My Boyfriend Heard Her Better Than Me

My boyfriend had a hearing impairment, and he often couldnt hear what I said clearly.

I said I wanted chocolate cake, but he bought strawberry cake.

I heard you wrong, and Chloe loves this flavor, so Ill take it to her.

I said I didnt want the diamond ring to be too flashy, but he bought one with a diamond as big as a pigeon egg.

I heard you wrong again, but Chloe likes this, so Ill give it to her.

Then I carefully planned the design for our future home and asked him to buy a house in South Bay for us.

But on the day of the final inspection, he drove all the way to North Hills.

When he noticed I had been silent the whole ride, he apologized again.

I really didnt hear you clearly, and I thought you liked the scenery over here in North Hills, so I bought it without thinking.

But I knew Chloe, his childhood sweetheart, worked for a company nearby.

He hadnt failed to hear me.

He had simply never wanted to listen.

At that moment, all my strength suddenly drained away, and I spoke with a calm I had never felt before.

Ethan Sterling, lets break up.

He looked up in confusion and instinctively touched the hearing aid by his ear.

What did you just say?

I didnt hear you.

Every time I spoke, he never paid attention, because he knew I would patiently repeat myself.

But this time, I didnt want to repeat it again and again.

Nothing, I said, trying to stay calm.

Return the house.

I said to buy in South Bay, so it should be in South Bay.

In an instant, his face darkened.

A house isnt like a shirt you can just return whenever you want.

You drew the design plans, and the renovation was the result of me supervising day and night.

Now you say you dont want it, and thats it?

Can you stop making a scene?

The atmosphere froze, and just then, the door lock suddenly clicked open.

Chloe scanned her fingerprint and walked in as if this were her own home, and the three of us stared at one another.

After she realized we were arguing, she bit her lip, her face flushed red.

Please try to understand Ethan.

He has a hearing impairment, and its not like he misheard you on purpose.

Why dont I cook something to cheer you both up?

She washed the vegetables, trimmed them, and put them in the pan with practiced ease.

She was so familiar with everything that it looked like she was in her own home.

When Ethan watched her busy in the kitchen, his eyes were full of tenderness.

Then he went over to help her out of habit, and they moved together with warm, effortless chemistry.

But they seemed to have forgotten that this was supposed to be our future home.

Just as I was about to leave, Ethan jogged over and grabbed my arm.

Shes kindly making you a housewarming dinner, and youre still giving everyone attitude?

Youre being way too unreasonable.

Was this really a housewarming dinner for me?

In fact, from the moment I walked in, I had noticed that the layout of the entire house was nothing like what I had designed.

The guest room that was supposed to be used for hosting friends and family was twice the size of the primary bedroom.

To force it bigger, they had even squeezed the walk-in closet I had carefully designed down to the size of a storage room.

Even the tiles on the wall were polished tiles I had rejected from the start.

Clearly, everything had already been changed according to Chloes preferences.

I said lightly, You two eat.

After that, I was about to push the door open and leave, but Chloe blocked me first.

She wore a pitiful expression.

Although I dont know why youre angry

But if you want to blame someone, blame me.

Ethan has a hearing impairment, and if your voice is too loud, he wont be able to handle it.

Please try to understand him.

My nails dug deep into my palm, and the pain shot through me.

I had seen her lose her temper at Ethan far too many times.

Once, she even slapped away the hearing aid he cared about most.

But he only hurried to pick it up and begged her to repeat the insult she had just thrown at him.

He was afraid he had missed something important.

Yet every time we argued, he would casually take off his hearing aid.

Then he would let me break down like a hysterical lunatic.

But from now on, I would never make a scene again.

If she doesnt want to eat, then forget it.

Let her go.

Impatience climbed into Ethans voice.

Looking at the lightning flashing and thunder rolling outside the window, he gave a soft sneer, but it stabbed straight into my heart.

Just dont come crying later, saying youre scared of thunder.

When I was abused by my stepfather, I was often shoved out into heavy rain until I lost consciousness.

Ever since then, I had been terrified of thunder, and Ethan had always stayed with me through every stormy night without fail.

But even though he knew my weakness better than anyone, he still pushed me toward the door out of spite.

Ah!

Chloes scream pulled me back to reality.

Ethan immediately pulled her back to his side and coaxed her in a low voice.

Dont be scared.

Im right here.

Ill finish the rest of the dishes.

Stay here.

The scene in front of me overlapped with the way we used to be.

I turned around, pushed open the door, rushed into the rain without hesitation, and quickly called a cab.

