Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

IN RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

Ria’s fake smile grew broader. “Nothing serious. It is just something relating to my past.” She managed to say and hoped that Cassidy won’t ask anymore questions.

Cassidy wheeled the sewing machine focusing on amending the dress for some minutes. “Well Miss Ria everyone has a story to tell.. about their past.” She said.

“You have a past too?” Ria asked. She didn’t realize how foolish that question was until she said it. Immediately Ria also thought that the question would stop Cassidy from asking her questions for now. Who likes to discuss about their past with people?

“I have a past too but it is nothing big. I’ll tell you about it. It is just that I broke up with my first boyfriend two weeks ago after I found out he cheated on me with my best friend.” Cassidy replied in a sad tone.

“I should be blamed for what he did actually.” She added quickly.

“Why?” Ria asked.

Cassidy heaved a sigh. “Jake wanted sex but I wasn’t ready for it. Well you know how guys are if don’t give them what they want then they get it elsewhere just to make you feel guilty or bad.” She pouted.

“You still don’t have to blame yourself. It is not your fault that Jake cheated on you with your best friend.” Ria’s voice was so calm.

“I expected Jake to understand my decision. Even before we started dating, I told him I wasn’t ready to have sex until my wedding night and he agreed. Jake said he respected me for that decision. But a month later, he started asking me for sex anytime I go visiting at his place. He asked me to prove to him that I truly love him by having sex with him but I couldn’t do it. I don’t have to give myself to him and go against my will just to prove that love him. So I am sure Jake intentionally slept with Betty just to hurt me.” Cassidy narrated.

Ria didn’t miss the sadness in her tone at the loss of two loved ones. “Let us say that Jake might have thought you would come begging him when you find he was having an affair with your best friend.”

Cassidy snorted. “Yes, you are right but he is a fool to think that way. I didn’t beg him. Although it was painful but I didn’t even shed a tear because of him. Someone like him doesn’t deserve a drop of my tear.” She seethe her teeth in anger.

“And Jake doesn’t deserve a girl like you. No relationship between two people can survive if it is based on material benefits. We should not give things to people with the expectation of getting something in return. Love in a relationship goes a long way than having just sex.” Ria said.

“Yes my mom said the same thing and that’s why I decided to announce the breakup so he won’t feel important. Jake was so shocked when I ended the relationship, he didn’t expect that I would do such a thing because he knew that I loved him so much.” Cassidy giggled as she remembered the look on her ex boyfriend’s face when she had announced the break up even after they had gone on a fun filled date.

“So what about your best friend?” Ria asked.

“She stopped talking to me like I care. Our friendship is over.” Cassidy snorted.

There was a time in Ria’s life when she had made such a decision. Ria promised herself that she would keep her innocence until her wedding night. Madison was still a virgin when she met Nathan and he had cherished and respected her for being undefiled at such age. Well Ria had thought it was going to be easy for her to also maintain such stance since she was blind. She had dreamt of finding true love someday just like her parents. Ria had no where to go or any boy to meet but she never thought of a criminal coming to take her away and defiling her. It has never occurred to her that such could happen in one night. Lucas took her innocence and dignity! And now that childhood decision was of no use anymore.

“Men are evil.” Ria mumbled to herself but Cassidy heard it clearly.

“I wish them the best in life. I just want to focus on the betterment of my life.” Cassidy said.

“Will I ever feel loved? Will I ever fall in love like any human? No! No man will ever fall for a woman who has been physically violated by criminals! Men are cruel and evil! They deserve no happiness! They should all rot in hell where they truly deserve as a devil’s incarnate!” Ria bantered within.

“Miss Ria, are you having issues trusting men?” Cassidy’s question stunned Ria out of her thoughts.

Ria didn’t respond. She has no plan to reveal her past to a total stranger she just met few days ago. And Ria had no plan to tell anyone about it. “Miss Ria-” The door bell rang cutting off Cassidy’s sentence.

Ria sighed in relief. Saved by the bell! “I will get the door.” Cassidy stood up and went to the door.

Ria heard ma’am Elise exchanging greetings with Cassidy. “Oh it is good to see you.” Her voice was closer now.

“Welcome back, ma’am Elise.” Ria greeted.

Ma’am Elise went to meet Ria. “Is everything okay?” She asked.

“Yes, I am fine.” Ria replied.

“I can see you have a company.” Ma’am Elise looked back at Cassidy.

“Yes. Cassidy is here.” Ria shook her head.

“I had to beg the stylist not to take too long because I was worried since you are home alone.” Ma’am Elise dropped the paper bags on the floor.

“You should have taken your time.” Ria said.

“Yes I know but I wasn’t at peace knowing that you are home alone.” Ma’am Elise sighed.

“Cassidy offered to stay with me anyways.” Ria felt the fabrics on the sewing machine.

“Yes I didn’t want to leave because she was alone.” Cassidy responded.

“Oh! You are so considerate! Thank you, Cassidy.” Ma’am Elise smiled.

“Stop making it sound like I am a kid who needs a nanny.” Ria muttered.

Ma’am Elise laughed. “Come on Miss Ria, I am just worried about you.”

“So how -” Ria was interrupted by a beeping sound.

