All Chapters of He Went Mad When I Tuned Out: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

It was my birthday. For once, Rowan Shore had time to be with me.I was just about to cut the cake when his phone buzzed."I need to take this." He smiled at me, his voice still carrying his earlier tenderness.I nodded and watched as he answered the call. "Hello?"I heard Tina Green's shrill voice on the other end of the line. She sounded on the verge of tears as she shrieked, "Rowan! Miranda wants to jump off the building! S-She's having a meltdown, and she's screaming for you! She won't let anyone get close."The phone crackled with harsh static, followed by Miranda Kane's hysterical screams. "Ro, are you with Clara? Do you not want me anymore?"Her voice was so shrill that it almost pierced my eardrums. "I knew it! I knew that wretched woman…"Rowan turned ashen. He cried in panic, "Miranda, calm down! I'll be right—"I instinctively grabbed his wrist. "Rowan, the Kane residence has a psychiatrist on standby around the clock. Their security system—"Tina abruptly started s

In the hospital, Rowan sat by my bedside as he subconsciously traced the edge of my medical chart."Why can't you just let this go?" he asked in a voice so calm that it was almost devoid of emotion. "Are you using self-harm as a way to get my attention?"I looked at him. He frowned at me like I was an insensible child."Miranda's situation isn't like yours," he continued. "After she lost her memories, I became all that was left in her world. She and I grew up together. Her parents are abroad and barely have time for her, so she's always thought of me as her only family."He paused and looked at my bandaged wrist. "And now, she doesn't recognize anyone but me. After that car crash, I became all that she remembered…"Rowan subconciously fidgeted with my IV tube, his eyes fixed on the window. "The psychiatrist said that she's acting like this because she's deeply insecure."He turned to look at me as his brows furrowed. I stared back at him, noting the resigned and weary look on his

I spent two weeks in the hospital before finally being able to be discharged. Surprisingly, Rowan had the time to come handle the discharge with me.The doctor pushed his glasses up as he handed my medical report to Rowan. "Your wife's depression has reached severe levels, and she's at high risk of self-harm.""Severe depression?" Rowan's voice was strained as he traced the edge of the report. "How is that…"The doctor said something else to him, and his eyes reddened. He turned to look at me as I sat to one side, his eyes filled with disbelief and heartache.He hurried to me and crouched before me, carefully taking my hands in his."I'm so sorry," he said, choked up. "I'll make sure to take good care of you."He gently stroked my wrist, which was still bandaged."I should've noticed earlier," he said hoarsely, clutching the medical report tightly. "You've been losing sleep, and you haven't had an appetite."I leaned back and looked out the window. To me, his remorse felt like

In the hospital, Rowan sat by Miranda's bedside, his fingers tapping away at his phone. "Remember to take your medicine per the schedule."He furrowed his brows after sending the message.Five minutes passed.Ten minutes passed.Even after 15 minutes, all he saw was that the messages had been read. His hand balled into a fist, and his knuckles turned white."Why hasn't she replied?" he mumbled to himself. Suddenly, an inexplicable panic surged in him.Miranda, who lay on the hospital bed, noticed something was off about him and immediately coughed weakly. "Ro, my head hurts…"Rowan looked up, but his gaze drifted to the window. Then, he shot to his feet. "I need to head home."Miranda's expression darkened slightly. "Are you abandoning me?"Her voice started shaking. "You said you'd never leave me.""Clara's alone at home." Rowan's voice was strained. "I'm worried about her.""What about me?" Tears streamed down Miranda's face. "You're all I have now! If you leave, I'll end

Rowan sat by my bed, his fingers tapping his knee neurotically.Recently, he'd spent all his time by my side. The bruises under his eyes were proof of how long he'd gone without proper rest.His phone was face-down on the bedside table. Since the last incident, he'd stopped taking Tina's calls."It's our wedding anniversary today," he said softly, placing a small cake before me. "I remember you saying that you liked blueberry-flavored ones."Rowan's fingers shook slightly as he unwrapped the packaging. He'd just lit the candles on the cake when his phone started buzzing incessantly.Though unable to see the screen, he still glanced at it. Then, he blanched. After a few seconds of hesitation, he still answered the call."There's an emergency at work…" He forced a smile at me. "I'll be right back."I stared at his back as he hurried off, reminded of the last incident and the one before that. Each time, he'd chosen to go to Miranda's rescue.Right before the door swung shut, I hea