Khloe answered with an even, unhurried tone, "Yeah, I know you."

A quiet beat stretched. "So who am I, then?" James murmured, leaning in just enough to test her.

"My husband."

When those two soft words left her mouth, something in James's face jolted. A startled twitch tugged at his lips, cracking his usual swagger. "You… you know?" he muttered, baffled.

He hadn't spoken a word during the entire registration process. How on earth could she possibly tell? Was she not blind after all?

To test her, he shot a hand forward, knuckles tightening as he threw a sudden feint toward her cheek—quick and sharp, like he wanted to watch her flinch.

Khloe didn't so much as sway. Not a blink, not a twitch.

He drew his hand back slowly, a deep crease cutting across his brow. She genuinely couldn't see a thing—she didn't give the slightest response.

Khloe lifted her white cane and eased forward, her steps deliberate and calm.

A moment later, the tip of her cane hit something unyielding—a broad hand stopping it mid-air, followed by the solid press of a hard chest blocking her path like a wall. "You figured it out," James noted, his voice low. "And you still signed anyway?"

Khloe's lips curved, the meek, pliant softness she'd worn all morning dissolving in an instant. A cool, distant elegance settled over her, shifting her entire presence as if she'd slipped into another skin.

"Because I'm blind."

The corner of James's mouth twitched, a faint pull of disbelief. Was she teasing him… or cursing her own fate?

With steady steps, Khloe slipped around James and carried on down the path.

She made it only a few paces before slowing to a stop. With a subtle turn of her head, she looked back, offering him a sweet, serene smile.

The expression unfurled like a sudden blossom—so bright and soft that James froze, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth of it.

"I'd like to extend a warm invitation to my wedding," she said, her tone almost breezy.

His breath caught as the meaning clicked into place. She was referring to the Barnett family's grand ceremony—her so-called wedding to Leo. Was she out of her mind?

He stood there, absorbing the audacity of it—this blind, delicate-looking woman inviting her own husband to watch her marry someone else?

When his gaze swept over her, he caught the quiet depth in her unfocused eyes, a darkness as calm and vast as open water.

"Are you coming or not?" Khloe pressed, her head tilted just slightly, as if she could sense his hesitation.

A slow, crooked grin tugged at his mouth. "Yeah," he murmured, voice low with amusement. "Count me in."

——

Khloe slipped out of the car beside Leo, her heels clicking softly as they crossed into the Barnetts' estate.

Inside the reception hall, waves of chatter rolled through a space already swollen with guests—nearly every influential figure in Oranbu had made an appearance.

The moment Khloe crossed the threshold, Paula Norris, her stepmother, swept forward first, smile stretched wide, with Elsie gliding in right beside her.

"Ah, Khloe, there you are. So? Did you and Leo get all the forms done?" Paula posed the question with an overly sunny smile, her silk dress swaying around her.

No one in that room wanted the wedding to collapse more desperately than Paula.

Back when Khloe was only five, her father, Benny Norris, had carried her through the front door like a secret finally exposed. Paula pretended to welcome the illegitimate child with gracious smiles, but once the guests were gone and the lights dimmed, she unleashed her fury—slaps, insults, and cold neglect behind every closed door.

Meals were a luxury Khloe rarely tasted in that house. Most days, she went hungry, bruises blooming along her thin arms as she slept on a dusty cot in the attic.

Elsie, meanwhile, lived an entirely different life. Paula groomed her daughter to become the perfect young socialite.

Khloe survived only three years under that roof before Benny died unexpectedly. Paula declared the little Khloe a curse and dumped her in an isolated rural orphanage, leaving her to fend for herself without a backward glance.

With Benny gone, the Norris family business spiraled downhill. Desperate to regain status, Paula threw all her ambition into marrying Elsie into the powerful Barnett family.

But fate turned cruel—at least for Paula—when Khloe suddenly reappeared and stole that coveted spot right out from under Elsie. It was a humiliation Paula could never swallow.

