Rachel’s sudden blindness was just too convenient! Meryl’s first thought was that she must be faking it.

After all, Rachel had prepared fake blood before. What wouldn’t she do for attention?

However, no one could say for sure how badly she was hurt after tumbling down such a long flight of stairs.

Meryl took a deep breath, forcing herself to reason. Instead of making things difficult for Chandler, she said, “You should go check on her at the hospital.”

Chandler frowned. “Meryl, why are you pushing me toward another woman?”

But if she didn’t suggest it, wouldn’t Chandler see Rachel anyway? Chandler took his debts of gratitude seriously. As long as Andy was in the picture, he’d never wholly abandon Rachel. Rather than having him sit here distracted, it was better to let him go to the hospital and put his mind at ease.

“She’s causing a scene at the hospital, and Walter’s at his wits’ end. She won’t settle down until you go,” Meryl said before retreating to her room to rest.

The night was quiet enough that Meryl could hear Chandler in the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes and silverware. Then came the sound of the front door closing.

He’d left just as she’d told him to. Even though she was the one who’d asked him to go, her chest tightened with an inexplicable ache, as if a stone were pressing down on her heart. Meryl wrapped herself in her blankets, biting her lip as she forced herself to close her eyes and try to sleep.

Chandler arrived at the hospital around 3 AM; he could hear the commotion from down the hall. Rachel was having a meltdown on her hospital bed, throwing everything within reach onto the floor. “Why can’t I see? Why am I blind? Where’s Chandler? I need Chandler here!”

The nurses tried to reason with her. “Ms. Morgan, it’s the middle of the night. Other patients have complained about the noise. If this continues, we’ll have to sedate you.” The doctor had examined her but couldn’t determine the cause. Some tests would have to wait until morning.

Walter spotted Chandler entering and immediately approached him, his bloodshot eyes showing his exhaustion. “Mr. Aniston.”

At the sound of his voice, Rachel finally quieted down. She kept groping at the air with both hands. “Is that Chandler? I’m so scared… I can’t see anything. I’ve gone blind…”

Rachel was baffled. She’d been fine when she left the emergency room. How could she have lost her sight just from taking a nap?

This whole scheme had been Lydia’s idea. Lydia had pointed out that with Meryl in the hospital, Chandler was staying there overnight instead of going home. Lydia’s plan was for Rachel to move into their house and sleep in their bed. It would be a real slap in the face to Meryl when she got out of the hospital and saw Rachel there.

Rachel had hesitated, worried about Chandler’s reaction. But Lydia dismissed her concerns, saying the worst that could happen would be a few harsh words. Rachel figured Lydia was right. A scolding wouldn’t kill her. Lydia had given her the house code, telling her to try Meryl’s birthday since she and Meryl shared the same birth date. Surprisingly, it had worked. The door unlocked.

Committed to making the scene believable, Rachel had brought fake blood in a bag. As she tumbled down the stairs, she’d secretly spilled the blood, leaving dramatic trails that would shock anyone who saw them. She’d expected some minor bumps and bruises, nothing a few days of rest wouldn’t fix. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined going blind! Being sightless meant she was practically useless for the rest of her life.

Now, she was surrounded by darkness, unable to tell if it was day or night. Rachel was absolutely terrified. Never in her life had she felt so helpless. All she could do was make noise, desperately trying to get someone’s attention. She thought, “How can I play the cello blind? What will happen to my career and my life? Will I be reduced to just existing day after day, waiting to die, unable to do anything?”

Rachel was consumed by regret. She never should have listened to Lydia. Lydia had just run her mouth, risking nothing, while Rachel had lost her sight.

Rachel couldn’t understand how a simple fall had left her blind. When she heard Chandler had arrived, she raised her hand, groping at the air. “Chandler, is that you? I’m so scared. Everything’s so dark! I can’t see anything.”

Chandler approached her bedside and instinctively waved his hand in front of her face. Rachel’s eyes remained vacant, showing no response.

When Rachel found Chandler’s hand, she grabbed it like a drowning person clutching a lifeline. “Chandler, I’m blind. I’m useless now. What’s the point of living?”

Chandler stared at Rachel for a few seconds before offering words of comfort. “I just spoke with the doctor. Your blindness is only temporary. It could clear up suddenly any day now.”

Rachel’s voice cracked. “When will that be? Even the doctors can’t say, can they? I know they’re just saying that to make me feel better.” Tears rolled down her face one after another. Her world was nothing but darkness. She couldn’t see Chandler’s face or read any of his expressions.

She clutched his hand tightly, trying to fall into his embrace. “It was Meryl! She pushed me down those stairs. She did this to me, Chandler. You have to help me get justice.”

Chandler’s brows furrowed as he pulled away from her touch. But Rachel held his hand in a death grip–he couldn’t break free. At her mention of Meryl, Chandler suddenly asked, “I haven’t asked you yet. Why were you in our house in the first place?”

After Rachel had been kicked out of the orchestra, Chandler had arranged an apartment for her to stay in. That apartment was nowhere near where he lived. It was over a thirty–minute drive away.

At his question, Rachel’s expression froze. She hadn’t expected Chandler to interrogate her at a time like this.

Chandler stood by the bed, his face a mask of indifference. “Rachel, tell me the truth. Did Meryl push you, or are you putting on an act?”

Rachel’s heart skipped a beat at his cold tone, but she took comfort in knowing she’d checked beforehand. There were no security cameras in the house. The thought calmed her nerves somewhat. “Of course, she pushed me! Chandler, don’t you believe me?”

Rachel doubled down on her story. “Why would I jump just to frame her? What reason would I have to do that? I’ve lost my eyesight!”

Tears streamed down Rachel’s face as she played the part of a helpless victim, like a fragile blade of grass in the bitter wind. Her tears weren’t an act. She was genuinely heartbroken. She still couldn’t wrap her head around how she’d ended up blind.

Chandler pulled out two tissues and placed them in front of her. But Rachel, unable to see them, made no move to take them. This whole charade left Chandler physically and mentally drained. His face showed his resignation as he massaged his temples.

The night was deep, and Chandler had no desire to continue this back–and–forth. He looked at Rachel and spoke softly, “Rachel, I’m planning to send you abroad. I’ll find the best doctors to treat your eyes.”