Chapter 1

“You’ve been married for two years, and I’ve slept with you 666 times. Keith, do you think Kelly knows?”

A sugary-sweet voice floated through the crack in the door.

Kelly Shaw stood frozen in place.

The blood in her body turned ice-cold.

She came to Keith Parsons’ office in high spirits, ready to tell him she could hear again.

Instead, she heard the truth about his affair.

The other woman wasn’t a stranger.

It was Maya Stone, the very woman he claimed as his "sister."

The very same woman who had turned Kelly’s own brother into a vegetable.

Kelly lowered her gaze.

So, this was what it felt like to hear.

Inside, the sounds continued, one after another, without pause.

Maya’s voice wavered slightly. “Keith, you’ve been married for two years, and you still come to me every night. Why not just make do with your wife?”

A voice she hadn’t heard in years answered.

Gone was the boyish edge, replaced by something low, deep, and magnetic. “She’s filthy.”

Maya let out a sultry laugh. “Right… she married some old man before. God knows how many times he’s had her.”

Kelly’s fists clenched tightly.

The ring on her finger felt ice-cold, the chill spreading through her entire body.

Filthy?

Keith had called her filthy.

Kelly’s lips curved slightly, a silent laugh escaping her.

She sold herself for one million and that money was the starting capital for his career.

Her hand slipped weakly from the doorknob.

Kelly’s fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, switched to video, and slipped it through the crack in the door, capturing proof of Keith’s affair.

She staggered back two steps.

Then turned and walked away without looking back.

In the cab ride home, her phone vibrated.

Kelly took it out, glanced at the screen, drew in a deep breath, forcing down the tightness in her throat before answering. “Mom.”

Susan York asked, “You’re wearing your hearing aid now, right? Is Keith with you? Ask him when the second round of funding for Michael is coming through. His entire company is waiting on that money to stay afloat.”

Kelly kept quiet.

Susan continued, her tone sharp, “Have you stopped visiting your brother at the hospital? The life-support systems keeping Barney alive are due for another payment.

“Make sure Keith pays it. If they’re shut off even for a minute, your brother’s life will be at risk.”

Kelly closed her eyes.

Barney had been in a vegetative state for two years. He was only still alive because Keith had spent a fortune leasing cutting-edge life-support equipment from an overseas biotech firm—proprietary systems that cost hundreds of thousands a year to maintain.

When Kelly didn’t respond, Susan’s voice rose. “And another thing. I went shopping with a few ladies the other day, and one of them said she saw Keith out with some woman.”

Kelly sniffed softly. “Mom, if… if Keith really is cheating, I’ll di…”

Before she could finish, Susan cut her off with a furious scolding.

“Have you lost your mind, Kelly Shaw? You’re deaf, you’re disabled—being able to marry into the Parsons family is a blessing you couldn’t earn in ten lifetimes!

“Do you have any idea how many people would kill for what you have? And you want to throw it away?

“I’m telling you, even if he cheats, even if that woman shows up pregnant, you will stay right where you are and take care of her.

“As long as you keep your place as Mrs. Parsons, you’ll have a lifetime of wealth and security! If you leave Keith, Barney, you, me, Michael—we’ll all starve!”

Susan’s shrill voice carried through the phone, loud enough for the driver to hear.

Through the rearview mirror, he glanced at Kelly with a look of pity.

Kelly paused for a moment, then a faint smile curved her lips. “Then we’ll all die.”

She hung up.

Kelly raised a hand to wipe away the cool, damp tear tracks on her face, then dialed a number.

“You still have the prenup I signed with Keith before we got married, right? Draft a divorce agreement for me as well. Bring them both over tomorrow.”

The person on the other end agreed.

Kelly let out a bitter laugh.

Keith had probably forgotten.

Back when they were about to get married, in order to prove his loyalty, he insisted on signing that agreement himself.

He said that if he ever cheated during the marriage, everything in his name would go to Kelly.

He would walk away with nothing.

…

Kelly sat in the living room until two in the morning.

Keith finally came home.

Seeing the woman sitting under the dim light, he looked surprised and walked over. [Why are you still up? Didn’t I tell you I’d be working late tonight?]

His fingers moved through the air, forming elegant gestures.

Kelly suddenly thought back to that year.

Her father had died saving Keith.

The shock cost her her hearing.

Keith clumsily taught himself sign language, staying up day and night.

In just a month, he mastered it, and even taught it to her and her brother, Barney Shaw.

Back then, Keith promised to treat her well for the rest of his life.

Kelly tilted her head back, her gaze falling on the faint red mark at the base of his neck.

“Tired?”

Keith paused for a moment, then broke into a smile.

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers.