So now, when Paula pressed her with that pointed question, Khloe didn't falter. She lifted her chin and replied, "It's done."

Elsie lunged forward, fingers eager and trembling. "Do let me see!"

"No problem." Khloe slipped the clerk's copy from her bag and offered it to them with calm, unhurried hands.

Paula and Elsie bent over the page, their eyes darting straight to the names—Khloe paired with the notorious James. A ripple of smug delight lit their faces.

"Congratulations. Looks like luck's definitely on your side," Paula murmured, giving her shoulder a light, almost performative pat before passing the document back.

Neither one of them bothered masking the glee twisting at their lips. Why would they? Khloe couldn't see any of it anyway.

Khloe folded the paper neatly and tucked it away. "Elsie, grab my wedding dress for me. I'd rather not keep the ceremony waiting."

"Sure thing. I'll bring it over right now." Still intoxicated by the fantasy of becoming Leo's wife in a matter of hours, Elsie hurried off, blissfully unaware that the victory she savored was never going to be hers.

A moment later, Jared and Corrine came over.

"Kiki, how come you're not dressed yet? Leo already headed off to get ready," Jared urged gently, his tone warm as always. He'd never hidden the soft spot he had for Khloe.

"My sister went to grab the dress for me. I'll change in a moment," Khloe answered with quiet courtesy.

Inside the dressing room, Elsie located the garment bag. When she unzipped it, her breath stalled. Gone was the soft pink bridesmaid dress she'd seen last night. In its place hung a lavish white wedding gown—intricate beading, sweeping fabric, and unmistakably bridal weight.

Color drained from her cheeks. Why was it a white wedding gown? Corrine had definitely prepared a pink one for Khloe yesterday. Still… who cared? No matter how elegant her wedding dress was, Khloe would never got to be Leo's bride in it. That role, in Elsie's mind, was hers to claim.

Elsie strode back with the gown clutched to her chest, moving straight toward Khloe with an eager bounce in her step.

Jared, Corrine, and Paula lingered close, trading the kind of polished pleasantries only soon-to-be in-laws could muster.

Elsie hurried the last few steps. "Khloe, your dress is here. You should get changed now."

Khloe lifted a hand, fingertips brushing the fabric lightly before closing around it. She raised the gown and gave it a delicate shake.

A cascade of white shimmered—rhinestones catching the light—until the movement revealed jagged slits and torn seams, scattered across the skirt like claw marks.

Elsie went rigid, eyes blown wide.

She could've sworn the dress had been perfect when she'd picked it up.

Jared's temper snapped instantly. "What happened to this?" he barked, fury sharpening his words as his glare pinned Elsie in place.

"I-I don't know," Elsie sputtered, her face draining of color. "I just got it from the dressing room!"

Khloe's brows knitted, a faint crease forming above her delicate features as bewilderment washed over her face. "Mr. Barnett... did something happen to my gown?" she asked, her voice small but steady.

Corrine's eyes sharpened, catching the entire ploy instantly. With a tight smile, she hooked her fingers around Jared's arm. "Let's not make a scene," she murmured, giving his arm a subtle tug meant to rein him in. "There are too many people watching. We still have the spare dress—I'll have someone bring it over. The ceremony will go on."

Her gaze sliced toward Khloe, cool and assessing. Fortunately, she'd secured a duplicate pink dress so nothing could slip out of her control. A blind woman daring to be part of the Barnett family? Corrine intended to make sure every step of Khloe's humiliation unfolded perfectly.

"Well, what on earth are you standing around for?" Jared barked, his deep voice ringing with the practiced command of a man who'd led boardrooms and households alike.

A staff member hurried off to fetch the spare gown, leaving Corrine and Paula circling Khloe with soft, sugary voices, pretending to calm her while carefully steering the moment back under control.

