Chapter 1

1: 1

Three years ago, on my way to the office to drop off some documents for Adam Floyd, I was in a car accident and lost the hearing in both ears.

It wasn't until after I was discharged that I found out Adam had gone behind my back and agreed to settle privately with the other party, taking the two million in compensation to pay for his mother's medical treatment.

He said, "Bridget, think of this money as a loan. Once I've earned enough, I'll marry you."

"I'll be the ears you listen to the world with, for the rest of my life."

After that, he learned sign language with me and walked me back out of it, step by step.

Adam kept me by his side every moment, and everyone envied how happy I was.

Then came Valentine's Day, when his childhood sweetheart invited him to an awards ceremony abroad. Adam didn't say no. He booked a ticket for me too.

Once we boarded, he left me in economy and walked toward business class with Eleanor Dickerson.

"Ellie's scared of heights, I'm going to sit with her. Be reasonable about it."

I wanted to call out to him, but when I opened my mouth all that came out was a sharp, grating cry that turned heads around me. He didn't look back.

Midair, the plane hit heavy turbulence and started to shake.

I saw the flight attendant's mouth moving, saying something I couldn't hear, so I just copied the person beside me and pulled on my oxygen mask.

Then a piercing burst of static drilled into my ears.

And right after it, I could actually hear the scattered screaming and crying.

After the plane landed, Adam ran toward the exit with Eleanor in his arms, his face taut with panic.

I chased after him to tell him my ears could hear again.

But he pushed me straight away and signed at me.

"Go back to the hotel first. Ellie just got a scare, I'm taking her to the hospital."

But I didn't miss what he said out loud.

"What a burden."

I froze where I stood. Around me the crowd roared, and inside there was nothing but dead silence.

It felt like the sky over my whole world was about to change.

...

Adam pushed his and Eleanor's luggage over to my hands and walked off without a backward glance.

Eleanor leaned her head on his shoulder and glanced at me.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright. She didn't look the least bit shaken.

She even dragged her lips across Adam's neck, taunting me.

The announcement came over in English, and every sign in sight was in English too. I couldn't read any of it.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Adam.

A photo of a license plate.

【Ellie was worried you wouldn't be able to find the hotel, so she went out of her way to book a car for you.】

【Take exit B on level 3. The car's already there.】

Something bitter spread through my veins until I couldn't breathe.

Eleanor was always like this.

Steal Adam away, leave me behind, then play the good person "taking care" of me.

And Adam ate it up, every time.

Last month, she called with a fever and dragged Adam off, and I spent my birthday alone, abandoned in a steakhouse.

The next day she showed up with a birthday cake and a gift, saying she'd make up my birthday for me.

The cake was mango cream, which I'm allergic to. The gift was a pair of earphones I had no use for at all.

I told her I wasn't happy about it.

Adam only said, "Ellie's sick and she's still thinking of you. Don't be ungrateful."

I struggled to push all four suitcases out to the pickup point and got in the car.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance.

I pushed at the door. It was locked from the inside.

The driver in the front seat held out his hand and said something in English I couldn't understand.

I was just about to open the translation app on my phone.

The driver suddenly turned furious and raised his fist at me.

Terrified, I called Adam.

Three calls in a row, all hung up on.

Finally he sent a text.

【Ellie just took a sedative and she's resting. If you call, you'll wake her.】

【You can't hear on the phone anyway. If something's wrong, type it.】

The driver in front of me was glaring at me viciously.

My hands were shaking as I typed.

【The driver won't let me out of the car and I can't communicate with him. Can you pick up and talk to him?】

The other end showed "typing" for almost a full minute.

In the end all he sent was one short line.

【Bridget Fox, don't lie to me just because you're jealous. Wait for us at the hotel.】

After that he never replied again.

The driver took me to the police station.

After the officers checked my passport and ID, they brought in a translator to ask me by writing things down.

【Where's your family? Why are you alone?】

My hand went still around the pen. I didn't know how to answer.

Three years ago, I went out alone to buy groceries. When I couldn't find Adam, I panicked and called the police.

Back then he'd signed at me, his face cold.

"Bridget Fox, from now on you're not to step out of my sight."

Now, he'd thrown me alone in a foreign country.

Two hours later, Adam came to the station with Eleanor to collect me.

Eleanor apologized to me.

"I'm sorry, Bridget. I panicked because of the plane thing and forgot to pay on the app."

Adam signed her explanation to me.

But under his breath he muttered.

"A grown woman, and she can't even manage to take a car ride."

He settled Eleanor into the back seat.

Before I could even get in, he waved for the driver to start.

Once again, I was left behind.