Chapter 1

"Ms. Lundy, we've prepared a replica corpse matching your specifications. It's an exact double of yourself and will be delivered to your and Mr. Hatcher's wedding in ten days."

Thea Lundy had been wound tight for days. Now, the voice on the phone brought her a hint of relief.

"Alright. Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome. We're just doing our job. And rest assured, no one will doubt the corpse's authenticity."

Thea let out a relieved sigh at the assurance. She went over the delivery details one last time before hanging up and entering a private room.

The lively conversation inside cut off abruptly when she entered.

Terrence Hatcher, seated at the center, immediately rose and took her hand, his eyes filled with concern as he signed, "Thea, you were in the restroom for so long. Are you feeling sick? Let me take you home right now."

He was about to guide her toward the door, his gaze so intensely focused on Thea that it made her heart ache.

Suppressing the tightness in her chest, she shook her head. "I'm fine. You all go on ahead."

Terrence paused, but at her insistence, he reluctantly guided her back to their seats, their fingers staying intertwined.

The room's cheerful atmosphere had barely returned when a voice cut through the chatter. "Terrence, now that you and Thea are getting married, what happens to that assistant you've been keeping around?"

Thea's nails bit into her palms as the color drained from her face.

Someone nearby elbowed the speaker. "Thea's still right here. Have some tact."

The man merely shrugged. "Relax. She can't hear anything. I'm just curious what Terrence plans to do with his side piece."

Every eye in the room turned to Terrence.

"I'm keeping her," he said.

Picking up a shrimp, he peeled it carefully before placing it on Thea's plate.

Then, he continued, "She's just entertainment I keep around. Thea's the only woman who matters to me. But she'd leave me if she found out, so I've made sure she never does—not before the wedding, not after. And let me be clear. If any of you breathe a word of this to Thea, you'll regret it."

His gaze turned steely as it swept across the room.

Everyone present moved in privileged circles where keeping mistresses was commonplace, making Terrence's declaration all the more surprising.

"Poor Terrence, can't even keep a mistress without hiding it. My wife's known about mine for years."

"Don't compare Terrence to your tawdry affairs. What he has with Thea is something real."

Eyes gleaming with salacious interest, someone asked, "Terrence, with Thea being deaf, did you and your assistant ever, you know… at home?"

He left the question deliberately unfinished, dangling it with suggestive implication.

Terrence gave a low chuckle, spinning his engagement ring absently as he replied, "Naturally. It's… thrilling."

The room exploded with cheers and approving thumbs-up gestures.

"Savage! Only you could manage this, you dog!"

"I'll bet you've christened every damn room of that house! You lucky son of a gun!"

"So, marriage won't slow down your side action at all, huh?"

The flattery rolled on, oblivious to how Thea's grip on her fork blanched her knuckles white. None of them knew about her regained hearing or her decision to leave Terrence forever.

There would be no wedding. When the day arrived, Terrence would find only a flawless replica of Thea's corpse waiting for him.

From his periphery, Terrence saw her shrimp still sitting untouched on the plate.

His hands moved at once, signing, "Thea, you're not eating?"

She met his worried look with a strained smile. "What was everyone cheering about earlier?"

Terrence's lips curled into a smile as he kissed the back of her hand. "They were saying how lucky we are and how we'll be the ideal match."

His hands formed the sign for "I love you".

Thea didn't miss the amused looks passing between the others in the private room. A cold, sharp ache pierced through her chest. He'd somehow spun their vulgar jokes about his mistress into some kind of fairytale romance.

A harsh truth settled over her—Terrence was a much more convincing liar than she'd ever imagined.

Chapter 2

Thea set her fork down and rose from the table, unable to stomach another moment of Terrence's hollow declarations.

When he noticed her preparing to leave, he scrambled to his feet, hands flying in urgent signs asking what was wrong.

She shook her head, keeping her voice low. "I'm tired. I need to go home."

Without waiting for his reply, she strode from the private room. Emerging onto the sidewalk, she lifted her gaze to the LED display on the high-rise opposite her, where their proposal video still played in a relentless loop.

"Marry me, Thea Lundy!"

The blazing letters commanded the center screen. Passersby sighed with sentimental admiration as they absorbed the message flashing across the LED display.

"Wow! I heard Mr. Hatcher's fiancée is deaf, so when he proposed, he rented the LED screen on the city's tallest skyscraper just so she could clearly see 'Marry Me.' And after she said yes, he kept the video playing for a whole month so everyone could celebrate with them."

"He must be completely devoted to her. No doubt he'll be the perfect husband."

Thea—the very woman they were discussing—could only muster a joyless smile.

