The text provides excerpts from a dramatic Mills \& Boon Classics romance novel, centering on Tessa, who is secretly in love with Paul Demetrius, the former fiancé of her "beautiful" but callous sister, Lucinda. After Paul is rendered incurably blind following a severe car accident, Lucinda breaks off their engagement, prompting Tessa to travel to Cyprus where Paul lives as a recluse. Tessa then enters into a deceptive marriage with Paul, allowing him to believe she is Lucinda as she cares for him and meticulously describes the natural beauty of the island. Though Tessa's love deepens, Paul treats her with a confusing mixture of tenderness and cruel sarcasm, appearing to punish her for the abandonment he suffered. The climax occurs when Paul seeks specialist treatment to restore his vision, forcing a terrified Tessa to plan her escape before he can realize her true identity. However, Paul dramatically reveals he had been pretending to be blind to punish Lucinda for her betrayal, ultimately confessing his true, passionate love for Tessa, the woman who risked everything to be with him.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.