Four years ago, my life ended in a single moment.

One second, my parents and I were laughing in the car, the next—screeching tires, shattering glass, blood pooling across the pavement. When I woke up, they were gone. My world was silent. And as if fate hadn’t taken enough, I found out my then-boyfriend, Jack, had been cheating on me—with Amber. They got married. I was alone.

Jeremy was there, offering comfort, promising forever. I had been too broken to see the truth. Too desperate to realize that he was the one who had destroyed me in the first place.

My grip tightened on my phone as the voice on the other end spoke.

"Ms. Cornelia, the footage is gone. Someone erased the files. And the paperwork you signed to close the investigation… Are you sure you don’t remember?"

I never signed anything.

A chill crawled down my spine. Back then, I had been so lost, so devastated, that I believed everything Jeremy told me. I had let him handle everything. How could I have been so blind?

If the evidence was deleted, then Jeremy still had it.

I stormed into our bedroom and went straight to the safe. My fingers hovered over the keypad before I typed in Amber’s birthday. The lock clicked open. Pathetic. He never even bothered thinking of a hard one, that wasn’t so obvious.

Inside, neatly stacked files and USB drives filled the space. My breath hitched as I pulled out the documents. A police report. A list of paid-off officers. Bank transactions to an unknown account. And at the bottom, a hard drive labeled with the date of my parents' accident.

My stomach turned to lead. Jeremy was behind it.

I scanned the papers, my hands trembling. The payments, the false statements, the hired thugs—it was all here. He had planned this. My parents’ deaths weren’t just an accident. They were murdered.

Because we were rich. Because Jeremy wanted control.

I took photos of everything. Copied the files onto a flash drive. Then, carefully, I locked the safe as if nothing had happened. My expression remained blank as I slipped out of the room, years of deception settling like ice in my veins.

Later that night, Jeremy returned, signing lazily, “Hey, sweetie! Amber said she misses you and wants to sleep here. Did you cook for us?”

Amber was with him, draping herself over his arm. I had forgiven her for stealing Jack from me before because we were friends. People make mistakes and I was happy with Jeremy that I didn’t care about Jack anymore.

But I was wrong, because I had forgiven her, then I had given her access to my life again. So she was able to steal Jeremy from me. I should have known how jealous Amber was of me ever since.

I forced a tired smile, keeping my hands steady as I signed back, I didn’t cook. I’m exhausted.

Jeremy huffed, muttering, "Useless." but then he signed, “It was okay, sweetie.”

Amber smirked. "It’s fine, babe. She won’t hear you anyway."

Jeremy sighed dramatically before signing, “Amber said it was okay. Go rest. Amber and I will cook together for you and we’ll call you once done.”

I nodded, turned away, and climbed the stairs without a word.

That was the last straw. I couldn’t afford any betrayal again. I had to do something now.

Upstairs, I threw open my closet and grabbed a suitcase. Every piece of clothing, every reminder of this life, stuffed inside without hesitation. I wouldn't spend another night under this roof.

As I zipped up my bag, faint noises drifted from downstairs—low, breathy moans.

I clenched my teeth, ignored them, and walked out the door.

I called my lawyer before heading to the hotel. "I want a divorce. And I need all shared assets of Jeremy and I to be transferred to my name immediately. Jeremy can’t know until it’s done."

The lawyer hesitated. "Ms. Cornelia, this is sudden—"

"Just do it," I snapped.

Everything Jeremy had stolen from me, I was taking back.

But that wasn’t enough.

He had taken my parents. My freedom. My trust.

I wanted more than to leave. I wanted to disappear completely.

By midnight, I drove to the outskirts of town, to a place whispered about in hushed conversations. A private agency that specialized in making people vanish.

No trail. No loose ends. Just gone.

I stepped inside, gripping the flash drive in my palm.

"I want to disappear," I said firmly.

Jeremy hadn’t suspected a thing.

Three days had passed, and he still believed my lie. I told him I was spending time at the orphanage we supported—the one for deaf children. It was the perfect excuse, something he wouldn’t bother questioning. After all, in his eyes, I was still his devoted, helpless wife.

But in reality, I was locked away in a hotel, watching him through the hidden cameras I had installed in our house.

