When the Devotion Was a Lie

The most celebrated man in New York, Gabriel Stone, fell deeply in love with me. A deaf woman.

He learned sign language for me.

To marry me, he even accepted his family's punishment.

Everyone said I was the luckiest woman.

But when I recovered my hearing after surgery and excitedly wanted to tell him the good news, I overheard him talking to his ex-girlfriend outside his study.

"Marry her? It was just to make you jealous."

It turned out our three-year marriage was a lie from start to finish.

Jane's POV

The most celebrated man in New York, Gabriel Stone, fell in love with me. A deaf woman.

For me, he learned sign language from scratch.

He set off fireworks for three nights straight under the night sky. He used over ten thousand drones at the harbor to publicly declare his love. He even planted my favorite orchids all around the mansion where he lived.

When he proposed to marry me, everyone thought he'd lost his mind.

The Stone family was furious.

"Jane is disabled. Have your fun if you must, but she is not welcome in our home."

But he remained stubborn and left them with one sentence:

"I will marry no one but Jane."

To marry me, this typically reckless but privileged man willingly accepted punishment-he was whipped ninety-nine times, leaving his back a bloody mess.

Watching him lose consciousness from blood loss and get rushed to the hospital, my heart finally melted.

Even though Gabriel never minded my disability and insisted on marrying me, I always felt inferior deep down, believing there was an insurmountable gap between us.

Fortunately, after three years of persistent treatment, I finally recovered my hearing through surgery.

The day I was discharged, I couldn't contain my excitement and rushed home, wanting to tell him the good news in person.

But just as I reached the study, I heard him on a call.

"Gabriel, have you really fallen for Jane?"

He laughed carelessly.

"Everyone in New York knows how deeply I love her."

"Enough. You can fool others but not me. I don't believe you could love her."

"Claire, three years ago when you rejected my proposal and insisted on breaking up to go abroad, didn't I tell you you'd better not regret it?"

Hearing the name "Claire," my whole body stiffened.

Few people knew that I lost my hearing because of a car accident.

And the person responsible was Claire.

She hit me while drunk driving and speeding in the wrong lane, then left me bleeding in the street.

So... the person who caused my disability was Gabriel's ex-girlfriend?

On the phone, Claire laughed coldly.

"I knew it. You deliberately pursued this disabled woman, made it a public spectacle, and endured punishment to marry her. All just to spite me."

Gabriel bit down on his cigarette, his expression half-mocking.

"So what if I did?"

Claire took a deep breath.

"You succeeded. I mind Jane's existence. Divorce her, and I'll get back together with you."

Gabriel laughed lazily.

"Why should I divorce her for you?"

"Gabriel!"

"You think you can break up whenever you want and get back together whenever you want? Am I your dog, coming when you call and going when you dismiss me?"

"I've already come back. Whether you want to get back together or not is up to you!"

The call was cut off. Gabriel cursed under his breath.

Outside the door, I felt like I'd fallen into an ice pit, trembling uncontrollably.

My relationship with him began with a fire.

Three years ago, he was drunk at a club when his enemies took the opportunity to set it on fire, trapping him in a private room.

Just as he was about to die, I rushed into the flames and saved him.

Gabriel fell for me at first sight because of that.

After we married, he was impeccable toward me, fulfilling all my wishes, indulging my every request, spoiling me to the point where everyone envied me.

Everyone said I was the luckiest woman.

But it turned out... he never loved me at all?

He went through all that trouble to marry me just to make his ex-girlfriend jealous?

How absurd.

"Mrs. Stone, why are you standing here?"

A servant's voice suddenly rang out.

Gabriel whipped his head around and saw me standing outside the door. Panic flashed in his eyes.

But noticing I wasn't wearing my hearing aids, he relaxed, stubbed out his cigarette, and signed fluently.

"When did you get back? Why are you standing outside without making a sound?"

I didn't answer, just looked at him quietly.

He walked over, pulled me into his arms with heartache in his eyes, and gently touched my face.

"Who bullied you? Tell me, I'll get revenge for you."

I moved my lips, about to tell him I could hear now, that I'd heard everything he said to Claire.

But his phone suddenly rang.

After reading the message, his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly signed to me.

"I have an emergency. I need to go out. Be good and eat dinner. Don't wait for me."

Before I could react, he was already striding away.

I caught a glimpse of the sender: Claire.

I quietly followed him.

Eventually, outside a hotel private room, I saw Gabriel drag Claire out.

He grabbed her chin and demanded.

"Claire, you actually dared to kiss another man?"

"Who I kiss is none of your business. Why did you rush over here in such a rage?"

"Say that again. I dare you."

"I'll say it as many times as you want! I'm single, you're married. I can kiss whoever I want."

