After 4 weeks of deafness, I regained my hearing but didn’t tell anyone. What my husband said to his mother when he thought I couldn’t hear shocked me to my core…

I stood by the staircase, frozen. The sound of my husband’s voice drifted from the kitchen. Warm.

Familiar. But what he was saying? That wasn’t the man I married. I’m just tired of pretending, Daniel said.

She’s like dead weight now. She can’t hear a word and honestly, it’s peaceful. My heart dropped.

Dead weight? I pressed my back against the wall, holding my breath. I shouldn’t have been able to hear this. According to everyone, including Daniel, I was still deaf.

Four weeks ago, I couldn’t hear the sound of my own footsteps. But two days ago, everything changed. I got my hearing back.

And I didn’t tell anyone. Not even him. Daniel, I told you from the start, his mother’s voice joined in, sharp, cold.

She was never your level. I begged you not to marry her. I closed my eyes.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Grace, my mother-in-law, had smiled at me just an hour ago. She brought me soup.

Asked how I was feeling. Pretended to care. I know, mom, Daniel sighed.

But now I’m stuck. People would hate me if I left her while she’s like this. Like this? Like I’m broken? They thought I couldn’t hear.

That I was still trapped in silence. That my world was still dark and muffled. But I heard every single word.

And each one pierced deeper than the last. I should have married Vanessa when I had the chance, Daniel muttered. My stomach twisted.

Vanessa. I hadn’t heard that name in years. His ex.

The one who called me plain and boring at our engagement party. The one who flirted with him in front of me at a charity dinner. He had always told me she meant nothing.

Now I knew the truth. Mrs. Grace chuckled, then lowered her voice slightly. Well, what about the money? Has she signed anything yet? My heart jumped.

What money? Daniel asked. Her mother’s estate, Daniel, Grace snapped. The house.

The land. That bank account in her name. You said she hasn’t touched it since the funeral.

That she’s still grieving. Now’s your chance. Make her sign power of attorney.

If she’s really deaf and confused, she won’t know what she’s agreeing to. My mouth went dry. They wanted my mother’s money.

The inheritance I never spoke much about. The house I grew up in. The savings account my mother had opened in my name when I was just ten years old.

The same one I refused to touch after she passed away last year. I told Daniel I wasn’t ready. That it still felt too sacred.

And now they were plotting to take it from me. She’ll trust you, Grace went on. She always does.

Just put the papers in front of her and smile. She won’t ask questions. I’ll try, Daniel muttered.

But if she doesn’t sign, we’ll need to think of another way. My body went numb. Another way? I didn’t cry.

Not yet. My hands shook. I pressed them against my stomach to calm myself.

I wanted to scream. To burst in and throw something. Anything.

But I didn’t. Instead, I turned away. I walked slowly back toward the guest room.

Each step felt heavy, like I was dragging a part of me with it. I had heard enough. More than enough.

I sat on the bed and stared at the wall. My ears were ringing, not from injury this time, but from shock. Four weeks ago, I would never have doubted Daniel.

He was my rock. My protector. My best friend…