All Chapters of Cheaters Talk Too Loud: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I shoved the steak away. I was done playing husband-in-the-dark.When I stood, Vanessa popped up too, hands flying, asking what was wrong.I shook my head. "It's late. I'm heading back."She moved to follow, but her friends blocked her, all fake concern."Glen's not in great shape. He needs rest. Why rush off?""Yeah, and Eugene's almost here. You haven't seen him all day. Don't you miss him?"Panic flickered across her face—quick, ugly. Then she noticed I didn't react. Her brows pulled tight."Don't say his name in front of Glen."Someone laughed."What are you scared of? He's deaf. He can't hear us."I pushed her back into her chair, firm. "I can get back myself. Stay."I turned and walked. No pause, no window for her to chase me.Barely made it far before Eugene Chapman showed up.His shoulder slammed into mine—on purpose or just pure arrogance—hard enough to throw me off balance.He didn't even look back. Just strutted into the room, grabbed her like she was his prize

Chapter 2

No one cared. They just laughed louder."Please, Glen won't find out. He's just the deaf guy."The laughter kept rolling.I stood there, frozen. Couldn't move. Could barely breathe.It wasn't until a server gently tapped my shoulder that I snapped out of it."Sir, do you need any assistance?"The second the server spoke, the room went dead quiet.Every head turned. Vanessa's face went full panic mode.She yanked her hand off Eugene's waist, eyes darting everywhere but mine.She started signing—why was I back, Eugene's just like a little brother.Too bad she didn't notice her lipstick smeared on his mouth. Or that his hand was still chilling on her waist.Eugene shot me a look—just enough mockery to make it sting.I'd already planned to leave. But standing there, seeing it with my own eyes?It hit harder than I expected. Took the air right out of me.I forced a smile. "Came back to drop off your keys. Have fun."I dropped the keys on the table and walked out, tuning out t

Chapter 3

I knew that move. Knew exactly what it meant when her desire kicked in.A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have lasted a second. I would've turned to her without thinking.Now?My stomach twisted.All I felt was nausea. Disgust.A week ago, my hearing came back. I walked in ready to tell her.Instead, I heard Vanessa's wild moans coming from the next room.My blood froze. For a second, I almost convinced myself I was imagining it.I wasn't.I shook as I reached the doorway. That's when it hit me—she already had someone else to lean on.That day, she brought Eugene home. Slept with him like it was some adrenaline sport they'd hyped each other into.She thought I was still deaf. Thought she'd wrapped it all up clean.She had no idea I heard everything.That same day, I signed up for a state-run volunteer teaching program in Northvale—middle-of-nowhere north—and booked a one-way ticket.Just like the promise we made back then, I was going to vanish from her world for good.The sou

Chapter 4

She was wiped, but her hand stayed locked around mine.Any time I tried to pull away, even a little, her grip tightened.By the end, she bought two matching string bracelets and tied them around our wrists herself."That way, you won't leave me."I didn't say a word.She pulled my hand over anyway, pressed it to her stomach."Glen, I'm pregnant. With your baby. From now on, our family has one more person who loves you."She looked so gentle saying it.My chest burned, anger climbing fast. 'You keep saying you love me. You still cheated. And now you want me to raise another man's kid?'What did I do to earn this kind of punishment?I stayed silent, face dark. Vanessa's smile slowly slipped. Then she signed the same words again.Right. She still thought I couldn't hear.I looked at her, flat and cold, and spoke. "Are you sure the baby's mine, and not someone else's?"Panic flashed across her face. Just for a second. Then the smile snapped back into place."Of course it's yo

Chapter 5

My heart jumped—just for a second.I glanced at the document. Yep. The program confirmation.Her face stayed dark.I kept it easy. Casual."It's for Caleb. His family's super strict—won't let him go anywhere. So we used my info. He got in, and I was just dropping the papers off."She stared at me, clearly not buying it.I reached out and took the file from her hand anyway.Only then did she finally breathe out. "Guess what I brought back for you?"I paused. Let it hang."Your homemade chocolate cake."Her eyes flickered. Surprise, real this time."How did you know?"How could I not?Back when we were dating, she was always baking—cakes, pastries.She said she wanted to fatten me up so no one would steal me.The truth?Her cakes were always too bitter. Too heavy. Way too much.I still ate every bite. Never complained.Until the day she finally found out and broke down in my arms."It's so bitter," she cried. "Why do you keep eating it?"I'd stroked her hair, smiling