That night, my fever nearly reached 104 degrees.

Chloe had already posted a huge table of food on Instagram.

Theres a bedroom that belongs only to me in the new house, and its even bigger than the primary bedroom. A certain someones housewarming dinner tastes even better now!

But I clearly remembered that Ethan had sworn he would never go into the kitchen, because he hated the smell of grease and smoke.

Yet Chloe still broke through his bottom line.

When I came back to my senses, I pulled up a phone number that had been buried at the very bottom of my contacts.

You once said you would always save a place for me.

Does that still count?

After receiving an excited and certain answer, I took fever medicine and fell asleep in a daze.

The next day, I was woken up by a phone call.

Emma Clark, who taught you manners?

You agreed to come to the family dinner, and now youre making the entire Sterling family wait for you?

My head burned like it was about to split open.

I have a fever

Stop making excuses.

Get here now.

Dont make everyone wait for you.

I dragged my weak body to the Sterling family estate, only to find that Chloe was sitting beside Ethan.

Everyone in the family wore different expressions, and Mrs. Sterling in particular looked at me with cold disdain.

No matter how many times I explained that I wasnt marrying Ethan for money, she still called me a gold digger again and again.

You sleep until noon and still say youre not marrying in just to live the easy life?

Who would believe that?

No one saw the sweat covering my forehead, and no one saw how weak my legs were.

Ethan did not step in to help me like he used to.

The waves of accusations pressed down on me until I could barely breathe, so I put down my cutlery.

Mrs. Sterling, Im not marrying him anymore.

Mrs. Sterlings expression froze on her face, and Ethan quickly went to soothe her.

Mom, shes joking with everyone.

The wedding is already set for the day after tomorrow.

After saying that, he pulled me into a corner.

You can be stubborn, but there has to be a limit.

You know my mom is desperate for grandchildren, so were those words something you should say to an elder?

I was the one being mocked, and I was also the one being blamed.

He lectured me nonstop, not noticing my discomfort at all.

Just as I was about to lose my temper, Chloe looked at me pitifully.

The charm on your wrist is really pretty.

Can you give it to me?

I instinctively tightened my palm, and it felt as if a thorn had lodged in my throat.

Ethan had gotten this charm for me from a faraway church after praying for my safety.

Back then, when my mother was being abused by my stepfather, he had tied it onto my wrist himself and said he would protect me and keep me safe for the rest of my life.

Unwilling to accept it, I looked at him.

What do you think?

He said nothing, but the sorrow in his eyes told me that the person he wanted to protect now was someone else.

Fine.

My decisiveness made Ethan look at me in shock.

But I had already taken off the charm and casually stuffed it into Chloes hand.

If I could give up a seven-year relationship, what did this charm even count for?

After leaving the Sterling estate, I received the official job offer and immediately booked a flight out.

After returning to my old place, I started packing my suitcase.

I didnt expect Ethan to come back and see it, and he misunderstood, thinking I was packing for our honeymoon.

Youre starting this early?

Youre way too impatient.

Besides, were going to Antarctica for our honeymoon.

Why are you packing summer clothes?

Do you want to freeze to death?

I froze.

A long time ago, we had agreed that after we got married, we would go to Hawaii for our honeymoon, because that was where we first met.

He had kissed my forehead and said, No matter how many times we revisit the same place, at least the person beside me will never change.

That was why I had asked him three days ago to buy the plane tickets.

Almost instinctively, I blurted out, Wasnt it Hawaii?

Ethan impatiently pulled out two plane tickets, and they were indeed for Antarctica.

The next second, another ticket fell out of his pocket, with the same date and destination.

He paused, then explained unnaturally.

Maybe I heard you wrong.

I thought you wanted to go to Antarctica.

When I was paying, maybe I accidentally clicked the wrong thing and bought one extra.

But on the other ticket, Chloes name was written clearly.

I suddenly remembered that three days ago, Chloe had posted on Instagram and shared many videos of the aurora in Antarctica.

How amazing would it be if someone could take me to see the northern lights? Im making a wish right here.

Looking at it now, Ethan was the person who had helped her wish come true.

My voice had never been heard by him, and I had never truly entered his heart.

I lifted my head and forced my tears back.

Refund my ticket.

When Ethan heard that, he completely lost patience with me.

Isnt traveling anywhere basically the same?

And with one more person, well have one more person to look out for each other.

Why do you have to make such a big deal out of this?

Youre getting more and more dramatic.

I looked up and stared into his eyes.

