My Silence Cost Me Everything, Now It's Your Turn to Scream

Before the finals of *The Voice*, my wifes throat was poisoned by a toxic rival.

In my despair, I made a deal with a mysterious System: I would give up my own voice and become mute, in exchange for restoring hers.

During the five years of my silence, she went from an unknown contestant to a world-famous pop queen, her path paved with flowers and applause.

But our meetings became rarer, and her attitude grew colder. Her attentive assistant, her handsome co-stareveryone in her life seemed better than me.

Watching her cozy up to the industry's top male star on national TV broke my heart.

Later, when our secret marriage was leaked, she didn't defend me. Instead, she posted a video telling the world that I was just a delusional stalker who was making her life a living hell.

Hunted by the media, attacked by her fans, I touched the bleeding gash on my foreheada gift from one of her angry shippersand felt my heart go completely numb.

I quietly called out to the System in my mind:

"End it. Let everything go back to the way it was."

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary.

Chloe and I hadn't seen each other in over a month. I had to beg her for weeks just to get her to agree to come home for dinner tonight.

It was dead quiet outside. It was getting late.

I glanced up at the clock. 11:30 PM. The day was almost over.

But Chloe, the other half of this anniversary, was still nowhere to be seen.

I unlocked my phone to text her, but a breaking news notification popped up on my screen first. It was the top trending topic on Instagram:

#Austin and Chloes Steamy New Cover Shoot for WQ Magazine#

I knew then that she wasn't coming home tonight.

In the beginning, we were so happy.

Chloe and I grew up in the same group home under the foster system. We were childhood sweethearts. I loved to paint, she loved to sing, and we grew up leaning on each other.

Our love felt as natural, sweet, and inevitable as the changing of the seasons.

The summer after I proposed, Chloe entered a massive national singing competition. She unexpectedly made it all the way to the finals.

She told me that the day she took home the trophy would be the day she proudly told the world I was her husband.

But a week before the finals, tragedy struck. Chloe, naive to the dark side of the industry, drank a bottle of juice given to her by someone claiming to be a fan.

She ended up rolling on the floor in agony, her throat burning like fire. By the time I got her to the hospital, the doctors told me her vocal cords were permanently destroyed.

Outside the ICU, I collapsed against the cold, white wall and prayed to any god that would listen.

I had never been religious, but at that moment, I would have sold my soul to anyone who could help her.

I loved her more than life itself. I was willing to give up anything to save her dream.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in my head: *Host Logan, I feel your desperate desire. I will offer you a deal: your voice in exchange for hers.*

At that moment, I didnt care if it was a demon, a god, or a System. I agreed instantly, like a moth to a flame, just so Chloe could sing again.

Chloe recovered completely. She won the competition, got signed to a major label, and quickly gained millions of fans and endless endorsement deals.

The price? I lost my voice. I could only make raspy, pathetic grunts from my throat.

But I didn't regret it. The day she won, we got married in secret. Even though it was a hidden marriage, I understood. I wanted to protect her career.

But things soon spiraled out of my control. Chloe's fame skyrocketed, and her social circle changed.

Two years ago, Chloe and the top pop star, Austin, starred in a reality show together. Their "ship" exploded online, gaining a massive following of obsessed fans.

That was when Chloe started staying away from home.

They lived and ate together during filming. Chloe told me it was just for the cameras.

They went on vacations together. Chloe told me it was a PR stunt to dodge the paparazzi.

Even when the entire internet was begging them to date in real life, she told me it was just marketing to promote her new album.

I believed her. As long as she gave me an excuse, I chose to trust her.

But eventually, she stopped bothering to make up excuses.

Her handsome young assistant, Ethan, started driving her home, acting way too familiar with her. When I tried to write down my feelings and ask her to reassure me, she snapped at me, saying I wasn't as gentle or understanding as Ethan.

When I tried to use my raspy, broken voice to struggle out her name, Chloe just looked at me with disgust and cut me off.

"Enough, Logan! You can't even speak clearly. Can you just be mature and give me some space? This is my job. Stop acting like a clingy child, okay?"

I shut my mouth. Completely.

This fifth anniversary was a date I had practically begged her for. We couldn't go to public places, but she had promised she would at least come home to have a quiet dinner with me.

A FaceTime call suddenly rang, dragging me out of my memories. It was Chloe.

I swiped to answer, waiting to see what excuse she would give me this time.

"Logan?"

Chloe's voice was cautious. I didn't make a sound.

On the other side of the screen, Chloe sighed, looking annoyed. But her flawless makeup and stunning designer gown told a different story: she was having the time of her life.

My video preview sat in the top right corner. I was sitting in the dark, looking like a ghost that didn't belong in her bright world.

