My name was Alice Langley. In front of the filming crew and me, my fiancé, Eric Roberts, was flirting with his deaf assistant, Edith Accola, surrounded by a group of hearing-impaired children. “Ms. Accola, is he your boyfriend?” one eager child asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Edith blushed, a shy smile spreading across her face as she gestured for Eric to respond. He hesitated, glancing at me before turning back to the kids, signing, “Yes.” “When are you two getting married? We want some wedding candy!” another child piped up, bouncing with excitement. Eric grinned, his hands moving with confidence as he signed back, “Absolutely! I’ll bring you all to the wedding next week, and there will be plenty of candy!” His signs were quick and precise, showing no sign of the three months learning. Meanwhile, I, the so-called proper fiancée, felt like a complete outsider, a clown in this heartwarming scene. Later, when the charity video was released, chaos erupted at the wedding venue. Eric was frantically searching for me, his expression a mix of panic and concern. ***** With Eric’s affirmative response, a group of children erupted into laughter and excitement, surrounding Edith and him. Edith shot me a triumphant glance over the crowd, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. As I watched the lively and heartwarming scene unfold, my throat tightened, and I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. I couldn’t even recall how many times Eric had flirted with Edith in front of me using sign language. Ever since Edith had saved Eric from his deafness and accidentally discovered that I was fluent in sign language—something Eric was unaware of—she had turned their flirtation into a weapon against me. What once might have been a subtle concern had now become a blatant display, even in front of the cameras. As I was lost in my thoughts, Eric took a step closer. “Alice, what are you thinking about?” he asked, concern etched on his face. “I was wondering what your sign language meant just now,” I replied, looking up into his eyes. He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. “Oh, it was nothing. “The kids were just asking when we’d come back to see them, and I told them we’d come after the wedding,” he said, his hands fidgeting with his watch—a telltale sign that he was lying. Before I could respond, he turned and hurried back to catch up with Edith. A little girl named Mia Queen, who had been snuggled up to me, tilted her head in confusion and signed. “Ms. Langley, didn’t you just say he is your fiancé? Aren’t you getting married soon?” I fought back tears and replied earnestly in sign language, “Not anymore, Mia. Promise me you won’t tell anyone about what happened today, okay?” After the event, Edith refused to leave with us, wanting to spend more time with the children. Eric glanced back multiple times, reluctant to get into the car. As soon as he opened the car door, I caught a whiff of the jasmine scent I despised. I couldn’t help but frown. “That’s a homemade air freshener from Edith and the kids. I thought it was nice, so I hung it up,” Eric said casually. But I remembered how I had wanted to use a calming scent for motion sickness, only to have Eric veto it because he didn’t like any smells in the car. The ride back felt tense and quiet. The mountain air was chilly, and just as I was about to grab Eric’s floral Winnie-the-Pooh blanket from the back seat to cover myself, he refused. “That blanket belongs to Edith. She doesn’t like anyone touching her things. If you’re cold, I can just turn up the heat,” he said, his expression calm as if this was completely normal. I turned to him, puzzled. “Why is her stuff in your car? We’re about to get married, Eric. “What’s going on? The air freshener, the lipstick, the blanket, the perfume—all of it belongs to Edith. “What kind of assistant uses her boss’ car like it’s her own?” I could see impatience creeping across Eric’s face at my questions. “Alice, why are you being so sensitive right now? Edith helped me with my hearing loss. Shouldn’t I take care of her a little? “This is my car, and you’re poking your nose into everything. It’s suffocating!” His words punched me hard in the gut.
