Chapter 1

Every night, my boyfriend, Jack, would always whisper in my ear, his voice laced with a sickening sort of suggestion as he described his escapades with other women in bed, spewing such vulgarities it made me sick to my stomach.

I was born with a hearing impairment. Six years ago, at my high school graduation ceremony, some jerk of a classmate maliciously tossed my hearing aid aside.

It was Jack who suddenly appeared and came to my rescue, gently wiping the dust off its surface, then leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.

"From now on, I'll be here, and no one will be able to mess with you."

That day, my years of secret crushing finally paid off. My world, once filled with the buzz of static, welcomed an angel's voice, meant just for me.

Wearing a hearing aid for long periods often caused headaches and tinnitus. Jack couldn't bear to see me suffer like that, so he even secretly learned sign language, just so I could understand him even when I wasn't wearing my hearing aid.

A week ago, I finally had an invisible cochlear implant, custom-made for me by an American medical team. I could finally take off my hearing aid and live like a normal person.

I excitedly rushed back to our apartment, wanting to tell Jack the good news, only to overhear Jack talking with a bunch of his friends.

"Dude, you've been with Emma, that deaf chick, for like, almost six years now, right?""Weren't you the one saying you'd never dated a deaf girl, and that you were only with her to 'collect unique experiences'? So how come you've been seeing her for so long? Don't tell me you've actually caught feelings for that deaf girl, have you?"

Jack scoffed, the contempt in his eyes blatant.

"Deaf girls have their upsides, you know. Every night, I hold her and whisper in her ear just how incredible other women are, and she hasn't got a damn clue. She actually thinks I'm holding her every night because I'm so in love with her! That kind of thrill? You guys will never get to experience that in your entire lives, hahaha."

I choked back the burn in my eyes, my nails digging deep into my palms. A moment later, I sent my father a text.

"Dad, those ten wealthy guys from Boston you lined up? I'll meet them."

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1

The conversation inside continued.

"Jack, aren't you afraid that deaf girl will suddenly come home and hear us talking?"

Jack chuckled, taking a sip of vodka, the smug look in his eyes unwavering.

"Her hearing aid is in the bedroom. I don't know what she went out to do today; she even left without wearing her hearing aid. Even if she comes back, she won't hear a thing, so relax."

My heart clenched with a sudden, sharp pain, as if a giant hand had ruthlessly squeezed it, almost suffocating me.

A year ago, a company in the States developed customizable invisible cochlear implants. After waiting a whole year, I finally had the implant chip embedded a month ago. I've pretty much recovered these past few days and can go to the hospital to get the cochlear implant officially activated. That’s why I went out without my hearing aid this time.

The teasing voices from inside the room continued. I couldn't stand to listen anymore, so I pushed the door open and walked in.

The moment they saw me enter, the room instantly fell silent. Everyone in there, men and women, stared at me with mocking eyes.

Jack, however, acted completely normal, beckoning me over.

I struggled to control the trembling of my body as I walked over to him. He wore a warm smile and skillfully signed to me.

"Why'd you go out without your hearing aid? I texted you and you didn't answer. I was worried sick."He went on, "If you hadn't come back any sooner, I was gonna round everyone up and go looking for you."

I shot a glance at the array of hard liquor on the table; Jack's words just struck me as completely absurd.

I managed to force a smile.

"I just popped home. My head's been bothering me a bit today, so I left my hearing aid off."

Seeing I looked like my usual self, Jack totally relaxed. He pulled my hand into his and gently caressed it, just like he always did.

When his buddies saw this, they all started to jeer.

"Our Jack really has a way with her, huh? Just a few words and he’s got this deaf chick all happy. Jack’s 'collection' must be pretty much complete by now, right? Doctors, teachers, researchers, models… can’t even keep track anymore."

"Ain't that the truth? Heard he even bagged a mute chick a few months back. Jack’s got some seriously twisted tastes sometimes, hahaha…"

Jack’s lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze fixed on me, seemingly tender, but the words he spoke sent my heart plummeting into an icy chasm.

"You guys don't get it," Jack said. "Those other women, they all have their own… flair, real exciting. But this deaf girl is my favorite. She’s so obedient, so understanding, and she’s completely devoted to me. Her family background seems pretty solid too. I honestly can’t bring myself to break up with her."

"Plus, she's deaf. Every night, I'm holding her, telling her just what other women feel like. That kind of thrill... y'all will probably never experience anything like it in your whole lives, ha..."