Chapter 1

For eight years, I gave up my family fortune and my hearing to help my boyfriend, Emiliano Reed, become a rock star. I was his muse, his guardian angel, the silent partner in his success.

Then, a miracle happened: my hearing returned. Just in time to catch him with a college student, and hear him call me a "burden" and a "charity case."

The betrayal didn't end there. When his new girl wrecked the vintage car my late father gave me, I confronted her at the police station. Emiliano rushed in, not to defend me, but to protect her. He shoved me so hard I hit the floor, and the world went silent again. My hearing was gone, for a second time, because of him.

"Are you deaf?" he roared at me, furious that I wouldn't just forgive him. "I gave you everything! It was exhausting, suffocating!"

I looked at the man I had sacrificed everything for, the man who had just destroyed me all over again. He had no idea I'd heard every single, hateful word.

"No, Emiliano," I said, my voice clear and steady. "The question is, are you deaf? Or are you just a coward?"

Chapter 1

Adell POV:

The world shattered not with a bang, but with a pop-up ad for a B-list celebrity gossip site on my phone.

My mother, Christian White, had warned me. Her voice, sharp as a diamond, had cut through the lavish air of our Fifth Avenue penthouse eight years ago. "Adell, this musician, Emiliano Reed, he's a dreamer. Dreamers break hearts, and they certainly don't build empires." She had stood by the grand piano, her silk robe shimmering, a picture of polished disapproval.

But I was young, foolish, and fiercely in love. Emiliano had fire in his eyes, a guitar slung over his shoulder, and a melody that promised a life far richer than any inheritance. I' d packed a single suitcase then, leaving behind the gilded cage and the woman who saw love as a transaction. I chased the music, the grit, the raw, beautiful chaos of a life with him.

I remembered the studio fire like it was yesterday, though eight years had blurred so much else. The acrid smell of burning wires, Emiliano frantically trying to save his new mixer, the crackle of sparks. "Get back!" he had screamed, but I saw the equipment falling, heavy and hot. I pushed him clear, felt the searing pain as a speaker fell, crushing my left ear. The world went silent on that side, a dull, cottony void that became my permanent companion. "My brave girl," he'd whispered in the emergency room, his eyes moist with a gratitude that felt like a promise. "I owe you everything, Adell. My life, my music, my future. You're my muse, my guardian angel."

He' d knelt by my hospital bed and placed a hand over my good ear, signing furiously, "I promise you, Adell. For better or worse. You are my forever." His words had echoed in my mind, a sacred vow.

And he had kept his promise, in a way. His career skyrocketed. The struggling musician became a global sensation. Platinum albums, sold-out arenas, a sprawling loft in SoHo that now felt more like a sanctuary than a home. He adorned me with designer clothes, glittering jewelry, and a life of effortless luxury. Everything I' d ever needed, materially, was at my fingertips. Our wedding, a grand affair planned for next month, was the culmination of our journey, a celebration of eight years of sacrifice and success.

I was scrolling through my feed, looking for inspiration for the wedding favors, when the pop-up hit. "Emiliano Reed's Secret Love: A College Student's Confession." My thumb froze. My stomach clenched. It was a blog post, a long, rambling thread by someone named Keisha Duke.

"OMG, you guys, Emiliano is the sweetest! He totally gets me. Unlike some people..." The vague post hinted at something more, a secret relationship, veiled jabs. My heart started to beat a frantic rhythm. It felt like I was back in the burning studio, only this time the fire was in my chest.

The comments section was a viper's nest. "Is this about his deaf fiancée? Poor Adell." "He definitely deserves someone better than a broken woman." "Guess he got tired of shouting, huh?" The words, cruel and casual, lashed at me. They discussed my relationship, my hearing loss, as if I were a distant, pathetic figure.

"Betrayal," one comment read, "is a song best sung by two. But only one gets to dance." The implication was clear: Emiliano was cheating. And this Keisha Duke was reveling in it.

Emiliano had canceled our anniversary dinner, just last night. "Studio emergency, babe," he'd signed, his eyes avoiding mine. "Big deadline. You know how it is. We'll celebrate properly after the tour." His words, though signed, felt hollow, like a drum without a skin.

I remembered staring at the elaborate table setting I' d prepared, the flickering candles, the perfectly chilled champagne. All for nothing. Alone in the quiet loft, the silence felt heavier than usual, a suffocating blanket. I' d even had a follow-up appointment with my audiologist that day. "Remarkable, Adell," Dr. Lee had said, peering into my ear canal. "The nerve damage seems to be...reversing. It' s almost a miracle. You' re regaining some function."

I' d almost laughed then, the irony too sharp. My hearing, finally returning after all these years, just in time for what?

I clicked on Keisha Duke's profile. A cascade of photos flooded my screen. Her, laughing with Emiliano. Her, draped over his arm at a club. Her, wearing his vintage leather jacket-the one I' d bought him years ago, the one he swore he'd never let anyone else touch. My breath hitched. He was wearing a new watch, a sleek silver design I' d never seen before, subtly glinting in all her photos. It wasn't the antique gold one I' d given him for his first major tour.

