Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Ethan Thorne, had a severe hearing impairment.

To afford a cochlear implant for him, I worked multiple jobs, sometimes seven a day.

But I didn't mind. All that mattered was for him to be happy, to experience the beauty of the world.

Ethan's first reaction after getting the cochlear implant was to pull me into a passionate embrace, kissing me like there was no tomorrow. He swore he'd be with me for life.

Then, two years later, one night after we'd been intimate, I vaguely noticed a black artificial cochlear implant on the bedside table.

Ethan, tall and handsome, leaned by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, talking on FaceTime.

His friend's excited, sharp voice came from the other end:

"No way, are you really going to marry that cheap commodity? What about Scarlett? She's coming back in three days..."

Ethan's voice was hoarse from earlier, and he chuckled. "Don't say that. Ava is mine for now; I haven't gotten tired of her yet! Once Scarlett is back, I'll naturally marry her."

I closed my eyes, tears streaming into the pillow, my hands clenched tight.

So, the hearing impairment was fake. His love for me was fake. Even wanting to marry me was fake!

From the very beginning, I was just a passing amusement for him.