Asher King was cheating for the 78th time, and I was lying right beside him. His secretary, Chloe, breathed huskily into my ear, “Making so much noise, aren’t you afraid of waking your deaf little wife?” He scoffed, “Her? She’s just my deaf-mute pet. So docile.” “You know what? I bet even if I hit her right now, she’d just stare at me with those innocent eyes.” No sooner had he spoken than he actually slapped my back. A searing pain shot through me, and I looked at him. Chloe giggled mockingly, “See? No reaction at all.” I touched my ear, watching them, and a sudden smile spread across my face. “I’ve been waiting for that slap for a long time.” Asher King’s smile instantly froze. “Your hearing’s back?” I stared coldly at the two of them, saying nothing. The woman beneath Asher scrambled to pull her clothes over the passion marks on her skin. A thick, cloying scent of their illicit affair hung heavy in the air. I stroked the hearing aid on my ear, my gaze calm as I swept over the couple on the bed. Chloe, clutching her chest, dropped to her knees on the floor with a thump. “Miss Miller! Miss Miller! I’m so sorry! I truly am!” “It’s all my fault! I lost my head! I shamelessly seduced Mr. King!” “I couldn’t control my feelings! It has nothing to do with Mr. King! He was just confused for a moment!” Tears streamed down her young, beautiful face, making her look utterly pitiful. I didn’t utter a word, but Asher spoke first. He wore a half-tied robe, kicking over the bedside trash can, shielding Chloe behind him. “Hazel Miller, have you made enough of a scene?! Staying up all night just to spy on me with another woman?” “Chloe has already apologized. What more do you want? Do you have to embarrass everyone like this?” I looked at his impatient expression and curled my lips into a bitter smile. “Asher King, is that all you have to say to me right now?” He froze, standing still. I pulled a brown envelope from the nightstand drawer and opened it. I dumped its contents onto the bed, and countless photos scattered everywhere. Pictures of him entering hotels with different women, photos of him canoodling with models in his sports car, pictures of Chloe entangled with him in various outfits—in his office, in his study… Asher’s face turned ashen as he looked at the photos. I simply said, “Asher King, I’ll grant you your freedom.” “We’re getting a divorce.” Chloe’s sobs abruptly ceased, and a flicker of glee crossed her eyes. I turned and walked away. Asher chased after me, grabbing my wrist. “Hazel Miller! Divorce? Who gave you permission to even mention divorce?” “You’ve been pretending to be deaf and dumb all these years just to take my pictures and threaten me? What a manipulative schemer you are!” “I’m telling you,” he yanked me closer, forcing me to look up at him, “You want a divorce? No chance in hell! You think you can use these things to take half of my family’s assets? Dream on!” “Without me, which of these men out there would ever take you seriously? With just your family’s status, who would genuinely care about you?”
I pried Asher King’s fingers off mine, one by one, gritting my teeth, and slapped him across the face. Five years of marriage, we had argued and fought, but he had never used my hearing impairment to mock me. And today, I’d heard it twice, all for another woman. “Asher King, do you remember? You were the one who pledged solemnly to my father, on bended knee, that my hearing didn’t matter, that you’d love and protect me for a lifetime.” “Of course, you don’t remember.” “You also don’t remember leaving me stranded in the snow during my prenatal check-up, just so you could celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” “You didn’t see me lying in the snow, the blood pooling beneath me, nor did you see that tiny, formed life, how it slowly, painfully, left my body…” Asher King’s lips turned pale, and his body instinctively reeled back. “Hazel…” “Asher King, how could I ever forgive you?” Asher was about to say more, but Chloe’s sobbing interrupted him. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault! I shouldn’t… shouldn’t have been around Mr. King! I ruined everything for you two! If you want to hit me or scold me, just do it!” Chloe cried, inching closer to me, her posture weak, taking all the blame upon herself, perfectly absolving Asher. Asher deserved to die, and so did she. A wave of pent-up fury surged through me. I walked over to Chloe, bent down, and grabbed her hair. Under her terrified gaze, I smashed her head against the floor, again and again, until blood started seeping from her forehead. Asher King’s roar erupted, “Hazel Miller! Are you out of your mind?!” He forcefully pulled me away from Chloe, shoving my shoulder. I stumbled, my back hitting the edge of the