3 Years by His Hospital Bed, He Chose Her

Chapter 7

There were kids playing all over the yard, laughter echoing in the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a little boy standing off to the side, trying hard to sign something. But no one around him seemed to understand.

His shoulders slumped. He fell silent, looking isolated in the middle of a crowd. It wasn't any of my business, but my heart still tightened a little.

I walked over, gently tapped his shoulder, and signed: [What's wrong?]

His eyes lit up the second he realized I could understand him. He quickly signed back, [That ball is mine, but they don't understand what I'm saying.]

I gave him a small nod and turned to explain the situation to the others. The kid holding the ball scratched his head awkwardly before handing it back.

What was easy for everyone else could be a mountain for someone who couldn't speak or hear. Their language was different, and that difference built walls.

I passed the ball back to the little boy, who smiled shyly and signed a heartfelt thank you.

Just then, Jason walked up and handed me a bottle of water, already opened. I took a few sips, the chill grounding me, then turned to him.

"Did I know sign language before?" I asked.

He looked slightly thrown, as if he hadn't expected the question, but eventually nodded.

"But I can speak. And hear. So… why'd I learn it in the first place?"

He hesitated for a moment, then remembered what the doctor had said:

"Hypnotherapy doesn't erase memories, it just buries them. Everything she went through is still there, hidden in her mind. One day, maybe days or decades from now, she might remember. And when she does, we hope she'll be strong enough to handle it."

Jason glanced at me, the corners of his mouth twitching in a faint smile. "Why does it matter?" he said softly. "Some questions don't need answers. Sometimes, it's kinder not to remember."

He meant every word. He'd rather I live peacefully, far from the pain of the past.

Ethan had no idea how he even made it back to the Jiang family villa. His mind was spinning, heart heavy.

The moment he stepped in, Olivia rushed over with a bright smile. "Ethan, when are we getting our marriage license?"

The housekeeper chimed in right on cue, "Mr. Moore, Miss Olivia made all your favorite dishes. You two are such a perfect match."

Olivia's takeover of the Jiang household seemed inevitable now. The compliment was meant to flatter, but the second the housekeeper saw Ethan's face, dark, stormy, and full of rage, she immediately fell silent.

Ethan grabbed Olivia by the neck, his eyes wild. "You still have the nerve to bring up marriage?" he growled. "Do you feel good stealing someone else's credit?"

His grip tightened until Olivia's face turned a terrifying shade of purple. It took several staff members to drag him off her.

Gasping, Olivia clutched her throat and stammered, "I didn't lie! I really did take care of you for three years!"

Ethan let out a cold, hollow laugh. "Oh really? Looks like your memory's a little fuzzy. How about we take a look at the hospital surveillance footage together?"

Olivia's face went ghost white. She instinctively blurted out, "What? That's impossible! I thought all the videos were deleted!"

Realizing what she'd just confessed, she slapped a hand over her mouth too late.

Ethan didn't say a word, he just slapped her. Hard. The impact sent her sprawling to the floor.

Olivia crawled toward him, grabbing at his pant leg, sobbing, "Ethan, I'm sorry! I just, I loved you too much!"

Ethan turned away in disgust and told the staff to pack her things. As he did, he noticed the housekeeper standing frozen, clearly too afraid to move.

He strolled over slowly, his smile sharp and dangerous. "You organized that party, didn't you?"

The housekeeper dropped to her knees. "It was all Miss Olivia's idea! She said it was the only way to make you marry her. She threatened that if I didn't help, I'd be fired after the wedding."

Olivia, her hair a tangled mess, screamed and cursed at the housekeeper like a woman unhinged.

Ethan didn't bother to stay and listen. He had them both thrown out.