Just a week earlier, she'd shared their starry-eyed conviction, absolutely certain of Terrence's devotion, believing him to embody every quality of an ideal spouse.

Thea had spent her childhood in an orphanage. At nine years old, a fever stole her hearing when medical care came too late. From that moment on, the bullies at the orphanage and school marked her as an easy target.

Years of relentless cruelty had taught Thea to construct fortress walls around her heart, sealing it off completely.

Then, Terrence entered her life. Smitten from their first meeting, he pursued her with determined persistence. But having been tricked before, she kept rebuffing his advances.

99 times he asked her to be his girlfriend, and 99 times she refused.

One day, the earthquake hit. Without hesitation, Terrence shielded Thea with his body. A piece of rebar pierced clean through his shoulder, yet he never budged from his protective stance.

When he awoke in the hospital with only the faintest strength, his first act was to sign his relief at her safety. Only then did she learn he'd secretly studied sign language for three months just for her. Thea felt the first fissures form in her defensive walls.

The rebar injury never fully healed, leaving a permanent circular scar the color of burnt umber. Each time she saw it, an ache bloomed in her chest.

Throughout their five years together, Terrence's devotion never faltered. He proved his love relentlessly, standing firm against the Hatcher family's fierce disapproval when he proposed to her.

Thea longed to hear Terrence say "I do" at their wedding. She couldn't bear to force him to choose between her and his family, so she traveled overseas for the risky ear surgery, fully aware the operation might claim her life.

Against all odds, it worked.

Thea guarded her restored hearing like a precious secret, saving the revelation for their wedding day. She'd imagined countless times how Terrence's face would light up with shock and joy when he discovered she could hear again.

But nothing prepared her for what she actually heard—Terrence's shameless phone flirtation with his assistant on her first day back. That was how she learned about the yearlong affair happening right behind her back.

The pain slammed into her with such force that she crouched on the ground, arms locked around her knees. Terrence's response from earlier kept looping in her head. He wasn't going to end things, not even with their wedding approaching.

Did he actually think her deafness meant she'd never catch him? That he could keep lying to her forever?

The winter night's breeze needled at Thea's skin, but her resolve burned hotter still. She was determined to show Terrence that all lies get uncovered eventually. And deception? That was beyond forgiveness.

Chapter 3

Thea drew a steadying breath, forcing down the ache constricting her chest. She had just risen to leave when a pair of hands stopped her.

"Thea, why are you leaving without me? Are you having a bad day? Your custom wedding dress just arrived. Let's go see how it fits. We can alter anything you're not happy with." Terrence hugged her, his touch affectionate as he brushed her hair.

"I'll pass. You choose the dress."

What difference did it make? She wouldn't even be there to wear the dress on their wedding day.

Terrence must have noticed her withdrawal, his hands moving carefully as he signed, "Thea, you don't seem excited about the wedding. Have you changed your mind about us?"

Thea held his anxious gaze, the confession surging up her throat—that she'd never marry him, that she knew about his betrayal, that he'd shattered their love, that he'd extinguished all hope for their marriage, and that he'd no right to even ask.

But she held back. The moment for truth would come later.

As soon as Thea and Terrence entered the bridal shop, an attendant swept aside the curtains, revealing the gown.

"Ms. Lundy, your Fremoria couture gown—specially ordered by Mr. Hatcher—has arrived. We're at your service for any alterations."

Before the last syllable faded, an interpreter stepped forward, translating the words into precise signs.

The staff exchanged hushed whispers of awe.

"How considerate of Mr. Hatcher to arrange a sign language interpreter."

"That's nothing. Look at the center stone. He acquired it at Sotheby's and had the designer personally set it."

"He paid the designer's annual fee for exclusive attention to this dress."

Terrence's lips curled into a smile as he heard the staff's admiring whispers. He moved behind Thea, his arm wrapping around her waist.

"Do you like it, sweetheart?" he asked.

The dress was centered with a pink diamond roughly the size of a large marble, while its 16-and-a-half-foot train glimmered with tiny diamonds that sparkled with every movement.

Thea ran her fingers over the fabric. There was no denying this dress was everything she'd ever wanted.

She'd mentioned to Terrence again and again how much she loved pink and how she'd always dreamed of a wedding dress with a long train. He'd remembered it all, designing this masterpiece just for her.

But no matter how stunning the dress or how bright the diamonds shone, they couldn't mend what was broken in her heart.

"Thea, look closer at the heart of the diamond. You'll find 'L&H Forever' engraved there. They say diamonds are forever, and so is my love. I had our names carved into it as a promise that my love for you will never fade."

Thea lowered her eyes to the diamond, where a line of tiny letters had been etched. When she looked back at Terrence, his gaze was brimming with devotion.

