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The blind billionaire's fake finance - Chapter 39


Chapter 39

That night, Annie could hardly sleep.
She wasn't used to sharing a bed with another man, so with Finn lying beside her, her heart pounded uncontrollably, as if it had a will of its own. She tried to breathe as lightly as possible, afraid that the rapid rhythm of her heart would somehow disturb Finn, who was sound asleep next to her.
Fear kept her frozen; she didn't dare shift even slightly, only lying stiffly on her back, listening to the steady rise and fall of Finn's breaths. Unlike Annie, he seemed to be resting peacefully-his breathing even, his face relaxed, utterly at ease. In the darkness, she watched him, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, unsure how she could lull herself to sleep.
Suddenly, Finn shifted.
Annie tensed, holding her breath, remaining utterly still.
She hadn't expected him to do more than turn over, but to her shock, he instinctively pulled her into his arms, his hand resting naturally against her back in a gesture far too intimate. Annie's mind went utterly blank.
"Sofia, you're still awake?"
His drowsy, husky, deep voice had a tantalizing allure, making Annie's already tense body stiffen further. With a forced smile, she answered honestly.
"Probably because I'm not used to this bed. I just can't seem to fall asleep."
"Just sleep," Finn murmured, his voice low and soothing.
 "Don't worry about me."
Finn gently rubbed her back, his movements slow and soothing, as if tracing invisible patterns of comfort against her skin. The soft, unhurried motion gradually eased Annie's racing heartbeat, grounding her in the warmth of his embrace.
"It's alright," he murmured. 
"Just relax. Breathe slowly. Everything will be okay."
His low and tender voice lulled her into serenity. With each gentle word, the tension within her melted away. The initial anxiety that had gripped her so tightly faded, leaving behind only a deep, quiet sense of peace.
Finn gazed at the girl nestled in his arms, now fast asleep. A gentle smile curved his lips as he leaned down, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. The warmth in his eyes never wavered.
"Good night, darling. Have a sweet dream."
The next morning, Annie went to work at the restaurant as usual. She moved through her routine with practiced ease, still keeping her distance from Denis, just as she always did.
As her shift was about to end, a message from Hubert popped up on her phone.
"Can we meet this afternoon? I've found a world-renowned specialist for vision treatment."
"He says there's a high chance Finn's eyesight can be restored."
Annie had never paid much attention to Hubert's messages before, dismissing them without a second thought. But this time, it was different.
This was about Finn.
And when it came to Finn, she could never ignore it.
The moment she finished reading the message, her heart wavered.
Even if it was just a sliver of hope, she couldn't bear to let it slip away.
Still, Annie remained cautious.
"You're not lying to me, right? Finn can really be cured?"
Hubert's reply came almost instantly.
"Of course. Why would I lie to you?"
"Let's meet up. I'll take you to see the doctor, and you can hear everything directly from him."
Annie's heart wavered completely.
"Where? What time?"
As soon as she received Hubert's reply, she clenched her phone tightly, trying to suppress the rush of hope and excitement bubbling inside her.
At noon, Annie decided against letting Hubert pick her up. Instead, she called her private driver, who dropped her off at the meeting place-a well-known café with a quiet, private atmosphere, perfect for a serious conversation.
When she stepped inside and glanced around, Hubert waved enthusiastically from his seat.
"Sofia, over here."
Annie showed no particular expression, simply walking over with her usual composure.
"About what you texted me this morning-what's the doctor's name? Does he know Finn's condition? What did he say?"
She fired off her questions in rapid succession, catching Hubert slightly off guard.
He took a slow sip of his cold brew, then looked at her with an easy smile.
"Hey, why the rush? Shouldn't we at least have some small talk first?"
Hubert's playful tone instantly grated on Annie's nerves. She had no intention of engaging in unnecessary conversation with him.
"There's nothing to chat about between us. Don't act so familiar, Hubert."
Her voice was cold, utterly devoid of emotion.
Yet, as always, Hubert remained unfazed. Instead of feeling offended, he simply shrugged, looking entirely at ease.
"Alright, alright, no small talk then. I won't force you. How about this-have a drink with me, sit here for a little while, and then I'll take you to meet the doctor?"
Since Hubert had compromised, Annie gave a small nod. She resigned herself to sitting through the dullest coffee break imaginable, half-listening to Hubert ramble on about his life-none of which she cared about in the slightest.
