The cold shine of the jewels reflected in Arthur's brown eyes as he listened to Vivian Miller's torrent of passionate words. She was dazzling, a socialite with sculpted beauty and an enviable bank account, the kind of woman many men would beg for a look from. But for Arthur, Vivian was just another trophy, a fleeting conquest in his collection of ephemeral pleasures.

Vivian came from a family of famous doctors who had built a large empire of hospitals and medical clinics throughout the country. A great empire in medicine for several generations.

"Arthur," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion, her delicate hands seeking his on the polished mahogany table of the exclusive restaurant. "I've fallen in love with you. Completely."

A slight smile, more sarcasm than kindness, curved Arthur's thin lips. He withdrew his hand, her touch now feeling sticky and uncomfortable. "Vivian," he began, his voice a tone lower than usual, laden with an elegant boredom. "You've fallen in love with the fantasy of Arthur Maldonado, the charming billionaire CEO. Not with me."

He picked up his glass of red wine, the ruby liquid swirling lazily as he watched her. There was genuine sadness in her eyes, a vulnerability he invariably ignored. For Arthur, love was a weakness, a breach in the armor he had carefully built around himself. The passionate declarations were a predictable inconvenience, a tedious side effect of his wealth and beauty.

"Don't say that," she insisted, tears now blurring her green eyes. "I know you..."

Arthur let out a short, dry laugh. "You know the facade, Vivian. The one that appears on magazine covers and attends charity auctions. The real Arthur Maldonado is a ruthless businessman, with limited time and zero interest in fairy tales."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the room with calculated impatience. "It was pleasant, Vivian. But I have appointments."

Without waiting for an answer, he walked away, leaving her alone with a broken heart and the painful realization that, for Arthur, love was an empty word, as insignificant as a zero to the right of his countless bank digits. This was his routine, a vicious cycle of conquests and discards, until the sudden and forced darkness confronted him with a vulnerability he never imagined possible.

The cold night breeze caressed Arthur's face as he left the restaurant, the muffled sound of classical music following him briefly before being drowned out by the powerful roar of his black McLaren's engine. He slid into the sports car, the soft leather of the seat enveloping him in a familiar and comforting embrace. The city sparkled before him, a sea of lights that always seemed to him a silent testament to his power and influence.

With a light touch on the accelerator, the car roared, propelling him onto the busy avenue. Arthur enjoyed the sensation of speed, the wind howling around the car, the adrenaline rushing through his veins. It was one of the few genuine emotions that still reached him amidst his opulent and, to him, superficial existence.

Lost in his thoughts, mentally reviewing the details of that morning's acquisition, Arthur didn't notice the blinding lights of an out-of-control truck invading the oncoming lane at high speed. The deafening sound of the horn sounded like a warning cry at the last instant, jolting him out of his concentration.

There was a fraction of a second of icy recognition, the belated realization of the imminent danger. Arthur tried to brake, his hands clenching on the steering wheel, but it was too late. The impact was brutal, a violent shock that shook the car to its core, as if an invisible giant had crushed it with one blow.

The sound of twisted metal and shattered glass echoed through the night, followed by a sepulchral and oppressive silence. Arthur's body was thrown against the seat belt with excruciating force, his head hitting violently against the inflating airbag. A sharp and searing pain exploded in his eyes, as if incandescent needles were piercing them.

Acrid smoke began to fill the interior of the destroyed car, the smell of gasoline lingering in the air. Arthur tried to open his eyes, but all he found was an impenetrable darkness, a black void that swallowed him completely. The pain throbbed in his head, waves of nausea washed over him, and a disorienting confusion prevented him from understanding what had happened.

He tried to move, but his body felt heavy, strangely disconnected. The metallic taste of blood invaded his mouth. Amidst the chaos of his dazed mind, a single and terrifying certainty began to emerge: the light, the world he had always dominated with a cold and calculating gaze, had gone out. The darkness, once a metaphor for his soul, was now a physical and relentless reality.

Four months later...

The bedroom door creaked open slowly as Serena entered with Nurse Sabrina Santos.

"" Arthur, son. Your new nurse has arrived. Please, my dear, don't be rude this time.

Arthur merely curled his lips sarcastically. Sabrina was the twelfth nurse in four months since he had the accident and became blind and had difficulty moving.

The soft sound of the two women's footsteps echoed in the dimly lit room. Arthur, lying comfortably in bed, clenched his fists under the linen sheet. Another intruder. Another pair of pitying eyes to stare at him in his new reality of darkness.

"" You can go, Mom, "" his hoarse, impatient voice cut through the silence. "" I don't need anyone else here.

Serena sighed, a weary sound that had become familiar in recent months. -- Arthur, dear, you need care. Sabrina is very experienced and highly recommended. Please give her a chance.