Her heart quivered as she murmured, "Do you really mean that? That your love for me will never fade?"

Terrence's hands flew into motion, signing before she could misread his silence, "I, Terrence Hatcher, swear I'll love you forever, Thea. Not just now, but even after death. I'd never betray you. If I do, may lightning strike me where I stand."

But no amount of passion in his words could melt the ice encasing her heart. He had already broken his promise but was still playing his part. Wasn't he tired of lying?

Thea turned away, unable to bear the insincerity written across his face.

Terrence was about to speak further when his phone suddenly rang. His expression shifted almost unnoticeably as he moved aside to take the call.

When he returned, a trace of regret darkened his features.

"Thea, something urgent came up. I need to get to the office. Go ahead with the fitting, and let the staff know if anything needs adjustment. The driver will take you home when you're finished," he signed quickly, skipping their customary goodbye embrace before hurrying to his car.

Thea watched his retreating figure as he departed.

The moment he was gone, the staff broke into excited gasps.

"That speech Mr. Hatcher gave was so moving. I almost cried."

"Even running off to work, he still made sure Ms. Lundy was properly looked after. He's one in a million."

Thea couldn't ignore the bitter irony. Terrence had never abandoned her for work before. And that look in his eyes when he returned from the call? Ravenous.

This probably had nothing to do with work. More likely, it was simply a pretext to visit his mistress, Alyssa Schuler.

Thea gave a mirthless smile and turned to leave.

A staff member rushed to intercept her. "Ms. Lundy, you still need to be fitted for your wedding dress."

Thea shook her head, her composure unshaken. "That won't be necessary."

Why bother with a wedding dress when the bride would be nothing more than a replica corpse during the ceremony?

Chapter 4

Thea had just returned home when her phone buzzed with an incoming message. She tapped the screen, and a photo appeared.

In it, Terrence stood with his bare back to the camera while Alyssa clung to him, wearing a strapless mermaid wedding dress. The dress was hiked up to her hips, her slender legs wrapped around his waist in an unmistakably suggestive pose.

A second message followed. This time, a video.

Alyssa's cheeks flushed pink as she wrapped her arms around Terrence's neck, her words coming in breathless gasps. "Mr. Hatcher, you… ripped the wedding dress I just got today."

Terrence chuckled, his lips brushing her ear as he murmured roughly, "You had this dress made just so I'd see you in it, didn't you? I had Thea's designer make yours, like you asked. Now it's your turn to return the favor tonight."

A soft gasp escaped Alyssa's lips before the video abruptly ended. And as if that weren't enough, she texted again.

"Oops, Ms. Lundy. I completely forgot you can't hear a thing. What a shame. I'll make sure the video's captioned next time."

The text ended with a laughing emoji, its face half-hidden behind a hand.

Thea clenched her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Tears streamed down her face, heavy and unrestrained, splattering onto the floor.

She'd never imagined a heart could be split in two. Terrence had the designer make two wedding dresses—one for her, one for another woman.

Was this what he called love? If so, she wanted nothing to do with it.

Thea swallowed hard, fighting back the ache in her chest. She was about to wipe away her tears when her eyes landed on the engagement ring still on her finger. She studied it for a moment before slipping it off and tossing it into the trash.

Terrence had sought out a jewelry designer himself, learning how to craft the ring from scratch. Once the design was finalized, he'd gone to a workshop and hammered it into shape, overseeing every detail.

At the proposal, he'd told her only a ring he designed and made himself could truly mean something. Every time she ran her fingers over it, she was supposed to feel his love.

But his love had turned bitter. And now, the ring meant nothing.

Terrence didn't return until well after midnight. Thea felt the mattress sink as he climbed into bed beside her. The faint smell of perfume and hawthorn blossoms hung in the air.

Then, suddenly, the video of those two bodies tangled together flashed through her mind. She lurched toward the bathroom, gagging.

Alarmed, Terrence grabbed his phone to call their family doctor. "Thea, did you eat something bad today? I'll get the doctor over here!"

Her eyes stinging, Thea caught his hand. "No, it's fine. Just… some sickening images I can't shake."

Terrence crouched beside her, patting her back, his face etched with worry. "Don't look at those kinds of stuff again, sweetheart. It kills me to see you like this."

Worried his sign language wasn't getting through, he pressed her palm against his chest so she could feel the erratic pounding of his heart.

Thea's eyes flicked down to him, only to catch sight of vivid red marks peeking from beneath his open collar. Another dry heave convulsed through her before she could suppress it.

How could Terrence have the nerve to show up wearing another woman's marks while pretending to care about her?

