Natalie’s Story 1
my wedding with Ethan, I suddenly changed the
1
987 I addressed him.
The eve of my
I started calling him by his last name, Riley, I called his parents “Mr. and Mrs. Riley, and his buddies “Mr. Smith,“”Mr. Jones,” and so on.
Ethan
he
panicked.“I think we’re beyond you
you calling me that, aren’t We?
asked
I just curled my lips slightly. “It’ll be more ceremonial for me to address you and your family intimately after we’re married,” I said.
Ethan bought it, hook, line, and sinker. He hugged me, whispering, “I can’t wait for the wedding, I can’t wait to marry my girl.”
I stared out the window, looking equally expectant. The difference was, I was expectant for the moment he discovered I was gone after his wedding with Chloe Parker, his childhood sweetheart. I wanted to see his reaction.
Everyone knew Ethan was replacing the bride with Chloe without telling me. Even his family and friends were helping him keep it from me. They knew clearly that I meant everything to Ethan. If I found out, I’d leave, and he’d go crazy. Thus, to make him lose it in a big way, I did three things.
First, I saved every single one of those taunting texts Chloe sent me.
Second, I donated every single gift Ethan had ever given me.
Third, I accepted my manager’s offer to go abroad, and my departure date would be the day of “my” wedding. I was leaving this place forever.
As soon as I got home, I heard Ethan’s voice coming from the study. He was on the phone with one of his best friends.
“Yeah, the wedding’s still on. I’ll just change the bride’s name to Chloe Parker.
“Marrying me is Chloe’s only wish before her surgery. It’s just a formality, and I’ll be her husband for one day.”
“Just help me out, okay? Natalie won’t mind. She can’t hear, everything’s gonna be fine.”
My heart shattered. Could he even hear himself? Wasn’t it ridiculous?
I knew Chloe. She was the sister of Ethan’s best friend, and she’d had a crush on him since childhood. When Ethan and I started a very public relationship, she stubbornly declared, “Ethan, as long as you’re not married, I’ll keep waiting for you.”
It had bothered me back then, but Ethan had reassured me, “Chloe was just kidding. You know how willful she could be.”
So I’d let it go. Now, the pain of being betrayed was killing me.
Ethan hung up the phone and turned, only to see my heartbroken expression. A flicker of panic crossed his face. But when he noticed I wasn’t wearing my hearing aid, he composed himself.
He signed, “Natalie, when did you get back?”
A car accident had left me with hearing loss. I could only hear with my hearing aid. Ethan had learned sign language for me. It was actually unnecessary, but he said he wanted me to know he’d do anything for me.
I suppressed the turmoil inside me and said flatly, “Just now.”
Ethan visibly relaxed, handing me an exquisite jewelry box.“Sorry, I’ve been swamped at the hospital lately and haven’t had much time for you.”
My hands clenched. I just stared at him.
I knew he’d been busy. Chloe was sending me pictures almost every day: She and Ethan sharing a bowl of soup, she draped in Ethan’s coat to inhale his scent, she sneaking a kiss on his cheek while he slept. Sometimes, Chloe even answered his phone.
08:20
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Since Chloe was hospitalized, I hadn’t said anything. After all, I was supposed to marry Ethan soon.
But now…
While I was thinking, Ethan signed again. “Natalie, I have to go out of state next month for a medical conference. We might have to postpone the wedding. I booked you a seven–day trip to Switzerland. Take a vacation, and we’ll reschedule the wedding.”
He was getting rid of me so he could go through with his plan.
I managed to choke out, “Ethan, is the postponement because of work, or because of Chloe?” Ethan froze, then ruffled my hair. He signed, “Of course it’s work. It has nothing to do with her. Don’t overthink
it.”
His phone rang. He glanced at it, then hung up quickly. Grabbing his coat, he said, “Emergency. I have to go back to the hospital. Don’t wait up.”
He was so anxious that he spoke instead of signing.
Watching him leave, I felt a wave of dizziness.
Ethan had been the heartthrob of our university, charming and aloof. Countless girls were crazy about him. And I? Because of my hearing problems, I always felt like a fish in the ocean, withdrawn and neglected. Sometimes I would even become the butt of jokes.
Ethan for three years. Yet,
this ordinary, invisible girl, had been pursued relentlessly by Ethan On Valentine’s Day of our junior year, he stood beneath my dorm, and confessed his love with flowers in his hand. The entire campus went wild. My quiet heart finally leaped.
Now,
gazing
at
the
photo
If I hadn’t got my hearing back…
taken by my
hadn’t heard if I hadn’t
roommate
welled up. that night, my eyes
our wedding… Ethan’s lie about