dressing table. The pain multiplied, and cold sweat broke out. Asher shielded Chloe as if she were a priceless gem, his eyes fixed on me with undisguised disgust. “Apologize to Chloe!” “Never.” Seeing them stand together, disheveled, I felt nothing but utter revulsion. I pulled out the divorce papers from my bag and threw them in front of Asher. “Sign it.” Asher picked up the agreement, sneered, and with both hands, tore it into tiny pieces. Five years of marriage, and all I wanted was a peaceful separation, but he wouldn’t even grant me that. I stood there quietly, watching Asher King’s face contorted with rage. “Asher King. If you don’t sign, we’ll settle this in court.” I didn’t look back until the car drove away from the mansion. I checked into a suite at a top hotel in the city center for a few days. Sitting on the sofa, my body still trembled uncontrollably. I took out my phone and called my father. “Hazel?” “Dad, I’m divorcing Asher.” My father on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then roared, “I knew that kid wasn’t any good! Did he do something to hurt you?!” “Don’t be afraid, Hazel! Dad’s here! The Millers aren’t down and out yet, he won’t get away with bullying us!” “This divorce *has* to happen! Whatever you want, your dad will give it to you!” I sniffled, my eyes suddenly red, tears streaming down my face. After I composed myself, my father said, “Declan is on a business trip near you right now. I’ll have him contact you. You can ask him for help if you need anything. He… he’s always cared about you.” “I understand, Dad.”
After hanging up, my fingers unconsciously swiped across the screen, finally stopping on Declan Hayes’s SnapChat profile picture. Ever since I called off my engagement to the Hayes family, all that remained between us were holiday greetings. His words from the last time we met faintly echoed in my ears. “Asher King may not be the one who can truly accept and understand you…” “Marriage isn’t child’s play. I hope you’ll think it through. Whatever your decision, I respect it.” Declan, your words became a cruel prophecy. It’s just a shame I’m only now understanding it. My phone vibrated, and a red notification dot appeared on Declan Hayes’s message icon. “Hazel, I’m at the door.” I took a deep breath, opened the door, and Declan Hayes stood outside, dusty and disheveled from his travels, carrying luggage. He said living together would make things easier to handle. I didn’t play coy; I simply offered him the guest room. During the day, he handled his company matters, and in the evenings, he helped me contact lawyers to revise the divorce agreement. This routine continued for a week. I habitually picked up my phone, and Chloe Reed’s name was prominently displayed at the top of my Ins feed. Just a few minutes ago, she had updated a set of photos. In the pictures, she sat on the sofa I had carefully chosen. Two cups of coffee sat on the small wooden table, and the corner of a dark gray robe peeked out from the edge of the table. [Late-night wine can’t beat morning coffee~] I stared at the post for a long moment. Declan handed me a glass of warm water, his gaze calmly sweeping over my phone. “She’s just a pathetic wannabe.” I softly hummed in agreement, clutching the glass. The stability I’d sought for years in my marriage couldn’t even compare to the simple warmth of the cup in my hands. At ten in the morning, I returned to the mansion. I figured I’d take advantage of working hours to retrieve all my wedding heirlooms. I walked into the bedroom, found the safe, and entered the password. [Incorrect password!] [Incorrect password!] My heart sank. The password had been changed. I turned to look for a key, only to bump head-on into Asher King. He held a folder, seemingly just coming out of his study. He clearly hadn’t expected me to return at this hour. He froze for a moment, then a look of wild joy flashed across his face. “Hazel!” Asher strode quickly towards me, opening his arms as if to embrace me. “You’re back! I knew you couldn’t stay away!” His tone suggested I had just thrown a small tantrum and had finally come to my senses and returned home. A sweet, cloying scent of cheap perfume hit me, and I frowned in disgust, stepping back. “Don’t touch me!” Asher’s movements stiffened, and a flash of irritation crossed his face. I couldn’t be bothered with small talk and coldly asked, “What’s the password for the safe?” Asher King’s throat bobbed, his eyes darting. “Password? Why are you asking that?” “My wedding jewelry and heirlooms are stored in the safe. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for the password, isn’t it?” “I’ve kept those things for you. I just changed the password for security reasons.” “Ash?” A soft voice drifted up from downstairs.
