I used to be the most dazzling violinist on stage.

Then, an accident left me deaf in my left ear, and my life took a tumble.

My boyfriend of seven years was caught kissing a pretty college girl amidst cheers from the crowd.

His brother confronted him. "Are you fooling around out there? Do you even care if Lucie finds out and gets crushed?"

He smirked. "Lucie's not clean any longer. You really think I'd marry her?"

Later, I announced a new relationship on social media, posting a picture of me holding hands with his brother.

Aidan White cornered me, eyes blazing red, and threatened. "Lucie, if you dare fall for someone else, I'll damn well kill you!"

Another man, looking eerily like him, grabbed my wrist to assert his dominance.

"Aidan, she's your sister-in-law!"

...

I was just born with this gift for music. People were calling me a prodigy since I was a kid, and I was racking up awards like crazy.

My parents spared no expense to send me abroad, where I studied at the top music academy.

By twenty, my violin concerts were touring the country.

The media couldn't get enough, and I was on top of the world.

I lived under the spotlight, surrounded by praise.

For the last stop of my national tour, I chose Wetict.

Wetict was where Aidan and I first met, where our love story began.

During the performance, a crystal chandelier suddenly crashed down from above, shocking everyone.

I felt dizzy, warm liquid trickling down my forehead, blurring my vision.

My eardrum throbbed with pain.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

Aidan, eyes red with worry, looked at me with concern.

"Lucie, you're hurt!"

The doctor said my left eardrum was torn, and I might lose my hearing.

My world collapsed in an instant.

Music was my life, and now, it was slipping away.

The doctor's words hit me hard, tears pouring down my face.

Aidan looked panicked. "Lucie, let's go to Wetict. They have the best doctors there."

He was determined. "They'll fix your ear for sure!"

We searched the country for top doctors, but my ear couldn't be healed.

Losing hearing in my left ear meant playing the violin was never the same.

Used to adoration, I fell from grace.

Aidan thrived in business, keeping a secret lover on the side.

With his beautiful eyes, he seemed so gentle, until he wasn't.

I saw it coming when he stopped loving me.

People change, I realized.

2

Aidan soared in business, a billionaire with no shortage of beautiful companions.

They called me his dream girl, his one and only.

Even though he played around, I was his only official girlfriend.

In our fifth year together, Aidan started seeing a young, beautiful college girl.

His cutie birdie was innocent-looking, with clear eyes like she'd never seen the world.

Her name was Aubree Brooks, from a poor family, her education funded by Aidan.

Aidan bought an apartment near her school and moved Aubree in.

Friends warned me to keep a closer eye on him, fearing Birdie might steal him away.

I smiled, saying nothing.

Aidan seemed genuinely into Aubree, not showing signs of getting bored even after half a year.

On my birthday, Aidan invited his friends to help celebrate with me.

His Birdie, Aubree, was among them.

It was pouring rain that day, and by the time I got to the hotel, my clothes were already soaked.

The door to the private room was half-open, and Aidan was holding Birdie close, their actions intimate, like a couple deeply in love.

Birdie was sitting on his lap, her fair arms wrapped around his neck.

Aidan was holding her head, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

Seeing this, I felt like I had been struck by ice, a chill spreading through my entire body.

Aidan's bestie teased. "You're playing around so much, won't Lucie be heartbroken when she finds out?"

Aidan, with a cigarette in his mouth, lazily replied, "Lucie's already been tainted. Do you really expect me to marry her?"

His bestie smirked. "You've been with Lucie for so many years, never thought of marrying her?"

Aidan chuckled. "Remember when she was kidnapped? The police and I searched for her for three days and nights. When we found her, her clothes were messy. Can you guess what happened?"

His bestie's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "But Lucie does have a pretty face and a great figure. Can you really bear to leave her?"

Birdie snorted. "Is her face as pretty as mine? Is her figure as attractive as mine?"

Aidan hugged her tightly, affectionately saying, "Aubree, you are the most beautiful. No one can compare to you."

Birdie playfully kissed him on the cheek.

His bestie advised. "Play around all you want, just don't go too far."