And Jeremy? He was busy screwing Amber in our bed.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep watching. Every touch, every whispered promise, every filthy word—it was all there, recorded in crystal-clear quality.

"I can’t wait until we don’t have to hide anymore," Amber murmured against his skin, tracing a finger down his chest.

Jeremy smirked, brushing her hair back. "Just a little longer. Once everything’s settled, I’ll take care of everything."

Amber pouted. "I still don’t like that she’s coming back. I thought she’d be out longer."

Jeremy sighed, rolling onto his back. "She’s still useful. But don’t worry, babe. Soon, she won’t be a problem anymore. Just promise me that Jack won't be a problem, okay?"

My stomach twisted.

I had been nothing but a problem to him from the start.

Without hesitation, I opened my laptop and got to work. Within minutes, I created a dummy account, encrypted and untraceable. The files uploaded, the videos set on a timed release. One copy would go to Jack, Amber’s husband.

The other? Straight to the media. Amber had spent her life crafting the perfect image. Faithful wife. Loving partner. The one who got away.

This would ruin her. And Jeremy? He would lose much more.

A slow smile curled my lips as I set the final email. All of it was scheduled to go off in a few days—right when my body would be found floating in the river.

Suicide. A tragic accident. And all fingers would point to Jeremy.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly. Almost there.

Then, my phone buzzed.

A message from the agency. Everything is in place.

The escape plan was finalized. A new identity, a new life. By the time Jeremy realized what had happened, I would be nothing more than a ghost.

But I still had to wait for the banquet.

Jeremy had planned it as some grand, inspirational event—celebrating his "deaf wife" and his support for people like me. It was all a show, a carefully crafted performance to make himself look good.

The perfect stage for his downfall. Then, another buzz. Jeremy.

Why are my cards frozen? I can’t buy anything.

A slow smirk formed on my lips.

What were you trying to buy? I typed back.

The reply came instantly.

A gift for you. Something special for the banquet.

Liar.

I already knew the truth. I had people tracking his movements. Jeremy had been at a luxury jewelry store earlier today, picking out something expensive—not for me, but for Amber.

I played along.

Oh, I thought it was a fraud. I’ll lift it.

No fraud. Just fix it.

I let my fingers hover over the screen before responding.

Of course. I’ll lift it now.

Then he replied again, “Yes. I’ll buy something for Amber, too. Don’t forget to attend her birthday party later. Okay?”

Birthday party. I had almost forgotten about it. I never planned on coming, but skipping would raise suspicion. I had to play my role a little longer—smile, nod, pretend. Just a little longer, and it would all be over.

Amber’s estate was packed. Guests in glittering dresses and sharp suits, laughter spilling through the night air. Fake. Everything about this place, about these people, was fake.

Jeremy was already there, but so was Jack. That meant he had no choice but to stay by my side.

I felt his irritation before he even spoke. His grip on his glass tightened. "Fucking joke," he muttered under his breath. "Seeing them together. That should have been me."

I said nothing. Just smiled at passing guests who whispered as they looked at me.

"Poor girl. Imagine not being able to hear anything."

"She’s so beautiful. What a waste."

"Jeremy’s such a saint for staying with her."

I kept smiling. Pretended I didn’t understand. Pretended I didn’t hear Jeremy when he exhaled sharply and muttered, "Now I’m stuck with this deaf."

I was getting good at pretending but not for long. I needed air. The weight of my performance pressed too heavily on my chest, so I stepped outside toward the pool. The cool night air wrapped around me. I counted down the hours until I could finally leave all of this behind.

Then, Amber’s voice sliced through the air like a knife.

"Poor girl," she crooned, stepping beside me. Her lips were stretched into a bright, perfect smile, but her voice dripped with poison. "Do you actually think Jeremy loves you?"

I didn’t react.

She took a slow sip from her champagne glass. "Hell no. He loves me. Just like Jack. I got them both, sweetheart. They love me, not you."

My nails dug into my palm. I willed myself to stay still.

"You will always suffer, Cornelia." Her voice was sugar-coated poison. "You will always be cheated on, humiliated, discarded. As long as I’m here, you will never win. I used to be jealous of you, you know? But then I realized something…"

She leaned in, close enough that I could smell the alcohol on her breath.

"I can take everything from you."

