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My Mute Fiancé Called Out Another Woman's Name At Our Wedding
Novelix
Completed
My fiancé Ethan hasn't spoken a single word in eight years. I saved his life when we were kids. I stayed through the silence, the freeze attacks, the years he couldn't even look at me. Then the chandelier crashes down at our wedding — and the first sound out of his mouth is another woman's name. "Sophie, watch out—" He carries the bridesmaid out. Moves in with her that night. Calls it "therapy." Fine. He wants his redemption? He can keep her. But he doesn't know who Sophie really is. He doesn't know I was the little girl who saved him twenty years ago. And by the time he figures it out — I'll already be someone else's wife.
Chapters (3)
第1章
The massive chandelier comes crashing down on me at my wedding.
My fiancé, Ethan Lawson, who hasn't spoken a word in eight years, suddenly screams.
"Sophie, watch out—"
Sophie. The bridesmaid.
Eight years together, and Ethan Lawson has never said a word to me.
He saw his parents get murdered when he was twenty.
The trauma left him unable to speak. And under stress, he would freeze completely.
One time, I fell into the pool.
Ethan froze in place, watching me nearly drown. He didn't do a thing.
Another time, the stove caught fire while I was cooking.
He just stood there, staring blankly as the flames caught on my clothes. He didn't even think to grab the fire extinguisher.
Our friends all said he was in bad shape. That I should be more patient.
And I did. I stayed by his side through every step of his recovery. I never complained.
But today, I'm the one who's hurt and bleeding. He ignores me and rushes straight to Sophie Dalton.
He pulls her into his arms, holding her like she's the only person in the room.
Eight years of silence, and I finally hear his voice.
"Sophie, don't be scared. I'm here…"
That's when it hits me.
I was never the one meant to save him.
…
Ethan leaves. Carries Sophie out of the venue without a backward glance. Sophie has a few scratches.
I'm still bleeding.
The whole place is chaos. The wedding is canceled.
He doesn't come home until the next afternoon, looking completely drained.
He walks in silent, like always. Not a word.
As if hearing him speak yesterday was something I imagined.
"Ethan, why didn't you answer any of my messages?"
I step in front of him. "I sent you dozens of texts. You walked out on me and a room full of guests. Did it even cross your mind that yesterday was supposed to be our wedding?"
He looks up at me, calm, and signs:
[It happened fast. Sophie was hurt. She needed me at the hospital.]
"She needed you?"
I almost laugh. "You've met Sophie, what, a handful of times? She gets a scratch, and suddenly you're her personal nurse?"
He frowns, visibly annoyed, and signs:
[Sophie is your coworker. She got hurt at our wedding. I owe her that.]
"But I got hurt too. The chandelier landed on my shoulder. I was bleeding everywhere, and you didn't even look at me—"
His signs are fast and aggressive.
[You know I have a freeze response. When something triggers me, I shut down. You knew about this before we got together. Why are you throwing it in my face now?]
And just like that, all my hurt gets shoved right back down my throat.
Yes. I know about his condition.
But yesterday, when the chandelier came down, he didn't freeze at all. He lunged for Sophie without hesitation.
His condition shuts him down when I'm the one in danger. But with her, he's perfectly fine.
Before I can say anything, Ethan raises his hands again.
[You heard me speak yesterday, right?]
He pauses, thinking.
[My therapist says Sophie is what finally got me talking. He wants me to move in with her. More time around her could help speed up my recovery.]
I stare at him.
He broke his eight-year silence for another woman. That alone is insane enough.
And now they're going to live together.
Ethan doesn't seem to notice my anger.
His hands keep moving, calm, like he's explaining something obvious:
[It's only for treatment. Nothing will happen between us. We'll postpone the wedding. Once my condition is fully resolved, we'll reschedule.]
There won't be a wedding.
My parents never approved of Ethan in the first place.
I made them a promise. If his mutism wasn't cured within ten years, I'd come home and accept whatever match they arranged for me.
Now his condition is finally improving.
But I know it's time for me to go.
第2章
Ethan moves fast. That same night, he's at Sophie's place.
Three full days. Not a single call. Not a single text.
On the third day, I find him at a bar.
Inside the VIP booth, under the haze of neon lights, Ethan is speaking. Actually talking.
Sophie coaches him like a child learning to talk, and he repeats after her, halting but audible:
"I'm Ethan Lawson… Being with Sophie… makes me happy."
His buddies erupt.
"Holy shit! Audrey spent eight years trying to get him to talk, and Sophie pulls it off in two days?"
I push the door open.
Marcus spots me first and rushes over.
"Audrey! Perfect timing!"
He spins around, grinning. "Ethan, come on — say something to Audrey! She's been waiting for this for years!"
Ethan looks up at me.
His mouth opens.
Nothing comes out.
The silence stretches. Everyone shifts uncomfortably.
Marcus forces a laugh. "He just started talking again, you know? Give it a few more days. He'll get there."
I almost laugh.
Eight years couldn't make him speak. A few more days is supposed to fix that?
I transfer money into Ethan's account.
"Ethan, this is the refund from the canceled wedding. I'm sending back your half. The apartment is already listed — when it sells, we split it fifty-fifty. And this—"
I hold out the engagement ring. "Take it back."
He frowns. Signs: What are you doing?
"We're done. It's over."
"Audrey, don't be impulsive." Sophie walks over, her voice dripping with concern. "Your boyfriend and I are only living together to treat his condition. There's nothing going on between us. Please don't misunderstand."
Nothing going on?
A man who hasn't spoken in eight years suddenly finds his voice for her.
And I'm supposed to believe it's innocent?
"Sophie." Ethan speaks again — out loud. For her. "You're doing a good thing. You don't have to… explain yourself to her."
