The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 06

The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 06

Three days later, Gavin Morgan called me for the first time.

I didn’t answer.

He texted: “The wedding’s been put on hold for now. When are you coming back? We need to talk.”

I replied: “There’s nothing to talk about.”

A few minutes later, another text: “Vivian Rhodes. Enough is enough.”

I stared at those words and laughed.

My mom came out with soup. She saw the look on my face but didn’t ask a single question.

She just set the bowl in front of me. “Drink some. Has your ear been bothering you lately?”

I shook my head. “It’s okay.”

It wasn’t really.

Whenever my emotions spiked, my right ear would ring.

Gavin used to know that. He’d soften his voice.

These past few days, the house had been quiet. Quiet enough that I could finally hear myself.

That afternoon, I went to the hospital for a checkup.

The doctor looked at my results and said things were stable. “We can adjust your hearing aid settings. Have you been stressed lately?”

I said, “I used to be.”

The doctor looked up. “And now?”

I thought about it. “It’s getting better.”

Leaving the hospital, I ran into Maya Sutton.

She was holding a prescription bag.

She froze when she saw me, then quickly smiled. “Vivian, what a coincidence.”

I ignored her and headed for the elevator.

She followed. “You really canceled the wedding? Gavin’s been impossible lately. No one at the office dares to get on his bad side.”

I pressed the elevator button.

Maya deliberately stood on my right and lowered her voice.

“Honestly, you can’t blame him. He’s just too used to taking care of you. People get tired of that after a while.”

I watched the floor numbers drop.

She kept going.

“You know what? That night he walked me down, he said you always used your hearing as an excuse. He was exhausted.”

The elevator doors opened. I stepped in and pressed for the lobby.

Maya Sutton followed. “Vivian, you didn’t hear that, did you?”

I turned to look at her. “I heard it.”

Her smile faltered.

“Every word. I heard it.”

She blinked and put her innocent face back on.

“Good. I was worried you’d think I was stirring things up.”

The elevator reached the lobby.

When the doors opened, Gavin Morgan was standing outside.

He probably came looking for me. A shopping bag hung from one hand.

He saw Maya Sutton and frowned. “What are you doing here?”

Maya Sutton’s eyes reddened instantly.

“I was picking up medicine and bumped into Vivian.”

“Gavin, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t say anything to upset her.”

Gavin looked at me. “Did she?”

“No.”

Maya Sutton’s eyes flickered with something smug.

Gavin stepped closer and held out the bag. “New umbrella.”

I didn’t take it. The bag had a luxury brand logo.

He’d always done this.

Break something, replace it with something more expensive.

But some things weren’t about price.

Gavin’s lips pressed together.

“I tried to get the old one fixed. They said it couldn’t be saved.”

“Vivian. I was harsh the other day.”

Maya Sutton’s face went tight. “Gavin, aren’t you taking me back to the office?”

He didn’t even look at her. “Call an Uber.”

Maya Sutton froze. “What?”

Gavin pushed the bag into my hands.

“Vivian. Let’s talk.”

I put the bag back in his chest.

“Gavin Morgan, I have things to do this afternoon.”

“What things?”

“Hearing aid adjustment.”

He immediately said, “I’ll come with you.”

“No need.”

His brow furrowed. “I always go with you.”

I looked at him. “That’s why you don’t need to anymore.”

Gavin’s face paled slightly.

Maya Sutton suddenly laughed. “Vivian, that’s cruel. Gavin’s already trying to make up with you.”

I turned and walked out.

Gavin took a few steps after me, then stopped.

Someone at the entrance called my name.

Nolan Hayes stood there, holding my adjustment appointment slip.

He was my hearing therapist—and a new friend the doctor had introduced me to.

He smiled at me. “Ready? We’re almost out of time.”

Gavin stared at him, the paper bag crumpling in his grip.