffocating. Her breath quickened as memories came rushing back.
When Kelly first moved into Johnston Manor, Hugh had been drinking every day, using it to drown out the despair of his blindness. Concerned about his health, she’d tried countless times to get him to stop, but he never listened.
Then one night, Hugh was drunk again. He sneered and shoved a few bottles toward her.
“Now, even the housekeeper’s daughter thinks she can tell me what to do. Have I really sunk this low? Fine. Drink up, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
Kelly wanted to tell him she wasn’t trying to control him and was just concerned about him. But for his sake, she grabbed a bottle and knocked it back in one go, even though she knew she was allergic to alcohol. A few minutes later, she was rushed to the hospital.
When she woke up, Hugh was sitting by her bed, his face full of anger. “I was the one who was drunk, not you! You knew you were allergic. Why would you risk your life like that?”
All Kelly said was, “Because I was worried about you, Mr. Johnston. One day, you’ll get your sight back. And even if you don’t, I’ll stay with you for as long as you need. So please, don’t waste your life like this, okay?”
From that day on, Hugh gave up drinking. For years, there wasn’t a single bottle of alcohol in the house.
Looking back now, Kelly let out a small laugh, though her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. She didn’t say anything more. She reached for the mustard powder nearby and poured it into a glass.
Her voice was firm. “A couple of drinks don’t mean anything. Let me add a little punishment. Will that work?”
Then, she grabbed the glass, tilted her head back, and knocked it back. One glass, then another. The sharp, bitter burn scraped down her throat, clawed at her stomach, and tightened her chest in an unrelenting ache.
By the time she got through the seventh glass, Hugh couldn’t take it anymore. “That’s enough!”
Kelly glanced at the dozen or so glasses left untouched and smiled. “That’s all it takes? So, am I done with the apology now? Have I finally pleased your beloved?”
Hugh shot to his feet, grabbing her wrist. His usual poise disappeared, his face darkening with a stormy expression.
“You know that’s not what I meant! Kel, I’ve told you. I’m done with Natalie. My family disapproves of you marrying into ours. If you keep pulling stunts like this, they’ll use it against you. I’m just trying to keep you out of trouble!”
Hugh’s tone was righteous, even reasonable.
Kelly let out a dry laugh. The Johnstons would never let a housekeeper’s daughter into their family, but would they welcome Natalie, the woman who repaid Hugh’s kindness by walking out on him?
And still, no matter how slim the chances, Hugh married Natalie as long as she said the word, didn’t he? It all came down to one thing. He just didn’t love Kelly enough.
Kelly didn’t bother arguing. She yanked her wrist free and headed for the door. But just as she reached it, her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
“Kel!”
Hugh’s heart twisted. Without thinking twice, he rushed over and lifted her in his arms.
As he turned to go, Natalie grabbed his sleeve, her voice shaky. “Hugh, I feel dizzy.”
He hesitated for a second before walking away. “I’m taking Kel to the hospital. Call Ben to look after you.”
…
Kelly found herself in a hospital when she woke up. Hugh, who hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, exhaled a long breath of relief when she finally opened her eyes.
Their eyes met, and they stayed like that, wordless, for what felt like an eternity. He handed her a glass of water, tucked the blanket around her, and called the doctor in for a checkup. He made sure to hold onto every word the doctor said.
Ben Fawkes, his assistant, had kept bringing up the meetings, but Hugh brushed off every single one.
Kelly noticed Ben hanging anxiously by the door and finally spoke up. “You should go. I’ll be fine. You shouldn’t be the one handling all of this anyway.”
Hugh reached for the knife, but her voice stopped him cold, his hand frozen in midair.
“This is exactly what I should be doing. Don’t you remember, Kel? You did the same for me back then,” he said, his voice steady and slow.
A brief wave of nostalgia flickered in her eyes. Back then, when Hugh lost his sight, the Johnstons had cast him aside like he was nothing.
Only Kelly stayed. She’d learned Braille just to help him, stayed by his side through every lesson, took him outside so he could feel the sun, and cooked delicious meals for him.
It was like she had the moon all to herself. Her world, which used to feel dull, seemed overflowing with light. Those seven years had been the best of her life.
But the moon was never hers to keep. And time couldn’t be turned back.
That evening, the doctor took Kelly in for more tests. About half an hour later, a nurse helped her back to her room.
As she walked in, she saw Hugh holding her phone, his face tight with frustration as he argued with Emilia.
“I’ve already told you. Kel and I are in love. I don’t care about her family or where she’s from, so stop trying to change my mind. I’m marrying her, and she’s not leaving me,” he said.
When Hugh heard the noise, he glanced up at Kelly.
Emilia’s voice came through the phone, sounding confused. “What do you mean she’s not leaving? Don’t you know? Kelly agreed to go abroad a few days ago…”