Finally, when he ran out of pointless things to say, Hubert got up, stretching lazily before motioning for Annie to follow him.
"Alright, let's go. Time to meet the specialist."
Naturally, Hubert was the one driving.
With no other choice, Annie told her driver to head back home for now. She would call him later when she needed a ride back.
At the same time, back at home-
Finn sat leisurely across from Mike, idly twirling a chess piece between his fingers as they played a slow game.
Mike smirked, eyeing him with mild curiosity.
"You've been looking unusually cheerful these days. Got some good news?"
Then, after a pause, he added teasingly, "Or maybe... things are progressing well in your love life?"
Hearing Mike's teasing, Finn did something rare-he smiled. Not just the usual faint curve of his lips, but a real, genuine smile. He even spoke a little more than usual.
"Yeah, there's been some progress. Your plan worked."
"I don't know what you said to Sofia, but she's been paying more attention to me lately."
"Our relationship... it's a little better than before."
Finn admitted truthfully, and Mike couldn't help but grin in satisfaction. It seemed his guess had been right. And his interference-well, it hadn't been in vain.
"That's great news. So... how do you plan to repay me?"
Mike smirked, raising an eyebrow in playful provocation.
Finn was just about to respond when a sudden knock at the door interrupted him.
Knock knock knock!
A hurried voice broke the quiet atmosphere.
"Finn, are you there? May I come in?"
The urgency in the voice was unmistakable, the knocking fast and insistent.
Finn exchanged a glance with Mike, who got up and opened the door.
Thomas, Finn's driver, rushed in, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Finn, I think there's something urgent you need to know."
His tone was laced with unease.
"Earlier, I drove Sofia to a café to meet Hubert. After that, she left with him and told me to head back home first."
"But... on my way back, I couldn't shake off a bad feeling. Something just doesn't seem right."
"So I thought-I should tell you, just in case."
Thomas spoke quickly, laying everything out in one breath.
Finn fell silent, deep in thought, before glancing at Mike.
Mike caught his meaning and signaled for Thomas to leave. Only after the door closed did the two finally feel comfortable discussing the situation.
"The fact that Sofia went to meet Hubert alone is already a bad sign," Mike spoke first, voicing his concerns. "That guy is no saint. If Thomas has a bad feeling, I’d say he’s probably right."
Finn nodded. He thought so too.
No one knew better than him just how ruthless Hubert could be. A man who would do anything to achieve his goals—Hubert was far from trustworthy.
Letting Annie meet him alone? Finn couldn’t shake off his unease.
"So what do we do now? Where do we even start looking for Sofia?"
A rare flicker of uncertainty crossed Finn’s usually composed face.
Thomas had only driven Annie to the café. Where she had gone afterward with Hubert—he had no idea.
Mike let out a frustrated sigh before smacking Finn on the head.
"Are you stupid? Didn’t Sofia set up location tracking on her phone for emergencies?"
"And this isn’t an emergency?"
"What are you waiting for? Check her location right now!"








Chapter 40

At Hubert's house,
Annie followed closely behind him, her face filled with wariness.
"Where is this place? Why did you bring me here?"
She kept a cautious distance from Hubert, her eyes brimming with suspicion. Stopping in her tracks, she waited for his response.
When Hubert turned around, there was nothing but a harmless smile on his face.
"What do you mean? I brought you here to see the renowned eye specialist I mentioned."
He sighed, looking utterly innocent as he gestured toward the upper floor.
"He's waiting for you in my study. Do you need me to take you up there, or would you rather leave right now?"
His nonchalant attitude, as if Annie's excessive wariness was completely unwarranted, made her feel a little guilty. She rubbed her nose sheepishly.
"Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were using this as an excuse to trick me into coming here."
Hubert merely shrugged, maintaining an air of righteous indifference, while Annie pursed her lips. For a moment, she genuinely believed she had wronged him, and a hint of guilt crept into her smile.
"I'm sorry. Could you take me upstairs to meet the doctor?"
Hubert studied her for a moment before sighing and nodding.
"Alright, follow me."
Annie, unsuspecting, followed him up the stairs-unaware that with every step, she was walking deeper into the trap Hubert had laid for her.
Upstairs,
Hubert entered first, courteously holding the door open as he stepped aside. Annie hesitated only briefly before stepping inside, completely oblivious to what awaited her.
And then,
Hubert casually swung the door shut and locked it.
