“I do.” When the officiant asked if I would marry Walter, I didn’t hesitate. I had loved him for ten years and longed for this moment. “Mr. Walter Harris, do you take…” “Ah! The bridesmaid fainted!” Suddenly, the bridesmaid next to me collapsed! The crowd erupted in chaos. Before I could react, my new husband swiftly rushed over, caught her slender waist, preventing her from falling. My heart ached. “Isabella! Isabella! Wake up!” he shouted. The bridesmaid, Isabella, is also my half-sister. Her face was pale, showing no signs of waking up. The conversation from this morning in the dressing room flashed in my mind. Wearing her bridesmaid dress, Isabella looked at me with disdain. “Is being a mistress genetic? Your mom stole my dad from my mom, and now you’re stealing my Walter? Ha, you two are just the same.” I retorted, “Walter doesn’t love you! It’s not stealing!” She sneered. “Stella, do you really think he loves you? He’s marrying you because you took a bullet for him. Otherwise, the Harris family would never let him marry an illegitimate child.” Her voice was like a chilling ghost from hell, making me shiver uncontrollably. Finally, she said, “If I faint, he’ll choose me for sure. Want to bet on it?” Walter picked up Isabella, ready to leave. I grabbed his arm, pleading, “It’s just low blood sugar. Do you really have to leave me on our wedding day?” “Stella, don’t be like this. Isabella’s health is fragile. I won’t feel right if I don’t take her to the hospital.” He frowned, his once-familiar face now looking strange to me. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Just then, my parents rushed to the stage. My mom, Helen Russell, hurriedly said, “Walter, quick! Take Isabella to the hospital! Don’t just stand there!” I cried out, “Mom! It’s my wedding day! How can you let Walter take another woman to the hospital in the middle of our vows?” Helen angrily scolded me, “Isabella is your sister! She’s not well. What if something happens to her?” She glanced at my dad, Laurence Reed. He turned to me and said, “You can finish the ceremony when Walter gets back.” With that, the three of them left with Isabella, leaving me standing alone and defeated. I should’ve been used to this by now. For my first dance recital, my parents promised to come watch. But when Isabella suddenly twisted her ankle, they took her to the hospital instead. They only showed up after everyone else had left. Parent-teacher conferences, graduation ceremonies – whenever I wanted them there, Isabella always found a way to steal all the attention. Helen used to be Laurence’s mistress. She was so desperate to be seen as a good stepmom and wash away her past sins that she bent over backwards for Isabella, even more than for me, her own daughter. The guests whispered among themselves. “Of course the only legitimate granddaughter of the Reed family is more precious. A bastard girl will never be valued, no matter what.” Isabella was the Reed family’s only recognized daughter, and the Reeds were incredibly wealthy. I went to the bathroom and cried for a while. Looking at my puffy eyes in the mirror, I couldn’t fool myself anymore. Even Walter, the only one who might love me, probably truly loves Isabella. Before middle school, Helen raised me alone. Laurence would visit occasionally, like a king visiting his harem. When Laurence came, Helen would send me out to play. They were having an affair. I overheard their conversations; they were waiting for Isabella’s mom to die. Or rather, they were hoping for her mom to die. Eventually, Isabella’s mom passed away, and Laurence brought Helen and me back. Isabella was difficult to get along with, but the adults had no idea. In front of others, she’d hold my hand affectionately and call me her sister. She’d even protect me from hot soup spills. But in private, she’d pinch me and burn me with cigarettes. If I dared to resist, she’d get some thugs to trouble me. She was two years older than me. At school, classmates knew Helen was a mistress, so they avoided me and even isolated me. She often tore up my homework. The teachers thought I was a bad student and treated me poorly. I understood her anger was justified, so I endured it. Besides, I also felt Helen was in the wrong. Kids who see wrongdoing often think they deserve the punishment. Walter lived nearby and often came over to play. He was handsome, wore white shirts, was gentle, and took care of people. Unlike others, he didn’t avoid me. I really liked him. On my birthday, he gave me a puppy. I was overjoyed and named it Benny. Isabella was very unhappy. When our parents went on a trip, she grabbed scissors and threatened to cut my hair. She said, “You’re just a slut, just like your mom. The way to punish a slut is to ruin their fake appearance!” I was terrified. I