Muted In His World Novel by Sugar Nyfe _ Novel





Muted In His World Chapter 01

I had a stutter. Growing up, my childhood friend Ashton Gray was the only one who never looked down on me.
He told me that as long as I could confess my feelings without stuttering, he would agree to be with me.
I believed him, running to an empty classroom every evening to practice.
That was until I competed against the campus belle for thegraduate program admission.
Just as I was about to win with my outstanding grades, Ashton suddenly appeared.
He played a surveillance video in front of everyone.
In the video, my cheeks were flushed, my eyes brimming with foolish infatuation. Rain or shine, I persistently came to the classroom, stuttering over and over at Ashton's photo: "A-Ashton, I-I l-like you..."
Like a shameless, lovesick fool.
The audience cast looks of contempt and disgust at me. Because of this video, I was disqualified from the competition on the spot.
With red eyes, I went to confront him, only to see the campus belle leaning in his arms, smiling sweetly.
"Ashton, you released that stutterer's video for my fast-track graduate program admission. Aren't you afraid she'll be sad?"
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Ashton held her close, smiling indifferently: "I didn't fake it. Wasn't she the one lusting after my photo?"
"How could a shameless stutterer like her ever deserve to compete with you for the fast-track graduate program admission?"
"If I were her, I wouldn't dare to speak for the rest of my life."
The campus belle playfully swatted his chest, and the two quickly locked in a passionate kiss.
I froze outside the door, feeling as if my heart had been brutally torn apart, twisting around in a desperate attempt to flee.
A sudden, sharp pain shot through my wrist.
I was forced to stop in my tracks.
Ashton had caught up from behind, gripping my arm in a death hold.
He gripped so hard he nearly crushed my bones.
"Why are you running?
Did you hear everything?"
I turned my head sluggishly, looking at the face I had loved for ten years.
Just moments ago at the competition hall, when the big screen played the video of my stuttering confession, he had looked at me with this exact same condescending gaze.
Like he was looking at a pathetic clown.
"Ashton, be gentle, don't hurt her."
Isabella's sickeningly sweet voice drifted over from behind.
She strolled over to Ashton's side, wrapping her hands around his other arm with practiced ease.
The look she gave me carried an undisguised smugness.
"I-I d-didn't r-run."
I opened my mouth, my voice dry and hoarse.
The moment I spoke, that damn stutter acted up again.
Ashton immediately furrowed his brows, a flash of disgust in his eyes.
"Enough, don't put on this pitiful act in front of me."
"Since you heard everything, I won't bother explaining."
He let go of me, pulling out a tissue in disgust to wipe his fingers.
"Back at the hall, why were you glaring at Isabella?"
"You shamelessly lusted after my photo, got exposed to the whole school, and now you want to blame someone else?"
I stood frozen in place.
The cold wind seeped through my collar, making me shiver all over.
"I-It was y-you... who t-told me to p-practice."
I bit my lower lip hard, desperately trying to finish my sentence.
He was the one who personally told me that as long as I confessed without stuttering, he would be with me.
He was even the one who took me to that empty classroom.
"I told you to practice, and you actually did?
Do you have a brain?"
Ashton sneered, cutting off my strained defense.
"That was just a casual joke. Who knew you were actually this desperate."
"Why don't you take a look in the mirror? A defective product who can't even speak clearly—do you really think you're worthy of me?"
Isabella leaned on his shoulder, covering her mouth as she giggled coquettishly: "Ashton, don't be so mean. She's completely devoted to you, after all."
Then she turned to look at me, her hypocritical smile not reaching her eyes.
"But still, devotion is one thing. The fast-track graduate program admission depends on overall qualities."
"Someone who can't even communicate normally, no matter how good her grades are, would only embarrass the school at an academic presentation. Don't you agree?"
Watching them echo each other, I only felt a sickening churn in my stomach.
Ten years.
Just because of a casual word of protection from Ashton during our childhood.
I had followed behind Ashton like a shadow for ten years.
Doing his homework, saving seats for him, and even rewriting his failing thesis by staying up for three consecutive all-nighters.
I thought he was different.
It turned out he only saw me as a handy tool, a joke at his beck and call.
"W-what... do you... w-want from me?"
My eyes stung with tears. I lowered my head, no longer looking at them.
Somewhere inside my heart, at this very moment, felt completely hollowed out.
"We're here for serious business, of course."
Ashton pulled his phone from his pocket, opened the Confession Page, and shoved it in front of me.
"The video incident today blew up a bit. Even though you were disqualified, some people on the Confession Page are still stirring the pot, saying Isabella won unfairly."
"Go back and write a clarification post, and upload it to the Confession Page."
I froze.
I looked up, staring at him in sheer disbelief.
"W-write... what?"
"Just write that because of your twisted psychology, you've been unilaterally harassing me for a long time."
Ashton's tone was flat, as if he had no idea how this would affect me.
"And admit that you falsified your materials for the fast-track graduate program admission, and that Isabella is the one who truly deserves it."
The blood in my veins ran ice-cold; I simply couldn't believe my ears.
He ruined my reputation, stole my spot, and now he wanted me to trample my own dignity underfoot just to pave the way for Isabella!
"I-I w-won't... write it."
My eyes instantly turned red. I clenched my fists, desperately holding back my tears in front of them, and said stubbornly:
"M-my g-grades... a-are... real!"
"You dare refuse?"
Ashton's face instantly darkened.
He took a threatening step forward, his eyes ruthless: "Don't forget, that family heirloom locket your mother left behind is still with me."
"If you don't do as I say, I'll smash that family heirloom locket tomorrow and feed it to the dogs!"
My breath hitched violently.
That family heirloom locket was the only relic my mother left me before she passed away.
During my senior year of high school when I boarded at his house, I accidentally left it there.
He had been withholding it from me ever since, claiming it was collateral for the meals I ate at his place.
I looked at his self-righteous face.
Suddenly, I found it utterly ridiculous.
For the sake of Isabella, he would stoop to such despicable methods.
The phone in my pocket vibrated.
I looked down at the screen.
It was the final admission confirmation email from MIT.
A full scholarship, a top-tier artificial intelligence lab.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened them again, all traces of emotion had vanished from my eyes.
"Fine, I'll write it."

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