I couldnt believe those words had come from his mouth.

After I escaped the darkness of my stepfathers abuse, I had suffered from depression for a while.

Every time I lost my temper or cried, he would always comfort me unconditionally.

He would clumsily wipe away my tears.

He would tell me jokes in a terrible accent just to make me laugh.

He would never call me dramatic.

I took a deep breath.

Im not angry.

Its because Im going to

Ethans special ringtone suddenly rang, and it was Chloe calling.

He covered the speaker and hid in the study.

With a bang, the door shut my unspoken words outside.

I was going to leave.

In the middle of the night, I heard him sighing in the study.

She already gives me this much of a headache now.

After we get married, Ill suffer even more.

Back then, I stayed with her until she got over her depression.

I never said it out loud, but she should know how annoying that was for me.

Every word was clear, and every sentence stabbed my heart.

I didnt know what happened on the other end, but Ethan suddenly tensed up.

You dont feel well?

Okay.

Once shes asleep, Ill go to the new house to find you.

Separated by the thick study door, I gave a bitter smile.

There was no need to go to such lengths.

I would no longer get in their way.

Leaning against the door, I heard him call Chloe by her nickname again and again.

He had always hated voice messages, but he opened Chloes voice notes and listened to them over and over.

I stopped listening, returned to the bedroom, and slept deeply for once.

I didnt even know when Ethan left.

Early the next morning, bursts of laughter suddenly came from downstairs.

The living room was packed with friends and relatives, all raising glasses and chatting happily.

When Ethan saw me wearing wrinkled pajamas, he frowned in displeasure.

Did you forget the wedding rehearsal is today?

My parents arrived early, and youre coming downstairs dressed like that?

Everyones eyes fell on me, some full of contempt and some full of mockery.

It was as if they were all saying, how could Ethan Sterling marry a woman of my class?

Ethan felt embarrassed, and he waved his hand impatiently.

Go change into a decent dress before coming down.

Youre making it look like the Sterling family mistreats you.

Chloe was wearing a white gown styled like a wedding dress, as if she were the bride-to-be.

I ignored Ethans bossy attitude and was about to formally announce our broken engagement while everyone was there.

But Chloe skipped over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me in front of someone.

Its such a happy day, so I specially invited your father over to make things livelier.

You wont blame me for being nosy, will you?

The moment I looked up, my heartbeat stopped.

The person in front of me was the stepfather who had beaten my mother to death right in front of my eyes.

His voice sounded like a demon beside my ear.

My good girl, how could you not invite me to such a big happy event like your wedding?

I came to congratulate you too.

In an instant, fear and hatred swept through me like electricity.

Chloe suddenly leaned closer and whispered excitedly in my ear.

I heard this man beat your mother to death, and they still havent even found the body.

Tsk, tsk.

And yet you still have the mood to get married here.

Besides, how could such a happy moment in your life be missing someone from your family, right?

Looking at the demon who appeared in my nightmares day and night, my eyes turned red.

How do you know about that?

My voice was trembling, and I must have looked terrifyingly crazed.

Chloes gaze flicked toward Ethan, who knew nothing.

One time, he made me cry, so he told me this story to cheer me up.

Oh, dont glare at me like that

Slap!

I raised my hand and struck her across the face.

The next second, Ethan shoved me away with full force.

Emma Clark, you ungrateful woman!

Chloe invited your family here for the wedding rehearsal because she was thinking of you.

How dare you hit her?

Apologize right now!

Chloe hid in his arms and provoked me with the posture of a winner.

I suddenly laughed, caught off guard by my own laughter, like a madwoman.

I had peeled open every hideous scar for him to see, and he had turned around and used it as a joke to comfort another girl.

Under his shocked gaze, I said each word clearly.

In.

Your.

Dreams.

Ethan Sterling, were done.

Ethans face immediately darkened, and disbelief flashed through his eyes.

I ignored him, went upstairs, grabbed my suitcase, and left through the back door of the villa.

Even a goodbye felt unnecessary.

One hour before the wedding, Ethan irritably knocked on the door of the backstage dressing room.

Emma Clark, thats enough.

This isnt like being at home.

No one is waiting three hours for you to do your makeup today.

The next second, the door was opened in anger.

But the woman who came out was a stranger in a bridal gown.

Why are you knocking like that?

Youve got the wrong person.

Just as Ethan froze, the venue manager rushed over, panting.

Mr. Sterling, I forgot to tell you.

Miss Clark canceled the wedding venue yesterday!