Chapter One

Hired to impersonate a runaway fiancée, she thought it would be just another acting job. But when Kai, blinded by the accident that stole his memory, pulls her into his arms with heartbreaking tenderness, the lines between performance and reality blur. His mother's cold instructions echo in her mind-keep the charade going until the transplant, give him the abandoned engagement ring, maintain the lie at all costs.

But Kai's love is anything but pretend. His hands memorize her every curve, his ears catch every tremor in her stolen voice. When he whispers promises of marriage and begs for a child, her carefully constructed facade begins to crack. The more he trusts her, the deeper the betrayal cuts. And when his brother Lucas starts asking questions with a knowing smirk, she realizes this house of cards is about to collapse.

In a world where every touch is a lie and every "I love you" is stolen, how long can she play the part before her own heart becomes the ultimate casualty? When the blind man sees more than anyone realizes, what happens when he finally opens his eyes to the truth?

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The Impostor's Skin

The air left my lungs in a sudden rush as my back hit the mattress, the impact jarring every bone. One moment I was leaning over to place his dinner tray on the bedside table, the next I was pinned beneath him, his body a solid, warm weight that stole my breath. His movements had been startlingly swift for a blind man, a predator’s instinct taking over before my brain could process the threat.

His face buried itself in the curve of my neck, the scrape of his stubble a sharp contrast to the soft press of his lips. A shiver, cold and unwelcome, traced its way down my spine. His hand settled low on my stomach, palm flat and possessive.

“It’s been so long. How come there’s still no bump?”

The words were murmured against my skin, each syllable a vibration that seemed to sink straight into my bloodstream. His kisses trailed downward, a slow, deliberate path that made my muscles lock with a panic I couldn’t show.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic bird trying to break free from a cage of guilt. This was the part of the job description his mother had conveniently omitted: the physical intimacy, the expectation of a history I hadn’t lived. I brought my hands up, pressing against the solid wall of his chest. The push was feeble, a token resistance that felt like betrayal.

“Kai,”

I managed, the name—his name—feeling like a lie on my tongue even as I shaped it with Rachel’s voice.

He didn’t stop. His hand slid from my stomach to my hip, his grip firm. The warmth of him was everywhere, suffocating. The guilt, a constant companion these past months, twisted into something sharper, more acidic. It wasn't just the deception anymore; it was the violation of this man’s trust, the exploitation of his vulnerability. He was grieving for a woman who had abandoned him, and I was the ghost she’d left behind.

I pushed harder, my voice finding a sliver of strength.

 “I’ll go fetch your meds.”

I scrambled off the bed the moment his weight shifted, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me. I didn’t look back, fleeing the room and the heat of his bewildered silence. The hallway outside was cool, the air-conditioning a shock against my flushed skin. I leaned against the wall for a moment, pressing my forehead to the cool plaster, trying to slow the frantic rhythm of my pulse. The marks on my neck tingled, a brand of my duplicity.

Downstairs, the sterile opulence of the living room offered no comfort. His mother was there, as if she’d been waiting. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, went straight to my neck. The look she gave me could have frozen hell.

“Don’t get any ideas.” Her voice was low, each word a shard of ice. “You’re only pretending to be Rachel. When she comes back, you’re out.”

I nodded, my own voice a trapped whisper. "I understood ma'am." My hand came up instinctively, fingers brushing the sensitive skin he’d kissed, as if I could hide the evidence.

She nodded sharply, a single, dismissive motion. She reached into her purse, retrieving a thick envelope. The crisp white paper crinkled loudly in the quiet room as she tucked it into my hand. The weight of the monthly payment was a cold, tangible reminder of my place here. A transaction.

“Good. Remember your place. Kai needs stability right now, and that’s all you’re here for. Don’t let him get too attached.”

The money felt dirty in my hand. I curled my fingers around it, the edges digging into my palm. I turned without another word and walked toward the kitchen, the marble floor cool through my thin socks. The medicine bottle was in the same cabinet as always, a small brown container of hope and maintenance. I poured a glass of water, watching the liquid swirl, trying to steady my own chaotic thoughts.

Every step back up the staircase was heavy, a climb toward a lie that was becoming harder to breathe. When I pushed open the bedroom door, Kai was already sitting on the edge of the bed, facing the doorway as if he could sense my presence. His fingers were loosely curled around the bedsheet, his posture unnervingly still.

“You’re back.” A small, relieved smile touched his lips. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me waiting too long, Rachel.”

The name was a punch to the gut. "Here take your medicines." I held out the glass, my voice carefully modulated into Rachel’s softer, higher pitch.

He reached out, his movements slow and deliberate. His fingers brushed against my wrist as he took the glass, a brief, cold touch that made me flinch internally. He tilted his head, the smile softening further. “Thank you, baby. Would you sit next to me for a minute? I just... want to feel you close.”

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