I just got married to Anderson Jacob. As soon as we were done, he said, “Let’s file for divorce right away to avoid any false hopes. Remember, we can only ever be like siblings.” He only married me to comfort his dying adoptive mother. I’ve been devoted to him since he took me in when I was five, loving him for twenty years. But now, seeing the disdain in his eyes, I’ve finally lost all hope. “Sure, going straight into the divorce waiting period sounds good.” I didn’t tell him that my biological parents have found me and want to reconnect. I sent a message saying, “Mom, Dad, I’ll come home with you after I’ve fulfilled my responsibilities to my adoptive mother…” As we left the civil affairs office, Anderson still seemed uneasy about me. “During this time, keep your little schemes to yourself. Mom’s health is fragile, don’t upset her anymore.” “Okay,” I replied obediently. I glanced at the front passenger seat with a sticker that read “Ella’s Special.” For the first time, I willingly sat in the back, as far away from him as possible. But then he suddenly spoke up, “Sit in the front.” I was confused. He despises anything he considers crossing the line. He once said only girlfriends sit in the front seat. Every time I shamelessly sat there, he would darken his expression and make me get out. That sticker was something I had managed with the help of his adoptive mother. So why is he asking me to sit there now? “Don’t overthink it. There’s no hidden meaning. We got the certificate, so let’s act the part. We can’t let anyone notice and worry Mom.” I nodded and sat in the front seat. The sticker seemed irritating, so I started picking at it with my fingers. He frowned again and scolded me, “Ella, did Mom say you could remove it now? Are you ignoring everything I say? When will you stop causing trouble?” He hadn’t spoken to me this much in a long time. When we were kids, he was nice to me. When he brought me home, relatives joked, “Anderson sure is something, finding a wife at ten.” He proudly hugged and kissed me, saying, “Yes! I’ll marry Ella when I grow up and make her my bride.” I believed him and chased after him every day. Later, when he started middle school, I called myself his wife, and classmates reported it as early dating. Even after the school investigated and cleared it up, he was still mocked for having me as his “childhood bride.” That’s when he started distancing himself. But I didn’t realize it then and was proud to be his bride. After high school, I confessed to him, but he said we could only be like siblings. In my sophomore year, I secretly crawled into his bed. Since then, he avoided me even more, barely speaking to me alone. I was hurt. His adoptive mother comforted me, “He cares about you; I can see it. But boys mature late and don’t understand their feelings. Waiting for a man to grow up is hard. I advise you to find someone who reciprocates.” But I stubbornly chose to pursue and wait. I was twenty then. My adoptive parents couldn’t persuade me. They ended the adoption, allowing me and Anderson to be together legitimately. They even held an engagement party for us. Anderson was forced into becoming my fiancé, angry that his adoptive parents didn’t understand him and hated me for pushing them to match us. He had many flings, but they could never be with me. Yet, I found out he secretly resolved my problems behind my back. I chased away every girlfriend he had, and he never got mad. I thought he had feelings for me. Until today, I realized he truly hated me. My eyes burned with tears, and I looked down, not wanting him to see. I noticed a black stocking in the car door storage. Is this why he called my tricks clumsy? Is he playing around like this now? “Anderson, I won’t cause trouble anymore,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “Hmm,” he replied, satisfied, without looking at me. “I hope so.” I rarely cried. As a child, he and my adoptive parents treated me well, giving me few reasons to cry. Growing up, even though he avoided me, whenever I cried, he’d get angry and walk away but would still compromise in actions. Now, he didn’t even notice my tears. I was sure he didn’t care about me anymore.
