Chapter 4The Secret Inside His Hearing Aid

Cam returned the next morning.

He came bearing an unprecedented avalanche of material compensation, as if to apologize for his brutal loss of control.

A stack of documents lay before me: the deed to the city’s newest luxury high-rise property, and an official transfer of 49% of his company’s shares to my name.

His face was contrite.

“Alisa, I was a bastard yesterday. I said terrible things. The hearing aid… it’s just a thing. Forget about it.”

He produced a velvet box from behind his back, opening it before me.

Inside lay a massive pink diamond, perfectly cut, its fire dazzling.

“We were broke when we got married, and all I had was a soda can tab to propose with. I swore I’d give you the world’s best one day.”

He slipped the colossal pink diamond ring onto my finger, gripping my hand tightly.

“Tonight, after the company’s IPO launch party, I’m going to give you the most spectacular wedding the city has ever seen. What do you say?”

I looked up at him and gave him the most brilliant, radiant smile I could muster.

“Yes.”

That night, the IPO launch party was the talk of the town, streamed live on every major platform.

Every significant figure in the city was there.

In the glittering ballroom, Cam, in his bespoke tuxedo, moved with the confident swagger of a man on top of the world. He was, without a doubt, the centerpiece of the evening.

Meanwhile, escorted by my closest friend, Brooke, I was in a black town car, speeding toward the airport.

The car’s screen was tuned to the live broadcast of the gala.

The camera focused on Cam—handsome, assured, fielding one interview after another.

He was running the show, so wrapped up in the glory that he hadn't even noticed his co-star, the woman he was about to propose to, was gone.

Finally, the event reached its crescendo.

Cam walked onto the main stage, standing under the spotlight, facing thousands of guests and the national audience.

He took the microphone, his voice ringing clearly across the venue.

“Tonight, standing here, there is one person I need to thank. Without her, there would be no Cameron Miller today.”

“Seven years ago, I owed her a ceremony. Tonight, I intend to give it to her, in front of the entire world.”

In the car, Brooke excitedly grabbed my arm.

“The jerk finally grew a conscience! He’s about to profess his love to you in front of the world!”

Before she could finish, Cam’s heartfelt voice sounded again.

“Teresa Sabrina, thank you.”

My heart stopped beating.

“Thank you for the push, the motivation, that drove me here today. Everything I owed you from the past, I will repay in double, starting tonight.”

“I’m going to give you the most beautiful thing in the world.”

The entire hall erupted in a thunderous applause and cheering.

Teresa Sabrina, wearing a pristine white gown, looking like a sanctified princess, walked onto the stage, surrounded by adoring guests.

Cam pulled a different velvet box from his pocket and dropped to one knee.

Inside the box was a teardrop-cut Ocean Heart Sapphire ring.

I looked at that sapphire, then at the massive pink diamond on my own finger, and I laughed.

Years ago, when we were poor, we saw them at an auction preview. The pink diamond was the most expensive, most obvious piece. The Ocean Heart Sapphire was a global one-of-a-kind, unique and impossible to attain.

I slowly pulled the immensely valuable pink diamond from my finger, rolled down the window, and tossed it into the night without a second thought.

Almost simultaneously on the live feed, a uniformed staff member rushed onto the stage and handed Cam a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Cam, eyes full of tearful gratitude, thinking it was Teresa’s returning gesture, took the box and opened it in front of the crowd.

Inside, resting on the velvet lining, was an old, identical model of the hearing aid I had just smashed.

He smiled, his eyes softening with that familiar, possessive affection.

He picked it up, put it on with practiced ease, and looked at Teresa with smoldering affection.

“You little minx. You remembered this. What secret message did you record for me this time?”

The smile was wiped clean from his face in the next second.

As he registered the recording, his expression froze, instantly replaced by a look of profound horror and terror.

He shoved Teresa aside and scrambled to the edge of the stage, screaming into the microphone, his voice raw and desperate.

“Alisa! Where is my wife! Where is Alisa Wells!”

“Turn this city upside down! Find her for me!”