Aidan sneered. "Lucie is deaf in her left ear. She's practically half-deaf without her hearing aid. Besides me, who else would want her?"

My feet felt icy cold, and my heart felt like it had been pricked all over by tiny needles.

In his eyes, I wasn't just tainted; I was also physically flawed.

His bestie kindly warned. "Lucie's almost here; tone it down!"

Aidan released Birdie from his grasp, allowing her to sit next to his bestie.

Birdie muttered discontentedly, reluctantly getting off his lap.

I composed myself, took a deep breath, and walked in as if everything was normal.

Aidan blew a smoke ring and patted the seat next to him, gesturing for me to sit down.

"Lucie, you're the star tonight. Why are you so late?"

I smoothed out my soaking wet hair, looking quite disheveled.

Aidan's million-dollar luxury car was parked at the hotel entrance, with Birdie's lipstick deliberately left on the front passenger seat.

He went to pick up Aubree but didn't come to pick me up.

Aidan's teased. "Lucie, did you fall into a ditch? Why do you look like a drowned rat?"

I met his gaze squarely. "I took the bus here. I can't compete with those who come in chauffeured cars."

Aidan lazily raised his eyes and pulled me into his arms. "Why are you speaking so sourly? Who upset you?"

Aubree sized me up, her eyes full of jealousy and resentment.

I broke free from his embrace and said seriously, "Aidan, I can't control what you do outside, but don't bring people in front of me."

"I'm narrow-minded and hurt when I see another girl."

Aidan was well-known for playing around in his circle, and his attitude towards Aubree made me feel threatened.

Birdie's eyes were slightly red, as if deeply aggrieved, tears falling heavily.

"Mr. White, I've made Lucie angry. I shouldn't have come tonight..."

Aidan patiently comforted her. "Aubree, you're here because I brought you. No one can make you leave."

When Birdie looked at me, there was a hint of provocation and disdain in her eyes.

I stepped forward and slapped her. "Do you know your place, you bitch?"

Turning to Aidan, I said firmly, "Either break up with her or break up with me."

Aidan furrowed his brows, his voice still casual. "Lucie, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"

3

The room fell silent.

Aubree stepped forward, ripped off my hearing aid, and threw it hard on the ground.

"I'm Mr. White's true love. You're just occupying the title of girlfriend. Have you no shame? Those who aren't loved are the third wheels!"

Birdie spoke boldly, steadfastly defending her so-called love.

Everyone present looked at each other, amazed at the girl's bravery.

I picked up the broken hearing aid from the ground and calmly said, "This hearing aid is a custom version worth thirty thousand dollars. How are you gonna compensate?"

Birdie looked terrified, glancing desperately at the man who was watching.

Aidan stepped forward, wrapping his arms around my waist, and softened his tone to calm me down. "Lucie, she didn't mean it. I'll cover the cost of the broken hearing aid."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Whether Aubree was careless or intentional, anyone with eyes could see.

He almost indulged Birdie, with no questions asked or no blame.

I locked eyes with him, a bit forceful in my tone. "I can let go of her compensation, but she must sincerely apologize to me!"

Birdie lifted her misty eyes, looking pitiful.

Softly, she pleaded. "Mr. White..."

Aidan hid the young girl behind him, afraid I'd confront his Birdie.

He raised an eyebrow. "Lucie, I always thought you were reasonable. When did you start sweating the small stuff?"

Tears welled up from my eyes. "This hearing aid was my mom's legacy. She just broke it like that? Aidan, am I overreacting, or have you changed?"

A broken hearing aid could be replaced, but it was my mom's legacy!

Birdie shrank behind Aidan, submissive on the surface but defiant in her eyes.

Aidan's expression turned cold. "Lucie, don't go too far!"

My eyes were red from holding back tears stubbornly. "I just want her to apologize, and you're upset?"

Aidan's s also thought he was overreacting, coming over to try to mediate.

"Aidan, you've been with Lucie for seven years. Can't you talk this out?"

"Miss Brooks, it's getting late. You have class tomorrow morning! Let us take you home first!"

Birdie tugged at the man's sleeve, wanting him to choose between me and her.

Aidan gripped my wrist tightly, almost crushing my bones.