He turned his face to the side, his jaw tense. The idea of having another stranger invade his privacy, witnessing his fragility, was unbearable. The independence he had always cherished, the ability to control every aspect of his life, had been brutally snatched away. Now, he was dependent, vulnerable, a ghost in the very mansion that once echoed with his authority.

Sabrina cleared her throat softly. -- Mr. Maldonado, I understand your reluctance. But I am here to help you regain your autonomy, as much as possible. I am a nurse, and my goal is to make your routine more comfortable and facilitate your rehabilitation.

Arthur let out a bitter, humorless laugh. -- My autonomy was gone the moment that truck hit me, Nurse. And as for comfort... well, darkness isn't particularly comfortable.

He could feel Sabrina's hesitant gaze on him, the aura of caution that surrounded her. All the previous nurses had shown the same initial apprehension, mixed with a dose of pity that he hated more than the blindness itself. They arrived full of good intentions, trying to cheer him up, encourage him. But their forced smiles and words of comfort sounded empty, distant echoes of a world he could no longer see.

"" I know this is a difficult time, Mr. Maldonado, "" Sabrina continued, her voice calm and firm, without the overly compassionate tone he hated so much. "" But recovery takes time and effort. I am here to guide you through this process.

"" I don't need guides, "" Arthur retorted, his tone cutting. "" I need my sight back. And that, no one can give me.

Silence settled again in the room, heavy and laden with tension. Serena placed a hesitant hand on her son's arm, but he recoiled from the touch.

"" Arthur... please... "" she pleaded, her voice choked.

He sighed, yielding minimally. -- Whatever. Let her stay. But don't expect kindness from me.

Sabrina maintained her composure, despite the evident hostility. -- I expect nothing more than professional cooperation, Mr. Maldonado. I am here to do my job.

Arthur turned away again, turning his back on the two women. Their presence in his sanctuary of darkness was a constant irritation, a palpable reminder of his powerlessness. He could feel Sabrina's eyes on his back, but he refused to speak to her again. In his mind, she was just another obstacle, another indistinct face in his new and dark reality. And he had no patience for another spectator of his disgrace.

"" Miss Sabrina, please let's go to the office. "" Serena invited, looking at the nurse, "" Son, Sabrina will return shortly, be gentle, my dear...

Arthur remained silent, listening to the sound of the bedroom door closing...

Four months living in darkness... Four months without seeing the light of day... Arthur refused to go through the doctor again. Two specialists had already said that his case was very complicated and the chances of seeing again were very small. He lived with the fear of having another negative diagnosis, and thus lived alone, in his world of darkness.

Sabrina entered the office of the mansion where Arthur lived accompanied by his mother. Serena now managed the company, holding a great responsibility in her hands.

"" Sit down, Miss Santos. As you saw, my son is not a good patient. He has always acted this way with all the other nurses who have been here. None of them managed to complete a month of work. But I believe you are different. My son has a strong personality and refuses to be cared for by anyone, even by me, who is his mother.

Sabrina, with her attentive eyes and sharp ears, paid attention to Serena's words.

"" Mrs. Maldonado, in the hospital we take care of patients with personalities similar to your son's. In reality, what happens is that he is wanting to live in his "little world" because he thinks that people are by his side only out of pity. I will do my best to achieve what the other nurses have not achieved.

"" Great, "" exclaimed Serena with a discreet smile. "" As you already know, you will have to live here and your day off will be on Saturday. You will receive your salary every fifteen days. If you need to go out to resolve something important during working hours, you will have to communicate at least twelve hours in advance.

"" Yes, I agree,"" replied Sabrina confidently. "" My phone will be available for when you need to call any information. I have my house, but I've been here lately to take care of Arthur. But things in the company have become quite complicated, increasing my responsibility, and now it will be very difficult to have time to take care of him... I hope you can, "" she said with a tearful voice, "" my son built a solid and well-structured company, but without his administration, the company has been going through difficult times.

"" I don't promise to be the professional who will change Mr. Maldonado's cold manner, but I promise to work very hard to ensure he has a good recovery.

"" Thank you for your courage, Miss Santos. Now I will call Mrs. Vera, who is the housekeeper of the house. Arthur is very attached to her. For anything you need, just talk to the housekeeper Vera.

Sabrina is introduced to the housekeeper Vera, a charismatic and very kind lady. -- It's a pleasure, Mrs. Vera, I'm Sabrina Santos, Mr. Maldonado's new nurse -- said the nurse with a discreet smile on her lips. -- The pleasure is mine, Miss Sabrina...I hope my boy accepts your help. He has despised all the other nurses who have been here.

"Sabrina will try her best, Vera. She will do a great job, if she doesn't, we will hire another one""argued Arthur's mother with a slightly harsh tone of voice."

"That's good, girl. Arthur is arrogant, but my boy is not like that with everyone. Be patient and know how to give him the space he needs. In time, he will recognize your effort."

