The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 01

The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 01

I have a mild hearing impairment. My right ear doesn’t hear well.

Growing up, Gavin Morgan always stood on my right side.

“That way, if anyone talks behind your back, I’ll hear it first.”

Later we got engaged. The wedding invitations were already printed.

Everyone said I was lucky, that I had a childhood sweetheart who protected me for over a decade.

Then Maya Sutton transferred to Gavin Morgan’s company.

She was beautiful, bright, and always spoke with a smile.

The first time she met me, she stared at my hearing aid for a long time, then asked Gavin Morgan with a laugh:

“So… can she even hear you whisper sweet nothings at night?”

My face went pale. But Gavin Morgan just frowned.

“Maya speaks before she thinks. Don’t take it to heart.”

At the wedding rehearsal, I stood outside the door and heard Maya Sutton read my vows aloud, laughing.

“Gavin Morgan, I promise to be your ears, your crutch, your lifelong burden.”

The whole room burst out laughing. Gavin laughed too.

“Quit changing it. She’ll be upset if she hears you.”

Maya Sutton tilted her head.

“So… are you still marrying her?”

Gavin paused for two seconds.

“The invitations are already out. What else am I supposed to do?”

I stood at the end of the hallway, the umbrella he gave me still dripping water.

The rain had stopped.

But suddenly, I didn’t want to walk inside anymore.

When Gavin came out, I was wiping water off my hands.

He paused. “When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Maya followed behind him, smiling as naturally as ever.

“Vivian, we were just joking. You didn’t hear us, did you?”

She deliberately stood on my right, the side where I couldn’t hear well.

Gavin frowned and glanced at her.

“Cut it out.”

Maya Sutton stuck out her tongue.

“Fine, I’ll stop. Poor Vivian and her ears. I’ll make sure to stand on her left from now on.”

She made it sound thoughtful.

But the bridesmaids and groomsmen around us all laughed.

I looked at Gavin.

In the past, whenever someone mocked my hearing, he was always the first to lose his temper.

He used to say my hearing wasn’t my fault, that the ones with no manners should be embarrassed.

But now he just pulled the vow card out of Maya Sutton’s hand and handed it to me.

“Don’t overthink it. She just talks without thinking.”

I took the paper.

The page had been scribbled all over.

What I’d written was: Thank you for being my right ear for all these years.

Maya Sutton had changed it to: Thank you for putting up with my trouble for all these years.

I pressed my thumb against those words. The paper was a little damp from the rain.

Gavin noticed and reached for it. “I’ll have them print a new one.”

I stepped back. “No need.”

His hand froze midair. “Vivian Rhodes.”

He used my full name. I knew he was annoyed.

Maya Sutton gave a small cough from beside him.

“Gavin, don’t be so hard on Vivian. She’s probably just upset because I stole her spotlight.”

Gavin rubbed his temples. “Did I say anything wrong?”

Maya Sutton smiled at me.

“I mean, everyone was paying attention to me today at rehearsal. Of course Vivian would feel a little left out.”

Someone nearby tried to smooth things over. “Come on, it’s just pre-wedding tension. Don’t be mad, bride-to-be. Gavin’s always been good to you.”

Those words seemed to remind him of something.

He came over and took my hand. “Come on, I’ll take you home. It’s pouring outside.”

His palm was still warm.

But all I could hear was that line—the invitations are already out, what else am I supposed to do.

So he wasn’t marrying me because he wanted to.

He was marrying me because backing out would be awkward.

I gently pulled my hand back.

“No need. I can get home myself.”

Gavin stared at his empty palm, his expression darkening.

“What now?”

What now.

That word hit my ear with a dull buzz.

Maya Sutton stepped forward, her voice softening.

“Vivian, I really didn’t mean it. How about I apologize?”

She started to bow, and Gavin Morgan caught her arm.

She leaned naturally against his arm and winked at me.

“See? He still cares about me.”

The rehearsal hall fell quiet for a beat.

Gavin immediately let go of her, looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Vivian, she’s just talking nonsense.”

I nodded.

He stared at me, like he was waiting for me to keep fighting.

But I didn’t say anything.

I just folded the vow card and put it in my bag. “I’m leaving now.”

Gavin Morgan reached out to stop me.

“The wedding is in three days. You’re picking a fight with me now?”

I looked at the watch on his wrist. The one I’d given him for his birthday last year.

Inside the band, I’d engraved four words.

“Forever yours, always mine.”

At the time he laughed and said it was cheesy—but he wore it every day.

Now that same hand stood between me and the door.

Like a pair of handcuffs.

“I’m just tired,” I said quietly.

He frowned even harder.

“Then go home and sleep. Don’t act out at a time like this.”

Maya peeked out from behind him with a bright smile.

“Vivian, there are so many rehearsal steps over the next few days. If you’re not feeling up to it, I can rehearse in your place.”

“I already read your vows pretty smoothly, didn’t I?”