Until I See You

Bridget Verlice:

I have always wondered,

What's the hardest thing in life?

Is it finding happiness in a society that constantly buries all your dreams and hopes, keeping you trapped in a box of expectations?

Is it love? Everyone seems to say it's hard in romance books and movies, but is that the real challenge?

Is it surviving the teenage years, navigating hormonal changes, school stress, exams, and worrying about what the future holds?

Or perhaps it's finding a good job—something that fits your passions, but also pays well enough to sustain you in an increasingly expensive world?

Or maybe it's getting married, building a family, and—above all—keeping that family together through thick and thin?

My father always tells me that the hardest thing in life is being a lawyer.

My father… is THE Hudson Verlice.

He's a highly respected lawyer, known across the country for his work ethic and success.

I believed him because, in my twenty-five years of life, I've witnessed how hard he works and how much time and effort he pours into every single client's case, no matter how big or small.

For me, being a lawyer became the hardest thing in life too. But I like challenges, anything adventurous, anything that pushes me beyond my limits—things people often find too difficult or impossible, things they tend to avoid because it's scary or overwhelming.

That's exactly why I decided to become a lawyer, following in the footsteps of my role model, my dad.

Oh, by the way, hello, I'm Bridget Verlice.

I'm currently in my senior year of law school.

I should have graduated over two years ago, but some personal problems arose within my family, and as much as I hate to admit it, those issues had a huge effect on my mental health.

When I was eighteen, I graduated from high school, earning first place in my class.

My family was beyond proud, their heads practically bursting through the stratosphere with pride.

I couldn't have been more grateful for the joy I brought them.

Seeing my family so happy made me feel like I had achieved something great.

To say I was excited to start law school would be a huge understatement. I was so eager that I wished summer didn't exist, just so I could dive right into university—the university of my dreams.

But everything shattered when I received the news of my parents' divorce.

I couldn't believe it at first.

If you asked anyone who knew my parents, they'd tell you that Hudson and Maria Verlice were the real-life versions of Romeo and Juliet.

They were high school sweethearts who married right after graduation.

They'd been together for nearly twenty-five years, which made the news of their split shocking to everyone in our lives.

I don't have any siblings.

Despite being an only child, I never felt lonely or wished for brothers or sisters. I had all the love, care, and attention I could ever ask for from my parents.

I appreciated them more than anything.

So, their divorce devastated me.

What made it even worse was that they refused to tell me the real reason behind their separation.

Right after the announcement, they signed the divorce papers, sold the house I grew up in, and moved to separate homes.

The very same house where I had made countless memories was no longer ours.

That year, I refused to enroll in any university or school. Instead, I stayed home with my dad, spending most of my time in the gym or immersed in video games, trying to escape reality.

The following year, I thought I was ready to start university, but then another piece of news destroyed the last shred of hope I had that my parents might get back together.

My mother sent me an invitation to her wedding.

I had a complete mental breakdown when I saw the invitation.

I ripped it to pieces and refused to go to the wedding. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing my mother replace my father with another man.

I know it sounds selfish, and maybe I was a terrible daughter for not considering my mother's happiness, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force myself to attend.

I failed.

My dad went, though.

Even now, five years later, I still have no idea who my mother married.

My relationship with my dad remains strong.

As for my mother, she visits us every now and then, spending time with me, but we have one unspoken rule: she never mentions her spouse or their children, if she has any.

She agreed to that condition, and for that, I'm grateful.

Eventually, I came to terms with my parents' separation and finally decided to join law school at almost twenty-one years old, meaning I wasted three years after graduating high school.

But my dad supported me every step of the way, patiently waiting for me to be ready to start studying again.

My family—on both my mom's and dad's sides—could be described as rich.

As I mentioned earlier, my father is a well-known, rich lawyer.

My mother is a civil engineer.

My grandfather on my mom's side is a retired judge.

My uncle, my dad's brother, is the Director General of the Police.

My aunt, my dad's sister, is a successful surgeon.

My late paternal grandfather was an incredibly wealthy investor, owning and investing in numerous companies, restaurants, properties—you name it.

His wealth was passed down equally to my dad and his siblings.

Lastly, my mother's only brother works at the Social Security Headquarters.

Pretty successful, and completely legal.

I had no idea that fate had even more in store for me, ready to throw my life upside down.

I wouldn't be able to tell whether I was moving forward or backward.

I had no idea fate was planning something that would completely shake my world.

Who would've guessed that the perfect, "spoiled daughter" of the famous lawyer and civil engineer would fall in love with her neighbor … and not just any neighbor.

A blind man, to be specific.

A blind, mysterious man hiding countless dangerous secrets.

Secrets that could turn two people deeply in love into sworn enemies.

The Segas' secrets.

No one could have predicted it.

Especially not me.