Khloe hadn't meant to start a full-blown scene—she'd only intended to rattle Elsie a bit—but the storm she sparked looked ready to be patched over with practiced ease.

Right then, Leo strolled into the hall in a crisp black suit, nodding politely as he greeted the guests drifting past him.

Corrine's face brightened the instant she spotted her tall, impeccably groomed son. She swept toward him and pulled him over to Jared with barely contained pride. "Jared, doesn't our son look incredibly sharp today?" she remarked, almost glowing as she presented Leo like a prize.

Jared gave Leo, his dutiful, well-mannered son, a quick once-over. Compliments never came easily to him, so all he offered was a low, approving grunt.

Corrine, satisfied that most of the important guests had arrived, brightened and tapped Leo's shoulder lightly. "Go ahead and let your dad see the document you and Khloe picked up."

Khloe tipped her chin down, a thin, icy curve touching her lips. So they'd finally arrived at this moment.

Leo's gaze slid toward Elsie beside Khloe. Her eyes glimmered with a subtle red tint, the fallout from the ruined dress still weighing on her.

He'd find a way to soothe her later.

Pulling his attention away, Leo steadied his tone and addressed Jared with practiced ease. "Dad, I already tucked mine away. Khloe still has her copy—she can show you."

The document he'd secured earlier at the clerk's office had been passed to Elsie to entertain her.

Every head shifted toward Khloe.

Paula and Elsie traded a sharp, knowing look, their mouths pressed thin as barely contained excitement shimmered in their eyes. What a show this would be.

Khloe was moments away from being torn apart in front of the entire wedding party—ridiculed, humiliated, maybe even tossed out by Jared himself.

With a steady breath, Khloe slipped a hand into her handbag and produced a paper. She offered it to Jared with quiet composure.

"Here you go, Mr. Barnett."

While no one paid attention, Leo eased himself closer to Elsie, hovering at her side as if he were seconds away from proudly announcing their relationship.

Jared unfolded the document—and his entire demeanor shifted in an instant. A harsh shadow swept over his face, his features tightening as if struck by a sudden, violent storm.

"Khloe," he snapped, his tone slicing through the hum of conversation. "Why in the world are you married to James Elliott?" He hurled the paper back toward Khloe, the sharp crack reverberating across the hall.

Heads turned immediately, curiosity flaring as guests drifted closer, eager for the scandal about to erupt.

Khloe stayed rooted to the spot, her fingers absently tracing the sting on her cheek.

At the far edge of the crowd, James sprawled across the couch, looking half-asleep as he scrolled through his phone. His posture only shifted when he caught sight of Khloe ringed by onlookers and mocked for everyone to see. A strange ache crept through him.

That was his name printed next to hers on that piece of paper, after all. To watch her treated like a joke—it was enough to make him bristle.

He moved to rise from the couch.

But before he could, the sound of Khloe's exaggerated sobs hit him, cutting straight through the noise of the hall. What was she doing now? Was it really that painful?

With tears pouring down her cheeks, Khloe's voice broke apart as she cried, "I didn't know anything! Leo brought me to the clerk's office. I couldn't see—I had no idea who I was signing for!"

Elsie pounced on the moment, fanning the flames. "Khloe, could it be that you've fallen for someone else and cooked up this whole mess to spite Leo?"

Paula stepped in, voice dripping with artificial comfort. "Now, now, let's not jump to conclusions. There's probably been some silly mistake at the office."

Khloe's lips curled up in a silent sneer. What a show—mother and daughter playing both sides just to paint her as the villain.

Jared turned to Leo, his face hard as stone. "You want to explain yourself? You went with her to get the paperwork done. How does the wrong name end up on the document?"

Leo's expression never faltered. He had planned to blow this secret wide open at the wedding anyway.

"Dad, I switched the names myself. She had no clue. The truth is, I never wanted to marry her. I have my own goals, my own future ahead of me. Why should I get stuck with someone who can't even see? She's just holding me back. It made sense to let James Elliott have her. It's not like she's missing out on anything."

