All Chapters of Turning a Deaf Ear to a Decade of Lies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

“So you all think this union should be hers. I have no objection to that.”Mom was the first to react, turning quickly to gather Mia into her arms. “Mia, sweetheart, don’t cry. Mommy’s with you.”Dad let out a clear sigh of relief. “I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses, Elaine.”I stood rooted to the spot, a sense of bitter irony washing over me.Looked like l’d lifted a burden off everyone’s shoulders.Ethan pulled a vinyl record from his bag and held it out to me. “Come on, stop making a scene. This is a limited-edition press of my new award-winning album. Consider it your compensation.”I stared at the vinyl, too shocked to move.Before my twelfth birthday, it was my dream to study music in a conservatory.But after that life-changing incident, I’d been left to feeling rhythms through vibrations alone.How was a deaf person supposed to enjoy a vinyl record?Samuel knit his brows in irritation. “Ethan’s being more than gracious. What more do you expect?”I cracked

Early the next morning, I stepped out of my room to find the living room overwhelmed with betrothal gifts delivered by the Fergusons.Velvet jewelry cases, heavy chests of wedding gifts, and right at the center sat a bespoke haute couture wedding gown, its immaculate train cascading across the floor like a wave.I halted at the landing, my footsteps freezing mid-stride.Back when I was twelve, my classmates had cornered me in the restroom and mocked me because of my difference. They mimicked my dazed, vacant stares, forcing me to write down that I was a "little deaf dummy" before they'd let me go home.Later, through stifled tears, I pleaded with Mom to get me a discreet, higher-end hearing aid.She continued leafing through the stack of household bills, dismissing my agony with not much care. “Just make do with the one you have. I’m sure you can hear well enough with that.”So I endured school wearing that bargain-bin device, struggling to decipher lectures during class, not dar

The train rattled through the night.After daybreak, I transferred to two different buses before finally boarding a village tractor that came to pick me up, bringing me to my teaching post.The second the tractor ground to a halt, I popped the SIM card out of my phone and tossed it into a roadside ditch.The village chief, Earl Cooper, stared in surprise. “Ms. Lawrence, what are you doing?”I smiled casually. “I won’t be needing the old number anymore.”He nodded, helping me with my suitcase. “Fair enough. Let’s head to the school now.”At that very moment, total chaos was erupting back at the house.At three in the morning, a phone call from the Fergusons broke through the silence.The second Dad picked up, an icy voice came from the other end.“Mr. Lawrence, the engagement is off. The Fergusons will not accept a bride who commits a DUI hit-and-run and attempted murder of her own sister.”Before Dad could even process the words, the doorbell began ringing frantically.Befor

“Ms. Lawrence, I can read now!”I turned around. Hugo was already running up to me, holding his textbook above his head.He stood close, his voice loud and clear.“Apple, bee, cat—I know all the words!”I smiled and nodded. “One more time, please.”Morning mist drifted over the earthy playground.Drafts seeped through the cracks in the classroom, plastic sheeting covered the windows, and paint was peeling off along the edges of the chalkboard.Yet when the children looked at me, their eyes always shone bright.No matter when, I was always surrounded by a big crowd of them.“Ms. Lawrence.”“Ms. Lawrence, did I write this right?”“Ms. Lawrence, we’re having sweet potatoes for lunch today!”Their voices called out to me one after another, purer and better than any applause I had ever heard.Meanwhile, back in the city, chaos had broken out.Over the past two weeks, Josh had scoured every neighboring city, checking bus stations, inns and local schools.Driving late at night