Terrence's agitation grew at the sight. "Who the hell sent you those images, Thea? Just wait till I find them. They're going to pay for this!"

Thea's lips twisted in a bitter smile. He was the reason she was like this. She couldn't stomach another moment of his hypocrisy.

Shoving him out, she turned the lock. "I'm sleeping alone tonight."

Terrence's worried pleas carried through the door, but she pretended not to hear, lying down without another thought.

Thea couldn't silence his flippant words echoing in her mind. He'd sworn undying devotion when they first got together. Back then, she'd truly believed he was her salvation.

Now, she knew better. He wasn't her savior. He was the devil, dragging her deeper into the abyss. He'd given her a love so intense that it had seared her soul, only to destroy her completely.

Thea closed her eyes, a tear slipping free. If she could turn back time, she'd choose never to have known Terrence at all.

…

Early the next morning, Thea opened the door to find Terrence waiting outside, his expression wounded.

"Thea, why did you lock me out last night? Are you mad because I left you at the bridal shop yesterday? Something urgent came up, I swear. Please, forgive me."

Something urgent? Sure, if sleeping with Alyssa qualified as an urgent matter.

Thea didn't bother calling him out. She'd be gone in eight days, and he'd finally realize she'd known everything all along.

She shook her head. "I'm not mad. Work takes priority. I understand."

The calmness in her voice sent a jolt of panic through Terrence. "No! You're my priority, Thea. I swear I'll never leave you like that again."

His hands flew through the signs before he crushed her in a desperate embrace, holding her so tight that it seemed he wanted to fuse them permanently.

Thea said nothing.

Again? There would be no second chances.

Chapter 5

Maybe it was guilt, but Terrence stayed by Thea's side the following days, balancing remote work with wedding preparations.

Then, an unavoidable corporate cocktail party arose, and he insisted that Thea join him. Before she could refuse, he had a stylist sent to their home.

Only when they arrived did Thea realize Alyssa was there, too.

Dressed in a curve-hugging V-neck dress, Alyssa approached them, smiling as she said, "Mr. Hatcher, Ms. Lundy."

Thea studied Alyssa. She moved with effortless grace, her demeanor perfectly composed. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had provoked her just the night before. She was every bit as good an actor as Terrence.

Thea hadn't missed the tension in Terrence's gaze when he noticed Alyssa or the subtle bob of his Adam's apple. Yet, he kept her hand firmly in his, playing the role of the indifferent superior, offering nothing more than a nod of acknowledgment.

Spotting Terrence, party guests drifted over, drinks in hand and eager to chat. A few socialites tried making small talk with Thea, but she stayed in character, feigning deafness and pretending not to hear them.

Terrence smiled and explained on her behalf. Then, as if worried she might grow bored, he excused himself to get her favorite pastries, setting them beside her with a glass of juice.

The guests remarked approvingly at his thoughtfulness.

"Mr. Hatcher truly is the perfect gentleman."

"I'd heard how much Mr. Hatcher spoils his fiancée, and now I see it myself."

Thea kept her eyes downcast, long lashes masking the sarcasm in her gaze.

During the conversation, Terrence's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted.

"Excuse me. A work issue needs my attention," he said apologetically.

Before leaving, he signed to Thea, "Something came up, Thea. Stay here. I'll be back soon."

Almost instinctively, she scanned the room and noticed Alyssa was gone. Moments later, her phone buzzed. Alyssa had texted her. Attached was a screenshot of a chat log.

The screenshot showed Alyssa's bare back, the zipper deliberately undone at the base, inviting all manner of suggestive thoughts.

Beneath it, she'd written, "Mr. Hatcher, I can't get my zipper up. Care to help me out?"

Terrence's response was brief. "Where?"

"He couldn't hold back. We didn't even make it out of the restroom. People were just outside. It was so intense. He took me twice and left me barely able to stand. That's something you'll never make him feel.

"And we didn't use protection again. We've stopped counting how often that's happened. He said if I got pregnant, he'd let me keep it. Who knows? Maybe I'm already carrying his child."

Thea closed her eyes, pressing a hand firmly against her chest as if she could push the pain away. Had Terrence really been so desperate that he couldn't wait a few more hours?

Her phone buzzed again. She steeled herself for another taunt from Alyssa but instead saw a message from the death-faking service.

"Ms. Lundy, your new identity is ready. Your flight to Elseria departs in five days at 6:00 pm. We require final confirmation. Do you still wish to leave?"

Thea activated her camera, positioned herself in frame, and recorded a brief video. "I confirm my decision to leave."

The words had barely left her lips when a frantic voice interrupted from behind her, "Leave? You're leaving, Thea?"