When his adoptive mother saw our marriage certificate, her tired face lit up slightly. Wearing a breathing mask, she couldn’t speak but kept nodding and blinking at me. Anderson got a call and left. His adoptive mother gestured to me for a while. I finally understood her meaning. “Wedding photos? I’ll find Anderson later for a rush, so you can see them soon. We’re also choosing the wedding venue. You need to get well to help me with my hair and veil.” She nodded and smiled faintly. But we both knew she might not make it to that day. The pain in my heart was like being gnawed by a thousand ants, but she kept urging me to go. I had no choice but to find Anderson. His company was the life’s work of my adoptive parents, and he took over after his adoptive father passed away. I was familiar with it. I walked straight to Anderson’s office. As I raised my hand to knock, I heard a sweet female voice inside, “Mr. Anderson, did you get a marriage certificate this morning? Should I contact a hotel to arrange the wedding?” “No need, and it’s unnecessary,” Anderson refused bluntly. “If you want to be my woman, stop bringing up things that annoy me.” The woman giggled, calling him “Mr. Anderson,” her voice teasing. I bit my lip, staying silent. Then I pushed open the slightly ajar door. Anderson sat behind his desk, with the woman on his lap. She stood up when she saw me, tugging down her short skirt, “Sorry, who are you?” Anderson pulled her back onto his lap, making her squeal, her face blushing as she playfully scolded, “Mr. Anderson, not with someone here.” I noticed the stockings on her legs matched the ones in Anderson’s car, and I kept silent. Anderson kept his arm around her waist, twirling her hair with his fingers near his nose, giving me a sidelong glance, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t cause trouble anymore? If you’ve seen enough, leave.” He often brought different women to events. I used to find ways to drive them away, but today his intimate actions were a hundred times worse. I couldn’t interfere anymore. I had decided to leave. Whoever he’s with, whatever he does, it’s no longer my concern. I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitterness. “I need to talk to you.” He let go of the woman’s waist. She stood up, adjusted her skirt, and he gave her a playful pat on the rear. She glanced at him coyly before leaving. He sat upright, flipping through documents, “Speak. I’m busy and can only spare you two minutes.” I took a couple of steps towards him. The woman’s perfume lingered, making me pause. “Mom wants to see our wedding photos and attend the wedding. Are you free during lunch break? If you can make time, let’s take the photos first. I’ll handle the wedding venue. It won’t take much of your time.” He slammed the document on the desk and stood up, his gaze sharp, “Didn’t I tell you this morning that Mom’s not well, so stop causing her stress? Do you really think she can attend a wedding in her current state?” He walked towards me, gripping my shoulders, and shouted, “Ella, you’re twenty-five, not five! Mom raised you for twenty years, and now, in her final moments, you still use her to manipulate me? Do you have a conscience? The shares are being transferred. You have enough say in the company to control me. With the marriage certificate, what more do you want?”
I’d never seen Anderson so furious. His eyes red, words stinging. He pushed me away, kicking over the chair beside me. I fell, hitting my waist on the chair’s back. The sudden pain left me momentarily stunned. So, he thinks I’ve been using his adoptive mother to manipulate him. That the shares she left me were my schemes to control him. Is this why he went from disliking to hating me? I got up, clutching the chair, instinctively trying to explain, “I didn’t use Mom. I love her! I want her to be happy! Before she went on the respirator, she said she’s concerned about not seeing us settled. You were there when she said it…” He turned away, cutting me off, “Enough! Without your constant pushing, would we be here today? I should have never brought you home in the first place!” I looked into his cold eyes, my mind buzzing. Regret… for taking me home? If I had a choice… I wish I’d never met him! I didn’t want to argue anymore. “Anderson, I don’t want the company shares. I have two requests: take the wedding photos and hold the wedding as I said. You usually rest at 12:40 PM for an hour. I’ll wait at the café downstairs until 1 PM.” He cut me off abruptly, his voice sharp: “Enough! Would we be in this situation if not for your constant interference? “I should never have brought you into my life!” His eyes were cold, and my mind reeled with his words. Regret… for bringing me here? If I had a choice… I would have preferred never meeting him! I didn’t want to argue anymore. “Anderson, I don’t want the company shares! I have just two requests: let’s take wedding photos and plan the wedding my way. “You usually nap at 12:40 for an hour. I’ll wait for you in the café downstairs until 1:00.” With that, I left his office, each step I took sending a sharp pain through my waist. I waited at the café until 1:00. Anderson appeared with the woman who had been in his office earlier. He didn’t say a word. The woman, however, leaned against him and smiled at me: “Hello, Ella! I didn’t realize you were Mr. Anderson’s sister this morning, sorry for being rude. “I’m Emily, Mr. Anderson’s new assistant. “He asked me to join you for the photoshoot and handle the wedding arrangements. You don’t mind, right?” I nodded and stood up: “Let’s go.” The pain in my waist almost made me sit back down. I