He stepped toward Annie, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Sofia, I must say, sometimes I truly admire your instincts and wariness."
"Hubert, where is the doctor?"
They spoke almost simultaneously, but as soon as Hubert's answer registered, Annie's heart pounded wildly, beyond her control. She quickly scanned the room, her breath hitching when she realized-there was no one else there. Instinctively, she took a step back, her wary gaze locking onto Hubert.
"Hubert... did you trick me?"
The pretense was gone. Hubert no longer bothered to act, simply nodding as he closed the distance between them, his smile deepening.
"That's right. And so what? You are cautious, I'll give you that. But caution alone is never enough."
He advanced slowly, savoring every expression flickering across Annie's face-the way her complexion paled with growing anxiety, the way she trembled ever so slightly. It was utterly delightful.
At this moment, she was no different from a helpless little rabbit caught in a trap, left entirely at his mercy. Just the thought of it sent a shiver of pleasure through him.
Annie kept retreating until her back pressed against the cold, unforgiving wall. The icy sensation seeped into her skin, sending a violent shudder through her body. Her breath quickened, her hands clenching into fists as the fear inside her swelled, suffocating.
She bit her lip hard, her fingers moving with practiced caution as she discreetly retrieved her phone from her bag-Hubert hadn't noticed.
With precise movements, she pressed Finn's contact, ready to call.
But before she could hit dial, Hubert snatched the phone from her grasp with ease. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled it to the floor. The device shattered upon impact, splintering into lifeless fragments. And just like that, her last hope crumbled.
"You were trying to call your fiancé for help?" Hubert sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Thinking of him only now?"
His chuckle was cold, sending a chill down Annie's spine.
"It's too late, sweetie."
"Even if you call him now, by the time your crippled fiancé arrives, all he'll see is the two of us... being intimate."
Hubert let out a self-satisfied laugh, a sinister amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Oh, wait, I forgot-your fiancé is blind, isn't he? What could he possibly see?"
His voice dipped lower, laced with cruel amusement.
"If you moan just a little softer, he might not even realize what's happening at all, sweetie."
The words sent an icy shudder crawling up Annie's spine. Her breath hitched, her entire body tensing as fear coiled tighter around her chest.
She bit her lip again, forcing herself to stay calm, to think. Then, with every ounce of strength she could muster, she turned and bolted toward the door.
But she didn't even make it two steps before Hubert caught her effortlessly.
His grip was iron-clad as he clamped down on her waist, holding her still. His voice turned sharp, laced with warning.
"Don't bother trying to run. You can't. It's useless."
His fingers curled beneath her chin, tilting her face up as he smirked.
"The only thing you can do now... is enjoy the intimate, romantic moment we're about to share."
Annie's heart sank into utter despair as Hubert smiled. She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and felt a deep sense of regret wash over her.
If only she hadn't been so foolish as to trust Hubert. If only she had been more cautious.
Perhaps she wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
Regret gnawed at her, but she knew-it was already too late.
Hubert, oblivious to the storm raging inside her, merely relished the fear on her face. He chuckled, the sound carrying the arrogance of a victor.
"Come now, sweetie. It's time for us to get a little... closer."
"Haven't you always avoided me, always rejected me? Now I wonder-how exactly do you plan to escape this time?"
"Or will you be just like all the others, moaning sweetly in my ear, begging me to go faster?"
His eyes roamed over her, dark with vile intent. He could no longer suppress his desire to see just how sweet his dear brother Finn's fiancée would look beneath him.
Annie struggled, twisting away from his grasp, but she was no match for him. Her wrists were effortlessly pinned above her head, and her legs were locked in place, unable to move.
With one hand securing both of her wrists, Hubert tilted her chin up with the other, lowering his head-
And pressed his lips against hers.
Annie bit her lip in despair, squeezing her eyes shut as if surrendering to fate - and Hubert's repulsive kiss.
But just as his lips were about to touch hers, the door suddenly burst open, crashing into pieces with a deafening sound. Shards of wood scattered across the floor, jolting both Hubert and Annie into stunned silence.
At that moment, Annie heard a familiar voice - furious, sharp.
"Hubert, what the hell are you doing to my fiancée?"
From Finn's angle, the scene before him was damning - Hubert pinning Annie's wrists, leaning over her, their lips mere inches apart, an unsettling closeness that seemed almost intimate.
Finn's jaw tightened. His chest burned with a mix of rage and disbelief. He clenched his fists and, without a word, signaled to Mike standing beside him.