"Arthur likes Vera more than me, who is his mother,""revealed Serena Maldonado with an expression of resentment."

"It's not quite like that, Mrs. Maldonado. Arthur loves you as a mother, but since he has always lived with me since he was a boy, he is more attached to me."

At that moment, Serena gives the housekeeper a dark look that did not go unnoticed by Sabrina, as if wanting to reprimand her. -- Sorry, Mrs. Maldonado, I said too much, - argued the housekeeper, lowering her head, embarrassed.

"Yes, you have to know your place. Employees don't need to know what happens to their bosses. I need to go to the company now. Vera, take care of everything Sabrina will need to settle in the guest room. And miss,""Serena looks at Sabrina from head to toe,""you know you need to help my son take a bath, he will certainly refuse, but be insistent. Arthur might fall."

"Alright, ma'am. I will be very careful. Don't worry."

Arthur's mother says goodbye and leaves soon after, leaving some questions in Sabrina's head.

"Let's go to your room, Miss""Vera walks out of the room, taking Sabrina to the guest room.""Everything is already arranged, Miss Santos. I left your bags near the bed, soon I'll ask a maid to come and arrange them in the closet,""Sabrina hesitated immediately.""There's no need, Mrs. Vera. I'll do it myself, you don't need to worry... I like to organize my own clothes."

Vera nodded: -- Alright, my dear. I hope Arthur accepts your professional help. But as I said before, be patient with him. At first, Arthur will certainly treat you badly, but after he sees your willingness and your effort to help him, he will act differently.

Sabrina held Vera's hands firmly. -- You are very attached to Mr. Maldonado. I will try my best to endure his bad mood.

Vera hugs Sabrina emotionally.

"Thank you, my dear, for understanding. I feel that this time will be different. Arthur is very special to me."

"Now I'm going to see how he is, excuse me.""Sabrina left towards Arthur's room. Upon arriving at the room, she opened the door slowly, trying not to make noise. She walked to the bed and noticed that he was sleeping."

Arthur's face, even shrouded in the shadow of the room, showed strong and defined features. His dark hair was disheveled on the pillow, and his breathing was slow and steady. Sabrina observed the line of his jaw, the curve of his closed lips, imagining the shine that his brown eyes must have had before the tragedy. It was undeniable the masculine beauty that emanated from him, even in his state of vulnerability.

Sabrina sat in the armchair next to the bed. Her thoughts were somehow tumultuous.

She remembered the whispered comments in the hospital before accepting the case. "A charming man", "an arrogant guy", "a successful businessman who lost his sight", "a real heartthrob, but he doesn't want to love or marry anyone". Now, the beauty remained, but surrounded by an aura of suffering and isolation. Sabrina felt a twinge of empathy, an understanding of the frustration and anger that consumed him. Losing his sight, his independence, must be a terrible ordeal for a man used to being in control.

Her fingers traced the outline of her own hand, imagining the feeling of no longer being able to see the colors, the shapes, the world around him. The darkness must be overwhelming, a constant weight on his shoulders. She admired the strength he showed, even in his hostility, a stubborn resistance against his new reality.

A slight sigh escaped Arthur's lips, breaking the silence of the room. Sabrina held her breath, watching him carefully. His eyes moved slightly under his closed eyelids, as if he was dreaming. For a moment, the nurse allowed herself to imagine the man behind the mask of sarcasm and bitterness. Who was Arthur Maldonado before the accident? A cheerful man? Passionate about life? About his work?

The door creaked softly, and Vera peeked into the room. Seeing Sabrina sitting there, watching Arthur with a serene expression, the housekeeper smiled discreetly and made a silent gesture of approval before leaving, closing the door carefully.

Sabrina turned her attention back to Arthur, feeling a mixture of challenge and determination. She would not be just another nurse to give up. She would strive to break through the barrier of his pain, to find a way to help him rebuild his life, even in the darkness.

Sabrina stayed there for some time, but realizing that Arthur might take a while to wake up, she decided to return to her room and put her clothes in the closet.

As she got up, she tripped on the leg of the armchair. -- Who's there? -- Asked Arthur, waking up quickly. -- Sabrina swallowed hard, feeling intimidated. -- It's me, Mr. Maldonado, the nurse Sabrina Santos.

Arthur opened his eyes, even without being able to see, he could hear the nurse's panting next to the bed.

"What are you doing here?""He asks again with a tone of displeasure.""I came to see how you were and ended up tripping on the armchair, I'm sorry for disturbing your rest."

Arthur was silent for a moment. -- Get out of my room, I'll call you if necessary. -- He spoke arrogantly. -- Sabrina bit her lips, imagining how to answer him.

"I can't leave now, I need your medication scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon.""Sabrina immediately remembered Arthur's medication."