shoved her away, grabbed Benny, and ran. Later, the nanny found me. Isabella didn’t say a word. Not long after, some thugs dragged me into an empty alley. They spat on me, messed up my hair, and tore my clothes to shreds… I couldn’t take it anymore. I called the police. When my parents arrived, Helen saw my state and, instead of comforting me, slapped me across the face! I held my face, staring at her in disbelief as tears streamed down. She yelled, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to! Hanging out with those thugs, neglecting your studies, and now you blame Isabella when you get bullied!” Isabella stood nearby, tears in her eyes, pleading with Helen not to hit me. She said I was young and didn’t know any better. Laurence looked at me with disappointment. “You’re so scheming at such a young age! I brought you home, and Isabella welcomed you without complaint. Yet, you constantly go against her! You’ve really let me down!” Not long after, I found Benny dead in my bathtub. That day, Walter and his parents were visiting. The maid’s scream brought everyone running. Benny’s limbs and head were brutally severed and thrown into the water-filled tub. His remains floated around, turning the water a gruesome red. I looked up at Isabella in shock. A flash of mockery and challenge crossed her eyes before she screamed and fainted into Helen’s arms. Walter turned pale, staring at me in disbelief. Laurence, furious, slapped me. It was the first time he ever hit me. The blood in my mouth was nothing compared to the pain from hitting my head on the sink. Blood streamed down, and I felt dizzy. No one came to help me for a long time. In the end, it was Walter who carried me to the hospital. His determined face swayed in and out of my vision. Tears kept streaming down my face. Nothing I said mattered. If Isabella wanted to frame me, no one could find a flaw. She was meticulous and sharp, never leaving any evidence. Even after hitting me, she’d check if I had a recorder or phone on me. She always maintained the image of a noble lady—gentle, kind, and frail. And I had become the rebellious troublemaker. No one believed me. Even my mom didn’t believe me; she chose to trust her stepdaughter. When I was hospitalized, no one visited me. Walter paid the medical bills and sat silently by my bed. Finally, he said, “If you don’t like me or the dog I gave you, you could’ve just told me instead of hurting an innocent animal.” Then he left, going abroad with Isabella. My parents sent me to boarding school. I was in eighth grade then. They didn’t want to see me. I started having sleepless nights, and when I did sleep, I’d dream of Benny being cut up… In my dreams, Benny whimpered, calling out to me… Even though Isabella left my life, her impact didn’t fade. I was still isolated and bullied. The bathroom doors always had “Slut Stella, Screw her” written on them. Whenever something went missing, everyone would first suspect me of being the thief. Anyone could bump into me, spit on me, insult me, or slap me. Doing so made them feel morally superior, noble, and righteous. The less I was loved, the more I spiraled, unable to focus in class, constantly zoning out. And so, the vicious cycle continued. In my third year of middle school, I was in a constant daze every day. One afternoon after school, I saw Isabella waiting for me at the classroom door. I numbly ignored her. She grabbed me, tears welling up in her eyes, and said with a pained expression, “Stella, what happened to you?” She turned to the person next to her and said, “Walter, my sister…” She choked up and leaned against Walter. I slowly lifted my eyes. He had grown so tall that I had to look up at him. His eyes were fixed on me, filled with disbelief and sorrow. My long-dead sense of shame slowly came back to life. What had I become? I hadn’t bathed or changed clothes in at least two weeks, looking worse than a beggar! Suddenly, I remembered my classmates calling me crazy, saying I’d been assaulted by some thugs outside school, which drove me insane… I never wanted to see them again. I ran back to the dorm like I was escaping, hid under my smelly blanket, and my tears soaked my filthy hair.
The next day was the weekend. I hadn’t been home in a long time. Helen was living her dream life as a wealthy wife. She didn’t want to see her disappointing daughter, and besides… she had another son now… I was alone in the dorm, and I liked it that way. I wanted to take a shower, but I just couldn’t muster the energy. It felt pointless. There are stray cats at school, always meowing. Their cries were driving me crazy. I had no choice but to grab a meal at the cafeteria, then head to the abandoned garden to find the cat and feed it. The sun was shining brightly. The stray cat was all black, so I named it Luna. I could only sneak over to feed it. I was afraid if others found out, they might harm it. I didn’t know how long I had been sitting there until someone blocked the sunlight. I didn’t bother to look up. Even if they spat or peed on me, I didn’t care. I just wanted to bask in the sun. I slowly moved my body away. The shadow persisted, still blocking my sunlight. With my head down like an old lady, I slowly stood up, intending to leave. That person grabbed my arm. I started trembling uncontrollably. Then I was pulled into a firm yet warm embrace. It was Walter. He still had a bit of that youthful affection left in his heart. He was like a ray of light, breaking through the dark clouds, illuminating my darkness. He took me to a beauty salon, had the staff give me a bath, bought me clean, pretty clothes, and then took me out to eat. As I numbly ate, I wondered what he wanted. After a long time, when I started worrying about the dorm closing, he finally said, “Stay at a hotel tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see a doctor.” When he grabbed my hand, I tried to pull away. He was really strong. At night, he tucked me into bed. He asked, “How did you end up like this?” I stayed silent. He sighed, his eyes a bit red, and asked, “Has anyone… hurt you?” He meant if I had been assaulted. I traced the patterns on the white sheets. I couldn’t sleep, just kept my eyes open. He slept in another bed. When he realized I couldn’t sleep, he hugged me through the blanket. I looked at him. I wasn’t really scared of him; I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. But he thought I was scared and softly said, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Close your eyes. Tomorrow we’ll go to the hospital, and everything will get better.” He had a faint, cool vanilla scent. It was comforting, and I felt at ease. I finally got a good night’s sleep. The next day, he took me to a hospital for a blood test, then to a psychiatric clinic. The tests took a long time, and the doctor prescribed some medication. He told me to come back every week. No one knew he came to see me. He bought me a phone. He even quickly helped me transfer schools. My old teachers were eager to see me go, worried I’d drag down the class’s average. I moved from a public school to a private one. My new homeroom teacher is Walter’s aunt. She’s really kind, speaks softly, and even pats my head and holds my hand. I have a new school, new teachers, and new classmates. In just two days, my life changed completely. I brought Luna to my new school. He patted my head and then took me to buy lots of cat food. He soon went abroad again but still texts me from time to time. With the doctor’s help and medication, I started feeling less down. During winter break, I stayed at school and didn’t go home. Walter came to see me and started tutoring me. I said, “I want to get into the best high school in the city.” His pale, slender fingers paused on the scratch paper. He looked up at me, eyes full of surprise. At that moment, I believed he cared about me. I thought this because he was the only one who wanted the best for me. He left again soon after. Not long after, I received a stack of study materials, all filled with his strong handwriting. On the first page of each notebook, he wrote, “When you get into the best high school, I’ll come see you.” In six months, I improved my grades and got into Sunhaven’s best high school, ranking third in the city. True to his word, he took a long flight to see me off to school. He told my new roommates that I was his sister. I asked them to look after me and brought a small gift for each of them. After setting up the dorm, he took me out for a meal and asked with a smile, “So, which university are you aiming for? I believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to.” I want to be with him. He was already in his third year and would soon return home to work. I said, “I want to apply to Sunhaven University.” Actually, I wanted to leave Sunhaven. But I thought, as long as I didn’t go back home, it was fine. After all, he would return. In my sophomore year, Isabella graduated and returned home. Her family wanted to arrange a marriage between her and him. It felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over me. Isabella came to see me, smiling, and said, “Do you think Walter helped you transfer schools and took you to see a psychiatrist because he likes you? Dream on! I told him to do it! So, have you fallen for him? Do you see him as your prince? Without me, he wouldn’t even look at you! Are you in pain now? Watching the one you like marry me! Hahaha!” Seeing my expression, she left satisfied. I rarely went home. The day both families sat down to discuss their marriage, my parents called