Chapter 6

Her expression changed.She went quiet for a beat, then said softly, "Then I'll stay with you today. Get in the car first. Wait for me."Seeing she was about to come back inside, I cut myself a slice of cake and sat down in the living room.Like none of it ever happened."Glen, work's been crazy lately. I still have to head out. Wait for me, okay? Once I'm done, I'll stay with you for a few days."She watched me closely. Hopeful. Waiting.I already knew I'd let her down."Go ahead," I said. "Do what you need to do."She froze.The softness in my voice was gone. So was the love in my eyes.Panic flickered across her face—then a car horn blared outside.We both knew who that was.I dropped my gaze and took another bite of cake.That did it.She relaxed.Didn't think twice. Just waved and turned to leave.I spat the bitter cake into the trash and wiped my mouth.Then I grabbed the acceptance letter for the volunteer teaching program and the suitcase I'd packed ages ago. H

Chapter 7

This wasn't a school.It felt like a daycare barely holding together.For a second, I thought about quitting too.Then the feeling passed—and I stayed.Under their nervous stares, I walked up to the board, grabbed a piece of chalk, and wrote my name."My name is Glen Gardner. Glen works. Mr. Gardner works too. Glen means 'valley'—a place where people can live."I turned back to them."Starting today, I'm your teacher. So—what's my name?"I looked at them, keeping it encouraging.Learning wasn't the hard part. Fear was. That deep, beaten-down look you get after being turned away too many times.No one spoke. I didn't push. I just stood there, smiling.Then a small, dirt-smudged kid raised his hand, voice barely above a whisper."Your name is Glen Gardner. Glen means 'valley.' A valley is a low place between hills, where people can live."I nodded. "That's right."That was all it took."Mr. Gardner's name is Glen.""Glen means valley.""A valley is a low place between hi

Chapter 8

Dora stood there, wearing a faint smile.Our eyes met, and for a second, my mind blanked.It wasn't love. Her gaze was just... clean. Like a lake you could fall into without realizing it.She shifted under my stare, shy. A light blush crept up her cheeks.I caught myself and smiled, a quiet apology.I was about to speak when she sat down beside me.She was close. Close enough that I caught a faint, clean scent drifting off her.She looked out at the lake and spoke. "This lake has a name—Willowmere. The older folks say if you make a wish here, it'll come true. To us, it's about belief."I paused. "What?"She smiled when she saw my face. "People here really respect this place. If the elders catch you tossing stones, they'll lecture you all day."I scratched my head, a little embarrassed. Watching her calm smile, the heaviness Vanessa left behind finally eased."I didn't know," I said. "I was irritated earlier. If I offended anything, I'm sorry."She waved it off. "You couldn'

Chapter 9

She leaned in, face soft. "You chased me for three years back then. So now I'll chase you for ten. I'll wait until you forgive me. My love for you is real. I'll love you forever."My stomach turned.Maybe someone else could forgive a woman who got pregnant with another man's kid. Maybe someone else could play house after that.That person was never going to be me."I've said this already. If either of us chose betrayal, we'd disappear from each other's lives. Permanently. We're done. And right now, I'm teaching. Leave."She stared like I'd said nothing.She grabbed my arm. "It won't happen again. I swear. Let's go home. This place is brutal. You're a city guy—how are you even surviving out here?"She tried dragging me to the door.I shook her off and laughed. "Home? Which one—the place where you cheated through a wall? The house that was never mine? You keep saying you love me. When you were screwing him, did I cross your mind? What about what we promised back then?"She froze

Chapter 10

"You've never hit me before. Never."That part was true. I'd never laid a hand on her.I'd always handled her like glass.Before this, if anyone even touched her wrong, I'd lose it.And now—I was the one who hit her."Look at you," I said. "You're acting insane. Who would want you like this?"She stiffened, then rushed toward me. "I'll change. I'll be normal again. Please—don't leave me."For a second, I had nothing.I just let out a tired sigh.Dora stepped up. "If he doesn't want you, why are you still harassing him? And anyway, he already has a new girlfriend. Hanging on is pointless."Vanessa snapped toward her, eyes turning sharp.Dora froze for half a second, swallowed, then lifted her chin. "What? Yeah. Me. That's right. So what?"Vanessa laughed, loud and cruel. "Do you even know who he is? He's my husband—""—He's Glen Gardner," Dora cut in, voice clear and steady. "And like I said, he's my boyfriend."The fire in Dora's eyes made me laugh before I could stop mys

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP