My Blind Fiancée

A man sat in an armchair, two girls stood before him, their movements gentle as they caressed their bodies. He wore a mask that concealed his face, just like the two girls. A small whip lay on his lap, capturing attention.

One of the girls approached him and attempted to kiss him. The man stopped her abruptly, rose hurriedly, and unable to hide his annoyance, he distanced himself from the place immediately.

"You're foolish. What have you done? I explained clearly how things would be."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. I'm really drawn to him. He's a very handsome man."

"Gather your things and leave. You know you can't tell anyone about what happens here. You've signed a confidentiality agreement, and you better respect it."

The woman left the place, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to betray her. Meanwhile, not far away, a young girl felt desperate.

Ava ran swiftly, her racing heart threatening to burst from her chest. She ran through a pitch-black darkness, although darkness was nothing new to her.

She feared for her life, so she had to distance herself as quickly as possible. For someone like her, doing so was incredibly difficult, especially when she hadn't left the family mansion in a long time. She was terribly frightened. The bushes she encountered tore at her white and delicate skin.

One thought dominated her mind: escape. Suddenly, she heard the loud sound of a car horn, then felt something hit her forcefully. Immediately, unconsciousness took over.

When she woke up, she had the impression of being in a strange place. The scent in the air was different, unfamiliar to her. She realized she wasn't in her family's mansion, and she was thankful for that.

She sighed deeply to maintain her calm, but not knowing where she was began to overwhelm her. She tried to get out of bed, but at that moment, someone gently took her by the arm to stop her. She noticed a delightful fragrance and focused on that scent, but a hoarse voice brought her back to reality.

"Wait!" said the man desperately, thinking that the girl might still be weak and could fall. He felt her trembling.

"Where am I?" she asked, completely bewildered.

"You've had an accident," the man replied.

He noticed that the girl kept her gaze fixed on some point in the room. He waved his hand in front of her repeatedly, but received no response. Perhaps it was some side effect of the car crash.

"My name is Mateo Licciardi," he introduced himself, thinking that if she knew his name, she might calm down. "What's your name?"

"Ava Miller. Who brought me here?" she asked with suspicion.

"Do you really not remember what happened?"

"No, I'm sorry," she answered, on the verge of tears.

"I was driving back home in my car, right at the crossroads by the Miller property. You ran towards the car. I'm sorry, I braked immediately, but I still couldn't avoid hitting you. You lost consciousness, so I brought you to my house. That was two days ago, and you've just woken up. The doctor has examined you, and you'll recover completely soon."

"Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't hear your car," she said, surprised to learn that she had been unconscious for two days.

"Don't worry. Thankfully, nothing else happened. You can stay here for as long as necessary until you recover. Do you want me to call a family member?" he asked, concerned for the girl.

"No, please don't. My life is in danger. It's better if they don't find me," Ava became terribly agitated at the thought of having to return to the Miller mansion again.

"Relax, for now, rest. There will be time to talk about what happened to you. You'll be safe here," he assured her. He felt the instinct to protect this girl, even though she was a complete stranger. He felt terribly guilty for hitting her with his car.

Mateo was a prominent Italian businessman, heir to the Licciardi empire, one of the most powerful in Italy. The company was renowned across several countries for its luxury cruise ships and yachts. He loved extreme sports, which had caused significant headaches for his grandfather and his mother.

Her father Alessio and her grandmother Andrea Licciardi died in a plane crash when Mateo was 10 years old. Guido, his grandfather, and Aurora, his mother, managed to keep the companies that her father had founded afloat.

The companies were now under Mateo's control. When he turned 20, they were handed over to him. It was a lot of responsibility for someone so young, but he had been groomed for it since childhood. Soon after, he positioned the companies as the best in Europe and their products gained worldwide fame.

Ava lost her parents Franco and Alice Miller when she was also 10 years old. On that fateful day, they went on a trip as they did every month. The car they were traveling in lost its brakes, leading to their instant demise. It was a true miracle that Ava managed to survive that accident.

Ava received a strong blow to the head when the car spun, and a few days later, she began to lose her sight.

The doctors who examined her said that the blow to her head wasn't severe enough to cause vision loss, as she had been wearing her seatbelt.

They thought it might be a result of the psychological shock she experienced upon learning about her parents' death, but they needed to conduct various studies to determine the true cause. In the meantime, it was all speculation.

She ended up under the guardianship of her only relative, Teodoro Miller, her father's cousin. He was an ambitious and reckless man who had never married because he enjoyed his bachelorhood, allowing him to enjoy various women without any commitment. He moved into the Miller mansion and refused to take her to the doctor. He knew that if she regained her sight, the day would come when he'd have to hand over her father's inheritance.

Ava was the sole heir to her parents' fortune, a fortune she would inherit on her eighteenth birthday. She had just turned eighteen a week ago, and the girl was unaware of the existence of this inheritance. Her uncle had no intention of fulfilling Ava's parents' last wishes.

The day she decided to escape, she overheard him talking to his lawyer in the office. They were planning his wedding with the girl; the man desired her. He hadn't allowed her to leave the mansion since her parents' death, telling her it was for her safety, that she might get hurt.

Her uncle laughed and recounted how that night, after returning from dinner, he would enter her room to claim her as his own. If she was going to be his wife, there was no need to wait any longer.

The lawyer laughed as he listened. Both men were truly perverse, and Ava had no doubt about that.

Terrified, she immediately sought out her nanny. She knew the nanny was the only person who could help her. She was desperate.

That night, the nanny approached the guards to distract them while Ava escaped. She prepared delicious dishes for them to have dinner, and they didn't suspect a thing, as she had done it before on other occasions.

The nanny left the garden gate open for Ava to exit. She knew it was a huge risk for the girl to walk alone outside the mansion, but if she accompanied her, the guards would realize that both of them were missing.

She did her best to act calm in front of the guards. When they noticed the girl was gone, a couple of hours had already passed. They hurried out to search for her but couldn't find her.

Mateo was returning to the Licciardi mansion when the girl crossed his path, and he couldn't avoid hitting her. That road divided the two properties. He was shocked to see her lying there. After checking her, he realized she was still breathing. He had learned first aid at military school, so he took the necessary precautions before lifting her.

He took her to his mansion, hoping she would wake up soon so he could find out who she was. He took care of her for two days, but she didn't respond. When she finally woke up, he noticed she was blind because her eyes didn't focus on him when he spoke. He could sense her desperation when he suggested calling her family. He tried to reassure her, promising to keep her safe.

She was a very beautiful young woman with perfect, angelic features. Her skin was very fair, her brown hair long. Her eyes were a deep blue, reflecting a lost, empty gaze. It was terrible that such a beautiful girl was trapped in such darkness.

She looked so fragile, so defenseless. Immediately, Mateo hired someone to take care of her. He thought she needed care at least until she recovered. After that, he would decide what to do based on what she told him and the reasons she had for not wanting to notify her family about what had happened.

A week had passed since Ava arrived at the Licciardi mansion. Mateo hadn't spoken to her again. He was a man too busy; at 30 years old, he had achieved great heights but sacrificed a significant portion of his freedom in return.

He traveled constantly for business, and he realized he couldn't get what had happened out of his mind when he was in front of that girl. He needed to know what was truly going on with her.

He had returned from Venice the previous night. An investor meeting had been held, and he had no choice but to attend.

The next morning, he decided it was time to talk to Ava. The doctor informed him that she was feeling better. He needed to understand why she was running away.

He couldn't comprehend how someone could attempt to harm an angel like her. Without knowing why, he felt an overwhelming need to protect her. Being around her made him experience a strange warmth.

From the moment he first saw her, her gaze had been etched into him. He was confused, trying to find a logical explanation for what he was experiencing with this girl. Perhaps it was because he saw her as defenseless. He wasn't the type of man to fall in love.

He never had been. Love wasn't for him-at least, that's what he believed until that moment. Love made men weak, dependent, and he had no intention of becoming one of them.

Ava felt frightened and nervous. It was a completely unfamiliar place. During the first few days, she needed help to locate things. Eventually, she learned the layout of the room, not without bumping into furniture corners a few times. Doing simple, everyday tasks in an unknown place was a challenge for her.

That morning, she stepped out onto the small terrace outside her room and sat in a comfortable chair. She deduced that the mansion must have a beautiful garden. She could distinguish the aroma of the flowers. Among them, she recognized the fragrance of roses and peonies, her favorite flowers. So, she could distinguish their scent above any other.

She was about to get up and go back into the room when she sensed that gentle fragrance, the same one she had felt when she woke up after the accident. She immediately realized that Mateo was approaching.

"Hello," he greeted as he observed her. She looked especially beautiful that morning, almost like an angel. "How are you feeling?"

"Hello, I'm much better, thank you," she timidly replied.

"I would like to talk to you."

"Of course, go ahead."

Ava could imagine what Mateo wanted to tell her. She felt embarrassed to ask for his help, as she had no one else to turn to.

"I need you to tell me what happened that night. It seemed like you were running away from someone. I don't want you to ever think that I don't want you here. On the contrary, I need to know in order to help you."

"It's a long story. All I can tell you is that my uncle, Teodoro Miller, wants to force me to marry him. My nanny helped me escape. I'm very worried, and I need to know how she's doing." Mateo thought for a while. He knew well the reputation that Teodoro had, as they moved in the same circles.

"I don't understand why your uncle would want to force you into something like that. If he's your family, he shouldn't do that. You can stay here as long as you'd like. From now on, you're under my protection and that of my mother and grandfather. You'll meet them tonight at dinner. They also live here and are returning from their trip."

"Thank you so much. I'm sorry for being a bother, but right now, I don't know what to do. I have nowhere to go, and the only person I trust is my nanny."

Ava didn't know why this stranger inspired so much trust in her. She told him her whole story: her parents' death, how her uncle took control of her inheritance, of which she was unaware until the night she overheard him talking to the lawyer. She also told him why she had lost her sight. She had just met him, but there was something in his voice that reassured her.

"I'm really sorry that you've gone through so much at such a young age. I'll try to find out how your nanny is doing. Next weekend, I'll be attending an event where your uncle will be present. We've been invited by several potential investors. He wants to expand his company. One of my best friends will be there, and I'll ask him to help distract them so I can slip into the mansion and look for your nanny. I'm sure she won't refuse. She loves the thrill."

"My nanny's name is Lola. Her room is the last one on the right going up the stairs." The girl's face brightened at the thought that her nanny might soon be with her.

"Do you need me to bring something from the mansion for you?"

"That would be too risky. The mansion is guarded by several bodyguards. They change shifts at two in the morning. But there is something I'd like to retrieve. My room is just before my nanny's. In the dressing room, on the bottom shelf, there's a small dark-colored safe. Inside is a pink box with diamond inlays. Its contents are very important to me."

Mateo didn't know why he couldn't stop looking at her. She was beautiful, and certain gestures she made while speaking made her look adorable. He realized that what he was feeling was very wrong. He felt quite old next to her.

Twelve years was a significant age gap, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to appear opportunistic. He tried to sort out and calm his thoughts. Ava gave him the combination for the safe. He noticed that she wore a beautiful bracelet on her wrist, with a small key hanging from it.

She explained that for every number he dialed, he had to turn back two numbers. Once to the right, the next to the left, and so on until he had entered all the numbers. When he heard the click of the lock, he had to press the button on the side twice to prevent the alarm from going off.

Mateo thought that the contents of that box must be really important for her to protect it this way. And the girl must be very desperate to trust a man who was almost a stranger to her.

Ava, on her part, felt that maybe he shouldn't take that risk for a woman he barely knew. If he did it out of pity, it would be something she couldn't bear. She didn't like being seen in that way.

"I've hired someone who will be responsible for assisting you until you settle into the house. You can confidently ask them for anything you need. I've taken the liberty of having some things brought for you, like clothes and personal items. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Thank you so much. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I hope to be able to repay you soon."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to do it," Mateo said. If only Ava could see the way he was looking at her, or if he could see himself in the mirror-he was completely entranced just watching her. "Tell me, what do you usually do to distract yourself?"

"I like doing anything that can stimulate my imagination-reading, listening to the radio or television," she replied. Mateo's thoughts drifted to other things he liked to do to stimulate his imagination. He mentally scolded himself for thinking about that at that moment.

"Great! There's a television in your room, and I've bought some Braille books. Loren must have placed them on the bedside table already. I hope you like my choices, but if not, let me know which ones you'd like to read."

"You don't have to worry about that. I've already caused enough trouble."

"As I've said, it's no trouble at all," Mateo reassured her. In fact, he thought that nothing coming from this girl could bother him.

"Thank you," Ava said with a beautiful smile on her face. Mateo sighed as he observed her.

"Dinner will be at nine. Loren will come up to assist you with anything you need."

Mateo bid her farewell and left immediately. He enjoyed the company of this girl far too much.

Mateo's mother and grandfather arrived later. Aurora wanted to go upstairs right away to meet Ava, but Mateo stopped her before she could. He didn't want the girl to feel uncomfortable. His mother tended to be excessively affectionate.

Guido was more suspicious. He asked Mateo to explain in detail what had happened. He would make sure that the girl wasn't lying, assuming she was truly blind.

And if she was, that didn't guarantee she was a good person. He thought that maybe she could be a gold digger trying to ensnare his grandson. On the other hand, if the story she told was real, he would help his grandson protect her from whatever it might be. If she was lying, he would make sure to destroy her.

The assistant, Loren, arranged everything in the room that Mateo had purchased for the girl. She thought it was somewhat sad that the girl couldn't see all the beautiful clothes.

"Miss, Mr. Licciardi has asked me to be at your service. On the nightstand, you'll find all the books he brought. In front of your bed is the television. A voice-activated system has been set up so you can turn it on and watch your favorite programs or videos. Mr. Licciardi recorded his cellphone number in the phone he brought for you, so you can call him whenever you need something."

"Thank you. Could you help me choose a dress for dinner, please?"

"Of course. There's a red dress that's beautiful. I think it's perfect for tonight. I don't know if it's too forward of me, but if you'd like, I can help you with your makeup and hair for the occasion."

"That would be great. My nanny usually helps me get ready for special occasions. For my everyday look, I just need you to show me where the casual clothes are. It's a bit difficult right now because I don't know the place well, and I need to recognize where everything is to adapt."

"On the left side of the dressing room, we placed the formal clothing. On the right side, you'll find the casual clothing, as well as shoes and accessories."

"Thank you very much. I'm sorry to be a bother."

"It's not a bother. I'm happy to help," Loren smiled. That girl seemed so defenseless, it stirred up her tenderness.

Ava realized that everyone was making an effort to make her feel comfortable. She was used to being independent, but her problem was that she didn't know the place, which made it difficult for her to find things.

Loren helped her get ready. She thought the girl looked beautiful in that dress. It was a high-necked, red dress that was fitted until the waist, sleeveless with a semi-circular skirt that reached just above the knees. It had an elegant touch. She wore low-heeled shoes of the same color. It was a pity she couldn't see how she looked.

Loren lightly applied makeup and then styled her hair. Her long hair cascaded over her back in soft waves. The assistant smiled sweetly at her; she appeared like a beautiful doll.

Later, Ava descended to the dining room with Loren guiding her, holding her hand to prevent her from falling on the stairs. Mateo, his grandfather, and his mother were already there, and they were amazed when they saw her because she looked very beautiful.

Mateo made an effort to hide what Ava stirred in him. If his family discovered his feelings, he would be extremely embarrassed. He immediately approached her to guide her to where his family was. Aurora warmly greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Guido greeted her with courtesy, and then Mateo led her to the chair next to him. Ava realized she was nervous for no reason; Mateo's grandfather and mother were very pleasant.

Ava briefly felt strange. This was the warmth of a home that she desperately needed. The words of those people made her feel protected, although in Guido's tone of voice, she could sense something else.

Throughout dinner, Guido was tempted to interrogate the girl. He felt great curiosity. Upon seeing her, she gave off an impression of innocence, without malice. However, he couldn't trust blindly; he would make sure this wasn't a plan concocted by Ava. He stopped himself, recognizing that it wasn't the right time. He didn't want to scare or discomfort her. He had noticed Mateo's change-how he looked at her with clear affection. That young girl had changed something in him, and Guido found himself pleased by it.

Although Mateo was grown and could look after himself, he was his only grandson, and Guido felt the urgent need to protect him.

Mateo was a man who knew how to watch his back. In business, he displayed a strong and relentless temperament. Wherever he went, his presence was felt. His adversaries feared him; they knew perfectly well that he was capable of destroying them. He didn't hold back if someone tried to harm him.

After finishing dinner, Ava said her goodbyes and headed upstairs to rest. Mateo would have liked to spend more time with her, but he understood that she wanted to retire. After all, they were still complete strangers to her. Loren took Ava by the arm to guide her to her room. Ava climbed the stairs slowly to avoid tripping, thinking that in a few more days, she wouldn't need assistance anymore as she was getting accustomed to the house's layout.

Later, as he passed by the girl's room, Mateo heard a strange noise. He knocked on the door, but when he received no response, he decided to enter. Ava didn't lock the door, just in case Loren needed to come in.

Upon entering, Mateo was greatly surprised. Before him stood the girl who had collided with a piece of furniture while walking towards the bathroom. Some books had fallen, causing a loud noise. Everything would have been fine if it weren't for the fact that she was in her underwear, desperately trying to cover herself with her hands.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention. I was passing by and heard a loud noise. I knocked on the door, but when I didn't get a response, I decided to come in. I thought you might have hurt yourself," he said, his gaze running up and down her body. He made a great effort to look away, but it was impossible. The girl's body seemed to be like a magnet pulling him in.

"I'm fine. I just tripped, and some books fell," she said timidly, feeling mortified by the situation.

Mateo didn't respond. He practically rushed out of the room and minutes later found himself under the cold water in the bathroom.

"Damn it! She's beautiful. I need to control myself. This girl is seriously throwing me off balance."

Ava felt terribly embarrassed, and the situation warranted it. She wasn't used to locking her door; she thought it was easier that way in case someone needed to enter.

In the following days, Mateo avoided her at all costs. He felt ashamed; his attempt to help her had only made her uncomfortable.

The day of the investor party had arrived, and Guido was very upset. He believed that his grandson shouldn't risk himself to save the girl's nanny. They could have hired other people to do it.

Mateo was about to leave for the place where he would meet with the other investors. Even though his grandfather had expressed his thoughts, he didn't pay attention. He knew very well how to watch his own back. On that day, he dressed in a custom-made black suit. He decided to go up and say goodbye to Ava.

He had avoided seeing her since the day he had seen her practically naked. When he stood in front of her room, he knocked on the door. This time, he knocked loudly to ensure that she heard him. Moments later, the girl stood before him. As always, whenever he saw her, Mateo became captivated by her beautiful face.

"I'm on my way to the meeting where your uncle will be. My friend and his wife are willing to help me distract him while I head to the Miller mansion. Fortunately, it's very close to the event venue, so I'll walk there instead of using my car. It's better not to let them know that I'm leaving the meeting for a moment. Some of my men will be waiting for me nearby."

"I'm very sorry. Since I arrived, I've only caused one inconvenience after another. I feel bad that you're putting yourself at risk to help me, Mr. Licciardi."

"It's not an inconvenience. I'm doing it willingly. And please, call me Mateo. If you call me 'Mr.,' it makes me feel old." Ava smiled at his words.

"Alright, Mateo. Thank you for helping me. But I can't help feeling embarrassed."

Mateo approached her. Unable to resist, he gently held her chin, looking into her eyes. They were a beautiful shade of sea blue. In that moment, he felt strange. What was happening with this girl? His heart began to race.

"Listen carefully. I don't know why, but something inside me wants to help you. I want you to feel safe by my side. What your uncle has done to you is simply an abuse in all forms. He has no right to force you into marriage, and the inheritance your parents left you belongs only to you. I won't let him have his way. I hope your nanny is safe, and I'll bring her to you today."

Ava froze at his closeness. She had never felt what she was feeling now. She struggled to find her voice, but just as she was about to speak, Mateo quickly kissed her on the forehead and turned around to leave in a hurry. He didn't want Ava to realize what she stirred within him. Having her so close had left his breathing uneven.