A cold, hard knot formed in my stomach. It wasn't just speculation anymore. It was real. It was glaringly, painfully real. My vision blurred, hot tears stinging my eyes. I felt a scream rising in my throat, but it died there, choked by a wave of nausea. My body trembled, every nerve ending screaming in protest.

I grabbed my phone, fingers fumbling over the keypad. "Where are you?" I texted him.

His reply came minutes later: "Still at the studio, babe. Massive issues. Don't wait up."

I typed, "Can I come join you? Bring you some food?"

Silence.

No, not silence. A new post from Keisha Duke flashed across my feed. A short video. Her in a crowded, pulsating club, laughing, her arm wrapped around Emiliano's waist. His head was thrown back, a wide, genuine smile on his face. The very smile he hadn't given me in weeks.

"Club Pulse, baby! Best night ever!" Keisha's caption read.

Club Pulse. Not the studio. He had lied. He was with her.

My ears buzzed, a high-pitched whine that was both new and terrifying. It was the sound of betrayal, amplified. My body felt heavy, rooted to the spot, but my mind was a whirlwind of ice and fire. I had to see it. I had to know.

I caught a cab, the city lights a blur outside the window. The bass from Club Pulse vibrated through the pavement, through my shoes, up into my chest. I pushed through the bouncers, my eyes scanning the throbbing crowd. And then I saw them.

Emiliano, under the strobe lights, his arm around Keisha. He was laughing, his head bent close to hers. An ugly, raw sound scraped its way out of my throat. It was not a scream. It was a whimper, lost in the deafening music.

I stood there, frozen, my body a block of ice in the humid heat of the club. My head throbbed, and the newly returned hearing in my left ear was picking up every single, agonizing beat of the music. And then, voices.

"Look at Emiliano, finally having some fun," one of his bandmates slurred, nudging another man. "The 'deaf angel' was getting a little too much, wasn't she?"

"Yeah," the other replied, taking a swig from his bottle. "Eight years. That's a long time to play nursemaid. Besides, Adell was always so... quiet. You know, no spark. Keisha's got fire. Just what he needs to keep the hits coming."

My heart hammered against my ribs. It wasn't just them. Emiliano' s voice, clear as a bell, reached my ears. "Honestly, she's become... a burden. All that 'my hero' stuff, the constant gratitude. It's draining." He laughed, a bitter, dismissive sound that tore through me. "And the sex? Like doing a favor for a charity case. I prefer someone who can scream my name, not just sign it." He squeezed Keisha's waist, and she giggled, pressing her face into his shoulder.

The irony of that statement hit me like a physical blow. The very ear he spoke of, the one I' d damaged protecting him, was now perfectly capable of hearing every cruel word. The roar in my head intensified, a crushing weight against my eardrums.

"I mean, I still feel obligated, you know?" he continued, his voice laced with annoyance. "After everything. The accident. The whole 'she saved my life' narrative. Can't just ditch her. Not yet. The wedding's still on for show. But this... this is freedom." He gestured vaguely at Keisha, his eyes filled with a hungry light that made my stomach churn.

My hands clenched, nails digging into my palms. The champagne glass on a nearby table, forgotten by its owner, seemed to mock me. It was fragile, elegant, full of celebratory bubbles. And then, without thinking, I grabbed it. My arm swung, propelled by a force I didn't recognize. The glass sailed through the air, glinting under the strobe lights, and shattered against the wall just above Emiliano's head, the sound swallowed by the bass drop, but the spray of liquid making him flinch.

He turned, his eyes wide, confusion morphing into recognition.

"Adell?" he mouthed, his face paling.

Adell POV:

A wave of nausea washed over me, the shock of seeing Emiliano's face, pale and horrified, almost too much to bear. Tears, hot and uncontrollable, streamed down my face. My body convulsed with silent sobs. The music of the club, once a dull throb, now seemed to mock my shattered heart.

Emiliano, recovering from his surprise, reached for me. His hands, the ones that had once so tenderly signed promises of forever, now moved with an almost frantic urgency. He formed the familiar signs, "Adell, baby, what are you doing here? Let's go home. We need to talk."

He tried to pull me, his grip tight on my arm. He wanted to drag me out of the club, away from the prying eyes and the blaring music, to control the narrative, to contain the disaster. I knew it. That look in his eyes wasn't concern for me; it was panic for himself.

But Keisha, bolder and more possessive than I'd anticipated, stepped between us. Her eyes, narrowed and cold, pierced through my raw vulnerability. "Let her go, Emiliano! She' s always so dramatic. Can't you see she's trying to ruin our night?" She clung to his arm, her body a defiant barrier.

"Don't give in to her, Emi! She's pathetic, clinging to you like this," Keisha spat, her voice dripping with venom. "Always the victim. Always needing you to make her feel special. You deserve someone fun, someone who isn't always so... careful."

Emiliano hesitated, his gaze flicking between us. He didn't defend me. He didn't even try. His silence was louder than any accusation. My vision swam.

