I go deaf in an attempt to save James Duncan. He falls to his knees before my parents and begs them to let me marry him. He says he'll care for me for life.

He finally passes his five-year test, but he sleeps with his lover before our wedding. He does it before my very eyes.

He clamps a hand over her mouth and says, "Be quiet. Don't wake Layla up."

His lover giggles and nibbles on his palm. "What's there to be afraid of? She's deaf; she can't hear us."

James doesn't know that I've already regained my hearing. He and his lover are also unaware that their behavior is being livestreamed.

In the fifth year of my deafness, James Duncan finally proved his love for me to my parents.

The day I found out I was pregnant, my parents finally gave in and agreed to our marriage.

The wedding was set for February 19th.

Then, on Valentine's Day, a miracle happened—I regained my hearing due to an accident.

Overjoyed, I rushed to find James, eager to share the good news with him.

He was in the bedroom, on the phone.

"Today is Valentine's Day. How about something exciting at your place—downstairs, in your car?"

The voice on the other end was my best friend—Claudia Foster.

I froze, confused. Slowly, I stepped closer. James turned around, smiling as he pointed to his phone and signed, "Hold on, babe. It's a client."

When I was deaf, he never avoided taking calls in front of me. He would even put them on speaker sometimes.

He chuckled softly. "Didn't you say you had a present for me?"

Beneath his fake-serious expression was a teasing, playful tone.

Claudia giggled. "I've got a special Valentine's outfit just for you to rip off yourself."

"You little minx. I'll be there soon," James replied, barely suppressing a smile.

A chill ran down my spine. My heart hurt so much that I had hard time breathe.

The two people I trusted most had been lying to me.

James hung up and turned around, only to see tears streaming down my face. Panicked, he quickly pulled me into his arms and wiped my tears as if handling a delicate piece of art.

"Babe, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He signed anxiously, his eyes filled with concern.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, struggling to hold back my emotions.

Forcing myself to steady my breath, I replied, "Nothing… Maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones making me emotional."

His tense expression softened as he ruffled my hair. "You scared me for a second there."

He pulled me into his arms again.

But all I could think about was him and Claudia. It made me sick.

I pushed him away. He frowned and signed, "Honey, you're acting strange. Nothing worries me more than seeing you upset. Your happiness is my happiness. Oh, how could I ever live without my wife?"

For the first time, I didn't respond to his affectionate words.

Perhaps sensing something amiss, he signed again, "I love you, dear."

Then, he hugged me tightly once more.

After a long moment, he finally let go and said he had work to do.

In the past, I would have pouted, begged, and insisted he stay with me on Valentine's Day.

But now, I simply nodded. "Okay. Work is important. Go ahead."

Hearing my approval, he left in a hurry.

Soon, a figure in red appeared downstairs.

Through the window, I watched James lift Claudia—wearing a red dress—into his arms and stuff her into his luxury car.

That was the car I had bought for him.

Moments later, the car started shaking.

My knees buckled. I slid down against the glass, my heart shattering into pieces.

James and I had known each other for eight years and had been in love for six.

The love I once took pride in had now dealt me a devastating blow.

Eight years ago, in my first year of university, I fell for James at first sight.

We quickly got together. Though our friends were skeptical at first, we eventually became the couple everyone envied.

Back then, I often invited Claudia to join us for meals. She would always say we were a match made in heaven.

After James graduated, he became a lawyer.

One day, a client from one of his cases caused a scene at his law firm. I happened to visit him at that very moment. The client was in a frenzy, waving around a gas canister.

When the explosion happened, I rushed in and pulled James away. He was saved, but I lost my hearing forever.

Because of this, I had to give up my dream of becoming a simultaneous interpreter.

James held me in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably as he gasped between tears, "Marry me, Layla. Let me take care of you for the rest of your life. Please."

My parents strongly disapproved of James—not just because of what happened to my hearing, but also because his family background was nowhere near ours.

So, James knelt outside my house through a heavy snowfall. The night was bone-chilling, even with the heater on indoors.

Yet, he remained motionless, his back straight as a board.

I knelt before my parents, crying and begging them. "Mom, Dad, James is truly a wonderful man. One day, he'll be successful—I know he will."

My parents couldn't bear to see me heartbroken. Moved by James' sincerity, they finally relented—on one condition: a five-year probation period.