Then, as if by magic, he produced a bracelet.

Under the dim light, the diamonds shimmered brilliantly.

In the two years of their marriage, this was the 666th gift Keith gave her.

He fastened it around her wrist himself. [It suits you. It’s beautiful.]

His gaze was gentle.

Her eyes glistened.

She once thought those 666 gifts were repeated proof of his love.

She never imagined they were 666 acts of guilt—compensation for his unbroken string of betrayals.

Kelly pulled her hand back.

A silent smile curved her lips. “Do you remember what day it is in three days?”

Keith patiently moved his fingers. [The company goes public. Its valuation will double. And it’s our second wedding anniversary. Kelly, I’ll have a gift for you.]

Kelly nodded. “I’ve prepared something for you too.”

A gift of freedom.

A gift that meant he would never have to sneak around to be with Maya again.

Keith patted the back of her hand. [Go to bed early. We’ll visit your father’s grave tomorrow.]

…

The next day, snow fell in heavy flurries.

On the way to the cemetery, Keith’s phone rang.

When Kelly was with him, she never wore her hearing aids.

So, Keith didn’t bother to hide anything.

He answered the call directly. “What is it?”

Maya’s voice trembled, laced with panic. “Keith, that drunk neighbor is knocking on my door again. I’m scared… can you come over?”

Keith frowned slightly. “I’ll have Ian go handle it.”

A trace of disappointment slipped into Maya’s voice, barely noticeable.

She obediently replied, “Okay, Keith.”

The call ended.

Kelly twisted the corner of her coat in her fingers, forcing a bitter thought into something almost comforting.

At least, he still felt some gratitude toward her father.

She let out a quiet breath.

The car had been driving smoothly for less than two minutes when Keith’s phone rang again.

He frowned and answered.

It was still Maya, her voice soft and pleading. “Keith, I’m scared… he’s trying to break the lock…”

Keith slammed on the brakes.

Caught off guard, Kelly lurched forward, nearly hitting her forehead.

When the car came to a stop, she was pulled back into her seatbelt.

The sudden jolt left her dizzy.

She frowned slightly, her gaze calm and unreadable as she looked at Keith.

His expression softened. [Kelly, I’m sorry. Something urgent came up at the company today. I’m afraid I can’t go with you to visit Mr. Shaw. I’ll try to finish up as soon as I can and meet you there.]

A scorched, hollow feeling spread through Kelly’s chest.

She smiled obediently. “It’s okay. Go take care of your work.”

Guilt filled Keith’s face.

He couldn’t help lifting his hand, wanting to ruffle her hair in comfort.

But Kelly leaned away.

His hand closed on empty air.

For a moment, his palm felt strangely hollow, like something inside him was missing too.

But he didn’t think much of it.

He stepped out and opened the car door for her.

Kelly got out.

The moment she did, Keith sped off without a second glance.

Kelly’s hand lifted slightly, left hanging in midair. “Hey…”

Her coat was still in the car.

The biting wind swept in, cold and sharp, and she shivered hard.

She took a cab to her father’s grave.

She pulled a few weeds and laid fresh flowers at the grave.

In the end, she sat down wearily in front of the headstone, quietly talking to her father for a long time.

Only when a shadow fell over her from behind did Kelly turn around. “Miss Lowe, did you bring what I asked for?”

Alex Lowe nodded.

Her gaze flicked to the snow that had gathered on her hair and shoulders.

She quickly opened her briefcase and handed the documents to Kelly.

Kelly took them with both hands, her fingertips cold. “Thank you.”

Alex was about to type on her phone for Kelly to read.

Kelly tilted her head up. “You can just speak. I can hear now.”

Alex froze in surprise. “You can hear again?”

Kelly nodded.

After a brief pause, Alex said quietly, “Mr. Cole once gave me a chance when no one else would. You’ve been raising his son all these years, so helping you is the least I can do. If you ever need a lawyer, you can come to me anytime.”

Kelly looked up at Alex.

Her delicate, doll-like face was veiled with quiet sorrow. “Thank you.”

As if sensing her confusion, Alex spoke gently, “When you’ve built someone into your entire belief system… once that collapses, it’s only natural to feel lost.”

A belief.

Yes.

All this time, Keith had been her belief; her entire world.

Back then, right here, where she sat now, Keith stood with bloodshot eyes, writing his vow on the ground, one word at a time.

[Kelly, I’ll spend my life repaying Mr. Shaw. My life is yours.]

She never wanted his life.

But Keith took half of hers.

Her phone vibrated.

Kelly took it out and glanced at the screen.

It was a message from Keith: [Kelly, something came up at Maya’s place. I’ve brought her back to stay with us for a few days.]