Chapter 1

For five years, I lived in silence, believing my husband, Nathan, truly loved me. The night I regained my hearing, I walked into his office, eager to surprise him for our anniversary—only to overhear a conversation that shattered my world.

"She’s just been a placeholder since Amelia left me. But now that Amelia’s back, I’ll find a way to dispose of her."

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest.

His friend asked, “What if she finds out that Amelia was the reason she’s deaf? That Amelia was drunk the night she hit her?”

Nathan only laughed.

"She’ll never know. She’s deaf, remember? I could curse her right now, call her every disgusting name in the book, and she’d still smile at me because she wouldn’t hear a single thing."

I stood in his arms, his lips pressed to my forehead, his hands signing sweet words—while his voice sentenced me to betrayal.

He thought I was still deaf. He thought I was helpless.

But Nathan underestimated me. And now, it’s my turn to make him suffer.

--

For five years, I lived in a soundless void, trapped in a world of muffled vibrations and unreadable lips. But today, I could finally hear again.

I clutched the keys to the brand-new car I had bought for my husband Nathan for our fifth anniversary, and the paper confirming my restored hearing crinkled in my pocket as I hurried toward the hallway of Silverfang Corporation.

This was supposed to be a perfect night. But the moment I stepped into his office, my world shattered.

“Oh, look, Nathan. There’s your precious wife.” His friend Gerald’s voice was clear as day, dripping with amusement. I froze just inside the doorway.

Nathan laughed in disdain. “Precious? Useless. That’s what she is to me.”

I drew in a sharp breath, the words slicing through me. No. No, I must have misheard. Nathan couldn’t have said that. But then he turned, walking toward me, his expression warm as he began to sign.

“Hey, sweetie, you’re here.” His hands moved smoothly, effortlessly. He even pulled me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my forehead. But his next words—spoken, not signed—made my blood run cold.

“She’s just a placeholder since Amelia left me. But now that Amelia’s back, I’ll find a way to dispose of her.”

I felt the world tilt beneath me. Amelia–she was Nathan’s first love. The woman I thought I had already replaced in his heart but seemed like I failed.

“That’s evil,” Gerald snickered. “But what are you gonna do if she finds out the truth?”

Silence stretched between them. I forced myself to breathe, to stay still in Nathan’s embrace, my fists tightening around the crumpled paper in my pocket.

Gerald continued, his tone light, casual—like they weren’t destroying me with every word. “What if she finds out that Amelia was the reason she’s deaf? That Amelia was drunk driving the night she hit her?”

Nathan exhaled sharply. “She’ll never know. She’s deaf, remember? Look—”

His arms stayed around me, his body warm, but his next words were ice. “I could curse her right now, call her every disgusting name in the book, and she’d still smile at me because she wouldn’t hear a single thing.”

They laughed. I bit down on my lip so hard I tasted blood. I wanted to scream, to rip myself away, to throw the car keys in his face and tell him I could hear every single word.

But I didn’t. I swallowed the sob clawing up my throat, forcing myself to stay calm. My fingers clenched around the keys in my pocket, hiding them from Nathan’s view.

Then came the final blow.

Nathan’s voice softened, almost affectionate. “I married her to make sure she never found out the truth. If the media discovered that Amelia caused her accident, it would have ruined her modeling career.”

A sharp inhale.

“I will do everything for Amelia.”

I forced my face to stay blank as I asked, “What were you two talking about?”

Nathan smiled at me, effortless, like he hadn’t just ripped my heart out, and then he signed. “Just business, sweetheart.”

Liar. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and gave him the one last chance he didn’t deserve. “I just wanted to see if we could have dinner together,” I spoke again. “It’s our anniversary.”

Nathan barely blinked and he also replied using sign language. “I can’t. I have somewhere to be.”

I nodded stiffly, stepping back. “Then… I’ll just go home.”

“Good idea.”

No hesitation. No regret. No second glance. I turned on my heel, leaving the office before I broke down in front of him. My feet carried me out of the estate, my chest tight with pain. I tossed the crumpled paper and the car keys into a trash bin on my way out.

Nathan didn’t love me. He never had.

The five years we spent together were a lie, a fabricated story designed to keep me in the dark. The laughter, the whispered promises, the nights we spent tangled in each other—it had all been nothing.

I had been nothing. Tears blurred my vision as I drove home, my body shaking with silent sobs. When I reached my apartment, I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow.

I cried until exhaustion won.

Hours later, my phone buzzed.

Disoriented, I grabbed it, expecting a message from Nathan. But the screen lit up with a notification—a trending post.

My stomach twisted as I clicked on it.