"Logan, listen to me. Tonight is the wrap party for Austin's first television show. Tons of press are here, and I have to show support. The fans and media are watching my every move."

"I literally had to sneak away to the bathroom just to call you!"

I wanted to laugh. She acted like calling me was some grand act of charity.

I was her husband. I was the man who traded his own voice so she could have this glittering career.

I didn't want to hear her lies anymore. I typed on my iPad and held it up to the camera:

*So, you're not coming home tonight, right?*

Chloe nodded, looking exasperated. Even though I knew the answer, a sharp pain still pierced my chest.

I let out a bitter, silent smile. Chloes brows furrowed instantly.

"What's with that face, Logan? Seriously, do you have to do this every single time? Why can't you just support me for once?"

I felt utterly helpless. I hadn't even said a word. I had only smiled, and yet I was the villain.

A deep, icy chill washed over me.

I typed again on my screen:

*Its fine. You don't have to come back. Don't worry about coming back ever again. I'll come find you tomorrow.*

Chloe lost her temper instantly.

"Why are you coming to find me? I told you I'll come home once this busy season is over! What if the paparazzi spot you? How am I supposed to explain a mute husband to the media? Logan, please, grow up! I don't expect you to be a powerful connection in my career like Austin is, but the least you can do is stop throwing these jealous tantrums!"

I watched her beautiful face twist with anger. Her lovely voice was strained from trying to keep her volume down.

I felt completely hopeless. I gave up.

I hung up the call. Then, I blocked her Snapchat, her number, and every other way she had to contact me. Exhausted, I leaned back in my chair and whispered in my mind:

"System, are you there?"

The System's voice chimed in my head, asking for my request. The pain was gone, replaced by a strange, hollow peace.

"I'm tired," I said in my mind. "End it. Take back what's mine. Let everything go back to the way it was."

Suddenly, I felt a slight vibration in my throat. For the first time in five years, I felt the wonderful sensation of my vocal cords moving. I let out a low, raspy hum.

Tears welled up in my eyes. The System asked one final time:

*Host Logan, are you sure you want to reverse the trade? Once confirmed, your voice will gradually return to normal, and Chloe will lose hers completely. This exchange is permanent. Do you confirm?*

"Confirm."

I wiped my tears away. No more hesitation. It was time for everything to return to its rightful place.

The next morning, before I could even go find Chloe, she was already pounding on my door. And of course, she had brought Ethan with her.

I knew she hadn't come to apologize or to make up for our anniversary. She was just terrified that I would show up at her studio and ruin her image as a glamorous single pop star, which would kill her lucrative PR romance with Austin.

"Logan, you are seriously a nightmare! I had to cancel my morning interviews to rush over here. Do you have any idea how exhausting it was dodging the paparazzi?!"

Chloe yanked off her sunglasses and mask, looking like a busy CEO who had just graced a peasant with her presence.

I was in the kitchen cooking and didn't bother to look at her. I was done with her attitude.

The scent of food filled the kitchen. I flipped the vegetables in the pan. Over the past five years, even though I couldn't speak, I had used my free time to learn new things.

Like cooking. And painting, which I had never truly given up.

My cooking was probably the only reason Chloe ever came home. She was a picky eater, but I always found ways to make things she loved.

I ignored her shouting from the living room. But the peace didn't last long.

Ethan walked into the kitchen. Despite being just an assistant, he was wearing an expensive designer suit, leaning against the counter with an arrogant smirk.

"Well, look at Chef Logan. Long time no see."

Ethan sneered, his eyes filled with mockery.

Ethan was the only one in Chloe's circle who knew I was her husband. He had been with her since her debut.

At first, he was incredibly respectful, calling me "sir" and acting very humble. I thought he was a good kid and felt safe having him manage Chloe's schedule. But as Chloe's attitude toward me grew colder, he began to show his true colors.

I kept cooking, ignoring him.

But Ethan wouldn't stop. He started pacing around the kitchen, pointing at things as if he owned the place.

"Is this floor even clean? And this pan looks ancient. Don't tell me you can't afford a new one?" He tapped the edge of the pan with his expensive watch, making a sharp, annoying sound.

"Logan, I remember Chloe used to praise you for being so neat and hardworking. But honestly, this place looks like a dump."

I remained silent. He was clearly trying to get a reaction out of me, but I didn't give him the satisfaction.

"Why aren't you answering?" Ethan leaned in closer, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, right. Silly me. It's been so long, I forgot you're a mute."

Chloe walked into the kitchen then. She saw Ethan making trouble, and her brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly smoothed it over.

"Ethan, why are you in the kitchen?" Chloe's voice was soft, filled with a gentle tolerance she never showed me.