Despite the harsh terms, James agreed without hesitation. "Mr. and Mrs. Becker, please rest assured. Not just for five years, but for a lifetime—I will take care of Layla."

And for those five years, he kept his word.

When I had trouble sleeping, he would make me a warm cup of milk every night without fail.

Every morning, he personally prepared breakfast for me.

And I never once had to peel my own fruit.

No matter how busy he was at the law firm, James always checked in and came home on time.

…

I used to thank God countless times for bringing James into my life.

Yet, as I stared at the car shaking downstairs, I finally came to my senses.

It was time to wake up.

Tears streamed down my face, and pain consumed my heart.

I didn't know how much time had passed when James finally texted me:

"Honey, something came up at the firm. I'll be home late tonight. Don't wait up."

Still reeling from what I had witnessed, I changed my clothes, called a cab, and followed them.

Along the way, I wiped my tears dry, only for them to fall again.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine where James would take Claudia.

He took her to my villa; the one my parents had bought for me.

James had once told me he didn't want to rely on my family for anything, so he had bought the house we were living in now instead.

"Don't worry, Layla," he had said. "I'll prove to your parents that I can take care of you on my own."

I had been so moved by his words that I gave him the villa's access card.

"I believe in you, James. Here, take this. If you ever change your mind, we can move in together."

He had refused at first, only accepting it when I feigned anger.

Now, I watched as James got out of the car and carried Claudia in his arms, walking toward the villa.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm as I pulled out my phone and took a picture—evidence of their betrayal.

The female cab driver sighed.

"Men—they just can't stay loyal. Just turn a blind eye, lady. It's pass."

I lowered my gaze, silent.

Why should I be the one to tolerate this?

I unlocked my phone and booked an appointment for an abortion the next day.

James didn't come home all night, so I went to the hospital alone for the procedure.

Lying on the hospital bed, I called my mother.

She was shocked. "Layla? Why are you calling? Don't tell me… You can hear again?"

"Mom, I'll explain later. About the arranged marriage you mentioned—I agree to it."

There was a long silence before she let out a sigh.

"You're getting married on February 19th, aren't you? The invitations have already been sent. Why are you suddenly bringing up the arranged marriage now?"

I paused for a moment before replying, "The wedding will go on, but we'll change the groom. Could you ask them if they're willing?"

My mother hung up. Five minutes later, she called back and said, "They agreed."

After hanging up, a wave of pain hit my abdomen, forcing me to curl up. It wasn't until the IV drip finished that I felt some relief.

By the time I got home, it was already late at night.

James was sitting in the dark living room, the glow of his cigarette flickering faintly.

Seeing me enter, he jerked his head up, exhaustion written all over his face. He rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace. "Babe, where have you been?"

Then, realizing I couldn't hear him, he let go and signed, "I've been calling and texting you all day. Why didn't you answer?"

I glanced at my phone and replied coldly, "Battery died, so it was off."

He let out a sigh of relief. "I thought I did something to upset you."

I ignored him and started heading toward the bedroom.

But he grabbed my hand and signed, "Come with me. I have a surprise for you."

Before I could react, he pulled me outside.

A white Alphard was parked nearby.

I looked at him coldly as he gestured excitedly, "Didn't you say this car looks nice? From now on, it's yours."

I was slightly surprised. After all, this car wasn't something he could easily afford.

Yet, just because I had casually complimented it, he had actually bought it.

For a brief moment, I wondered—had I misunderstood him somehow?

"Go check the trunk." He pointed to the back of the car.

I slowly approached, but just as I was about to open it, I heard the sound of two people kissing behind me.

"Are you crazy? Layla is right here!"

Then came Claudia's voice. "So what? She can't hear anything anyway. Besides, things are about to get even more exciting."

My hand froze mid-air.

Stunned for a moment, I quickly composed myself and reached for the trunk again, pretending not to notice.

James's panicked voice sounded behind me. "What do you mean? What did you do?"

The moment I opened the trunk, James rushed over and slammed it shut. Panic flashed across his face as he quickly signed, "Babe, your best friend Claudia is here. Let's check it out later, okay?"

I turned to him, forcing a smile.

The truth was, I had already seen what was inside—amid the roses in the trunk lay shredded lingerie and used contraceptives.