I followed the sound, and Chloe Reed, dressed in a business suit, stood at the corner. Around her neck was the all-diamond necklace that was part of my wedding settlement. The last flicker of hope in my heart extinguished. My husband, days after I left, brought another woman into our home and paraded her in my own wedding jewelry, literally handing over my most precious belongings. “Hmph…” I sneered. “Is that what you call ‘security reasons’ and ‘keeping them safe’?” “Asher King, do you take me for dead?” “That jewelry was left to me by my mother! It’s my family’s heirloom! And you just brazenly take it to win your little mistress’s favor?” Asher’s face darkened. “Hazel Miller! What nonsense are you talking about?” “Don’t be so harsh! Chloe… she just liked this necklace and wanted to borrow it! “You have so many necklaces, what’s wrong with lending one? Is it worth making such a fuss? Anyway, those things of yours just collect dust in the safe!” Chloe clutched her neck, her eyes instantly red, as if I were the unreasonable villain. “I’m so sorry, Miss Miller, I didn’t know… this was your wedding heirloom… I just thought it was so beautiful and matched my outfit today…” Asher shielded Chloe, scolding me, “Enough! Are you done yet? Can’t you have some decorum as a high-society wife?! Always nitpicking, it’s utterly embarrassing!” I ignored Asher King’s accusations, my gaze drawn to Chloe’s hand covering her neck. My eyes fixed on it, and I felt all the blood rush to my head, blurring my vision. Asher had given her *that* ring too—the one I had made from a tiny lock of my baby’s hair, a memento of the child I lost too soon. That ring had always been hidden away, even Asher rarely saw it, and now it was on Chloe Reed’s finger. I lunged at Chloe, grabbing the ring on her hand. She screamed in terror as my nails scraped her face. “Take it off! Get it off right now!” Asher was stunned by the sudden turn of events. When he reacted, he furiously pulled me away. “Hazel Miller! You’re a damn lunatic!” “Lunatic? Yes, I am a lunatic! A lunatic forced to listen to you and your secretary hooking up! A lunatic called ‘too much trouble’ when I miscarried!” I pointed at Chloe, her face covered in scratches and blood. “Do you know what ring she’s wearing? That’s my child’s hair! It’s the only thing she left me!” “How could you defile me like this? Asher King, you’re not even human!” Chloe finally realized she was wearing something forbidden. She trembled as she slipped off the ring and placed it in front of me. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know…” I grabbed a porcelain object nearby and threw it at them. Asher grunted, still not forgetting to shield Chloe. He spoke calmly, “You’ve screamed, you’ve made a scene. Can you settle down now?” “What kind of fuss is this over a baby that was barely formed? What good does keeping that ring do, other than tormenting yourself? If you just behave, we can always have another child.” Listen to that. That’s what my husband said to me and our child. I curled my lips into a mocking smile, walked to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of vodka. Under Asher King’s gaze, I violently hurled it at our wedding photo hanging on the wall. The liquor mixed with glass shards splattered everywhere. In the photo, I wore a wedding dress, my smile shy, my expression full of hopes for the future. I emotionlessly cut the photo of us together, throwing my part into the fireplace. The flames instantly devoured the picture, leaving a pile of ashes. Chloe was utterly terrified, clutching the wound splashed with liquor, shrinking behind Asher with a pained expression. “Asher King, in five years of marriage, you’ve given me countless things. Bags, houses, cars… But those were either leftovers your mistresses didn’t want, or merely necessities to adorn your ‘wife.’ “Only this,” I tapped my ear, “was something you truly gave me. And perhaps even this was just so I could better hear your commands.” I watched Asher still wanting to approach, then ripped off my hearing aid and threw it at him. “Now, I’m giving it back to you.” He stopped, his gaze fixed on the hearing aid lying on the floor. He didn’t move. Dead silence filled my ears. I could only speak from habit. “Asher King, we’re done.” “As for what’s left, I’ll have my lawyer handle the inventory. Enjoy your final moments of marital bliss.” “I will collect every single bit of what you owe me, with interest.” Pushing open the mansion door, Declan Hayes stood there quietly, his eyes deep and somber as he looked at me.
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