Chapter 2

2

I didn't just wake up to the truth today; I had felt it coming ever since Landon showed up.

Yes, the one on the phone just now was Landon Brooks.

Valerie always assumed I was still deaf, so she took his calls right in front of me without shame, sometimes even on speaker.

I heard every single piece of their flirtatious banter loud and clear.

Three days ago, when Landon learned she was flying overseas with me, he threw a petulant fit.

"Valerie, are you really going abroad with your husband? A man and a woman alone in a foreign city... things happen."

"Behave, you little troublemaker. Ethan and I are married."

"But I like you too, Valerie."

"Landon, cut it out."

"Fine."

Landon was eight years younger than Valerie, a fresh college graduate from her alma mater.

At first, Valerie complained about his incompetence, but because he was an underclassman, she never fired him.

Once his internship ended, she signed him to a full-time contract and promoted him to project manager.

From then on, whenever she mentioned Landon, an involuntary smile would creep onto her face.

I couldn't stand it, so I confronted her: "Valerie, you're my wife. Having a guy like that clinging to you makes me uncomfortable."

To my surprise, she blew up at me, calling my mind filthy.

"Landon grew up dirt poor, and our former professor specifically asked me to look out for him! He's just a junior to me. How could you think of us like that?"

She looked at me with utter disappointment back then.

I thought maybe I was being paranoid, so I apologized, but she gave me the cold shoulder for weeks.

Back then, I had barely climbed out of the dark pit of losing my hearing, yet she left me in the cold.

I blamed myself and apologized again just to keep the peace.

But reality soon slapped me hard in the face.

Over and over again, Valerie chose that little boy-toy over me.

The pup who constantly whined for his boss's attention ended up stealing my childhood sweetheart away piece by piece.

We were childhood sweethearts.

We were born in the same hospital and grew up in the same gated neighborhood.

Our parents had playfully betrothed us when we were kids.

Throughout school, whenever anyone tried to hit on either of us, the other would show up and boldly declare: "This one is taken. Back off."

Knowing we were destined for each other, all rivals eventually gave up.

We were the golden couple.

We tied the knot right after college.

Valerie loved business, so with her family's support, she launched her own firm.

Meanwhile, the piano piece I played when proposing to her went viral, kicking off my performance career.

Since I majored in taxation, I also ran my own accounting firm.

Everyone said Valerie and I were a match made in heaven―equal in looks, status, and success.

I used to believe that too.

Until our sixth anniversary, when tragedy struck.

To save Valerie from a dangerous situation, I lost my hearing entirely.

Back then, she wept, wishing it had been her instead.

I truly thought she loved me unconditionally.

We smoothly sailed through our seven-year itch.

Just when I thought we would live happily ever after and have kids, Landon dropped into our lives.

I never believed an outsider could tear apart a lifetime of shared history.

Yet here I was, left alone in a foreign land for a full day and night.