“Oh! That’s my phone. I’ll get it.” Cassidy rushed to where she dropped her bag on the couch and she took out her cellphone. It was Ian Bryant. “Hello. Yes, I have the dress. Yes, I will be home soon.” She said quickly.

“Your dad?” Ma’am Elise asked when Cassidy turned to look at them.

“Yes. Miss Ria, I am sorry I have to leave now.” Cassidy apologized.

“It is alright.” Ria replied.

“And I am sorry I won’t be able to finish up what I started.” She apologized again.

“I understand. You can go ahead. Thank you for offering to help me.” Ria flashed her a small smile.

“Alright.” Cassidy went ahead to embrace Ria. “Bye, Miss Ria.” Even Ma’am Elise was taken aback by the gesture.

“Yeah bye.” Cassidy was acting like she has known Ria for a very long time.

“I will accompany you to the door.” Ma’am Elise offered and Cassidy followed her.

And soon the door clicked. “Ma’am Elise, I am almost done with your dress.” Ria said when she came back.

“Was Cassidy adjusting the old lady’s dress?” Ma’am Elise demanded.

“Yes, she can use the machine. Cassidy knows a lot about sewing too.” Ria responded as she tried to focus on the dress on the machine. She had lost track of where she stopped because of the conversation with Cassidy.

“Really?”

“Yes, you can see what she has been doing.” Ria shook her head.

Ma’am Elise took the dress and looked at the part she had adjusted. “She is good.” She complimented.

“Actually she is extremely a good company. Cassidy is calm and knowledgeable and it was nice to have her around.” Ria admitted.

Ma’am Elise studied Ria’s expression, she looked somewhat happy. “Miss Ria, it is good to hear that coming from you. Oh! That reminds me Sophia transferred the money for her dress.”

Ria nodded in acknowledgement. “Please call the delivery girl.” She instructed.

Ma’am Elise packed the paper bags filled with groceries. “I already called her at the salon. She is busy making other deliveries but she should be here anytime soon.”

“Okay.” Ria muttered.

*********

LINT CORPORATION

Ian Bryant didn’t let Cassidy settled down before he bombarded her with questions. “How is Ria doing? Is she fine? So how was it? I mean did the plan go well?”

Cassidy rolled her eyes as she settled on the couch. “Relax Mr Ian, one question at a time.”

Ian tried to relax. “Alright. So did you find out anything?” He demanded.

“Yes, I found some things about her.” Cassidy nodded.

“Tell me about it.” Ian said.

“I am sure now that Miss Ria is having issues trusting men because it is something about her past.” Cassidy stated clearly.

“Her past?” Ian repeated.

“Yes but she doesn’t want to share it with anyone. I understand that she didn’t tell me because we are still strangers.”

“Are you saying Ria had issue with men in the past which led to her distrusting my kind?” Ian questioned with a scrunched up face.

“I think so.” Cassidy shook her head.

“Did you ask her about her sight?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“She was born blind. And I asked if she has ever thought of getting a surgery.” Cassidy replied.

Ian stood up from the couch and he walked to the small fridge. “What did she say?” He asked.

“Miss Ria said yes but she doesn’t have the money.”

Ian Bryant came back with a cold bottle of water. “Cassidy, my main plan is to help Ria see again. I can foot the medical bill.”

Cassidy collected the bottle of water from him. “Miss Ria won’t accept your offer. She told me that herself that she isn’t going to accept a help from a man.”

“She said that?” Ian arched his eyebrows.

“Yes. I think it is related to what happened in the past.” Cassidy opened the cap of the bottle of water.

Everything is still not clear to Ian Bryant. He hasn’t gotten enough information to convince him that he knows a bit about the blind lady. “Cassidy, you still have to help me get more information about Ria.”

Cassidy gulped down half of the liquid that cooled her body. “Listen Mr Ian, I suggest you get close to her yourself. There is no need to play hide and seek in this game.” She blurted out.

“How can I do that? You just said Ria doesn’t trust men. She won’t even accept me to help her.” Ian said.

“Yes, this is a great chance for you. Mr Ian, I feel you should be straightforward with her. It is not cool pretending to someone like her, I mean like me going to her house to get more information about her. I want to be with her freely and learn to sew.” Cassidy admitted.

“You want to learn how to sew?” Ian asked.

“Yes, I know about it though and I even helped her out today.” Cassidy replied.

Ian sat back on the couch. “Cassidy, I understand your point. I also want to be close to Ria but she won’t allow me. I am a man.”

Cassidy looked straight at him. “You can make it work. Miss Ria might have closed heart to love but I have a strong believe that you can win her heart with your kindness and good nature. And it is so obvious that you feel something for her already.” She winked.

Ian smiled. “I don’t know.. but I think so. I can’t really explain it but she just bothers me.” He admitted.

“Miss Ria looks broken and she just needs someone like you in her life. Mr Ian, you have a good nature. You are nice, cool and always ready to help anyone. And I am sure you can make Miss Ria trust men again.” Cassidy counted her fingers as she stated his good qualities.

“You think so?” Ian sounded so unsure.

“Yes.” Cassidy nodded.

Ian rubbed his palms together. “Oh Cassidy, I wish it was that easy.” He let out a shaky breathe.

“It is easy.” Cassidy replied.

“How?”

“I think I have an idea or a plan to help you win Miss Ria and make her trust you.” Cassidy said with a bright smile on her face