Chapter 1

Jesse's POV

I married a billionaire heir who could neither walk nor speak.

On our wedding night, he signed for "separate rooms." I turned and dismissed the staff: "My husband can't wait."

When we met his mother, he furiously signed to complain about my bossiness. I translated his gestures into romantic sweet nothings, coaxing her into giving me strings of family jewels.

At the country club with my girls, I showed off my ridiculously handsome husband. I even pushed his wheelchair right up to the goalpost and made him my goalkeeper.

He struggled, glaring at me, his eyes full of humiliation—but that broken look only made me more addicted. I was entirely captivated by his face, fully believing I had hit the jackpot.

Until one morning, tangled up in the sheets, I caught him firmly propping up his own body.

My blood ran cold. I rolled over and bolted.

A deep, raspy male voice echoed behind me.

In that instant, I realized the ruthless, commanding heir had returned...

——

My father spread the newspaper across the dining table and tapped the front-page photo. "Jesse, the Sterlings are publicly looking for a wife for Kai."

The man in the wheelchair looked handsome enough to be on a movie poster. A private helicopter crash two years ago had left his legs severely injured and robbed him of his speech. His former fiancée, Lila Hart, had promptly turned around and gotten engaged to his cousin, Connor Sterling. Now, the socialites of the East Coast would rather marry strange old men than a mute, wheelchair-bound heir.

My mother brought over coffee, sounding like she was discussing a lucrative stock option. "We can't compare to the Sterlings, obviously, but your father knows Kai's grandfather, Joe Sterling. Joe personally opened the door—this is our chance. Marry him, and if you give birth to an heir, you'll own this city."

"I have to take care of a man who can't walk or talk?"

My father frowned. "He has nurses and staff. All you need to do is be Mrs. Sterling."

My mother shrugged. "Besides, men usually play deaf and mute after they get married anyway. Kai is crippled and actually mute. Saves him the act. At least you won't have to listen to him make excuses for forgetting your anniversary."

I nearly spit out my coffee.

I grew up on military bases. I was in better shape than most men, and I had taught myself sign language. More importantly, I had seen Kai before. Under the warm lights of a charity gala, that cold, strikingly handsome face had once silenced an entire ballroom.

"Fine. I'll do it."

The wedding was simpler than expected, but it still sent shockwaves through high society. On our wedding night, the staff escorted us into the master bedroom. Sitting in his wheelchair, Kai raised his hands and coldly signed.

I understood perfectly. He was saying: Separate rooms.

Instead, I turned to the staff. "Kai says you can all leave. He prefers not to be disturbed on our wedding night."

His hands flashed faster: No. I told you to go to the guest room.

"He says thank you all, and please shut the door on your way out."

The maids exchanged knowing smiles and quickly ducked out of the room.

Kai gripped the armrests of his wheelchair, his knuckles turning white, and signed again: Get out. Right now.

"Don't be shy." I walked up to him. "You married me. Why play hard to get?"

Kai awkwardly wheeled himself backward, the tires bumping against the edge of the bed. Under the dim lighting, his features were as sharp as ever, but there was a newfound fragility to him. The longer I looked, the more satisfied I felt. I couldn't help but lean in closer.

He raised his hands defensively: What exactly do you think you're doing?

"My wifely duties."

He shook his head, signing frantically: No. Absolutely not.

"Too late for that."

Kai tried to spin the chair and escape, but I clamped my hands down on the armrests. I could wrestle a Marine to the ground; a recovering patient was no match for me.

He glared at me, his signs nearly losing their form in his panic: Let go of me! You're crazy!

"Don't worry, I'm strong. I'll take good care of you." I leaned in, my lips brushing his ear. "Besides, you can't speak, which means I don't have to listen to you say stop."

His face paled, and he struggled to push me away. I simply scooped him up, dropped him onto the mattress, and stripped us both. Straddling him, I pinned his thrashing wrists above his head.

"Relax, Kai. You're my husband now."

His eyes slowly reddened. He looked entirely humiliated but could only watch me in utter silence. That night, I treated all of his resistance as nothing more than bashfulness.

By dawn, Kai lay dazed on the bed, covered in marks. He turned his head away, his eyelashes trembling slightly, as if a thousand accusations were trapped in his throat.

I looked at him, thoroughly satisfied.

This beautiful man was finally, entirely mine.

The next day, I pushed him in his wheelchair to see his mother. Grandpa Joe had already left for the corporate headquarters, so Claire Sterling, Kai's mother, was waiting for us in the estate's grand dining room.

"Good morning, Kai. Jesse, did you sleep well?"

"Wonderfully," I replied with a smile.

The moment he saw his mother, Kai signed urgently: She is crude and shameless. Make her leave.

Claire stared at him blankly. "Darling, what are you saying?"

I placed a hand gently over his, offering a sweet translation: "He says he's incredibly fond of me, and that last night was unforgettable."

Kai's head snapped toward me, looking ready to commit murder.

Claire immediately beamed. "I knew you would open his heart! For two years, he hasn't let any woman get close to him."

When breakfast was served, Kai took one look at the lavish spread and immediately waved his hand, making it clear he had no appetite.

I turned to Claire. "He says he'd love some caviar. He needs to rebuild his strength, because a newlywed husband is always so exhausted."

The kitchen promptly rushed out caviar, oysters, truffles, and a ridiculous amount of restorative dishes.

Kai's face turned completely black. He signed furiously: I'm not eating that! She's lying! Throw her out!

I cleared my throat softly and continued translating: "He says he hopes we can have many children together."

Claire froze for a second before standing up in sheer excitement. "Really? Kai, after two years, you're finally looking forward to the future again!"

Kai sat frozen, his hands hovering mid-air, his face ashen.

Claire opened a velvet box and pressed a stunning diamond necklace into my hands. "Jesse, this is a Sterling family heirloom. Thank you for reopening Kai's heart."

Surrounded by diamonds, I turned to look at Kai.

He sat in his wheelchair, his eyes burning with fury and grievance, entirely unable to utter a single word.