Chapter 1

As I glanced around the living room, I felt as if I had been transported back to the 1980s, with the vintage wooden cabinet and the black-and-white TV sitting on top.The sound of the radio drifting in from the courtyard completed the scene, confirming that I had indeed returned to this moment in time.I glanced at my freshly completed painting of "Starry Night" on the table, its ink still wet, and tears welled up in my eyes. This time around, I would take control of my destiny.Just as I finished wrapping up "Starry Night", I heard rustling sounds coming from next door. It was Emmett Quinn and Calista Parker, and the nature of those sounds was unmistakable.After some shuffling, Emmett's muffled voice carried through the wall. He whispered, "Keep it down."However, Calista responded loudly without any hesitation, "What are you worried about? She's deaf. I could scream my lungs out, and she wouldn't hear a thing!"She followed this with several deliberate shouts. Although I had

Chapter 2

Emmett misunderstood my reaction, thinking I was worried about getting him dirty.He quickly assured me that it did not matter and helped clean me up with warm water. Then, he tucked me into bed before quietly cleaning the mess on the floor.Both in my previous life and now, he had always been this way—caring and warm like sunshine. That was why I had fallen so deeply for him in my past life. This time, however, I would not be fooled by his act.Now that I could hear, his tenderness felt nauseating and repulsive. When I tried to maintain the distance between us, he assumed that I was still feeling unwell and asked me if I needed to go to the hospital.I shook my head and indicated that I simply wanted to rest. He patted my shoulder, telling me to let him know if I needed anything, and only left after I nodded in response.As I watched him leave, my eyes turned cold. I was just waiting for news about the competition now.Once I heard back, I would leave this place and never return

Chapter 3

Emmett stared at me in shock before finally finding his voice. "Beth, w-what are you doing?""Shouldn't you be asking yourself that question?" I responded coldly."I..." He started, then suddenly realized something as his eyes widened. "Y-You can hear?"I did not answer, but the color drained from his face as he stood there speechless. The silence lasted until Calista emerged from the next room, fully dressed.Although panic flashed in her eyes, she quickly composed herself and greeted me casually. Emmett shot her a warning look before turning back to me. "Beth, it's not what you think..."Not what I thought? Maybe I could have misheard once or twice, but they had been carrying on right under my nose countless times. In my previous life, they had even plotted my death."Emmett, we're not married yet. From now on, let's go our separate ways," I declared, moving toward the door.Emmett blocked my path. "Beth, you've got it all wrong. I love you!"I laughed bitterly, unable to bel

Chapter 4

"Don't worry, Mr. Collins. They've been informed. Since Emmett will marry me, he needs to set a good example and not abuse privileges, which is why we're giving up the house," I explained calmly.I added, "Besides, the wedding won't happen anytime soon..."After three pages of questioning, Vince finally agreed to my request, and I promised to return the keys once I finished packing.While packing at the house that evening, I ran into Calista and Emmett again. They were incredibly brazen. I had given them a chance to end things cleanly, but they kept pushing their luck.Fearing that they might cause more trouble, I invited Mrs. Lowe, the neighborhood gossip, over while they were in their room. She had been wanting embroidery designs for her daughter's wedding pillowcases, and when I explained my idea, she was eager to join me at the house.Mrs. Lowe sat quietly beside me as I drew. She initially tried to chat with me but quickly remembered I was "deaf".A little while later, Emmet

Chapter 5

Even though my heart was still restless, I knew I was heading toward a completely new chapter of my life. Ahead of me was a life where my starry night awaited, along with my burning dreams.A few days later, the Young Artists Competition finals began, and my "Starry Night" painting lived up to expectations, winning first place. With this award and the recommendation letter from the renowned art critic, I was accepted into the Oceanus City Art Academy as his student.The days of study flew by as I immersed myself in painting even more deeply than in my previous life. I cherished every moment of this hard-won opportunity. My dedication led to numerous works and technical improvements that made me stand out at the academy. Before I knew it, half a year had passed, and the end-of-year holidays were approaching. Unexpectedly, Emmett showed up.That snowy day, while I was working in the studio, a classmate told me that someone was waiting for me downstairs. After removing my painting ap

Chapter 6

None of it mattered anymore as I pushed through the door and walked out into the cold. Although Emmett occasionally sent letters afterward, I never opened them. Eventually, they stopped coming.Years later, I achieved unprecedented success in the art world. My paintings were displayed in prestigious galleries across the country. Each piece was considered a masterpiece that drew art enthusiasts and critics alike.My name frequently graced the covers of major art magazines, and I was hailed as a legend in the field. Standing on stage accepting awards, I was met with thunderous applause and admiring gazes from the crowd.Dad had retired honorably, and though his hair had turned completely white, his spirit remained strong. When we visited our hometown together, the old factory workers gathered to welcome us. During dinner, after several rounds of drinks, someone brought up Emmett and Calista. Apparently, after I left, their reputations were completely ruined. The small house I had