When You Stopped Listening

Everyone in the circle called me the chatty woman around Wilson Lewis, who had poor hearing and was notoriously aloof. I would stand up for him, take drinks on his behalf, and accompany him to the hospital. When he had to get his hearing aid adjusted, I would crouch beside the table to replace its batteries for him, yet he never so much as looked up at me. One time, I drank on his behalf until I was dead drunk at a wine party, but he only glanced down at me calmly. Another time, I spent the entire morning waiting with him on the day of his follow-up checkup, but he texted his unattainable love, Noelle Surrey, instead. Wilson: [Have you eaten lunch yet?] During our three years of marriage, I became a joke in the eyes of others. On the night of our wedding anniversary, he wanted to make things up for the birthday celebration he owed me. When I was being dragged away through the back alley of a convenience store, I saw him sitting in the Maybach parked at the alley entrance through the half-open car window, unboxing a cake. I screamed until my throat bled, my fingernails digging into the wall. He glanced up at the alleyway entrance, took off his hearing aid, and put it in his pocket. When I got home in the wee hours, he was still helping Noelle with her resume. Seeing my disheveled state, he just frowned and said, "Jaclyn Scott, can you please stop making such a scene every time?" Noelle chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Wilson, is she playing victim again?" I pushed the divorce papers and a USB drive in front of him. "Wilson, I'm done making a scene. This time, it's your turn to listen." Chapter 1 "Jaclyn Scott, put these things away." Wilson Lewis pushed the divorce agreement back to the edge of the table, his slender fingers tapping on the surface. He did not even glance at the USB drive. "Jaclyn, it's already 2:00 am. Sit down first. I have a meeting tomorrow, but I can listen to you tonight." He leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying a hint of forced patience. I stood across from the table, not moving. My right hand hung at my side. The bruising from my fingernails digging into the wall plaster had already settled. When I pressed down, I felt a sharp ache in my fingertips and wrists. I heard my voice sounding strangely hoarse. "I'm not making a fuss. You can look at the USB drive first." "What's so interesting about it?" He closed the laptop, stood up, and walked to me. His cool fingertips brushed against my collarbone, tucking my disheveled coat collar back into place. The movement was gentle, as if we were just discussing what to have for breakfast tomorrow. "Last time, it was because Noelle Surrey stayed with us for two days. The time before that was because I forgot your physical examination report." He looked down at me, his gaze so calm that it sent a chill through my heart. "Jaclyn, you put yourself in this situation. Why didn't you come to me first?" I did not dodge his touch and quietly watched the hands that had just been editing Noelle's resume. "Wilson, did you eat that cake?" He paused and nodded. "I took a bite. It was too sweet, so I put the rest in the fridge. Don't eat it on an empty stomach tomorrow morning. I'll have the housekeeper heat some oat milk for you." He turned and walked toward the bedroom. As he passed the coffee table, his phone screen lit up. He picked it up casually and glanced at it, slightly smiling. I knew without asking that it was a message from Noelle. "Wilson." He stopped. "Did you hear anything near the convenience store tonight?" He frowned slightly. "What could I have heard? I got out of the car to look for you, but the alley was too dark. I thought you'd already gone around to the other side." He explained naturally, as if he were stating a fact. "I thought you were still sulking and wanted me to wait for you, so I didn't look outside." "Were you wearing your hearing aid when you came to pick me up?" I looked at his back. Chapter 2 He turned around, his expression darkening a little. "Jaclyn, don't push your luck." He pointed to his right ear. "You know very well that I don't like noisy environments." He was right. Taking off the hearing aid was his habit, and it was this habit that blocked out my 17 distorted cries for help. "I called you." I looked into his eyes. He paused for a moment before taking out his phone and scrolling through the call log. "There are no missed calls." He confidently turned the screen toward me. "Because you couldn't receive them." I walked over and picked up the USB drive on the table. "Half a year ago, Noelle said she was a light sleeper and couldn't fall asleep if she heard phone vibrations." I held the USB drive in my hand, the plastic edge digging into my flesh. "Half a year ago, Noelle stayed over and said the vibration from