Chapter two.

“Will you marry me, Eleanor?”

Richard was on one knee, his eyes blistering. The 'Will you marry me?' neon lights gleaming behind him.

I would never have guessed why he brought me to Paris a few days ago.

He had suggested it as compensation for forgetting my birthday, and I had taken it. What was the point when I wasn't going to be around much longer?

I hesitated.

If this were a different case, I would have pranced right into his arms, shoving my ring in people's faces, excited about this proposal.

But it wasn't.

I looked around; we were on a rooftop with few people who were on dates with their partners.

“Say yes,” everyone's lips seemed to say.

I smiled, stretching my fingers out.

“Yes, Richard, I will marry you,” I whispered.

“Oh, mi amor,” he slid the ring in and planted a rushed kiss on my cheek. “You have made me the happiest man alive.”

His phone dinged in his pocket. He glanced at it quickly.

I sighed, spotting Sophie's name across the screen with a message. My jaw tightened.

He quickly slipped it back into his pocket.

“I can't wait for you to bear my children, Eleanor.”

The thought of bearing a child for a man like him made my stomach churn.

I watched him walk over to draw a seat for me. He knew exactly how to treat a woman. That is why I fell in love with him.

Looking at us from afar, one would think he wouldn't hurt a fly.

I sat gracefully, watching the waitress place plate after plate. Everyone had gone about their business already.

Thank goodness.

“Congratulations, ma'am, you make a lovely couple,” the smiling waitress said as she walked off.

“Eleanor,” he began, cupping my hand in his. “I want to ask a favour.”

My eyes narrowed.

“My colleague Sophie, you remember?” he continued.

I nodded.

“Her house got infested, and it will be under fumigation for a few days. I was wondering if she could come stay with us for a while.”

There it was, another lie.

“I mean, if it's not okay with you, she could find somewhere else to stay…,” he added.

I faked a smile. “Oh no, Richard, I would be happy to house her. She could move in if she wanted.”

He arched a brow. “Are you angry or something?”

“Why should I be Richard? I mean it,” I replied, slicing a piece of steak and placing it into my mouth.

The way his face beamed immediately felt like a blow to my chest. Bringing his mistress to our home.

I had to put up with this for only a few days. Soon it would be all over.

He got up and planted another kiss on my lips.

“I love you,” he muttered, but I didn't reply.

He would have never done this five years ago when we first met.

I had closed from work late that day. Two men had waited while I walked out of the building.

“Hey,” the one with the red hair had called out, walking towards me.

I didn't need a memo to know they were robbers.

I ran, my heels giving way underneath me.

Their footsteps were like thunder, and they chased behind.

Then I bumped into Richard. He was wearing a suit and was just about to get into his car. When I stepped behind me.

“Help me, please,” I begged. “Those men, they want to steal from me.”

The startled look on his face had changed to urgency.

His shoulders squared, and his fingers curled into a fist.

They stopped when they saw him.

“If you take two more steps, you won't live to see another day,” Richard muttered.

My heart pounded in my chest.

They hesitated.

“Hey man, relax, we’re just fooling around,” the younger man said. “Let’s go, man.”

They both walked away, defeated.

When I could no longer sight them, I exhaled. Collapsing into him.

“Thank you so much,” I muttered breathlessly.

“A young lady like you shouldn't be out alone. Especially not by this time.” Richard said.

“I will take you home,” he offered.

“No, thank you really. You have done enough. I don't want to bother you.”

I replied.

“I insist,” he pushed.

And with that, I got into the car, and our relationship has blossomed ever since. He said the right words and chased me like a man hungry for food.

He would drop off flowers on his way to work and made sure I had everything I wanted. He was the perfect man.

Then the crash happened, and then I lost my hearing. Only to begin to hear fragments, little by little. But wasn't sure.

Until the day I woke up, and I could clearly hear the faintest sound. The chirping of the birds.

Elated, I ran down the stairs two at a time to break the news to Richard. That's when I heard the phone call with his mistress.

My fingers trembled. My peaceful life as I knew it came crashing before my eyes. I turned to walk away quietly, but he had already noticed me.

He spun around immediately, shoving his phone into his pocket.

“My lovely woman, you are up. Anything wrong?” he asked, taking me in for a bear hug and planting a kiss on my forehead.

I nodded.

“I just had a rough night,” I replied to him.

“I would be going on a business trip for a few days. You would be fine, wouldn't you?” he asked. Gripping my waist tighter.

“Of course,” I said.

But that was the day the first seeds of doubt were planted, and I wasn't going to tell him or anyone about my new ability.

Not yet.