Understanding instantly, Mike stepped forward and, with practiced precision, delivered a brutal kick to Hubert's side. The force sent Hubert staggering back, his grip on Annie finally breaking.
Freed from his hold, Annie, still trembling, stumbled toward Finn, her frail figure radiating fear and vulnerability.
Hubert, reeling from the blow, struggled to regain his balance. Yet, despite the pain, a smug smirk crept across his face.
"Well now, Finn," he drawled, his voice laced with mockery. 
"Why interrupt such a... tender moment between me and Sofia? We were just starting to enjoy ourselves."
He licked his lips slowly, his gaze defiant.
"Your fiancée even kissed me first," he sneered. 
"Her lips were soft... and those little moans - quite lovely."
"You have no idea just how alluring she looked."
Hubert's words were meant to provoke, to stir Finn's rage. But Finn remained unfazed, his expression as calm as ever. It was as if he hadn't even heard Hubert. Instead, he simply chuckled.
"Is that so? What a shame, then. Seems like I interrupted something special."
His voice dripped with mockery.
"But I must say, I didn't expect someone like you to have such... disgusting tastes. Forcing another man's fiancée into intimacy? Truly revolting."
Finn smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"Hubert, you take after your mother. Always knowing exactly how to make people sick to their stomachs."
His tone was casual, almost indifferent-but his words struck like a dagger.
Hubert's face contorted in fury, veins bulging across his forehead. His fists clenched, his breath sharp with barely contained rage.
But Finn didn't care. Without sparing another glance, he simply took Annie's hand and led her away.
And perhaps Annie would have believed that Finn was truly unbothered, still calm as ever-if not for the way he was gripping her hand so tightly, it felt like he might break it.








Chapter 41

"Finn, wait for me. You're walking too fast, I can't keep up," Annie weakly called out, struggling to chase after him. Yet, Finn pressed forward without hesitation, his pace so swift that Annie could barely keep up. 
For a fleeting moment, she even wondered if he was truly blind.
He moved like the wind, effortlessly dodging every obstacle in his path, his reflexes sharper than even those with perfect vision-sharper than hers.
But Finn showed no sign of hearing her. He continued straight ahead. The only indication that he acknowledged her presence was the slight loosening of his grip on her hand, just enough to ease the discomfort she had felt moments before.
Once inside the car, Finn sat beside her in the passenger seat, crossing his arms in silence. Annie, of course, knew he was upset-so upset that he didn't want to speak to her. She barely dared to breathe, shrinking back into her seat, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to irritate him any further.
Stealing a glance at Finn, she parted her lips, intending to say something-only for the words to die in her throat as Mike suddenly entered the car.
Sensing the stifling tension in the air, Mike instinctively held his breath, too intimidated to make a sound. Without a word, he quietly slipped into the driver's seat, obediently starting the car.
Like a mere shadow, he sat there-silent, solitary, almost pitiful in his presence.
The entire ride remained steeped in an eerie silence, so thick it was almost unnatural.
Upon arriving at Finn's house, Mike slowly brought the car to a stop and cleared his throat awkwardly before finally speaking.
"Uh... Finn, Sofia, we're here."
"I've got something to take care of, so I won't be going in with you two. Let's catch up another time."
His nervousness was almost comical-he even played the part of a private chauffeur, stepping out to open the door for Finn and Annie. Annie blinked at him desperately, silently pleading for him to stay, but of course, he wouldn't.
Stay? Was she joking?
Mike was certain that Finn wouldn't lose his temper too much with Annie. But with him? That was a whole different story.
Better to look out for himself first.
Finn strode inside without hesitation, not waiting for Annie to help him as he usually did. So, she trailed behind him like a shadow, her mind a tangled mess of worries and unspoken words.
But in the end, what could she say?
No matter how she looked at it, she was the one at fault.
There was no arguing that.
Lost in thought, she barely noticed that Finn had already entered the house. He moved with his usual unreadable expression, sinking onto the sofa with effortless ease.
And then-silence.
Annie bit her lip,
then slowly stepped forward, determined to break the suffocating silence.
"About today... thank you. And... I'm sorry."
Her voice wavered slightly, and she bit down harder on her lip, forcing herself to say the words. She knew-better than anyone-that the consequences of her actions were disastrous.
So disastrous that no apology could ever make up for them.