"She always was the quiet one," Emiliano mused, almost to himself, though the words reached my ears with brutal clarity. "Always so fragile. So easily broken. It got... suffocating." He looked at Keisha, a faint, almost apologetic smile on his lips. "She thinks she controls me with her helplessness."

He truly believed that. He believed he could manipulate me, that my love was so absolute, I would forgive anything. His arrogance stung worse than any physical blow.

My breath hitched. A strange calm began to settle over me, a chilling resolve solidifying in the chaos. The buzzing in my ears finally subsided, replaced by a quiet, determined clarity. I pulled my arm from Emiliano's grasp, the movement sharp and decisive.

"I'm leaving," I signed, my fingers trembling slightly but my gaze unwavering. "And I'm not coming back." My voice, though weak, was firm.

I turned and pushed my way through the throng of bodies, the pulsing lights and deafening music a surreal backdrop to my internal earthquake. I walked out of the club, not looking back. The cool night air hit my face, a welcome shock after the suffocating heat inside.

I hailed the first empty cab I saw. "The airport," I said, my voice hoarse. My mind raced. My mother's words echoed: "If you ever realize you've made a mistake, you can always come home, Adell. But understand, there will be conditions." Her condition always revolved around my future, my choices. She had warned me about codependency, about losing myself to another. She had wanted to arrange a marriage for me, a stable, wealthy match. I had scoffed then. Now, the idea didn't seem so terrible.

I felt a pang of regret for my past stubbornness, for dismissing her wisdom as cold calculation. She wasn't cold; she was protective. She had seen this coming.

The cab sped through the city. I pulled out my phone, my fingers still shaky but decisive. I opened my contacts and found my mother's number. It had been years since I'd called her directly. I needed her. I needed her pragmatic strength, her unwavering belief in strategy.

"Mother," I said, my voice breaking only slightly. "It's Adell. I need you. And... my hearing, it's back. In both ears." The miraculous return of my hearing, the one positive thing to emerge from this nightmare, felt like a cruel gift, enabling me to hear every syllable of his betrayal.

"I accept your offer," I continued, relief flooding me as I heard her sharp intake of breath on the other end. "The arranged introduction. I' ll marry whoever you choose, as long as it's not him. I want to build a real life, a life built on respect, not on a lie."

I swiped away the last vestiges of tears from my cheeks, my gaze fixed on the receding city lights. The pain was still a raw wound, but beneath it, a tiny spark of resilience flickered. I was done being the silent, patient muse. I was done being Adell, the deaf fiancée. I was Adell Boone, and I was going home.

The decision felt like a wrenching, painful extraction, but also like shedding a heavy, suffocating skin. Eight years. Eight years of my life, my love, my hearing, poured into a man who saw me as a burden, a charity case. The weight of that realization settled on me, heavy and cold. But with it came a strange, exhilarating sense of freedom. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, it was mine to choose.

My fingers flew across the screen, a message forming for Emiliano. "It' s over. Don't contact me again."

Emiliano POV:

The air in the loft was thick with the scent of stale champagne and regret. My head throbbed, a relentless drumbeat against my skull, echoing the chaos of last night. I' d spent the night frantically calling Adell, leaving increasingly desperate voicemails, each one more pathetic than the last. But her phone had gone straight to voicemail. No answer. Nothing.

I grabbed the half-empty bottle of whiskey, pouring a generous amount into a glass. Keisha was still asleep in my bed, oblivious to the storm raging in my mind. Her presence felt... wrong, a discordant note in the symphony of my life. This wasn' t supposed to happen. Adell wasn' t supposed to be there. She wasn't supposed to hear.

My phone buzzed. A text message. My heart leaped. Adell.

It was short, blunt, and devastating. "It' s over. Don't contact me again."

My hand trembled, the phone almost slipping from my grasp. "No. No, it can't be." I stared at the screen, reading and rereading the words, as if they would change, as if they would magically morph back into a declaration of love. But they remained, stark and unforgiving.

A sharp, almost animalistic cry tore from my throat. I threw the phone against the wall, watching it shatter into a hundred pieces. The impact barely registered. My mind was reeling. Over? How could it be over? Eight years. Eight years of my life, her life. My career. My everything.

I remembered the early days, the cramped studio, the endless nights fueled by cheap coffee and grand dreams. Adell had been there through it all. My rock. My muse. My... burden. That word, the one I' d uttered so carelessly last night, now echoed in my ears, a cruel judgment.

She' d pushed me away from that falling speaker, the hot metal searing her ear, robbing her of her hearing. "My brave girl," I' d called her. "I owe you everything." And I had meant it. I swore I did. But over time, the gratitude had curdled into resentment. Her quiet strength, her unwavering support, felt like a debt I could never repay. A constant reminder of what I owed her. What I had sacrificed.

I slammed my fist against the marble countertop, the pain a welcome distraction from the agony in my chest. "Damn it, Adell!" I screamed into the empty apartment. "How could you just... leave?"

But she hadn' t just left. I had pushed her away. I had broken her. And now, I had lost her. The realization hit me with the force of a tidal wave. She was gone. And I had no one to blame but myself. The whiskey burned my throat, but it couldn't numb the cold, desperate fear gripping my soul.

---