He angrily pressed her against the wall and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Fine. I'm your damn dog. Let's get back together, okay?"

But Claire dodged his kiss and said proudly.

"I won't be a mistress or a side piece."

He deflated, saying helplessly.

"I didn't marry her."

Claire froze.

"What?"

I froze completely too.

Then I heard him say.

"The Stone family would never allow me to marry a disabled woman, so the marriage certificate she and I have is fake. Satisfied now?"

Fake?

Our marriage certificate... was fake?

My mind buzzed. I felt like I'd fallen into hell.

So all his love and devotion to me, including those marriage documents, were all carefully woven lies?

For three years, he'd been playing me for a fool?

Gabriel, was trampling on my genuine feelings fun for you?

My chest felt like it was being violently torn apart. The pain was suffocating.

Tears blurred my vision.

I could no longer see clearly that couple pressed against the wall, kissing inseparably.

Jane's POV

I walked out of the hotel and stood on the street, watching the endless stream of cars on the road.

Just as I was lost and didn't know where to go, my phone buzzed with a notification.

I didn't pay attention to it.

Before long, continuous messages bombarded my phone.

"Sweetie, have you been going for your ear checkups regularly? What did the doctor say? How much longer until you recover?"

"And your husband. He hasn't made you suffer, has he?"

"We miss you so much. When will you come back to see us? Or can we come visit you in New York?"

"Talk to me, sweetie."

"Talk to me talk to me talk to me."

All these messages came from the same person.

Looking at their concerned content, my chest ached, and my already blurred vision became even more blurry.

I unlocked my phone and replied.

"I promise I'll come back."

The response came extremely fast.

"Really? When?"

"After I settle things here. Within two weeks."

"That's wonderful! It's a promise then!"

I put my phone away and fought back tears.

If my marriage was fake, at least I'd skip the divorce.

But Claire caused my accident and my hearing loss. And Gabriel treated me like an idiot. I wasn't about to let that go.

Three days later, Gabriel finally came home.

But he didn't come back alone.

Gabriel didn't know my hearing had recovered yet. He took out his phone and typed for me to see.

"This is my friend Claire. She just returned to the country and will be staying with us for a while."

Claire glanced at the text and sneered at him.

"You call someone your friend but lock them in a hotel room for three days and nights?"

With me present, Gabriel clearly felt guilty hearing this.

But seeing I didn't seem to be wearing my hearing aids, he relaxed again.

Gabriel said with his back to me.

"Jane can read some lips. Stop making a scene. We agreed-you'll stay here as a friend first."

Claire turned her face away in displeasure.

She wore a high-necked top, but I still caught glimpses of marks on her neck.

I felt a bone-chilling cold, my heart aching like it was being carved with a knife.

I should have known Gabriel had been with Claire these past few days, but I never imagined he'd brazenly bring her home.

Not wanting to hear more hurtful words from them, I turned and went upstairs.

Gabriel froze for a moment.

Claire frowned.

"What's her attitude? She doesn't welcome me?"

Soon after, Gabriel came to the master bedroom on the second floor.

Seeing me standing on the balcony, he picked up the hearing aids from the bedside table and walked over to put them on me.

"Baby, are you angry because I haven't been home these past few days?"

Before, when he called me baby, I only felt happiness and sweetness.

Now, all that remained was endless irony.

Gabriel pulled me into his arms and said ingratiatingly.

"It's all my fault for being too busy and neglecting you. I apologize, okay?"

He smelled of a woman's perfume, making me feel nauseous.

I pushed him away and asked knowingly.

"What were you so busy with?"

He smiled and said.

"Work, of course. What else could it be?"

I admired how he could still lie without changing his expression.

Gabriel's voice became even gentler.

"I suddenly brought Claire back to stay. Are you unhappy about it?"

I looked into his eyes.

"Should I be happy?"

Gabriel paused, then said with guilt.

"It was wrong of me not to tell you beforehand. I'll make it up to you. Don't be angry, okay?"

He intimately lifted my chin, trying to kiss me.

Thinking about how he'd been with Claire these past days, how this mouth had kissed who knows where on her body, the nausea in my heart intensified.

Jane's POV

I raised my arm, blocking his descending kiss.

Gabriel, who had never been rejected by me before, froze.

I turned and walked away.

"This is your house. Who you bring back to live here is your freedom."

At dinner, Gabriel kept showing concern for me.

"You've lost weight lately. These are all your favorites. Have some more."

Claire sat across from us, watching him being so attentive to me. She kicked him under the table in displeasure.

Gabriel looked up at her.

Claire raised her chin.

He sighed helplessly, using his eyes to signal her to stop making trouble.

But Claire persisted, taking off her shoe under the table. Her toes traced up along his calf until they reached a sensitive area.

Gabriel's body stiffened. His Adam's apple bobbed.

