The Sound of Betrayal

Chapter 1

Leaving the hospital, I rushed toward Ethan Langford’s company, eager to share my joy with him.
I’d told him a small lie that morning—said I was just going in for a prenatal checkup.
But in truth, I was also getting my hearing re-evaluated.

A month ago, I had started picking up faint sounds again.
And today, the doctor confirmed it—
My hearing had fully returned.

I’d kept it from him because I didn’t want to raise false hope.
But now, I couldn’t wait to bring him this miracle.

Just imagining Ethan’s reaction made the corners of my lips curl up.
The noise of the street—the honking cars, the chattering people—
things that once felt harsh and jarring, now sounded like the sweetest symphony to my ears.

I even stopped by his favorite spot to pick up the congee he loved.
He was picky about food—aside from my own cooking, this place was the only one that passed his standards.

When I reached Ethan Langford’s office, the door was slightly ajar.
I was about to knock—
but voices drifted out before my knuckles could touch the wood.

“You’re not seriously gonna marry that deaf girl, are you? She’s like a brick wall. You actually like that?”

My body froze, my hand suspended mid-air.

Through the crack in the door, I saw her sitting on his lap—Claire Whitmore.
The Whitmore family’s fake heiress.
My so-called stepsister.

“She’s disgusting,” Claire sneered.
“She doesn’t even know what kind of noises she makes. Gives me goosebumps every time. Ugh.”

Ethan laughed and squeezed her waist.
“Come on, how could I spend my whole life with someone who can’t even hear me moan? If my friends found out, they’d die laughing.”

Claire smirked, slightly appeased.
“But she’s pregnant with your kid. And the way you act around her... I thought you actually liked her.”

Ethan chuckled lazily.
“Just an act. Hard habit to break, that’s all.”

His face was smug, his tone dripping with indifference.

“The baby’s mine, sure. But you’re the one who doesn’t want to ruin your body, right? Once we’re married, you can raise it.
Or... if you want, I’ll just tell her to get rid of it.”

Claire giggled, slapping his chest playfully.
“You wish!”

Ethan leaned in to kiss her.

“Oh, and stop calling her the deaf girl,” he said with a smirk. “If you hadn’t unscrewed the safety rail, she wouldn’t be like this. Honestly... kinda tragic.”

And that—
that was the moment my blood turned to ice.

All this time, I thought the fall had been an accident.
But it wasn’t.
Claire did it.

---

Chapter 2

After that fall, my world was plunged into silence and darkness.

Their voices continued from inside. My hands trembling, I pulled out my phone and hit record.

The moment Ethan called me "tragic," Claire’s smile dropped.

“Oh? Feeling sorry for her now?” she said, standing up from his lap.

Ethan quickly backtracked.
“Of course not. You know how I feel. Zoe Whitmore doesn’t hold a candle to a single strand of your hair. The only reason I’m even with her is to help you get back The Whitmore Group shares.”

“Relax, baby.”

He pulled her close again, whispering sweet poison into her ear.

“She already promised. As soon as we sign the marriage license, she’s handing over her shares.
Once they’re mine—I'm divorcing her.”

Claire scoffed, clearly still fuming.
“Those two old fossils in the Whitmore family! I was their daughter for over twenty years. But the second Zoe came back, everything changed.
They say we’re both their daughters—but look who they gave the shares to. That bitch!”

“I’m not letting them get what they want,” she growled.
“Zoe should’ve died from that fall. Damn girl’s got nine lives. If I’d known, I would’ve tried something else.”

Ethan stroked her hair tenderly.
“Babe, Zoe’s just some backwater stray they picked up.
Even if she’s legally a Whitmore, she’ll never be one of us. Don’t lower yourself to her level, okay?”

“Come on, calm down. I don’t like seeing you upset.”

Each word stabbed me like a dagger.
The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe.

I had believed this man—this man who had kissed my hair, learned sign language for me, whispered promises into the silence of my world.
I had believed he loved me.

Crash.
The food container I’d brought him slipped from my hand, slamming to the floor.

Inside the room, they both startled.
Ethan rushed to the door—
and when he saw me standing there, his face turned ghost-white.

“Z-Zee? What... when did you get here?”

He was so panicked, he even forgot to use sign language.

Chapter 3

It took everything I had just to keep my expression calm.
I bent down, picked up the food container, and looked at Ethan in feigned confusion.

Only then did Ethan Langford realize he’d forgotten to use sign language in his panic. He quickly fumbled to repeat his words with his hands.

I kept my face neutral as I handed him the congee.

“Just came from the hospital. Thought you might be hungry, so I brought you something.”

After signing, I glanced at Claire Whitmore behind him.

“What’s my sister doing here?”

Claire didn’t understand sign language, so Ethan answered for her.

“Oh, she’s here to discuss a contract.”

He looked at me with that familiar tenderness, his fingers moving smoothly.

“Sweetheart, I told you to wait for me at home. You’re not in great shape—you’re pregnant. What if something happened?”

His eyes were filled with concern, a perfect blend of worry and gentle scolding.

If I hadn’t just heard his true colors moments ago, I might’ve been fooled into thinking he genuinely cared.

I forced down the bitter taste rising in my throat and waved my hand to tell him I was fine.

Ethan crouched in front of me, resting his ear against my belly with a soft, loving smile.

“Has baby been naughty today?”

I smiled faintly and shook my head.

He listened a bit longer, then stood, his eyes filled with warmth.

“Zee, baby says he misses Mommy already. Only six more months till he gets to see you. He’s nervous, though—he wants you to take care of yourself and stop running around. He’s worried.”

I used to melt at these words.
I might have even cried from happiness.

But now?

Now I just wanted to cry from the truth.

His performance was flawless—so practiced, so polished, so cruel.
He had me dancing in the palm of his hand, and I never even noticed.

Then came a sneer, sharp and cold like a knife in the dark.

“What an idiot. A few sweet words and she’s already spinning in circles—forgot who she is.”

Claire’s voice was laced with mockery.
“She’s not just deaf. She’s stupid too.”

Ethan shot her a look, slightly disapproving.

“Don’t say that.”

Claire rolled her eyes.
“Oh please, she’s deaf. It’s not like she can hear us.”

“But damn... she really does love you. No wonder she’s willing to hand over her shares.
Can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finds out you’ve been lying to her all along.”

Ethan stiffened, lips pressing into a thin line, but he didn’t say anything.

Claire didn’t care. She tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“I’m out. Can’t stand looking at that dumb face anymore. Nine o'clock tonight. Same place.”

I stood frozen, waiting—hoping—for Ethan’s response.

And then, like a sledgehammer to the chest, my last bit of hope shattered.

He grinned.

“Naughty girl. Tonight I’ll show you what I’m made of.”

“Be good—take a bath and wait in bed. Wear that wildcat outfit I love.”

Claire smirked, looking me dead in the eye.

“Ethan, you are such a dirty boy.”

He laughed.
“And you love it.”

Then, with a straight face, he turned back to me.
His voice soft, his eyes gentle.

“But you’re right. Zoe really does love me.”

“What a shame. Think she’ll cry herself to death when we divorce?”

“So... so pathetic.”

---

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