Chapter 4

The night was truly cold. Dragging two large suitcases, my body shivered as I sneezed several times in a row.

Wesley used to be most afraid of me getting sick. Whenever the weather changed, she wouldn't let me go outside in the wind.

Now, Wesley hadn't even called once.

After checking into a hotel, I started looking for landlords to rent from, but then I received an anonymous video.

In the video, William was tugging at Wesley's clothes, their tongues entwined, their faces flushed.

He suddenly retrieved a black cochlear implant from the trash can, as if he'd found some amusing toy, and laughed:

"Wesley, you've been playing it pretty wild here in the country behind my back—pretending to be deaf and mute?"

Wesley glanced contemptuously at the filthy implant, snatched it away and tossed it aside, continuing to kiss him.

She responded to William's words in fragments: "Just messing with him... Who told him to take it seriously... That thing disgusts me!"

My breathing slowed instantly, until all I could hear was the strong pounding of my heart.

So the hundred-thousand-dollar cochlear implant I had worked myself to death to buy her was just disgusting garbage in her eyes!

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

Just then, Grandpa called me, asking cheerfully:

"Ronald, when are you and Wesley coming back to visit?"

After my parents died in a car accident, Grandpa became my only emotional pillar. I went back to visit him several times every year.

Before, I went alone. Later, Wesley accompanied me.

I didn't know how to face Grandpa, and fell silent.

Grandpa was still beaming with joy, chattering away:

"Wesley said you two are getting married this year. Grandpa will take his medicine on time and stay healthy so I can attend your wedding..."

With each sentence Grandpa spoke, my shame deepened. I could only hastily hang up, unable to face him any longer.

I blocked the burner account that sent the video and warned William: [Wesley and I will end things. You don't need to provoke me.]

That day, I remembered I had left something at Wesley's apartment and took a taxi to retrieve it.

I ran right into Wesley, who was about to go out.

Looking up, I noticed several kiss marks on her neck—left by William.

Wesley frowned and grabbed my arm, demanding to know why I hadn't been responding to her messages these past few days.

I ignored her.

"My mom said to come home this week for dinner to discuss wedding plans."

I laughed out loud, looking at her with incomprehension:

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

Wesley looked down at me, annoyance flashing across her brow:

"My mom doesn't like William. I won't hold a public wedding ceremony with him. The wedding agreement I gave you still stands—I won't owe you anything!"

I was almost amused by these shameless words.

"Wesley, from the moment you lied to me, we were already over!"

"I'm not a tool for you and William to flirt with, and I'm not your cover for sneaking around!"

"The wedding agreement is void. I won't marry you. Let's part on good terms from now on!"

Wesley looked at me strangely, then laughed mockingly:

"Ronald, don't be jealous like this. I'm not joking with you. Besides this heart that I can't give you, I can give you the title and everything else!"

"Stop making a scene. My mom already had someone calculate an auspicious wedding date—it's next month!"

"You don't want to disappoint your only living relative, do you?"

Another naked threat and manipulation. Wesley had calculated that I couldn't leave her and couldn't bear to disappoint Grandpa.

I was almost laughing with anger, my heart filled with despair.