Right. No need to explain to me.
My fiancé moved in with another woman. What's left to explain?
I turn and walk out.
Marcus catches up within seconds.
"Audrey, listen — the therapist recommended this. He said close, hands-on contact is the best way to help Ethan start talking again."
He grabs my arm, earnest and pleading. "This is a good thing! You've always wanted him to get better, right? Don't blow this because you're pissed off."
"I'm not pissed off." My voice is perfectly calm. "You're right. Sophie helping Ethan is a good thing. I support them."
If she's his redemption, then fine.
I'll step aside.
That night, Sophie texts me.
[Audrey, don't be upset with Ethan~ Living together is the doctor's idea. It's called immersive exposure therapy. We're basically like family!]
Then she sends a photo. Ethan, asleep on her couch.
[Your boyfriend is doing great here! Don't worry, I'll take good care of him for you!]
[He said so many new words today. His mutism is going to be cured so soon. Exciting, right? ~]
My best friend Claire sees the messages over my shoulder and nearly loses it.
"Immersive therapy my ass! Since when does treatment require shacking up together? Ethan's straight-up cheating with extra steps!"
She peels the bandage off my shoulder to change the dressing, cursing the whole time.
"What is wrong with him? Eight years with you and he never said a single word. This girl shows up out of nowhere and suddenly he's cured?"
"I'm telling you — they've been sneaking around behind your back."
Sophie is my coworker. I personally invited her to my wedding.
I never imagined she'd be the reason I lost both the wedding and the man.
Claire's voice rises. "How can he be this ungrateful? When he was kidnapped as a kid — beaten half to death, covered in blood — you're the one who saved his life. And this is how he repays you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore." I manage a weak smile. "Claire, I've already told my parents. Next month, I'm going home. I'll accept the match they arrange."
As for Ethan.
Eight years of holding on.
It's time to let go.
第3章
Sophie starts a TikTok account and posts daily videos documenting her "therapy journey" with Ethan.
In the clips, Ethan stumbles through words like a toddler learning to speak, and Sophie coaches him with exaggerated patience.
She even posts a video of Ethan, his ears bright red, leaning in and giving her a shy kiss on the cheek.
The comments go wild. She's his salvation. They're soulmates. This is the purest love story I've ever seen.
Claire is ready to put her fist through a wall.
"That two-faced snake is doing this on purpose! You're Ethan's actual girlfriend, and she's posting this stuff to make it look like he's hers!"
"It doesn't matter." I squeeze Claire's hand. "I don't care anymore."
The words barely leave my mouth when Sophie's text lights up my phone.
[Audrey, don't get the wrong idea~ Kissing is part of the treatment process. The doctor says appropriate physical intimacy helps break down his emotional barriers. Our relationship is totally pure!]
[By the way… you two never kissed in eight years? He's so adorably awkward about it, like a teenage boy on his first date lol]
Eight years together, and Ethan never once touched me.
He watched his parents get brutalized and murdered. Any kind of physical contact made him physically sick — panic, nausea, total shutdown.
So I was careful. I walked on eggshells. I never once asked for the kind of closeness that normal couples take for granted.
Now I know what he looks like when he kisses someone.
Shy. Reverent. Almost tender.
Just not with me.
A few days later, Ethan shows up at my door.
I think he's finally going to explain. Maybe apologize. Say something — anything — that acknowledges what he's put me through.
The first words out of his mouth: "Audrey, take Sophie's assignment in South America."
Eight years. His first sentence spoken directly to me.
And it's for her.
"Your company has a project in South America… they're selecting people for a field assignment. Sophie got picked, but…" He struggles through the words. "It's remote and rough out there. She doesn't want to go."
"So you want me to go instead?"
There's no emotion in my chest. No flutter at finally hearing his voice directed at me. Just ice. "Do you even know what that assignment means? It's a three-year post. Closed site. No coming home."
"Think of it as… doing it for me."
He pushes the words out one by one. "If Sophie leaves, what happens to my treatment? I'm so close to being fully recovered. If she goes now… it all falls apart."
"Then go with her. If you can't bear to let her leave, follow her."
"You know my health won't allow—"
"That's not my problem." I cut him off. "I'm resigning next month. I'm not going to South America."
Right on cue, Sophie appears behind him, sniffling on command.
"Ethan, don't pressure Audrey. If she doesn't want to go, that's fine. I can take the assignment. I just… worry about your recovery…"
Ethan's voice goes cold and hard. "Audrey, Sophie is willing to sacrifice everything for me. You're supposed to be my girlfriend — why can't you?"
"Oh, so now you remember I'm your girlfriend?"
I point at Sophie. "I'm your girlfriend, but you're openly living with her. I'm your girlfriend, but in eight years you never said one word to me — then she shows up and you're magically cured?"
"Tell me the truth, Ethan." My voice turns cold. "Have you two been sleeping together this whole time?"
"Enough!"
His expression hardens. His anger leaves him speechless. His hands do the talking instead:
[There's nothing between Sophie and me. You want to be angry at someone, be angry at me. But don't drag her name through the mud.]
[I know you're upset about the wedding. But I told you — I just want to get better first, then we'll get married. It's not like I'm refusing to marry you. Why are you so desperate to get married?]
[And let's not rewrite history. You're the one who threw yourself at me. You insisted on being together. You told me you could handle anything. Remember?]
Every word lands like a punch to the gut.
I stare at the man in front of me. The last shred of hope dies inside me.
"Ethan. Do you really — honestly — not know why I insisted on being with you?"
He blinks. Something uncertain crosses his face.
I laugh. Quiet. Bitter.
He really has forgotten.
