�Then I won�t,� Renee said firmly, then added, �I want money, and I can get that money by selling my eyes. I won�t turn down such an offer.�

�I told you I can give you the money,� Jovan said seriously.

�No, that won�t do!� Renee felt anxious, wondering if Jovan had sensed something. Stubbornly, she continued, �I might be poor, but I don�t need others charity. I�d feel guilty if I took your money without giving you something in return. I hate owing others.�

�You hate owing others�� Jovan murmured, sadness tainting his tone. �An old friend of mine she was forced to owe me a big favor. If it�s possible, I hope it�ll stay that way.�

�Umm� Why?� Renee blinked in confusion.

�It�s a lifelong shackle if she owes me a favor.� Jovan laughed at himself for being such a fool. �At least she�ll never forget me that way.�

�I see. Well, that�s what you think.� Renee felt uneasy. She didn�t understand why Jovan loved her so deeply, and why he was willing to sacrifice so much just for the sake of having a connection to her.

�You think I�m stupid, don�t you?� Jovan�s gaze was complicated. �I had a lot of ways to make her mine, and I was by no means a gentleman, but� I don�t know why I couldn�t do it when it came to her. I couldn�t bear to see her sad or desperate; I would be sad too if she were. It was so strange.� Jovan shook his head in agitation, then reached for his cup of coffee. He felt around, not knowing where Eloise had put it.

�Here.� Renee took his cup and handed it to him kindly, and their fingers brushed. Jovan�s body jolted like he had been struck by electricity, and his eyes grew wide in disbelief. �It�s� you?�

Panicked, Renee pulled her hand back and accidentally knocked over Jovan�s cup of coffee.

�I�m sorry!� Renee hurriedly used a handkerchief to wipe up the spilled coffee, but in her panic, she forgot to modify her voice.

Jovan immediately became suspicious and grabbed Renee�s wrist. �Who are you?�

�Didn�t I tell you, Mr. Hunt? I�m Brisa Stone! Don�t get handsy with me-I�m just selling my eyes, not my body!� Renee said teasingly as she tried to pull away, knowing she had to stay calm. If she panicked, she would give herself away.

�Brisa Stone?� Jovan�s gaze was void but his expression was alert. �Is that a name you just made up? Are you really� not my old friend?�

�Which old friend of yours do you think I am, Mr. Hunt?� Renee calmly asked him.

�You feel like her�� Jovan frowned contemplatively, then shook his head. �But it�s impossible. She should be spending happy days with the one she cares about now. She wouldn�t remember a useless man like me.�

�Don�t say that.� Renee felt sorry for Jovan, and said earnestly, �I don�t think she�ll feel that way since she�s so important to you. Maybe she�s not being lovey-dovey with someone else, and you�re always on her mind.�

�I�m always on her mind?� Shaking his head, Jovan chuckled bitterly. �I know my place well�there�s no way she�d think about me. It doesn�t matter anyway; I�m just happy that I could have half a year with her in exchange for my eyes and health.�

An unusually tender expression softened his icy features as he thought about his time with Renee.

�Though it was brief, the time we spent together was so precious. I used to lie to myself and pretend we were a married couple back then.� He let out a soft sigh, then continued forlornly, "Unfortunately, I was useless back then because I couldn�t see or walk. There were even days when I wanted to kill myself, but her support and company made me realize how wonderful it was to be alive.� JrNovels.com