Nathan Silverfang spotted picking up supermodel Amelia Carter from the airport.

The image hit me like a punch to the gut. Nathan, smiling, standing close to Amelia as he opened the car door for her. The world was already speculating about their reunion.

Then another post. A video.

Nathan and Amelia watching fireworks by the sea, standing so close their hands nearly touched.

The breath left my lungs. The reality of it crashed down. There was no mistake. No misunderstanding. Nathan had never been mine.

With a strangled sob, I grabbed the nearest thing—a porcelain vase on the nightstand—and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, debris flying. A shard sliced my palm, blood dripping onto the floor, but I barely felt it.

The pain in my chest was worse.

Deeper.

Unfixable.

And I knew, in that moment, that I would never forgive him.

Chapter 2

I woke up with a churning stomach. The moment I opened my eyes, nausea hit me like a wave. My body lurched, and I barely made it to the bathroom before I started vomiting. My hands trembled as I clutched the sink, cold sweat dripping down my spine.

Stress. That had to be it. The betrayal, the heartbreak—my body was reacting to all of it. I turned my head, my blurry vision landing on the calendar hanging by the mirror.

Then it hit me. It was already the middle of the month. My last period… when was it? My breath quickened as I counted the days.

I had missed it. Panic surged through me as I stumbled to the drawer, digging through old boxes until I found what I was looking for—a pregnancy test. My fingers shook as I unwrapped it, forcing myself to breathe.

Minutes felt like hours as I stared at the test. Two red lines. My world cracked.

If this had been yesterday—before I learned the truth—I would have been the happiest woman alive. I would have run to Nathan, thrown my arms around him, told him he was going to be a father.

But now? All I could think about was his voice, laced with cruel amusement. Tears blurred my vision. My stomach twisted again, but this time, it wasn’t from nausea. It was from grief. From anger.

A knock on the door made me freeze.

“Sweetie?” Nathan’s voice called from outside.

I bit my lip, my heart hammering. He was home. I had no time to think.

With shaking hands, I shoved the pregnancy test into the cabinet and splashed water on my face. I forced a weak smile onto my lips before opening the door.

Nathan’s gaze swept over me, taking in my disheveled state, the broken vase on the floor, the wound on my palm. His expression shifted into concern as he signed.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I wasn’t feeling well. I knocked the vase over by accident."

His brows furrowed, but then he smiled—soft, warm. The way he used to.

"Be careful with yourself, love."

I almost believed it. Almost. Then, as he took my hand and started tending to my wound, his lips curled in irritation.

“Freaking idiot,” he muttered under his breath, thinking I couldn’t hear. “That vase costs more than she could ever afford, and she just knocked it over like it’s nothing.”

The sting in my palm was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. I forced myself to stay still, my face blank, my hands obediently resting on my lap as he wrapped my wound.

He still didn’t know I could hear. And I wasn’t going to let him. My mind drifted to the past, to the boy I had fallen in love with.

I grew up in an orphanage, alone in the world. Nathan’s family had been one of the sponsors, and that was how we met. He was kind to me, talked to me when no one else did. And even though I knew he loved Amelia, I had still held onto hope.

Then the accident happened. I lost my hearing. And Nathan… he married me. I had thought it was love. That he chose me. That he wanted to build a life with me.

But it was never about me. It was always Amelia. Always.

Nathan finished tending to my wound and signed, “I’ll be gone for a few days. Business trip."

I forced a nod, pretending to be understanding. "Take care."

His phone buzzed. Without thinking, he answered on speaker.

“Finally,” Amelia’s voice purred through the speaker. “Where are you?”

Nathan smirked. “On my way. My useless wife believed everything.”

I felt bile rise in my throat.

Amelia laughed. “Can’t wait, baby. I’m already in my lingerie.”

Nathan chuckled, glancing at me. His lips curled into a sweet smile as he signed. "I have to go, sweetie. Get some rest."

I barely managed to nod.

The moment he left, I locked the door, my legs giving out beneath me.

I couldn’t do this anymore. I had given him five years. Five years of my love, my loyalty, my trust. And now, I was carrying his child. But he didn’t deserve to be a father. This baby didn’t deserve to be a part of his life.

By the time the sun set, I had made my decision. I wasn’t going to be tied to him forever. I refused to bring this child into a world of betrayal and lies.

That night, I walked into the hospital. The procedure was quick, but the pain that followed was unbearable.

I spent three days in that hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting.

Not once did Nathan call. Not once did he ask if I was okay.

By the third day, I was discharged. I clutched the hospital documents tightly in my hands, ready to go home. Ready to finally free myself.