His eyes darkened, warning her to stop.

But Claire smiled triumphantly and became even bolder in her provocation.

I wasn't stupid. How could I not see them exchanging glances, even flirting shamelessly under the table?

The nausea churning in my stomach became unbearable. I abruptly put down my fork and knife.

"I'm full. You two take your time."

Seeing me get up and leave the dining room, Gabriel panicked and tried to follow.

"Jane..."

Claire stopped him.

"Are you going to comfort her, or stay here and keep me company for dinner?"

Her face was cold. Gabriel was helpless with her and ultimately just had a servant bring some fruit up to my room.

At ten o'clock that night, I came out of my home studio and happened to run into Gabriel just emerging from his study.

He looked at me, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself. Finally, he said.

"I have to work late tonight. Go to sleep first. Don't wait for me."

I glanced at the phone in his hand. The screen was still lit, stopped on his chat interface with Claire.

I said nothing and nodded, entering the master bedroom.

In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty.

Out of habit, I reached toward the other side of the bed. It was empty and cold, without a trace of warmth.

Clearly, Gabriel hadn't come to this bedroom all night.

I frowned and got up to get water downstairs.

Passing by the study, I noticed light seeping from under the door.

I was puzzled. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard a woman's moans coming from the adjacent room.

My whole body stiffened. My face instantly went deathly pale.

Gabriel's voice came low.

"Don't moan so loud. Jane will hear."

Claire hummed softly.

"What are you afraid of? She can't hear. Besides, it's because you're too rough..."

Gabriel chuckled.

"I think you're quite enjoying it though?"

The room was filled with panting and the sounds of the bed. I didn't need to think to know what they were doing.

After a while, Claire asked breathlessly.

"When do you plan to tell Jane about our relationship?"

Gabriel was silent for a moment, his voice low.

"Jane saved my life. Three years ago, if it weren't for her, I might already be dead... At least I need to give her some mental preparation."

So he still remembered I saved him.

Was this his way of repaying me?

I never wanted to use that favor to bind him. Back then, I even felt inferior because of my hearing loss and rejected him.

It was he who pursued me relentlessly, acting like I was the only one for him, finally winning me over.

But now I learned it was all fake.

He even wanted to continue deceiving me, having an affair with Claire right under my nose.

This was his repayment?

I pulled the corners of my mouth in self-mockery, turned off the recording on my phone, and silently turned to leave.

Jane's POV

My stomach had been upset for several days. I couldn't eat anything.

At first, I thought it was because Gabriel and Claire's affair made me sick.

Later, when my period was late, I hurried to the hospital for a checkup.

"You're pregnant, about four weeks."

The doctor told me.

My mind went blank.

"We used protection every time. How could I be pregnant?"

The doctor explained.

"Contraceptive measures aren't one hundred percent effective. There are occasional accidents."

I stood there frozen, unable to believe I was pregnant with Gabriel's child.

The Stone family had always despised my disability. Gabriel also said he didn't want children.

Now I understood. He never planned to let me have his child.

If that was the case, how was I supposed to carry on the Stone family line?

God had other plans.

On my way home, I was hit by a car. When I woke up again, the baby was gone.

Just like that, without Gabriel knowing anything about it, I lost the child.

I returned home weakly, wanting to go back to my room to rest, but found the door to my studio wide open.

That was my private space. Even the servants couldn't enter. Gabriel usually wouldn't intrude either.

Unease surged in my heart. I hurried inside and saw Claire standing there.

The next second, I saw the shattered sculpture on the floor.

"Sorry about that."

Claire smiled carelessly.

"I just wanted to look at this sculpture. Didn't expect it to be so heavy-I couldn't hold it steady. You don't mind, do you?"

That was a work I'd spent countless days and nights completing. It had won first place in a sculpture competition and meant the world to me.

Now it was a pile of fragments.

Rage clouded my judgment. I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"Are you insane?"

Claire screamed, covering her face.

"Who gave you permission to come in? Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

I was shaking with anger. Just as I was about to teach her another lesson, my wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Gabriel rushed in and roared.

"Jane! What the hell are you doing?"

He violently shook off my hand. I staggered and fell to the ground, my forehead hitting the broken sculpture.

Sharp pain made my vision darken. Warm liquid flowed down my cheek.

"It's just a broken sculpture."

Gabriel looked at me coldly.

"Claire already apologized. Did you need to hit her?"

A broken sculpture?

I remembered on the day I won the award, he looked at me from the audience with admiring eyes.

Later, he even held me and said he was proud of me, that I'd used my artistic talent to overcome my physical limitations.

Now, compared to Claire, it had become just a broken sculpture.

I watched Gabriel leave with his arm around Claire. Blood blurred my vision.

Eventually, I passed out from exhaustion.