my calls checking on you at night would disturb her, so you blocked my number." Wilson froze. "That was a temporary solution. You have never called me for any urgent matters since then." "Yeah." I turned and walked toward the bathroom. "Seventeen SOS calls, not a single one went through." The moment the bathroom door closed, I saw Wilson rub his temples outside. He deeply sighed, "Jaclyn, I have to accompany Noelle to meet with investors tomorrow. I don't have the energy to deal with your unreasonable behavior. Reflect on yourself." Water streamed down from the showerhead. The abrasions on my back stung when the water hit them, making my fingers tremble. I looked down and saw pink water trickling down my thighs and into the drain. Last night's beating in the alley had taken the little life I had not even had a chance to tell Wilson about. My phone was on the sink, the screen still lit. Just now, I received a notification about one of Wilson's supplementary credit cards. [Noelle Surrey's credit card ending in 7102 has been charged 32,000 dollars.] That card had no credit limit, while my supplementary card, which I used for grocery shopping, only had a 3,000-dollar limit. Even buying a slightly more expensive imported fruit required checking my bank balance first. I turned off the shower and dialed the doctor's number. "Dr. Carter, this is Jaclyn Scott. Can I schedule the surgery for tomorrow morning?" The doctor quickly replied, "Yes, remember to bring a family member to sign the consent form." I hung up and looked at my pale face in the mirror. As I dried myself and walked outside, the main bedroom door was ajar. Wilson was fast asleep, with the hearing aid lying quietly on the bedside table. I went to the foyer, put the signed divorce papers in my bag, and sat on the couch all night. The next morning, I went to the hospital alone. The third-floor gynecology department corridor was packed. I found a secluded bench and sat down. A dull ache spread through my lower abdomen. Five minutes earlier, Wilson had stepped out of the elevator in this very building. In the lobby downstairs, he had stood in front of the psychology clinic sign and caught a glimpse of a figure at the gynecology registration window on the right. The beige coat looked familiar, and those thin shoulders resembled Jaclyn's. However, he only paused briefly and did not go over. He glanced at Noelle beside him, whose brows were furrowed due to her insomnia, and quickly made his judgment. Jaclyn was probably only here to get treatment for a minor cold because he had not comforted her the night before. He thought it was all a power struggle and found it utterly ridiculous. Thus, he simply pressed the elevator button for the VIP psychology clinic on the sixth floor. At that moment, I had just come out of the examination room with my ultrasound results. Chapter 3 I bumped into Wilson, who was coming down the stairs. He was holding a cup of warm milk. Noelle walked beside him, her face flushed. As soon as Wilson saw me, he frowned. "Jaclyn, are you stalking me?" He strode over, his gaze sweeping over my pale lips. "Even if you're jealous, there's no need to pretend to be sick and come to the hospital." He habitually reached out his hand, wanting to touch my forehead. I turned my head and avoided it. His hand froze in mid-air, and his expression turned grim. Noelle spoke softly beside him. "Jaclyn, don't misunderstand. I just haven't been sleeping well recently, and Wilson came by to keep me company." I watched as Wilson slowly withdrew his hand. He seemed to think my evasion had embarrassed him, and he immediately removed the hearing aid from his right ear. This was his usual way of disciplining me. Whenever I disobeyed him, he would cut off communication unilaterally. "Calm down for a few days. Call me when you've thought it through." He put his hearing aid in his pocket, wrapped a protective arm around Noelle, and walked away. I stood in place, watching them enter the elevator. Then, I took out my phone, found his number in my contact list, and deleted it. My name was called over the loudspeaker. I put my phone in my pocket and went into the operating room alone. … Three days later, Wilson's friends organized a dinner. For the first time in ages, he came home and tossed me a black velvet dress he liked. "I'm taking you to a party tonight. Noelle will be there too." He tied his tie in front of the mirror, his tone indifferent. "Let's pretend what happened at the hospital a few days ago never happened. Be good tonight." I changed into the velvet dress. The waistline was tight, sitting right on my aching lower abdomen. I did not protest at all. The private room was lively. After all the dishes were served, Wilson placed a piece of crab meat on my plate. "Eat up." He smiled at his friends, his movements gentle. "She's