Finn clenched his fists, restraining the anger that surged in his chest. When he finally spoke, his voice was dangerously controlled.
"Why were you with Hubert? You know exactly what kind of person he is."
"Why didn't you let the driver take you? At least then, if something happened, he could've helped you in time."
"Why did you trust Hubert so much? Where did you even get that kind of trust?"
Question after question, Finn demanded answers. But more than that-he was terrified. Because if he had been even a second later...
Just one second and Hubert would have forced a disgusting, unwanted kiss on her.
The mere thought made his blood boil.
"I'm sorry... I only wanted what's best for you."
"Hubert tricked me," Annie admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He told me he had found a world-renowned eye specialist... someone who could guarantee a cure for you."
Lowering her head, she gripped her arm tightly, as if trying to hold herself together.
"That's why I believed him and followed him. I never imagined he could be so cruel... that he would even use something like this to deceive me."
Annie squeezed her eyes shut in despair. She had never foreseen this outcome when she agreed to go with Hubert. But in the end, it happened.
"A treatment for me? Doing what's best for me?"
Finn repeated her words, his voice laced with bitter amusement. It was laughable-so laughable that he felt his whole body tremble with rage.
"Doing what's best for me means making me so furious I can barely think straight, Sofia? Or does it mean nearly getting yourself taken advantage of-so close to being tricked into bed with another man?"
"Sofia, can you just be a little more cautious? Can you stop trusting men like Hubert so easily?"
At first, Annie had genuinely felt guilty for making Finn worry. But hearing his accusations now-his relentless questioning-she couldn't help but feel wronged.
Her eyes reddened with unshed tears, her lips trembling violently. When she finally spoke, her voice was thick with emotion, choked by injustice.
"Do you think I wanted this to happen? Or do you believe I seduced Hubert, and that's why things turned out this way?"
"I was just another victim of Hubert's lies, Finn. Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I'm not scared? Not full of regret?"
"Why are you speaking as if I caused all of this? Like I wanted it to happen? I get hurt too, you know!"
Annie's voice rose slightly, her frustration spilling over. At this point, neither she nor Finn could maintain their composure any longer.
Finn let out a sharp, mocking breath.
"I thought you understood me, Sofia. But it seems I was wrong."
"Even if this were real-even if Hubert was telling the truth-so what?"
His voice was tight, his lips trembling with the force of his anger, his brow furrowed so deeply it ached.
"You think I would accept treatment from a doctor Hubert recommended? You think I could ever feel safe with that?"
A hollow, bitter laugh escaped him.
"Do you even know why I'm blind? If not, let me enlighten you."
His chest rose and fell with fury, his face flushed with barely contained rage. His voice, however, grew colder-so cold it sent a chill down Annie's spine.
"It was Hubert and Tracy who set me up. They orchestrated an accident-one that left me blind."
"They worked together to bring me down, to strip me of any right to compete for Ryan's inheritance. To make sure I had no claim-no power-so that Hubert could seize control of the company effortlessly and kick me out like a worthless stray."
Finn spoke with bitter resentment, his eyes squeezed shut as if trying to block out the memories. Those dark, suffocating days-he had no desire to relive them.
When he finally opened his eyes, they were filled with despair as he looked at Annie.
"And now, you believe Hubert wants to help me see again?"
"Of all people, he is the one who wants me blind forever. He is the one who would rather I never see again. Tell me, Sofia-how the hell am I supposed to trust him?"
He watched Annie's expression shift-shock, disbelief, heartbreak.
But why was she heartbroken?
He was the one who had lost everything. He was the one drowning in this endless darkness.
Finn exhaled, exhaustion weighing down on him as he leaned back into the chair. The light in his eyes had long since faded. His voice, hoarse and strained, carried a raw vulnerability as he spoke.
"Maybe you think I'm pathetic. Maybe you think I'm a fool. But..."
He hesitated, swallowing down the lump in his throat before continuing slowly.
"I would rather stay blind forever... than have you help me this way, Sofia."
"I don't want you begging Hubert. I don't want you anywhere near him."
Finn let out a shuddering breath, his next words nearly breaking as they left his lips.
"And most of all... I don't want you to sleep with him to cure me."
Each word was painfully deliberate, cutting through the silence like a blade.








Chapter 42

Annie listened in silence, her breath hitching as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Regret weighed heavy in her chest. She hadn't known. She hadn't understood Finn's fears at all.
