It wasn’t the accident that made me blind.
Memories crashed over me. My heart ached with the weight of betrayal. After a long silence, I forced out another question.
"The painting I gave you... Do you still have it?"
Her eyes darted away before she answered, "The maid had it framed, but it got moldy during the rainy season. I had to throw it out." She waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, it wasn’t even original, right? Just a copy of that foreign artist, Code Teel. You can paint me another once your eyes heal."
My throat tightened. Heal? My corneas were gone. How could I ever see again?
I remembered that day clearly. When I gifted her that painting, Jed had sneered. "It’s not bad, but it can't hold a candle to Code Teel's work. Giving Mom a knockoff... are you trying to insult her for raising a fake son all these years?"
Back then, Mom's face had darkened with disappointment. "You're my real son. There's no need to play petty games or target Jed."
I stood there, frozen. I wanted to tell her that I was Code Teel. But seeing her cold gaze, my courage suddenly drained.