always loved seafood." His friends sitting across from us immediately cheered. "Wilson's such a good man. He even peeled the crab so carefully." I looked at the translucent crab meat on my plate. He remembered Noelle's peanut allergy, having specifically told the kitchen thrice when ordering, but he forgot about my crab allergy. I ate it once last year, and I ended up in the emergency room in the middle of the night. I had to get an IV drip, and my lips were swollen for three whole days after that. At the time, he sat by the bedside, looking at reports. He said without even looking up, "You're too delicate." I picked up my fork and moved the crab meat to the edge of the plate. He did not notice my actions as the waiter had just brought out the last dish—an expensive sea urchin. Wilson did not hesitate and immediately gave it to Noelle. "Noelle's stomach hasn't been feeling well lately. Sea urchin is good for the stomach." He put down his cutlery and turned to look at me. His gaze was filled with undeniable magnanimity. "You're healthy and strong. You're not going to make a fuss over some food, are you?" The entire private room fell silent for a moment. Noelle lowered her head, smiling slightly. Our friends chuckled awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. "Jaclyn is magnanimous. She won't hold a grudge." I met Wilson's confident gaze. I did not splash water or overturn the table. I even pulled out a wet wipe and handed it to him. "Wipe your hands. You've got sauce on them." Wilson took it, a clear hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. He felt he had finally molded me into someone who would not cause him any trouble. Chapter 4 When the dinner was over, it was already past midnight. Wilson was in a good mood when we got home. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped his arms around me from behind. "You behaved yourself tonight." He whispered in my ear, his breath carrying a faint hint of alcohol. "When I come back from my business trip tomorrow, I'll buy you the necklace you've always wanted." I obediently closed my eyes and did not struggle or respond. My heart had become so numb that it could not react. He replied to a few work messages in the living room and soon fell asleep. I leaned against the headboard, watching the time on my phone jump to 3:00 am. There were six hours left. My one-way ticket to Moose County was for 9:00 am. It was also at that time that the local courier would deliver the documents to his executive meeting table. At 8:00 am, the coffee machine in the meeting room made a soft buzzing sound. Wilson sat in the main seat, feeling triumphant. Even during the intervals when he was listening to the financial report, he texted his secretary. [Go to the jeweller in the south of the city and pick up the necklace Jaclyn had her eye on last time.] He turned off the screen, thinking everything was under his control. I had been behaving well lately. He thought that the so-called USB drive was probably just a recording I had wanted to make a big fuss about. He just needed to buy a small gift to appease me, and life would continue on the track he laid out. The meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and two uniformed police officers walked in, interrupting the presentation. "Which one of you is Mr. Wilson Lewis?" Wilson's smile had not completely faded. "I am." "We received a report and need your cooperation in investigating the vicious assault that occurred last Tuesday night in the alley behind the convenience store." The lead officer produced a copy of a police report. "The surveillance footage shows that the victim cried for help for three minutes and 27 seconds. You were just three yards away and had your car window open at the time. Why did you do nothing?" The entire meeting room fell into a deathly silence. All the executives' and shareholders' eyes instantly focused on Wilson, while Wilson's mind went blank. The memory of Jaclyn that night, covered in blood with her clothes ripped apart, suddenly became vivid, and a crushing weight tightened around his chest. "What victim? Jaclyn?" The receptionist knocked on the door and came in. "Mr. Lewis, there's an urgent same-city package that requires your signature." Wilson's hands trembled uncontrollably. He snatched the package and ripped open the seal with brute force. A stack of documents lay scattered on the mahogany conference table. Inside was a signed divorce agreement and a printed screenshot of surveillance footage. Only two blurry figures were visible, but he recognized them at a glance. He knew them too well. On the left, a woman was being dragged into a dark alley, her neck being choked. On the right, separated by a wall, a man was looking down, tenderly unboxing the birthday cake that was meant for me. One was him, and the other was me.