me back. He didn’t look well, with dark circles under his eyes. His gaze was cold, even… even a bit disdainful… My heart felt like it was being stabbed. I threw that phone away. But then I couldn’t sleep, often crying through the night. The doctor advised me not to suppress my feelings too much. He said, “Maybe if you follow your heart, you’ll feel better.” But living by your heart is really hard. They still hadn’t gotten married. I picked up my paintbrush and started painting again. Until one afternoon, near dusk, I suddenly realized I was painting the scene from the day he came to see me in junior high. In the painting, a tall and handsome boy stood in front of the girl, backlit by the sun… I decided to intern at his company. I didn’t plan to do anything, not even talk to him. My life changed when an ex-employee, who went to jail for leaking secrets, came back for revenge with a knife. In the chaos, I instinctively took the blow for Walter… Lying in a pool of blood, shivering and cold, he held me tightly, his eyes red with despair, looking utterly helpless. At that moment, I thought, I’m pretty lucky. Everyone dies eventually, and I get to die in his arms. Guess I was really out of my mind. I didn’t die; they saved me. He broke up with Isabella, still bearing the marks of her slap, and took care of me with great attention. After I was discharged, he moved my stuff to his place and proposed to me. I didn’t ask if he loved me or if he still loved Isabella. I felt like a homeless person who suddenly found a diamond. I didn’t dare ask anything, just wanted to quietly keep it. Helen demanded I break up with him. She angrily scolded me, “When did you start seducing Isabella’s boyfriend?! You’ve disgraced me completely! How long have you two been messing around?!” Laurence gently advised me, “Stella, the biggest regret of my life is Isabella. When you and your mom moved in, she treated you with respect. How could you steal her boyfriend? You can’t be so shameless. Stolen happiness won’t last. Listen to me, break up with Walter, and I’ll introduce you to someone better.” What he said was impossible. My reputation was already ruined. Everyone we associated with knew I abused animals, had an abortion in middle school, and contracted an STD. And all these rumors were spread by Isabella. People who knew us would look at me with disdain and say, “Wow, you really have no shame, even stealing your sister’s boyfriend! Isn’t her mom the one who seduced the employer’s maid? Like mother, like daughter. The mistress gene must be hereditary. So filthy.” I ignored them. Because I wanted to do whatever would make Isabella suffer. I admit, I’m pretty dark. A rat that’s lived in the gutter for years can’t suddenly become cheerful. And… I can’t bear to leave Walter. He’s so good to me, always speaking so gently. The way he looks at me, it’s like I’m the most precious thing in the world, like he wants to hold me in his hands. It’s a feeling of being cherished. We had a sweet time together. He took me to amusement parks, on weekend trips, posed as my model, filled our home with my paintings, openly held my hand at work to take me out for lunch. He’d cuddle with me while watching TV, tease me about my terrible cooking, then clean his plate… But everything changed six months later. Isabella was rushed to the hospital, covered in blood. He became more silent, coming home later and later. We’d have plans for the weekend, but he’d drop everything if Isabella called. He always said, “Stella, Isabella is your sister, and I owe her…” Why does he think that way? Is it to repay me for saving his life, at the cost of her love? I don’t dare to think too deeply about it.
Isabella was frequently in and out of the hospital. Helen finally remembered me and asked me to visit Isabella. Every time I went to Isabella’s room, Walter sat there, exhausted. He never looked at me again. When we were alone, Isabella would say, “Even if you force him to marry you, so what? He loves me. We’ve been together abroad for years. Can you compare? You’re so pathetic, using your life to trap a man!” As long as he didn’t leave, I wouldn’t mention breaking up. Even when I was sick and on an IV, he went to see Isabella. My IV bag was half-filled with blood. Even in the middle of the night, he went to see Isabella. But I never expected he’d go to her on our wedding day. I suddenly felt like I couldn’t take it anymore. At that moment, I felt utterly disheartened. It was just too exhausting. For a bit of sweetness in life, I endured my parents’ scolding, others’ mockery, the lonely times waiting for him, and the endless thoughts of what he might be doing. I just wanted a little bit of happiness. But in the end, it all turned bitter. Walter, the guy who once brought sunshine into my