Chapter 2

When Sophie called Margaret Lane, her voice was rough and scratchy.

"Mom, how about we go overseas for your treatment? The cancer care there is way more advanced," she said.

Margaret sounded weak and a bit taken aback on the other end.

"Why do you suddenly want to go overseas? If you come with me, what's Alex going to do? He'll miss you like crazy!" Margaret joked, not knowing Sophie was already planning to break things off with Alex. She always thought they were a perfect couple.

Normally, Sophie would respond with a shy, playful tease, but this time, her voice was choked with emotion.

"Mom, he doesn't love me. I want to leave him.

"Let me take you abroad, Mom,"she said.

Margaret heard the sadness in Sophie's voice and quickly asked: "Did you two have a fight? He's always been so good to you, even when you were deaf. Now that you can hear again, he should be thrilled."

Sophie paused for a moment, then let out a long breath.

"Mom, it's really hard to talk about this over the phone. It's already late. I'll come home tomorrow and explain everything in person," she said.

"Oh, and is your visa still good?" she added.

Margaret answered, "I don't think so."

"Good. Mom, get your ID and passport ready. I'll contact the hospital overseas in the next couple of days," Sophie said.

She had always been pampered and spoiled, but her voice had never been this down before.

Margaret, still worried, added one last thing before hanging up. "You're my daughter. If Alex really did something to hurt you, whatever you decide, I'll stand by you."

Sophie's eyes stung with tears again.

For three years of marriage, Alex had treated her with nothing but kindness. He'd never done anything to hurt her.

He just didn't love her.

When Sophie walked through the door, the housekeeper, Lucy didn't notice the traces of tears in her eyes.

She greeted Sophie warmly, took her bag, and signed, "Sophie, you're back! Alex just called and told me to make sure you eat your nutritious soup. He said you haven't been sleeping well, so don't forget.

"Alex really loves you."

Sophie looked up, as if she'd just heard the most ridiculous joke ever.

She suddenly let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

Even now, when Alex was so torn up over Lily that he was crying, he still remembered to remind Lucy about the nutritious soup for Sophie.

The nutritious soup was very expensive. Just because Alex heard it could help her sleep, he went and bought it for her.

If Lucy had said that before, Sophie would've been moved to tears.

But now, her smile was nothing but bitter.

Because she finally realized Alex was only good to her out of obligation.

Sophie said flatly, "You eat it. I don't want it today. If he asks, just tell him I had it."

Knowing Lucy would feel awkward, she added, "The doctor said my meds and the soup don't mix, so I can't have it for the next couple of days."

With that, Sophie turned and headed upstairs.

As she searched for her passport and ID, the huge pink diamond on her finger caught the light, dazzling and impossible to ignore.

It kept drawing her attention, no matter what she did.

It felt like a burden, so Sophie took it off and placed it in a box.

When Alex pushed the door open, he saw Sophie holding her ID and passport.

He looked a bit surprised, signing to her, "Want to go out for a trip?

"Work's been crazy lately, but give me a few days and I'll take you. You mentioned wanting to go to Norheim, right?"

Sophie couldn't help but admire Alex. She could clearly see the redness at the corners of his eyes, the unmistakable mark of someone who'd been crying.

But now, he'd buried all his emotions deep inside.

For a split second, Sophie almost blurted out that her hearing was back.

But then, the sudden ring of the phone shattered the quiet in the room.

Maybe since he thought Sophie was still deaf, Alex didn't care if she heard, so he just put the call on speaker.

On the other end, a girl's soft, gentle voice rang out clearly in Sophie's ears.

"Alex, I'm back in the country. I miss you so much. I want to see you right now."

Sophie knew instantly: it was Lily.

Her voice was still just as tender and endearing as it was ten years ago.

Alex kept his lips tightly shut, silent for a long moment. But Sophie could see it clearly: his face was ghostly pale, and his whole body was shaking.

"Alex, do you believe me? I didn't want to leave you, but I had no choice. I loved you so much, but I was forced to go. Do you even know how I got through these ten years without you?" Lily's voice was thick with sobs.

She was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

Alex finally spoke. "I'm married now."

"But you don't love her, do you?" Lily insisted.

"Yeah," Alex replied.