Chapter 1

The most celebrated man in New York, Gabriel Stone, fell deeply in love with me. A deaf woman.

He learned sign language for me.

To marry me, he even accepted his family's punishment.

Everyone said I was the luckiest woman.

But when I recovered my hearing after surgery and excitedly wanted to tell him the good news, I overheard him talking to his ex-girlfriend outside his study.

"Marry her? It was just to make you jealous."

It turned out our three-year marriage was a lie from start to finish.

Jane's POV

The most celebrated man in New York, Gabriel Stone, fell in love with me. A deaf woman.

For me, he learned sign language from scratch.

He set off fireworks for three nights straight under the night sky. He used over ten thousand drones at the harbor to publicly declare his love. He even planted my favorite orchids all around the mansion where he lived.

When he proposed to marry me, everyone thought he'd lost his mind.

The Stone family was furious.

"Jane is disabled. Have your fun if you must, but she is not welcome in our home."

But he remained stubborn and left them with one sentence:

"I will marry no one but Jane."

To marry me, this typically reckless but privileged man willingly accepted punishment-he was whipped ninety-nine times, leaving his back a bloody mess.

Watching him lose consciousness from blood loss and get rushed to the hospital, my heart finally melted.

Even though Gabriel never minded my disability and insisted on marrying me, I always felt inferior deep down, believing there was an insurmountable gap between us.

Fortunately, after three years of persistent treatment, I finally recovered my hearing through surgery.

The day I was discharged, I couldn't contain my excitement and rushed home, wanting to tell him the good news in person.

But just as I reached the study, I heard him on a call.

"Gabriel, have you really fallen for Jane?"

He laughed carelessly.

"Everyone in New York knows how deeply I love her."

"Enough. You can fool others but not me. I don't believe you could love her."

"Claire, three years ago when you rejected my proposal and insisted on breaking up to go abroad, didn't I tell you you'd better not regret it?"

Hearing the name "Claire," my whole body stiffened.

Few people knew that I lost my hearing because of a car accident.

And the person responsible was Claire.

She hit me while drunk driving and speeding in the wrong lane, then left me bleeding in the street.

So... the person who caused my disability was Gabriel's ex-girlfriend?

On the phone, Claire laughed coldly.

"I knew it. You deliberately pursued this disabled woman, made it a public spectacle, and endured punishment to marry her. All just to spite me."

Gabriel bit down on his cigarette, his expression half-mocking.

"So what if I did?"

Claire took a deep breath.

"You succeeded. I mind Jane's existence. Divorce her, and I'll get back together with you."

Gabriel laughed lazily.

"Why should I divorce her for you?"

"Gabriel!"

"You think you can break up whenever you want and get back together whenever you want? Am I your dog, coming when you call and going when you dismiss me?"

"I've already come back. Whether you want to get back together or not is up to you!"

The call was cut off. Gabriel cursed under his breath.

Outside the door, I felt like I'd fallen into an ice pit, trembling uncontrollably.

My relationship with him began with a fire.

Three years ago, he was drunk at a club when his enemies took the opportunity to set it on fire, trapping him in a private room.

Just as he was about to die, I rushed into the flames and saved him.

Gabriel fell for me at first sight because of that.

After we married, he was impeccable toward me, fulfilling all my wishes, indulging my every request, spoiling me to the point where everyone envied me.

Everyone said I was the luckiest woman.

But it turned out... he never loved me at all?

He went through all that trouble to marry me just to make his ex-girlfriend jealous?

How absurd.

"Mrs. Stone, why are you standing here?"

A servant's voice suddenly rang out.

Gabriel whipped his head around and saw me standing outside the door. Panic flashed in his eyes.

But noticing I wasn't wearing my hearing aids, he relaxed, stubbed out his cigarette, and signed fluently.

"When did you get back? Why are you standing outside without making a sound?"

I didn't answer, just looked at him quietly.

He walked over, pulled me into his arms with heartache in his eyes, and gently touched my face.

"Who bullied you? Tell me, I'll get revenge for you."

I moved my lips, about to tell him I could hear now, that I'd heard everything he said to Claire.

But his phone suddenly rang.

After reading the message, his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly signed to me.

"I have an emergency. I need to go out. Be good and eat dinner. Don't wait for me."

Before I could react, he was already striding away.

I caught a glimpse of the sender: Claire.

I quietly followed him.

Eventually, outside a hotel private room, I saw Gabriel drag Claire out.

He grabbed her chin and demanded.

"Claire, you actually dared to kiss another man?"

"Who I kiss is none of your business. Why did you rush over here in such a rage?"

"Say that again. I dare you."

"I'll say it as many times as you want! I'm single, you're married. I can kiss whoever I want."

He angrily pressed her against the wall and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Fine. I'm your damn dog. Let's get back together, okay?"

But Claire dodged his kiss and said proudly.

"I won't be a mistress or a side piece."

He deflated, saying helplessly.

"I didn't marry her."

Claire froze.

"What?"

I froze completely too.

Then I heard him say.

"The Stone family would never allow me to marry a disabled woman, so the marriage certificate she and I have is fake. Satisfied now?"

Fake?

Our marriage certificate... was fake?

My mind buzzed. I felt like I'd fallen into hell.

So all his love and devotion to me, including those marriage documents, were all carefully woven lies?

For three years, he'd been playing me for a fool?

Gabriel, was trampling on my genuine feelings fun for you?

My chest felt like it was being violently torn apart. The pain was suffocating.

Tears blurred my vision.

I could no longer see clearly that couple pressed against the wall, kissing inseparably.