She had always claimed she wanted the best for him, that everything she did was for his sake.
But in the end, she had been nothing more than a fool-one who only made things worse.
And Finn... Finn was the one left to pick up the shattered pieces of her mistakes.
What she thought was helping had only made things worse.
Her voice trembled as she gazed at him, eyes brimming with sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Finn... I was reckless. I didn't think things through."
"I was ignorant-I am ignorant. This is all my fault."
She could barely choke out the words. If today hadn't happened, maybe Finn wouldn't have been forced to relive his pain. Maybe the wounds he had worked so hard to heal wouldn't have been torn open again because of her.
"I'm sorry. Truly... I'm so sorry."
Because what else was there to say?
Finn let out a slow breath, his tone weary yet steady.
"Enough, Sofia. Dwelling on this won't change anything."
"Just take it as a lesson learned."
"From now on, don't have anything to do with Hubert. No matter what he says, don't go near him, don't believe him.Promise me, can you?"
Finn's voice was low, almost pleading. The fear from earlier still lingered, suffocating him. He never wanted to go through something like that again.
Annie nodded repeatedly, whispering a soft "yes," as if that alone could make up for everything. With that, the conversation came to an end.
"I'm tired. I'll head upstairs first. You should get some rest too."
Rubbing his temples, Finn pushed himself up with evident weariness, gripping the back of the couch as he took slow, measured steps toward the stairs. Annie watched him go, an unspoken offer of help resting on the tip of her tongue. But in the end, she swallowed it down.
When Finn reached his room, he locked the door behind him and let out a heavy sigh before pulling out his phone.Unsurprisingly, there were already multiple messages from Mike.
"Finn, is everything okay?"
"Don't be too harsh on Sofia, alright? She was just naive enough to fall for that fox Hubert's lies. In the end, she's the one who got hurt. Don't be too strict with her."
"Hey, where are you? Are you reading my messages? Don't scold Sofia too much-she's fragile, you know."
The more Finn read, the more frustrated he became. His head throbbed. He exhaling slowly before finally typing a reply.
"I've read it. I don't want to be too harsh on Sofia, but today's situation has truly pushed me to my limit."
"I think I can't just let Hubert do whatever he wants anymore."
"The plan for retaliation... maybe it will have to start sooner than expected."
After sending the message, Hubert received an immediate reply from Mike.
"Don't tell me you just scolded Sofia? That poor girl."
"But what's next? Need any help?"
Finn responded swiftly.
"No need. Just sit back and enjoy the show. Hubert won't be laughing for much longer."
"One day, he'll deeply regret everything that happened today."
After reassuring Mike, Finn called his secretary, Max. As a professional, Max picked up after just two rings.
"What's the matter, Finn? Is there something you need me to do?"
Finn briefly outlined his upcoming plans. Naturally, Max had his concerns.
"I see. But why the sudden change of heart? Why accelerate the timeline?"
"Isn't this the wrong moment to make a move?"
Of course, Finn understood that. But he could no longer wait. If he hesitated any longer, there was no telling what kind of mess Hubert would create next.
Hubert was like a ticking time bomb in his eyes-no one knew when he would explode.
Rather than living in constant worry, Finn would rather deal with everything from the start, ensuring that no obstacles remained.
He reassured Max.
"It's fine. I know exactly what I'm doing. Just follow the instructions."
After sending the message, Finn lazily tossed his phone onto the bed and sank into the pillows. A crushing fatigue weighed down on him, leaving him restless and irritable.
And he wasn't even sure if what he was doing was the right thing.
...
Meanwhile, in another room-
After returning to her quarters, Annie sat in silence, her heart aching with unease. She kept trying to soothe herself, to calm down, but it was useless. With a sigh, she wondered what the right course of action was. Everything that had happened felt beyond her understanding.
She remained lost in thought until evening. When she finally went downstairs for dinner, Finn was nowhere to be seen. 
Perhaps he was intentionally avoiding her, choosing not to join them at the table. Instead, he simply asked Keelin to bring his meal up to his room.
Annie knew that Finn didn't want to see her after what had happened, so she simply kept her head down and ate in silence. But she had no real appetite.
She forced down a few bites before heading back to her room, exhaustion weighing on her. After a quick shower, a troubling realization struck her.
Lately, she had been sleeping in Finn's room-her pillows and blankets were already there. They had shared the same bed for days, but now that Finn was angry with her, should she still go to his room?
