He Took Off His Hearing Aid And My Love Died Chapter 02
I almost never lost my temper. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d snapped like this.
Audrey sprang to her feet. She must’ve swallowed too fast in shock — she started choking, her face going bright red.
Julian was on his feet in a heartbeat, slamming both hands on the table.
“Audrey came here to celebrate your birthday, Clara. It’s bad enough you made all this spicy food just to mess with her — and now you’re throwing a tantrum? What is wrong with you?”
The words cut straight through me. So he did know it was my birthday.
Audrey waved her hands, frantic, then started signing — her fingers moving so fast I couldn’t follow any of it. Julian signed back without missing a beat.
I stood there like part of the furniture, shut out of a conversation happening right in front of me.
I lost track of how long they went back and forth before Julian finally turned to me, voice raised.
“You’re the one acting hurt? Fine. I’m taking Audrey out.”
He grabbed Audrey’s hand and walked out before I could say a word. I watched them disappear through the door, and every tear I’d been choking back came loose at once.
I sat back down and started eating. Forkful after forkful, I shoved the Cajun food into my mouth until the burn made me gag. I threw up and kept going.
I used to love this food more than anything. I couldn’t understand how something that once made me happy now tasted like punishment.
By the time I finished the last bite, my lips were swollen raw. I dragged the back of my hand across my eyes.
I pulled the debit card out of my pocket — with seven years of my savings on it.
Seven years ago, Julian could’ve had surgery. He’d thrown himself in front of me during an accident, and in the chaos, the tiny bones in his ear were crushed. After that, surgery was off the table for good.
I’d carried that guilt every day since. Without me, he’d have had his hearing back years ago. I owed him, and I knew it.
I spent three months at his bedside, barely sleeping, barely eating, doing everything for him. Then I married him. And for seven years, I’d been more caretaker than wife.
A dull ache pulsed through my lower leg.
That injury was a year old now. It happened the day Audrey shattered Julian’s hearing aid, and without it, he’d walked straight into traffic. I was the one who pulled him out of the way. My lower leg shattered on impact, and I still walked with a limp.
I’d paid my debt. Whatever I owed Julian, I’d paid it in full. This money was mine now.
I unlocked my phone and booked a physical therapy appointment back home for next week. While I was at it, I bought a flight home for tomorrow.
Whether Julian signed the divorce papers or not, I was leaving.
My phone rang the second I closed the app. Crescent Bakery. Julian had signed up for their rewards program because I loved their pastries. My number was listed as the backup contact.
“Hi, is this Mrs. Vance?”
I said yes, and the voice on the other end went on.
“So, your husband ordered one of our signature seasonal gift boxes. It’s ready, but we haven’t been able to reach him. Would you be able to come pick it up?”
I told them I’d be right there. By the time I walked in, the shop assistant had been waiting a while.
The gift box sat on the counter in front of me, wrapped like something precious, and a raw ache spread through my chest. These boxes weren’t just expensive — you had to reserve them weeks ahead, limited drops, gone in minutes.
I never knew Julian had been thinking of me in his own quiet way.
The shop assistant held out a receipt, and I signed it. I was reaching for the box when the shop assistant made a small, startled sound.
“Wait — that’s not right. The name on the gift tag says Mercer…”
“I’m sorry, let me double-check.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
It wasn’t for me.
The seconds stretched out, endless. The shop assistant finally came back from the staff room, looking apologetic.
“I’m sorry. The name doesn’t match, so we can’t release the order to you.”
My nails dug into my palms. I smiled anyway — the kind of smile that takes everything you have.
“Oh. No worries — I’ll have him come get it himself.”
I turned and walked out as fast as I could without running. Julian was standing right outside the door.
