Chapter 4

The city night was truly cold. Dragging my two large suitcases, I shivered, sneezing several times in a row.

Ethan used to be so afraid of me getting cold. Whenever the weather changed, he wouldn't let me go out in the wind.

Now, Ethan hadn't even called once.

After checking into a hotel with my ID, I started looking for a new place to rent. Just then, I received an anonymous video.

In the video, Scarlett was tugging on Ethan's tie, their lips intertwined, her face flushed.

She suddenly picked up the black artificial cochlear implant from the trash can, as if she'd found something amusing, and laughed:

"Ethan Thorne, you're playing quite the game behind my back, pretending to be deaf?"

Ethan disdainfully glanced at the dirty cochlear implant, took it from her hand, and tossed it away, continuing to kiss her.

He responded softly to Scarlett's words:

"Just messing with her. Who told her to take it seriously... I find that thing disgusting!"

My breathing hitched instantly. I could only hear the frantic pounding of my heart.

So, the thousand-dollar cochlear implant I worked so hard to buy for him was, in his eyes, just a disgusting piece of trash!

I clutched my chest, trying to alleviate the discomfort, my breathing becoming labored.

Just then, my grandmother Rose called me, asking with a smile:

"My dear Ava, when are you and Ethan coming back? I have prepared some wine for you both!"

Since my parents died in a car accident, my grandmother Rose had become my only pillar of emotional support. I visited her several times a year.

It used to be just me; then, Ethan started coming with me.

I didn't know how to face Rose, so I remained silent for a moment.

Rose was still grinning from ear to ear, chattering away:

"Ethan said he's going to marry you this year! I'll make sure to take my medicine and stay healthy so I can take the bus to your wedding... Oh, my, it's not easy for an old country woman like me to come to the city!"

With every word Rose said, I felt more ashamed. I quickly hung up the phone, unable to face her anymore.

I blocked the anonymous account that sent the video and warned Scarlett:

**\[Ethan and I are over. You don't need to provoke me.\]**

That day, I remembered leaving something behind at Ethan's apartment and took a ride there to retrieve it.

I bumped right into Ethan as he was leaving.

Looking up, I saw several hickeys on his neck, clearly left by Scarlett.

Ethan frowned and grabbed my wrist, demanding to know why I hadn't replied to his messages these past few days.

I ignored him.

"My mom said we're having dinner at home this week to discuss wedding plans."

I laughed, looking at him, perplexed:

"Aren't you going to marry Scarlett Davis? Why are you telling me this? Do you need me to participate in your wedding too?"

Ethan looked down at me, annoyance flashing across his brow:

"My mom doesn't like Scarlett. I won't have a public wedding with her. Our engagement still stands; I won't go back on my word to you."

*Slap!*

I slapped him. His brazen words made me want to laugh in fury.

"Ethan Thorne, the moment you lied to me, we were over!"

"I'm not a tool for you and Scarlett to flirt with, nor am I a shield for your affair!"

"The engagement is off. I won't marry you. Let's go our separate ways from now on!"

Ethan gave me a strange look, then chuckled twice:

"Ava Miller, don't be so jealous. I'm not kidding. Besides my heart, I can give you everything else -- the title, the status!"

"Don't make a fuss. My mom has already had someone calculate the wedding date. It's next month!"

"You wouldn't want your only living relative to be disappointed, would you?"

It was another naked threat and manipulation. Ethan had calculated that I couldn't leave him and wouldn't bear to disappoint Rose.

I was practically boiling with rage, feeling utterly desperate.