held my side as I walked past them and headed outside. Without warning, Anderson grabbed my wrist: “Trying to gain sympathy and complain to Mom again? I won’t give you the chance. We’re going to the hospital first.” He pulled me along, and I stumbled, twisting my waist further and intensifying the pain. I tried to pry his fingers off: “Relax! I won’t say anything to Mom. If you don’t trust me, have someone keep an eye on me. Can we go take the photos now?” “You better mean it.” He released my hand. He put his arm around Emily again and led the way. In the car, I watched the scenery pass by from the back seat, Emily’s constant chatter filling the air. At the bridal shop, their closeness made the staff assume they were the couple. Remembering how my foster mother loved looking at photo albums, I didn’t focus on choosing a wedding dress. I approached the staff: “It’s me and this gentleman taking photos. Please help me choose a rental wedding dress. “How soon can we get the album? Price isn’t a concern.” Emily shook Anderson’s arm: “Jacob, these dresses are gorgeous. Can I try one?” He playfully tapped her nose: “Go ahead, try them. If you like one, buy it.” She looked blissful, like a bride-to-be, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. Standing next to them, I felt like an outsider. But now, it didn’t matter to me anymore. Nothing hurt more than hearing, “I should never have brought you into my life.” The staff glanced between them and me with a strange look, but then professionally guided me to change and do my makeup. Just as my makeup was finished, my phone rang. It was a video call from my biological parents. They were squeezed together on the small screen. Seeing me in a wedding dress, they looked surprised and couldn’t hide their disappointment. “Sweetheart, are you… getting married?” Dad and Mom cautiously explained they wouldn’t interfere with my decisions. They called just to express gratitude to my foster mother and ask my opinion. I had confirmed my parent-child relationship with them. I knew they hadn’t stopped looking for me in the last twenty years. They stayed in the same village from twenty years ago, despite their wealth, waiting for me to come home. They opened several restaurants, but the old, small fast-food place on the corner remained, with all the staff familiar with my missing person notice. They never had more children, fearing they’d forget me with a new child. Fate played its tricks on us. I got lost at the train station back then, and with limited information, we missed each other repeatedly during the search. Their deep love made me want to pour out my heart, but I held back my emotions, trying to speak objectively. “Dad, Mom, my foster mother’s health is very poor, and she can’t handle emotional stress now. It’s not the right time to tell her. “I’ll fulfill my duties by her side, then go home with you and never come back. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll call you often during this time.” I smiled as tears blurred my makeup. When they heard I’d be staying with them long-term, they seemed unable to believe their ears and confirmed again. I seriously told them: “Yes! I’ll go with you and never come back here.” “Ella,” Anderson’s voice suddenly cut in. I turned to find him standing at the makeup room door. Hurriedly ending the video call, he stood before me, his face dark. He grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me up from the chair, staring into my eyes: “Who were those people? Where are you going?” It was good that Anderson heard, so I didn’t have to find another opportunity to say it. I met his gaze: “They’re my biological parents. I plan to stay with Mom to fulfill my duties, then go home with them. “You don’t need to worry about me clinging to you anymore.” He sneered: “You truly have no conscience. After all these years of Mom treating you with all her heart, you’re just waiting for her to… “Have you clarified your relationship with those two people? You’re in such a rush to leave with them.” Waiting for foster mother to pass away? He saw me as being so malicious. I struggled free from his grasp: “We’re no longer siblings. We’ve received the divorce registration receipt. “So, whoever they are or wherever I go is none of your business. “All you need to know is that once the cooling-off period is over, I’ll get the divorce certificate and won’t trouble you anymore.” He laughed aloud. “Ella, you seem a bit smarter this time, even involving outsiders. “But using the retreat-to-advance tactic, you’ve tried it many times. Do you think I’ll fall for it?” He was right. I used to be foolish and troublesome. But when pretending to retreat to advance, I desperately wanted it to be real, watching his reactions and attitude; once I made up my mind to leave, it no longer mattered. “Let’s take the photos.” I walked out of the makeup room. Emily, dressed in a gorgeous wedding