I swallowed the rage burning inside me and lifted my hands, pretending to sign, feigning confusion.

Amber laughed. "God, you’re pathetic." She tilted her head. "Can’t even hear me, can you?"

Her fingers curled around my wrist. Before I could react, she shoved me.

The world tilted. The cold water swallowed me whole.

I thrashed, heart slamming against my ribs. I couldn’t swim. My limbs flailed, but the water was too heavy, too strong. A sharp splash—Amber had lost her balance, too. But she knew how to swim.

I didn’t.

I fought to break the surface, panic clawing at my chest. Above me, muffled voices screamed.

"Help! Someone, help!"

Amber. She was crying for help. She was the one being rescued. A shadow moved above the water.

Jeremy.

I reached for him. He saw me. He knew I couldn’t swim.

And still—

He dove in.

For Amber.

Not for me.

I sank, the betrayal heavier than the water dragging me down.

I woke up freezing.

The hospital room was quiet, sterile, unfamiliar. My limbs felt heavy, my throat raw. I blinked against the harsh light, trying to piece together where I was.

Then it hit me. The party. The pool.

Jeremy.

He didn’t save me. Of course, he didn’t.

I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the stiffness in my body. The clock on the wall read 4:17 p.m. My heart lurched. The banquet.

I had been out for days.

I pressed the call button, and a nurse rushed in moments later. "You're awake," she said, surprised.

"My things," I rasped. "I need my things."

She hesitated but nodded, returning with a plastic bag. My phone was buzzing the moment I turned it on. All messages came from Jeremy.

You ruined everything.

The party was a disaster.

Amber is traumatized. I have to stay with her for now.

Jack is furious.

You’re on your own. Just come home when you’re ready or don’t even come unless you’d learn from your mistakes! You’re deaf and even more useless!

I stared at the messages, then laughed. Was he serious? Trying to pin everything on me when he hadn’t even known the truth! Amber pushed me! But it didn’t matter now.

I almost died, and all he cared about was Amber. He didn’t even save me first. Was he even the one who saved me? But this for the better. I would not have any guilt once I ruined all of them.

They just made things easy for me.

I pulled off the IV, ignoring the sting, and stood up. My legs wobbled, but I steadied myself. I wasn’t staying here a second longer. I walked out of the hospital, flagged a cab, and gave the driver my hotel address.

As the car sped through the streets, I typed out a message to my lawyer.

Send the divorce papers. Immediately.

Then, another call.

"Get everything ready," I told the agency. "It’s time."

No hesitation. No second thoughts. I was leaving tonight. At the hotel, I grabbed my bags, my documents, my new identity. Hours from now, Cornelia Jones would no longer exist.

I reached the airport, checked in, and sat near my gate. My flight wasn’t for another hour. I scrolled through my phone, checking updates on the banquet.

A notification popped up—one of my deaf friends was live-streaming.

I almost ignored it. Almost scrolled past. But then I saw him.

Jeremy. Smiling. Laughing. Flirting with Amber like nothing had happened.

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t look away. A staff member approached him. I couldn’t hear what was said, but Jeremy’s expression darkened. His smile vanished.

Then another staff member rushed in. I turned up the volume, listening closely.

"...Miss Cornelia hasn’t been seen for a while now."

Jeremy stiffened, reaching for his phone—probably to call me.

Then another worker hurried over, breathless. "Sir, we just received legal documents from Miss Cornelia."

I watched as Jeremy took the envelope. His face paled—just like what I have been wanting.

"The divorce papers, sir," the staff member continued. "And… there’s something else."

Jeremy’s hands shook as he pulled out the attached file. His lips parted slightly as he read.

"According to the report," the staff went on carefully, "Miss Cornelia had gotten her hearing back two weeks ago."

The blood drained from Jeremy’s face. He must have remembered all those words he had told me for the last weeks.

I smirked. That’s right, darling. I heard everything.

The murmurs in the banquet grew louder. The camera caught the confusion in the guests’ eyes, the way Jeremy visibly panicked.

And then— Another staff member rushed in, voice urgent.

"Sir, we just got a report…" A pause. Then, "Miss Cornelia is dead."

The entire room fell silent.

The staff member swallowed. "It… seems to be suicide. The reports say she found out you were the reason for the accident where her parents died and had made her deaf!”