For a moment, Jared just stared at his son, struggling to understand how anyone could be so cold.

"That's enough. Keep quiet," he snapped, his tone rough and unsteady.

Leo squared his shoulders, refusing to back down for Elsie's sake.

"No, I won't stay quiet. I'm in love with Elsie and I'm marrying her today. Khloe is now married to James—there's no changing it now."

No one could deny it. The trap had snapped shut, and nothing would undo what had been set in motion.

Out of nowhere, Jared's hand shot forward and struck Leo hard across the face.

The sound of the slap rang out, slicing through the chatter and leaving everyone stunned.

Corrine rushed to his side, grabbing his arm. "Please, don't work yourself up. Think about your blood pressure! It's over and done with now. We need to move on. Khloe will come around. Honestly, the Elliotts are hardly a step down, don't you agree, Khloe?"

But Khloe pressed her palms over her ears, shaking her head and letting out an even louder wail, refusing to listen or be silenced.

Her cries grew more dramatic with each breath, and if they wanted a scandal, she'd give them the performance of a lifetime. She refused to ignore what happened.

Cameras flashed from every angle as the photographers captured every second of chaos. What started as the year's most talked-about wedding had turned into a disaster for the morning papers.

Guests flocked around the Barnett family, voices lowered in urgent whispers as gossip and rumors swirled.

"You're unbelievable!" Jared roared, shaking so hard his fists curled at his sides. "Do you even remember why I fought so hard for you to marry her?"

Leo stared at him, his face burning where Jared had hit him. "What else could it be? Because she saved me once? Fine. I'll give her my corneas if that's what this is about. Does she even want them?"

Khloe's voice cut through the noise, clear and sharp. "I want them. If you and my sister want your happy ending, you can have it. But your corneas? Yes, I'll take them. I think that's only fair," she said, her words broken by a sniff.

Leo's mouth dropped open in shock. Who would have thought Khloe could stand her ground like this?

Off in a shadowed corner, James watched it all unfold, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. The tip glowed for a moment before smoke drifted across his face.

He couldn't help but smirk at her sudden transformation. "Now that's how you steal the spotlight."

His assistant complained, clearly annoyed, "Sir, you and Leo Barnett have been fighting since the day you could walk. And now look at this. You somehow ended up with the woman he refused to marry. She can't even see. What could someone like her possibly offer? She's nothing but extra baggage."

James only lifted a shoulder, his voice smooth. "Gold sometimes comes wrapped in the things everyone else throws away."

Jared's temper burst without warning. He swung his leg and kicked Leo hard enough to knock him flat. "You fool!"

"Jared, have you lost your mind?" Corrine let out a cry and rushed to help her son, her hands shaking as she touched his arm.

Jared's glare swept over the both of them before he faced Khloe, and the anger on his face gave way to an unexpected sincerity. "Khloe, our family has wronged you. I'll see to it that this mess is corrected. No matter how chaotic things look right now, you'll be Leo's wife. Once everything settles, would you consider handing me the formula for Illusia?"

Leo jerked upright, stunned into silence.

Illusia—the perfume that could blur reality and leave the mind floating. The Barnett Group had poured years and a fortune into that research, all without producing a single successful batch.

How could she be the one holding the key?

Perfume had built their empire. It was the heart of Jared's life's work. And Leo had tossed away a treasure without even knowing.

Khloe lifted her chin slightly. "I don't want to stand in the way of what your son feels for my sister. They belong together."

Another breath passed before she added, her tone turning cold and steady, "I'm willing to give you the formula. But I want something in return."

Jared answered her instantly, "Tell me what you want. Whatever it is, I'll agree."

Khloe spoke softly, yet every word cut clean through the air. "I want my sight back."

The room froze. Leo felt the blood drain from his face as he stared at his father. "Dad... I'm your son!"