When we were dating, Eric insisted that I keep a close eye on him, taking pride in the fact that it gave him a sense of security. But now, he said I was suffocating him? The mountain road was bumpy, and the temperature in the car was rising. Eric’s words made my stomach churn. “Where’s my peppermint spray?” I asked, rummaging through my bag, trying to recall where I had last seen it. “Edith used it last time. She thought it was too strong, so she threw it away. Why do you need it?” he replied nonchalantly. In the past, whenever I felt even a hint of motion sickness, Eric would spring into action—opening windows for fresh air and rubbing my back to help me relax. He had even scoured the market to find the perfect peppermint spray to ease my symptoms. But now, that special treatment had been handed over to Edith. I fought to suppress my rising anger. “That was mine! Why does she get to just toss it aside?” Suddenly, Eric slammed on the brakes, and I was thrust forward, my forehead crashing against the windshield. A painful bump immediately formed. “Enough, Alice! You were distracted at the event today, and now you’re nitpicking at Edith. What’s going on with you?” Eric snapped, his brows furrowing as he defended her. Clearly, my motion sickness and the bump on my head were nothing compared to my complaints about Edith. I shook my throbbing head, ready to respond, when Edith’s ringtone blared through the car. “Mr. Roberts, Ms. Accola just broke a toenail while playing games with the kids. We don’t have a first-aid kit here. You need to come quickly!” “Mr. Roberts, my foot hurts so much, and it’s bleeding! I’m so scared!” Edith wailed on the other end, her sobs echoing through the car. The moment Eric heard that she was bleeding, his face drained of color. “Okay, just keep her calm. She hates pain, and with her hearing gone, she’s really scared. I’ll turn around right now!” Here we go again. I knew Edith wouldn’t let me and Eric have our moment of peace. Rubbing my forehead, I said quietly, “Turn around.” To my shock, Eric told me to get out of the car. “Alice, be reasonable. Edith is hurt and needs someone with her. There’s no room in the car, and since you’re feeling sick, it’s better if you get out and walk for a bit. I promise I’ll be back to pick you up as soon as I get her to the hospital.” I stared at him in disbelief. “You want me to walk back down the mountain alone in the dark?” My voice trembled, but it didn’t seem to stir any sympathy in Eric. A minute later, I stood by the roadside in my thin workout clothes, watching as Eric sped off toward the welfare center, urgency written all over his face.
The next morning, I limped home, my clothes torn and dirty, and my feet blistered and bleeding. As soon as I opened the door, I was met with the sight of Eric giving Edith a massage. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t even notice me enter. Edith, draped in my own pajamas, had one of her legs casually resting on Eric’s shoulder. She looked at me with a smug smile, as if to challenge me. I slammed the door shut, startling Eric. “Alice, what are you doing back?” he asked, immediately pushing Edith’s leg off him, his face a mix of surprise and awkwardness as he started to come over to help me. But Edith cut in before he could reach me. “Alice, I know you’re upset that Mr. Roberts came back for me last night. But honestly, you don’t need to make yourself look so miserable. If you don’t like me, I can just leave.” With that, she feigned a pitiful struggle to get up. “Oh!” she exclaimed, and then she “accidentally” fell into Eric’s arms. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, concern etched on his face. The two of them completely ignored me, engrossed in their own world, communicating in sign language as if I were invisible. I took a deep breath, turned on my heel, and headed to the guest room. I changed out of my filthy clothes and plugged my phone in to charge. As soon as it powered up, I saw a video from Edith waiting for me. “Mr. Roberts, are you really willing to have a wedding with me?” In the video, Edith’s face lit up with anticipation, her signs filled with joy. Kneeling in front of her, Eric looked at her with deep affection. “Edith, even though I can’t legally marry you, I promise I’ll make sure your wedding happens!” “Then I want my wedding to be on the same day as Alice’s! I want to go right after hers, and I want to bring all the kids from the welfare center. Everything about my wedding has to be just like Alice’s, but a little less fancy!” “Okay, okay, whatever you want, you silly girl,” Eric replied, smiling softly as he playfully pinched her nose. ***** I shut my eyes and pressed the power button, tears streaming down my face. Last night, I had walked alone along the mountain path, terrified and trying to avoid a reckless driver, only to tumble down and hurt myself. Meanwhile, Eric and Edith were at my house, exchanging sweet nothings. When I returned, Eric didn’t even bother to ask how I had managed to make it home alone with my phone dead. And now, he was planning two weddings. It was utterly ridiculous! The man Eric had become was a far cry from the one who once vowed he would marry no one but me. Ever since Edith joined the company, Eric had been vocal about her. At first, he complained about Edith, expressing his disdain and warning me to keep an eye on her, as if she were trying to steal him away. But that quickly shifted to praise and admiration. Eric would talk about how capable and resourceful Edith was. It all began three months ago when Edith and Eric took a client diving. During the excursion, Eric’s oxygen tank slipped from his grasp, and in a moment of heroism, Edith risked her life to save him, suffering permanent hearing loss in the process. Ever since that day, Eric hadn’t mentioned her name in my presence. I had been trying to convince myself it was all just gratitude. I ignored the constant stream of messages from Edith flaunting Eric’s affection for her and the way they flirted in sign language right in front of me. I had