Seeing her, Ethan immediately changed his face. He walked over to Chloe, grabbed her arm gently, and put on a victim act.

"Chloe, I just couldn't help it. The kitchen is such a mess, and I wanted to help Logan clean up."

"But I think he took it the wrong way. And look at this food. You have a cover shoot coming up and need to stay in shape. This stuff is loaded with oil and salt. I just don't want you ruining your diet."

Ethan looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, acting as if he cared so much about her health.

Chloe looked back at Ethan, her eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn't seen in years. "Ethan, thank God I have you. Go wait in the car and help me check my schedule for the week."

Once he left, she turned to me. I didn't react, keeping my face completely blank as I continued cooking.

My lack of emotion only angered her more.

"Logan! What is this silent treatment supposed to be? Acting like you don't care about anything, playing the victim... it's exhausting to look at!"

"You begged me to come back, and now that I'm here, you're giving me attitude!"

It was hilarious. I had begged her to come back *yesterday* for our anniversary. She had missed it, and now she was acting like she was doing me a favor.

She snatched the spatula out of my hand to stop me, but her reckless movement knocked the pan. Hot oil splashed out, landing directly on my wrist.

Chloe froze, not expecting that. I looked down at my wrist. A painful blister was already forming.

My expression didn't change. I felt as if my heart had been stabbed so many times that a little physical pain couldn't even register anymore.

Even with me acting this abnormal, Chloe didn't notice anything wrong. She just gave me a cold, dismissive excuse to ease her own guilt:

"Whatever. Ethan is just blunt, don't take it personally. And besides, a little cheat meal won't kill me."

Whether it was the superstar Austin or this cheap assistant Ethan, it seemed like anyone in Chloe's life deserved her kindness except me.

A random assistant got all her warmth, while my sacrifice was treated like garbage.

I was so, so tired.

The food was finally on the table. I set the plates down one by one.

But Ethan, pretending to be clumsy, bumped the table and knocked a bowl of hot soup right onto the floor, splashing everywhere.

He immediately let out a dramatic cry, acting as if he had been badly burned.

Chloe rushed over, grabbing his hand to inspect it.

"Chloe, don't worry about me. Eat your lunch before it gets cold. We still have a shoot to catch," Ethan said, looking sweet and harmless.

Ethan only had a tiny red mark on his handhe wasn't hurt at all. But Chloe still turned on me, screaming:

"Logan! How could you be so careless?! Serving food that's boiling hot!"

Her eyes were filled with disappointment and anger, as if I had committed a crime.

If I hadn't dodged quickly, the hot oil from earlier would have covered my entire arm, but Chloe hadn't cared at all.

Yet a fake red mark on Ethan's hand made her heart bleed.

Perhaps realizing she was being too harsh, Chloe tried to justify her anger: "Ethan is my assistant. My career depends on him. It would be a nightmare if he got seriously hurt!"

I actually laughed. Her career depended on Ethan, her fame depended on Austin. She always had an excuse.

It turned out I was the only one who was completely disposable.

I placed the last dish on the table, then slid my phone and a manila envelope toward her. On my phone screen, I had typed:

*Chloe, let's get a divorce.*

Chloe froze. Even Ethan looked shocked.

Seeing the signed divorce papers ready in the envelope, they realized I wasn't joking.

"Are you out of your mind?" Chloe sneered, clearly thinking this was just another dramatic attempt to get her attention.

I shook my head, letting her know I was dead serious.

Ethan glanced between the two of us, sensing the tension. Chloe never expected me to actually bring this up.

"Logan, I know you've been feeling neglected, but the romance with Austin is just for PR. If you don't believe me, ask Ethan. Austin and I are just business partners. Why are you being so jealous?"

"Just behave, okay? Once this promo cycle is over, I'll take you on a trip to Europe to make up for our anniversary, alright?"

Chloe offered a half-hearted sweet talk mixed with a warning, expecting me to soften up like I always did.

But I was no longer the foolish man who could be manipulated by her empty promises, the man who would sacrifice his life just for a scrap of her affection.

Every single thing she had ever promised me had fallen through. The "later" she always talked about never came.

Chloe probably thought a few sweet words would keep me quiet and loyal.

She looked at me with that familiar, helpless expression, waiting for me to yield.

But my gaze was cold and steady. I forced the air through my vocal cords, making a raspy but distinct sound:

"Let's... get... a divorce."

Seeing me like this, Chloe looked deeply annoyed. She told me to calm down, slammed the door, and left.

Strangely, the moment the front door slammed shut, the tightness in my throat loosened. I tried to whisper my own name.

For the first time in five years, I heard my own normal voice.

I knew the System's reversal had begun.