Biting her lip, Annie felt torn. On normal days, everything was fine, but tonight... after what had happened, he probably wouldn't want to see her. Right?
With a quiet sigh, she made her decision. She asked Keelin for a fresh set of pillows and blankets, laid them out in her room, and went back to sleeping there-just like before.
Yet, as she stared at the familiar surroundings, her heart remained unsettled. A tangle of thoughts filled her mind, leaving her exhausted but unable to sleep.
Physically and emotionally drained, Annie let out a weary sigh, gazing into the silent darkness that enveloped the night.
Before, when she slept alone, Annie always felt free and at ease, her heart light and unburdened.
But now, all she felt was stifling discomfort.
She suddenly missed Finn terribly. She missed the sound of his steady breathing beside her, the quiet warmth of his presence when their bodies brushed against each other in the night.
She missed him so much.
Curled up in the silence of her room, Annie lay awake, unable to slip into sleep as easily as she used to.
Elsewhere, Finn wasn't feeling any better.
Before bed, he had waited-waited for a knock at the door, for Annie to show up like she always did.
But all he was met with was emptiness.
Midnight came and went, yet Annie never appeared. She didn't come to him like every other night.
Finn stared at the closed door, suppressing a quiet sigh. His heart was just as heavy as hers, weighed down by thoughts that refused to settle.
He couldn't find peace.
And just like Annie, sleep evaded him.
Lying on his back, he rested a hand over his forehead, lost in thoughts of the past, the present, and the uncertain future ahead.
Thoughts of life.
And thoughts of Annie.
That night, two people lay awake.
Countless tangled thoughts kept them both awake,
And even when exhaustion weighed heavy on their eyelids,
Their minds remained filled with thoughts of each other.
The moonlight brushed over their solitary figures,
as if letting out a quiet, weary sigh.
That night, the moon seemed lonelier, the wind colder,
whispering in place of the two restless souls,
lamenting a sleep left incomplete.








Chapter 43

The next morning, Annie originally planned to make a cake for Finn as an excuse to approach him and apologize. However, to her surprise, Finn had already left early.
Hearing this from Keelin, she was momentarily stunned.
"Why would he go to the company? Finn never goes to the company, does he?"
Ever since Annie had known Finn, she had never once heard of him setting foot in the company. If there was business to discuss, his assistant would usually come to his house, or they would handle everything over the phone.
There had never been an exception.
That was why the news of Finn going to the company left her somewhat shocked.
"That's right. He even said he'd be there all day and have dinner with his assistant in the evening. He won't be coming back."
Keelin finished speaking and, noticing Annie still lost in thought, asked with concern, "Is something wrong, Sofia? Do you want me to pass a message to Finn?"
Annie snapped out of her daze, shaking off the lingering thoughts clouding her mind.
"Oh, no, it's nothing. I was just curious why he suddenly went to the company."
She smiled faintly before turning away, suppressing the curiosity that stirred within her.
If Finn didn't want to see her, she wouldn't insist on disturbing him.
...
Meanwhile, at the company, Finn sat in the boardroom, his expression calm and composed as he slowly laid out the upcoming plans.
Having played the fool and kept a low profile for so long, perhaps the time had finally come for Finn to prove his true capabilities.
And the first thing on his agenda, naturally, was punishing Hubert.
Along with the foolish woman who had been orchestrating those ridiculous schemes from the shadows-Tracy.
Most of the shareholders were already aware of these matters, so Finn's plan didn't come as a great surprise. What did catch them off guard, however, was how swiftly everything was unfolding.
After the meeting, Max stepped into Finn's office, his expression serious as he asked, "So, what do we focus on first? The press conference or revealing your true identity to the public beforehand?"
Finn gazed out of the towering glass windows, his lips curving into a faint, cold smile.
"Announce the press conference first. As for my identity, I'll let everyone find out during the event."
"I still want to watch my dear brother's final struggles."
...
Finn stayed late at the company, working overtime until nightfall. It had been a long time since he last set foot in the office, and now that he was here, he wanted to clear a backlog of critical tasks to ensure a smoother path forward.
So immersed was he in his work that he lost track of time. When he finally glanced at the clock, it was already late.
Overtime had long passed, and by now, most of the employees in the entire company had likely gone home.
"Finn, I've taken care of everything you asked me to arrange. By tonight, Hubert will probably have caught wind of the news."
