Part 1Silent Betrayal

Eight years ago, I fought Joey Kirk for a long time to protect Sylvia Lane. Even though she couldn't speak, I married her against my family's wishes.

Eight years later, when our house caught fire, I risked my life to save Sylvia. Yet she pushed me into the flames to protect a puppet that looked just like Joey.

"Sylvia, just pretend you can't talk. Please, do it for me. Shane will definitely fall for you."

"Okay."

A recording Sylvia had kept in a folder labeled "True Love" shattered everything I knew. My so-called love at first sight had been part of a plan from the very beginning.

I looked at Sylvia. Even now, she refused to speak and still tried to cover for Joey.

My heart ached so badly I could hardly stand it.

On the day I decided to leave Sylvia, I received a strange phone call.

"Shane, please. Don't leave me. You're all I have."

* * *

It was the seventh day of my hospital stay, and my wife, Sylvia Lane, still hadn't come to see me.

I stared blankly at the finely made doll in my hands. Seeing that familiar face, I felt my heart sink.

No one knew that face better than I did. After all, I had fought Joey Kirk for a long time before I finally got Sylvia to stay with me.

Before I could put the doll down, Sylvia rushed into the hospital room. She looked at me in a panic, then frowned at the doll in my hands as if demanding an explanation.

She showed no concern for my condition.

"Shane, why did you take the doll without telling me? Do you know how long I've spent looking for it at home?"

Sylvia signed furiously, breathing hard as she let out anxious, muffled sounds. She reached out for the doll, trying to snatch it from my hands.

So this was all about the doll. Otherwise, she'd probably have taken it to Joey to celebrate his birthday. She never would've bothered to come and see me.

The doctor who rushed in was shocked by what he saw.

I clung to the doll and refused to let go, but Sylvia dragged me right off the bed. I was about to fall to the floor.

"Hey! What are you doing?" a nurse shouted from nearby.

I looked at Sylvia, who was still struggling with me over the doll, and laughed bitterly.

Then I let go.

She finally got the doll, and I fell straight off the bed. It hurt so much, but the pain in my heart seemed lesser now.

Sylvia froze as she stared at the doll in her hands. Then a hint of panic crossed her face.

She glanced at me, seemingly realizing what she had done. She reached out to help me up, but I turned away from her.

Her hand hung in the air for a moment before she awkwardly pulled it back.

The doctor angrily scolded Sylvia for upsetting me, but when he realized she couldn't speak, he let the matter drop.

"Stop making a scene," Sylvia signed. "Let's just put this behind us, okay? I promised I'd make you a new…"

"Get out!"

Before Sylvia could finish signing, I grabbed the cup beside me and hurled it at her.

Hearing that ridiculous promise now made me sick.

"Sylvia, where's the gift you promised me?"

While Sylvia and I faced off in the hospital room, Joey suddenly appeared in the doorway. He gave Sylvia a smug look before turning to me with feigned surprise, as if he'd only just noticed me.

"Well, well. Isn't that Shane? What happened to you? You look like shit. It's been years!"

More and more voices came from the hallway. My former coworkers had all shown up, and they stared in shock at the state I was in.

"You still can't tell? Joey did this on purpose. Poor Shane. He fell for someone who doesn't even appreciate him."

That was when I finally understood everything.

I looked at Sylvia, whose face had gone pale. Her hands shook as she handed the doll to Joey.

The hope in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

They were all liars.

Joey tossed the doll aside with disgust and went right back to mocking me. He did everything he could to show that he was better than me now.

I was no longer the cheerful young man who used to stand up for others.