But as I stood at the nurse’s station, signing my papers, a voice let out a sharp breath behind me.

“Oh my God,” an elderly woman whispered. “I finally found you.”

I turned, startled. She was old, dressed in an elegant coat, her hands trembling as she reached toward me.

“My dear, you… you’re the long-lost daughter of the Johansen family.”

I frowned, confused. “Excuse me?”

Her eyes filled with tears as she reached for my shoulder, her fingers brushing against the back of my neck.

I stiffened as her touch traced over my birthmark. That strange, unique mark I had always had. A birthmark I had never thought twice about.

“You…” Her voice trembled. “You are one of the Johansens.”

I stared at her, my heart pounding. Johansens? The wealthiest family in the States?

Chapter 3

She had to be crazy. That was my first thought as I stared at the old woman. The hospital air smelled of antiseptic and coffee, and her eyes were wild with something I couldn’t understand.

“You’re a Johansen,” she whispered, voice trembling with certainty.

I took a step back. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

But she wasn’t listening. Her hands reached for my hair, plucking out a strand.

“I’ll send this for DNA testing,” she said. “Don’t go anywhere.”

I didn’t have time for this. My life was already falling apart—Nathan, Amelia, the baby I had just lost. Now some stranger was telling me I belonged to a family I had never even heard of?

I turned and walked away. Let her run her test. It didn’t matter. Right now, I had more important things to do.

The lawyer’s office smelled like old books and expensive wood polish.

I slid the papers across the desk. “I want a divorce.”

The lawyer barely blinked. “Understood. Do you have grounds?”

My fingers tightened around the pen. Grounds? I had a thousand. But I wasn’t going to drag this out.

“Just file it,” I said. “I don’t want anything from him. Just my freedom.”

The lawyer nodded, preparing the documents. By the time I walked out, I felt lighter. The weight of five years, of silence and lies, was finally beginning to lift.

I was done. I wasn’t expecting to see her when I got home. Amelia. She was sitting on my couch, her legs crossed, her red dress hugging her body like she owned the place.

She smiled sweetly. “Entice.”

Her voice was soft. But I could hear the venom underneath.

“Useless. You should be gone. Nathan never loved you. I’m back.”

Nathan stood beside her, his expression unreadable. He lifted his hands, signing. “Amelia is so happy to see you. She’ll be staying with us for now.”

Lies.

Amelia tilted her head, watching me closely. “I want you to come to my party,” she said, her tone playful, mocking.

Nathan translated again. “She’s inviting you to her party. It would mean a lot.”

I swallowed back my disgust. I didn’t want to argue. I didn’t want to fight. So I nodded.

“Perfect,” Amelia purred, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk.

That night, I packed my bags. I booked a flight. Three days from now, when Nathan and Amelia were on their little getaway, I would be gone. For good.

Then, while I was packing, I heard them. Through the thin walls of our house—the place that was once mine, once sacred. Hushed sounds. Murmurs. The sound of skin against skin.

I sat frozen, my fingers clenched around my phone. I didn’t cry. I didn’t break down.

Instead, I stepped into the hallway. Their door was slightly open. I didn’t even need to push it. I raised my phone, recording every second.

Nathan’s hands gripping her hips. Amelia’s fingers tangled in his hair. Their whispered promises, their laughter.

“I will do everything for you.”

“I love you.”

I pressed stop. Then I turned and walked away.

The day of her party, I didn’t want to come. I had spent the whole day debating, staring at my packed bags, my one-way ticket waiting for me in my email. But skipping the party would raise suspicions. Nathan would demand answers. Amelia would gloat.

So I came. The estate was grand, overflowing with flashing cameras, murmuring guests, and clinking champagne glasses. Celebrities, models, and businessmen filled the space, their laughter blending with the upbeat music.

I kept to the edges, watching as reporters whispered among themselves.

“Nathan bought Amelia a gold necklace.”

“It’s beautiful—pure gold, custom-made.”

“They’re definitely back together. It’s obvious.”

My stomach twisted as I caught sight of Amelia. She was radiant, her laughter bright as she clung to Nathan’s arm, showing off the necklace like a prize.

Then I felt it—the weight of the chain around my own neck. The necklace Nathan had given me yesterday. I had thought it was special. A gift, maybe an apology. It had felt expensive, important. But now? Now I knew better.

It was meaningless. A distraction. A lie. My fingers curled around the pendant. Without a second thought, I unclasped it and let it fall. The delicate chain slipped through my fingers, vanishing into the grass.

The night dragged on. Nathan never left Amelia’s side. He smiled at her, touched her, whispered into her ear like she was the only woman in the world.