life, now only gave me cold and loneliness. What kind of person am I in his eyes? He took me for blood tests to check for HIV and pregnancy. He took me to a mental hospital because he thought I was crazy. He saw Benny’s tragic death in my bathtub. He must think I’m a cruel animal abuser. How many times did Isabella brainwash him into thinking I’m a bad person? I can’t even imagine. To me, he’s a ray of sunshine. But to him, I’m probably just a downright villain. Yet he still chose to be kind to me. A man was standing in the hallway, smoking. He was Walter’s brother, Noah Harris, the illegitimate son of the Harris family who was always bullied. When he saw me, he stubbed out his cigarette and gave a roguish smile. “Wanna marry me? Let’s piss them off together.” I used to always avoid him. He looked like trouble. Walter told me to stay away from him. “Are you crazy?” I said. He shrugged indifferently and said, “You still want to marry Walter? On the day your water breaks, he’ll probably leave you and the baby to run off with Isabella.” I stared at him in shock. He said, “I saw your test results that day.” I hadn’t told anyone about my pregnancy. He suddenly leaned in, angrily saying, “Why make yourself so lowly? Even if our existence is hidden, even if we’re unwanted, why blame it all on us?” He had been bullied in the Harris family too, living alone outside since childhood, surviving on instant noodles without parental love. “Why?” I murmured, “Why come to me?” “I just want to see them suffer! Walter’s wife marrying his brother will tear off their hypocritical masks! Make them a joke!” he suggested excitedly, “How about it? You can get back at Isabella too. You know who never loses? Those who become memories! As long as you’re in someone’s memory, you never lose!” “Can we just have a fake marriage?” I asked. “Whatever you want. If you want us to be real parents, I can do that too.” He winked mischievously. I said, “Okay.” He pulled me back to the altar, told the officiant about the name change, leaving the officiant stunned and confused. He grabbed the mic and said, “Thank you all for coming to the wedding today, but the groom has changed. It’s me now. Ms. Reed, do you take me to be your husband, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?” The crowd was too shocked to speak. “I do,” I said. Finding happiness is too hard. I was never a match for Isabella. I give up, I forfeit. Laurence is hers. Helen may be a slut, but she’s still hers. I don’t want my husband and kids to be hers too. “Your turn to ask me,” he said. My voice trembled, “Will you marry me?” “I will,” Noah replied. He picked up the ring beside him and put it on my finger. My hands shook as I put his ring on too. He tossed the mic aside and pulled me away. We rushed to get our marriage certificate. Walter called just as I was looking at the certificate. I had imagined this moment countless times, but with a different groom. “Stella, are you crazy?” His voice was like an angry beast. “Where are you now?” “I don’t need you to worry about me!” I choked up. “I don’t need your pity! Go wherever you want, we’re done! I don’t need you anymore!” I hung up and blocked all his contacts. Noah was determined to team up with me. He drove us to the hospital first. “Let’s go piss them off at the hospital. What do you think?” I said, “They won’t be that easily pissed off.” He chuckled but still took me to the hospital. In the hospital room, Isabella was crying, and our parents were comforting her. Walter was on the phone non-stop. When he saw us, he grabbed me. “Stella, are you out of your mind? I was just away for a bit, it’s not like I wasn’t going to marry you! Did you really have to go this far?” He gently said, “Baby, this was my fault. It won’t happen again. I’ve hired a caregiver for Isabella, so you don’t need to worry about her anymore. I’ve also explained everything to your parents.” I pushed his hand away, expressionless. “Please show some respect. I’m already married to your brother.” Laurence came over and tried to slap me. Walter stepped in front of me and took the slap. Noah pulled me behind him. Laurence paused, then angrily shouted, “Look at the mess you’ve made! In front of all our friends and family, you got involved with another illegitimate child! You two have no shame, but we and the Harris family do!” Noah smiled and said, “What are you talking about? Stella and I have been in love for a long time. By the way, we came in a hurry today, so besides our freshly issued marriage certificate, we don’t have any other gifts. But here’s a video for you.” Everyone looked at him suspiciously. His tone was filled with schadenfreude. In the video, Isabella was smiling eerily while torturing a cat to death…
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