Chapter 2

He frowned slightly, picked me up around the waist, and walked into the bedroom.

"Why are you up so early?"

I caught a strange sweet scent on him and slowly brushed his hands away.

"Chris, where did you go yesterday?"

He paused for a moment before explaining, "Something came up that needed handling. You were asleep, so I didn't wake you. It was quite late when I finished, so I just slept in the office."

He smiled and pinched my cheek, his tone affectionate. "Did you miss me, Hailey?"

I looked at him calmly.

After a long pause, I took off my wedding ring and gently placed it in his palm.

"Chris, let's get a divorce."

The air froze for a moment, and Chris's expression changed.

Emotion flickered in his eyes, and the hand holding the ring tightened into a fist.

"Hailey, this joke isn't funny at all."

I touched the cold hearing aid behind my ear.

I never regretted taking that blow for him.

I loved him, and I accepted it willingly.

But last night's words, "a deaf person who made him sick", felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart.

I closed my eyes wearily, struggling to suppress my trembling voice.

"Chris, I saw everything."

Meeting Chris's somewhat confused gaze,

I stared into his eyes, recalling word by word. "Something came up, what was it? Was it that you had to go to Jasmine's house to spend a joyful night with her?"

4.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Time seemed to stand still.

I tried to find something in Chris's eyes.

Even a hint of guilt would suffice.

But there was none.

I only caught a fleeting glimpse of panic deep in his eyes.

Perhaps he was just flustered, because I saw him not because he did something wrong.

"A soulless deaf person really isn't worthy of you, Mr. Davis."

Recalling those words a night later caused my heart to ache.

Chris's face turned pale.

He struggled to call my name. "Hailey..."

My eyes stung, and I fought back tears.

This was my first time examining Chris from an observer's perspective.

His sadness and panic were genuine.

The little love in his heart might be real, but the disdain buried in his gaze was finally revealed.

So I remained confident with my decision. "I'll move out today and get the paperwork done as soon as possible."

Chris's expression stiffened.

The gentle mask he wore seemed ready to shatter.

"Stop joking around. Where else can you go beside here?"

As I spoke, I clearly saw a flash of contempt in Chris's eyes.

It disappeared after a split second.

5.

I looked up at Chris.

Suddenly, I felt how unfamiliar this man, whom I had loved for 12 years, had become.

Perhaps Chris had never hidden it very well.

He had long since grown to loathe me without realizing it.

Those feelings of disgust directed at me would sometimes slip out.

But my love had blinded me to the details of his indifference.

I loved him.

We had been together for 12 years.

I had thought his love was the same as mine, only growing stronger.

Naturally, I ignored the signs of his lack of love.

I lowered my gaze and walked straight into the bedroom to start packing my things.

Seeing I was serious, Chris suddenly kicked my suitcase.

His brows furrowed tightly, his voice laced with impatience.

"Stop this. I just made one mistake; I won't do it again."

I was so angry that I actually became calm.

I shook my head. "Chris, it's been 12 years. You should know me."

He hesitated, gripping my hand tightly.

His deep voice was tinged with a rasp.

"Hailey, I know I made a mistake, please forgive me this once."

I looked down at him, watching as sweat beaded on his forehead from tension.

After a moment of silence, I said softly, "I can't."

He stared at me, and seeing my resolute expression, his face darkened. "Hailey, can you not leave?"

I pushed him away and didn't look back.

Behind me came the sound of Chris's fist hitting the wall.

"Hailey, I hope you won’t regret this!"

6.

I just kept walking forward.