Chapter 3

Two days later came the date they believed my cochlear implant was officially scheduled to be activated.

Three years ago, when Ethan had first started learning sign language, he'd promised me,

“When you get your hearing back, I want to be the first person you hear.”

That morning, he brushed my hair for me.

Then he carefully signed,

“No matter what happens today, I'll stay with you.”

“The first words you hear again will be me saying, ‘I love you.’”

At the hospital, the doctor examined the device and told Ethan,

“Everything looks normal. We can proceed with the activation today.”

“She's already waited three years. I don't recommend delaying it again.”

The doctor didn't know sign language, so Ethan had to interpret for me.

Ethan nodded.

Then he turned toward me.

His hands told an entirely different story.

“There's something wrong with the device.”

“The doctor says activating it today could damage what little hearing you have left.”

I stared at his hands.

For the first time, I watched him turn the truth into a lie right in front of me.

The doctor tried to hand me the test results.

Ethan took them first, folded them, and slipped them into his pocket.

“She's been emotionally unstable lately.”

“If she finds out the activation failed, she might become suicidal again.”

“Please don't tell her the truth yet.”

Then he took my hand.

“The doctor is worried you won't be able to handle it, so he wants me to explain everything slowly.”

“Don't be scared. I'm here.”

And suddenly, I understood.

Maybe my treatment hadn't repeatedly failed over the past three years.

Maybe Ethan had simply used my deafness to reject every chance I had to hear again.

When Olivia was about to give birth, he needed me deaf.

When Sophie learned to call him Daddy, he needed me deaf.

And now he still wanted to delay my hearing until Sophie's status as our goddaughter became public.

Until Olivia and her daughter could openly step into my marriage.

I took out my phone and typed,

“I've already waited three years. I don't want to wait anymore.”

Ethan pulled me into his arms.

“I can't gamble with your health.”

“Trust me. I'm doing this for you.”

Just then, Olivia called.

Sophie was supposed to perform in her first preschool family show, but she refused to go onstage.

She kept crying for Daddy.

Helen immediately said,

“She'll only have one first performance.”

“Claire's already been deaf for three years. What's a few more days?”

David urged him too.

“Cancel the activation.”

“Once Sophie's goddaughter status is public and she's used to calling Ethan Godfather around people, Claire can get her hearing back.”

Right in front of me, Ethan told the hospital to cancel the activation.

Then he turned around and signed,

“The doctor has an emergency.”

“They can't continue today. I promise I'll come with you next time.”

I grabbed his hand.

He gently hugged me first.

Then he pried my fingers off one by one and told the driver to take me home.

He left with Helen and David for Sophie's preschool.

Before leaving, Ethan even told the doctor,

“Don't contact her directly about the next appointment.”

“When she's emotionally stable, I'll arrange it for her.”

He came home late that night.

A reward sticker from Sophie's family performance was sticking out of his pocket.

Ethan quickly shoved it back inside.

Then he walked over to me and signed,

“There was a problem with the hospital equipment.”

“Don't be sad. You'll hear again next time.”

I deliberately asked,

“What if I never hear again?”

He immediately pulled me into his arms.

“Even if everyone else in the world leaves you, I'll always be your ears.”

But after walking into the kitchen, he spoke directly to David.

“Tell the hospital not to contact her yet.”

“Once Olivia and Sophie move back, we'll decide when to let Claire activate the implant.”

David laughed.

“She only trusts you now.”

“As long as you tell her it's the doctor's decision, she won't question it.”

Standing outside the kitchen, I finally understood everything.

Ethan hadn't become my ears after I went deaf.

He'd shut out every other voice.

Then he'd made himself the only person I was allowed to trust.