Like I wasn’t even there.

I stood alone, nursing a glass of untouched champagne. I just needed to survive this night. Once it was over, I’d be gone.

And then Amelia approached.

She was all elegance, her red dress hugging her figure, her golden necklace catching the light.

She smiled at me, dazzling under the golden chandeliers. But her eyes? Cold. She leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear.

“Since you’re useless… maybe you should just die.”

Then she shoved me. The world tilted.

I stumbled back, my feet slipping on the wet tile. The icy water swallowed me whole. Panic surged through my chest. I kicked, thrashed, but my dress dragged me down like dead weight.

I couldn’t breathe. Water filled my lungs, burning, choking. Above me, the lights blurred, the music a distant hum. The surface felt impossibly far away.

I reached out. Someone shouted for help. A splash. Through the water, through the blur of lights and muffled voices, I saw him.

Nathan. He was standing by the edge of the pool, his suit pristine, his expression unreadable.

For a second, I thought he would help me. That instinct, that flicker of hope, still clung to my chest despite everything.

But then he turned to Amelia, his voice calm, careless.

“Oh, don’t mind her. Someone will save her.”

Then he walked away. The last of my air slipped from my lips.

And then—darkness.

Chapter 4

I woke up to the scent of lavender and silk sheets softer than anything I had ever touched.

This wasn’t a hospital. The room was massive—high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, walls lined with gold accents. A window stretched across one side, overlooking a garden so perfectly trimmed it felt unreal.

I tried to sit up, but my body ached. My last memory hit me like a cold slap.

The party. Amelia. The pool. Nathan. My stomach twisted. He had walked away. Left me to drown like I was nothing.

The door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside. Sophisticated. Regal. She was tall, dressed in an expensive white suit, her hair in an elegant bun. But what caught me off guard was her face.

Something about her felt… familiar. Her eyes—sharp and piercing—softened the moment she saw me. And then, before I could react, she pulled me into a hug.

“My daughter,” she whispered. “I’ve finally found you.”

I froze. “What?”

She pulled back, cupping my face, eyes glistening. “We’ve been looking for you for years.”

The pieces clicked. The old woman at the hospital. The DNA test.

“My name is Eleanor Johansen,” she said. “I am your mother.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“The woman at the hospital—the one who took your hair—she’s been with our family for decades,” she continued. “She recognized your birthmark. We ran the test. And now you’re here, where you belong.”

I shook my head, my mind struggling to process everything.

"We were too late before,” Eleanor said, her voice tight with emotion. “But now that you’re back, I will make sure those who hurt you will pay.”

Nathan. Amelia. A shiver ran down my spine. My mother wasn’t just wealthy. She was powerful. Tears welled in my eyes, but I forced them back. This was too much. Too fast.

But at the same time—This was perfect. This was justice. This was revenge.

I finally calmed down after what felt like hours. The realization settled deep in my chest—I wasn’t alone. I had a family. A real one.

My phone buzzed on the bedside table.

Nathan.

Where are you?

More messages flooded in.

Why aren’t you answering? Come home. Are you okay, sweetie? What happened? The hospital said you left already.

I scoffed and locked my phone. The nerve of him to ask if I was okay when he watched me drown? If I know, it was indeed their plan just so they could dispose of me. But there were wrong—I would come back to ruin them all!

I turned to the staff waiting quietly by the door. “Send him the divorce papers.”

The woman nodded and handed me an envelope. I checked the contents before sealing it. My signature, the legal documents, and a medical report confirming something else. Proof that I could hear.

Let him realize it. Let him remember every cruel word. He would regret everything and beg.

An hour later, my phone buzzed again. A live video notification.

A famous brand was streaming an event. I was about to ignore it when voices from the hallway caught my attention.

“He just got the divorce papers,” one of the staff whispered. “And the report.”

Curious, I clicked on the video. Nathan and Amelia were there, standing in front of flashing cameras, all smiles. Until someone whispered to him.

I turned up the volume.

Nathan’s face darkened. “She’s divorcing me?” His voice wasn’t loud, but the anger dripped from every word.

"How dare she?”

I smirked. Another staff member whispered something else. Nathan’s expression shifted, his posture stiffening.

“There was also a medical report,” the staff member murmured. “It says Miss Entice got her hearing back two weeks ago.”

Nathan’s hands clenched into fists, face paled. The realization hit him all at once. I had heard everything. His betrayal. His cruelty. The truth about Amelia.

A camera flashed in his face, capturing his shock.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

The staff member hesitated, then answered. “It seems she left with a one-way ticket... Boss, she already knew everything...”