thought I could endure this. But everything that happened today shattered that illusion. By the time I finished my call with Laird Borden, night had fallen. Laird lived right across from my house, and I had been raised by my grandmother. When we were kids, I taught myself sign language to help care for Laird’s deaf grandmother. But after moving away, we lost touch. Now, Laird was thriving abroad and had repeatedly invited me to join him as the chief designer. Initially, I considered it, wanting to be there for my grandmother in her final days. But then Eric proposed again, and I pushed those thoughts aside. I never imagined that after all this, I would still be leaving. As I stepped into my bedroom, I glanced around and noticed how much was missing. “Where are my paintings?” I asked, my heart sinking. “They were too abstract, and Edith was scared of them, so I got rid of them,” Eric replied, shrugging it off as if it were nothing. Once upon a time, Eric had treasured those paintings. The inspiration for his gaming company’s flagship mobile game had come from my artwork. It was my creativity that had helped him soar to success. Eric had promised that one day, those paintings would be framed and cherished, a testament to our love and shared journey. Now, just because Edith was afraid, he had tossed them aside like yesterday’s news. The memories of our struggles together felt like a cruel joke. Seeing my silence, Eric pressed on. “Alice, since Edith hurt her foot and has no one to look after her, I’ve let her stay in our master bedroom for a few days. You won’t mind, right?” He watched me carefully, as if afraid I might refuse. After all, just last night, I had argued with him over Edith. “Do as you please,” I replied, my tone flat. I decided not to escalate the argument. Eric’s relief was palpable. He wrapped his arms around me, leaning in for a kiss on my cheek, but I turned my head away. Unfazed, he suggested I get ready, promising to accompany me to try on wedding dresses later. Amidst all the turmoil, I had nearly forgotten about the wedding dress I had designed myself. Even though I had decided to leave, it felt right to destroy the gown I had poured my heart into. When we arrived at the bridal shop, Eric went off to park the car while I contacted a salesperson. Just as I finished giving them the name of my dress, I noticed a change in the clerk’s expression. “Ms. Langley, there was a woman who insisted on trying on this dress just a moment ago. I called the number you left, and the gentleman on the other end said it was okay for you to try it on. However, that lady is still in there. Let me take you inside.” As the fitting room door swung open, I was met with the sight of Edith in my meticulously designed wedding dress, posing in front of the mirror and snapping photos. I felt my hands tremble with rage. I was about to march over and demand she take it off when Eric, who had just arrived, caught my arm. The reflection in the mirror captured the moment as Edith, still clad in my gown, walked straight toward us. I couldn’t miss the flicker of admiration in Eric’s eyes as he took in the sight of her. All the pent-up frustration I had been holding onto suddenly dissipated. “Take off that wedding dress in three minutes, or don’t blame me for losing my temper.” I delivered the ultimatum calmly before turning on my heel and sitting down at the reception desk. A few minutes later, Eric appeared, looking contrite, with a sulking Edith in tow. “Okay, Alice, I admit it’s partly my fault. Edith just loves your designs; she only wanted to try it on. Don’t be so petty about it. I’ve already agreed to marry you, so let’s not sweat the small stuff.” The subtext in his words suggested that this whole wedding was my one-sided push for a commitment. But it was he who had solemnly proposed to me three months ago by the sea in front of everyone. I knew Eric’s apology wasn’t genuine; it was merely a way to keep me from taking my frustration out on Edith. When I remained silent, Eric exchanged a glance with Edith, who stomped her foot in frustration before storming off. “Alice, the wedding is just around the corner. I’ve arranged everything at the hotel. You need to get back and get ready to look stunning as my bride tomorrow,” he said, his tone urgent. As soon as he finished, he made a hasty excuse about needing to handle something for work and rushed away. I understood—he was off to placate Edith. I grabbed my carefully packaged wedding dress and left the shop under the watchful eye of the staff. Arriving at the hotel Eric had booked for the wedding; I took a look around. Sure enough, the style and decor matched perfectly with the photos Edith had just posted on social media—only my venue was smaller, and the floral arrangements fewer. It was indeed a notch below hers. I let out a self-deprecating laugh, dropped the bag containing my wedding dress, and meticulously checked all the documents before heading to the airport. As soon as my plane landed, my phone rang. “Alice, where are you? You’re not in your room! Have you not changed into your wedding dress yet? Everyone’s waiting for you!” Eric’s voice was laced with urgency. He knew that if I took too long, he might miss the next event. I could hear him rummaging through things on the other end of the line. “Alice, why is your wedding dress torn and thrown in the trash? Where are you?” His voice suddenly shot up an octave. Before I could respond, a gasp came through the phone. I heard the sound of a video playing. “Renowned artist Alice Langley and Eric Roberts, CEO of the Roberts Group, are attending a charity event for hearing-impaired children. We see Ms. Langley engaging joyfully in sign language with the kids, creating a heartwarming scene…” It was the promotional video from the charity event I had arranged to be released today, perfectly timed to coincide with my departure. The line fell silent. A few seconds later, Eric’s trembling voice broke through the quiet. “Alice, you know sign language?”
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