Finn gave a slight nod, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He was pleased with Max's efficiency. A fleeting thought crossed his mind-what kind of expression would Hubert make once he realized the consequences of his foolish actions from the night before?

In a calm, almost indifferent tone, he said to Max, "Well done. Have you come up with any ideas for next week's press conference?"
Max wasn't the least bit surprised by Finn's abrupt shift in topic. He responded swiftly, "Yes, I've drafted a few concepts and noted them on my tablet. Give me a moment-I'll pull them up and over them with you."
With that, Max stepped into his office, retrieved his tablet, and handed it over to Finn with practiced ease. As he spoke, he sketched key points on a notepad, ensuring Finn could grasp the core ideas. Finn listened intently, occasionally offering brief comments and suggestions.
Neither of them realized that their exchange had been witnessed by someone else.
Annie stood frozen in place, feeling as though she had become nothing more than a pathetic joke. A cold shiver ran down her spine, spreading through her entire body. Her expression turned blank, drained of all emotion-she was too stunned to even react.
She stared through the office's transparent glass door, her gaze fixed on the two figures inside. Finn had been so absorbed in his work all afternoon that he had forgotten to draw the blinds, leaving everything in plain sight.
The man who was supposed to be blind was now effortlessly scanning the tablet screen, writing with fluid strokes, and enthusiastically discussing upcoming plans with his secretary.
His movements were practiced, his gestures smooth and natural-nothing about him suggested the awkwardness of someone who had only recently regained his sight.
No.
He didn't look like someone who had just recovered from blindness.
He looked like someone who had never been blind at all.
A fraud.
The word echoed in Annie's mind, and with it, an unbearable realization settled over her.
Every moment she had spent with him, every thought she had about him-had they all been nothing more than a joke?
Perhaps when she had held Finn in her arms, reassuring him that being blind was nothing to be ashamed of-
When she had comforted him, telling him there was still hope-
When she had run herself ragged asking Mike about his condition, desperately wishing for him to see her again-
Finn had simply found it amusing, watching her play the fool.
The weight of the deception pressed down on Annie's chest, suffocating her. The betrayal wrapped around her lungs like iron chains, making even the simple act of breathing agonizing.
She gripped the wall for support, her breath ragged and uneven, an overwhelming urge rising within her-
She wanted to put an end to everything.
She had been too foolish.
Worried that Finn might be too busy working to eat properly, Annie had spent the entire afternoon preparing a homemade dinner for him.
She had hurried to the company, navigating her way through unfamiliar corridors, anxiously asking the receptionist for Finn's whereabouts before rushing to the elevator.
But in the end, all she found was-
Finn, seated comfortably in his office, casually discussing future projects with his secretary.
Relaxed. At ease. Confident.
It was a side of Finn that Annie had never seen before.
Her fingers tightened around the handles of the bag carrying the carefully prepared meal. Her grip was tense, her knuckles turning white.
Then, without a word, she turned away.
Silently, she left.
She stepped into the elevator, moving as if in a daze, her body hollow and weightless as if something within her had collapsed. By the time she reached the lobby, her vacant expression must have been too striking to ignore-
Because the receptionist, upon seeing her, hesitated for a moment before asking gently, "Madam, weren't you here to see our CEO? Did you find his office?"
"Do you need any help?"
The receptionist had initially thought Annie looked harmless and endearingly fragile, and knowing she was Finn's fiancée, she had willingly pointed her toward his office. But now, seeing Annie return looking so drained and defeated, she felt an inexplicable sense of concern.
Annie shook her head slightly, exhaling a soft sigh.
"It's alright. Something came up, so I'm heading home."
Then, forcing a small, almost imperceptible smile, she added, "Could you do me a favor?"
"Please don't tell Finn that I was here today. I want it to be a surprise when he comes home."
Seeing the receptionist nod in vague agreement, Annie finally managed a small, relieved smile.
She turned away, a quiet sense of gratitude washing over her—grateful that she hadn’t troubled Finn’s driver tonight and had instead taken a taxi.
Otherwise, things would have been even harder to hide.
Stepping outside to hail another cab, her mind busily sorted through the tangled mess of thoughts.
Finn had likely pretended to be blind to deal with Hubert, Tracy, and Ryan.
And in a situation like this, the fewer people who knew, the better.
Especially those who weren’t important,
Who couldn’t offer him any real help,
Like her.
So, it made perfect sense that Finn had hidden it from her.
Perfect sense.

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