“Congratulations, Miss Theia, you've finally regained your hearing.”

My lips parted with bewilderment. I thought I misheard, or that I was hallucinating. But I heard those words clearly.

My lips trembled as I let the tears drop.

Three years. After three years, I could finally hear again. This was a miracle.

“Ca… Can you please repeat your words?” I asked, still in disbelief.

Everyone said that it was hard to get my hearing back. Some said it'd take years, and some said, it mayn't recover.

The doctor chuckled, “Congratulations, Miss Theia. You've finally regained your hearing.”

I covered my mouth in surprise as I broke down into tears. It was true. I could hear again. I stood up, and continued to thank the doctor.

These days, I could faintly hear voices. All this time I thought it was hallucinations, but I heard his voice clearly.

I let the tears drop as I went out of the doctor's chamber. Three years of continuous treatment, and it finally worked.

I rubbed the tears off my face, and put on a smile.

I took my phone out of my purse, opening Kevin’s chat as I typed, “Come home early, baby. I hope you remember what day today is. I'll be waiting for you.”

I couldn't help but continue smiling as I sent Kevin the text.

Today was a special day, our third marriage anniversary. And, I couldn't wait to give him the surprise. I wanted to hear his voice. I missed it so much after all these years.

I hurried back to the mansion, and rushed to clean, and decorate the room. After I was done, I went to the kitchen, and cooked all his favourites. I wanted to make everything with my own hands. He really enjoyed my cooking. Especially, the chocolate cake I made.

After everything was done, I went to the dining table, waiting for him.

I impatiently checked my phone, but he was yet to check my message.

I frowned when I saw the time. It was already 9 in the evening but he wasn't back yet. I reheated the food again and again.

As I was about to doze off, I heard the door open, and I excitedly went to the door.

My lips curled down as I saw him entering with Stella.

Stella was my best friend, and I of course welcomed her. But, I wanted to spend the time alone with Kevin today. After all, today was our anniversary.

However, I shook my thoughts away, and welcomed them in.

“I missed you, honey.” I said, wrapping him in my arms.

Kevin hugged me back, putting on a faint smile, and then looked inside.

“Is there anything special going on?” he asked, signing me when my lips parted.

Did he forget about our anniversary?

Stella chuckled, and I could hear her tell Kevin. “Did you forget your wedding anniversary?”

Kevin bit his lips, and muttered under his breath, “Fuck, I forgot about it.”

I held in my frown, and tried to comfort myself. He must have forgotten about it because of work. He was busy, and had always been working overtime for the past few weeks. It was natural for him to be tired, and forget about it.

Kevin hugged me, and before I could say him anything, he signed me again. “I was joking. I, of course, remember that today is our wedding anniversary. I was just joking. I already reserved a gift for you. It hasn't arrived yet since, it's a very special gift from me. You'll receive it soon.”

I smiled. I couldn't understand if he was truly joking or lying. But it felt as if this wasn't the best time to give them the surprise yet.

I smiled, and pulled them to the dining table, inviting them as I went to the kitchen to prepare extra plates for Stella.

As I took them back, and was about to go to the dining room, my heart froze.

My legs trembled as I looked at Kevin, pulling Stella as they kissed.

“H—How could you do this here? Theia is here!”

Kevin smirked. “She's in the kitchen, baby. She can't see us.”

“I don't want to listen to you. You still haven't dealt with Theia. How long do we need to keep our relationship a secret?”

“Not long, baby. I had already planned everything, and bought some life insurances for her.”

My eyes widened. What was I listening to? Was I in a nightmare? All I wanted was to cover my ears at this moment.

“You're so bad, baby. You're planning to kill your wife.”

Kevin laughed. “Aren’t you my little accomplice? And, she can't blame me. Who asked her to always threaten me with my grandfather? I didn't even want to marry her. And, I'm not spending a penny on her for divorce.”

My breath hitched, and I immediately ran back to the kitchen.

Was I in a nightmare? My voice hitched as tears dropped down my cheeks uncontrollably.

The man I loved, my husband, Kevin, and the best friend I had always relied on, Stella, were having an affair, and plotting to kill me.

I dropped down on my knees on the floor as their words rang inside my mind.

Stella had been my best friend since highschool, and I shared everything with her. I stayed by my side when everyone looked down on her for her background. And, she was the one encouraging me since I lost my hearing. We had been friends for eleven years!

And, Kevin… he was the man I loved the most. I loved him for five years, since the moment I saw him, and today was our third marriage anniversary.

I put his life more important than mine.

I closed my eyes, letting the tears drop, laughing at the situation.

I saved him three years ago while he was kidnapped by his enemies without caring for my life. I just knew that I had to save him. So, I protected him with my body.

I bled so bad that I was barely alive. But I managed to stay alive. But because of that event, I lost my hearing.

However, I never regretted it. Kevin was the man I loved. And, after that day, Kevin, who ignored me, started to pay attention, and take care of me. At that time, I felt it was worth it. And, soon we got married.

I thought I found the true love of my life. Even though I lost my hearing, I still felt happy because I had Stella, and Kevin by my side.

But everything shattered in front of my eyes. Kevin, and Stella were having an affair behind my back. But, these two people whom I trusted the most were also planning to kill me behind my back.

I laughed aloud. This had to be funny, right?

The people I thought would be by my side all the time had long betrayed me.

I rubbed the tears off my face, gradually getting my composure back as I stood up. I stood frozen there for a moment.

Did he even love me once? And, grandpa… What did he mean by I threatened him with his grandfather? Grandpa always loved me, and his love grew more when I saved Kevin from getting assaulted. He always felt like he owed me, and paid more attention to me though I asked him not to worry about me. But, how could he lie that I threatened him with grandpa? How could he lie like that when I spared no efforts for him?

I took a deep sigh as I splashed some water on my face. I wasn't going to let them find out that I knew their plan like this.

I took a deep breath as I took the plates, and went again.

“What took you so long?” Kevin signed.

“I was finding some extra beautiful servings for my extra beautiful best friend.” I said as I sat down.

Kevin and Stella both pretended as if nothing had happened. They acted so real that sometimes I doubted if I really hallucinated.

I put down the glass of wine and said, “Thank you, both of you. You both are my most dear ones, the person I trust the most.”

But I was going to stop trusting both of you from now on. I'll continue with your games, and expose your true nature. Since you didn't plan to let go of me, I won't be holding back either.

My heart ached with pain as I looked at the two people I loved the most, whom I couldn't trust anymore.

This was going to be a surprise, the happiest moment in our lives. But, instead, I found a shocking truth.

Why did Kevin marry me if he hated me? Was our love all a lie?

I bit my lips, forcing myself to cease these thoughts as I got up.

“Honey, can you please do the dishes? My ears are hurting now. I want to go to bed.”

Kevin simply nodded when I turned back, and went upstairs. Then, I stopped, and looked downstairs.

My heart sank as I watched Kevin, and Stella started flirting again. This was a reality, not some nightmare.

They had truly betrayed me.

I bit my lips as I went to our room when I began rummaging everything. I had to find it. I had to find the evidence that they were truly plotting to kill me.

That's when my eyes locked onto a file. My hands trembled as I reached my hands towards it, and there it was… not one, but many life insurances under my name. It was as if they were sure that I was going to die.

I broke down into tears, completely disappointed. I tried to apply calm, but it was futile. All I could feel was despair, anger, betrayal, and my heart throbbed with pain.

That night, I couldn't fall asleep. And, nor did Kevin appear in my room. I could hear the muffled voices coming from the next room, but I didn't catch them red-handed. I was going to take my time, and hurt them where they hurt the most.

They played with my feelings. And, I was going to take away the things they loved, and expose them.

The next day as I woke up, I saw Kevin beside me and disgust crawled all over my skin.

I immediately rushed up, and went out. I didn't bother making breakfast, and arranged things for Kevin like I always did.

Instead, I went to grandpa. Kevin always hated it when I approached grandpa. That's why, I didn't get much close to him. I didn't understand why, but after yesterday, I know now. It was all because he was afraid that grandpa was going to make me his heir instead.

The relationship between our families has always been great. And, grandpa always saw me as his own granddaughter even before I married Kevin. Some even joked that the company was going to be given to me instead of his two grandsons, and that I was their biggest competitor.

But it changed after I married Kevin. Everyone believed that Kevin would get the company instead of his older brother. But Kevin felt different. He always thought that the company would be given to Kaden instead.

I didn't know much of Kaden since he had always been abroad. But I heard his name a lot of times — a business genius, who started his own business when he was a teen, and now one of the biggest companies.

Kevin also only returned from abroad five years ago, to become the next chairman.

“Miss Theia?” The guards said in surprise before he signed me that he was going to let grandpa know that I was here.

I shook my head. “There's no need. I'll give him a surprise.” I said, smiling.

Everyone, including the employees here all knew sign language. Grandpa made it mandatory to learn it after what happened to me. Just to make me feel included, and making sure that I didn’t feel different from anyone else. He even went to teaching lessons with Kevin.

I looked at the mansion and frowned. It had been a long while since I came to the old mansion. Because of Kevin, I always declined to come here.

I was walking forward but I stopped to ask, “Can you take me to the kitchen? It had been a long time so I forgot where the kitchen was.”

The guard nodded, and took me to the kitchen. Grandpa always liked to eat my porridge. It was something grandma taught me when she was still alive, and grandpa always liked to have my porridge because of it. He told me that it felt like it was made by grandma herself. But I couldn't make it for him for a long time. It was all because I thought of Kevin.

But now I realised, Kevin was just jealous, and insecure.

I forced a smile, taking a deep breath as I went out of the kitchen.

Just as I was about to go to grandpa's room, someone bumped into me.

“Argh…” I cried out as a drop of the warm porridge fell on my hands.

“Who are you? I have never seen you here.” I flinched, hearing an unfamiliar voice when I looked up.

My lips parted as I looked at him. His eyes were dark, and his chestnut curly hair dropped to his shoulders. I had never seen him. Was this an employee? But it didn't seem like that.

He took a deep breath, and signed. “Oh, it's you.”

My lips parted. “Do you know me?”

Instead of answering, he simply chuckled.

Frowning, I ignored him and went to grandpa's room while he continued to follow me.

Why was he even following me?

My eyebrows furrowed but it soon calmed down when grandpa excitedly called me.

“Are you fine?”

I nodded as he continued to sign, asking me questions repeatedly, unable to hold his excitement back.

Then he turned towards the other man, asking him to sit. “You don't know him, do you? This is Kaden. He just came back from abroad a week back. Others still don't know of this.”

My lips parted. This was Kaden. Kaden Dawson, the man that Kevin had always been wary of.

My lips curled up with this news. This was something Kevin would love to hear. I couldn't help but guess his reaction.

I let out a chuckle when grandpa interrupted again, “Well, this was the man I thought you're going to marry. Both of you even had a marriage contract when you were young. But then you fell for Kevin.”

My cheeks immediately turned red, and hot. I heard of this before when I was going to marry Kevin back then, but I almost forgot about this if he didn't remind me of it.

I let out a chuckle. “How can that count? Those were just some jokes.”

Grandpa smiled, “Now, I just want to see my great-grandchildren.”

I chuckled, my heart aching. It felt bad to hide it from grandpa. He was so happy, but he didn't even know why I was here.

I took a deep breath, hugging his arm. “Grandpa, can I work in the company?”

Grandpa immediately agreed, and held my hands. “You can start from tomorrow. That's good. Kaden was also going to start working at the company tomorrow. He can now guide you. Work as his secretary, okay? He can teach you a lot of things.”

My lips parted, and I instantly agreed. Start learning from the business genius himself? That was a good opportunity.

But I wanted to approach him because of another reason. His return, this time, must be because of the company. And, that was a good opportunity for me. I was going to make Kevin lose everything that he loves. His position, his reputation, his company.