dress, passed by me, greeting Anderson: “Jacob, do I look good in this? The staff even gave me a bride’s crown.” I heard Anderson praise her indulgently, then call for the staff to swipe the card for payment. I felt suffocated, unable to sort out my emotions. I had always dreamed of wearing a wedding dress for him, becoming his wife. Now, wearing the dress, with the marriage certificate in hand, it was worlds apart from my dreams. It was truly ironic. Anderson cooperated during the photoshoot, leaving quickly afterward. We didn’t exchange any more words. By the time I got the album and rushed back to the hospital, it was completely dark. Foster mother’s hospital room was empty, and my heart sank, my legs going weak. I grabbed a nurse to ask and found out foster mother had been taken to the emergency room again. I hurriedly went there with the album, asking Anderson and the caregiver standing outside the operating room: “How is Mom?” The caregiver gently shook her head at me. Facing the operating room door, Anderson suddenly turned, angrily questioning me: “You still care? Knowing Mom’s condition is unstable, why didn’t you come back to the hospital to accompany her earlier?” I replied calmly: “I just got the album.” “Ella, are those things so important to you?” he yelled angrily, “More important than Mom’s life?” With that, he tried to snatch the album, furious like a raging lion. He seemed so unfamiliar to me. The Anderson I loved was always excellent, polite, and composed. But today’s Anderson seemed like a different person, whether with Emily or with me. I held tightly onto the album I wanted to show foster mother: “Anderson, are you crazy?” But the difference in strength between us was too great. He easily pushed me down and grabbed the album. “The crazy one is you, Ella! “Before Mom entered the operating room due to her deteriorating condition, she held on to ask why you didn’t come with me. “She was worried she wouldn’t see you one last time, yet you spent your time waiting for wedding photos?” My waist hit the metal armrest of a chair, immediately going numb. Then a sharp pain shot through as if it had snapped. But seeing him about to tear the album, I couldn’t care about the pain. “This is what Mom wanted to see…” At that moment, the operating room door opened behind him. The doctor came out, saying they had done their best, and foster mother’s direct relatives could go in for end-of-life care after changing clothes and disinfecting. Foster mother nodded slightly when she saw the album, her eyes lingering on me and Anderson. “Good children… don’t cry, I’m going to be with your Dad…” I don’t know how I bid farewell to foster mother. It felt like my soul was pulled out, leaving me unable to think. Anderson managed everything calmly, like a machine without emotions. Only on the day of foster mother’s burial did I realize she was really gone. I knelt before the grave, weeping uncontrollably, tears blurring my vision, seeing her gentle smile. “Mom…” I reached out, only to touch the cold, hard tombstone. The tension I had been holding snapped. The repeated injuries to my waist made it impossible for me to stand. Anderson carried me horizontally, pushing me into the car: “To the hospital.” He seemed very anxious, holding me until he got me admitted and found a caregiver. But after he left that day, I lay in the hospital for over half a month, and he never came to see me again. I didn’t tell my biological parents to avoid worrying them. Finally, when the doctor said I could recover at home, I called them via video call. “Dad, Mom, I booked a plane ticket for tomorrow…” “Mom…” I reached out, but my hand only met the cold, hard surface of a tombstone. Something inside me broke. With my injured back, I couldn’t stand on my own. Anderson took care of me, gently placing me in the car. “Let’s get you to the hospital.” He was visibly worried, staying by my side until everything was settled and even arranging for someone to look after me. But after that day, I spent more than two weeks in the hospital without a single visit from him. I didn’t inform my biological parents, not wanting to worry them. When the doctor finally said I could go home to recover, I called my parents via video chat. “Dad, Mom, I’ve booked a flight for tomorrow… “No need to pick me up, I’ll send you the arrival details.” Returning home, I packed my things, ready to leave this city that no longer held any meaning for me. On my desk was an unsigned contract for transferring company shares. I decided to take a few gifts from my foster parents and some photo albums with me. Lastly, I gathered everything connected to my feelings for Anderson. Love letters tucked away in books, practice sheets filled with his name, diaries documenting memories, sketches hidden in the closet… I packed until midnight. The items formed a small pile in the yard, and I set them on fire, watching my past love turn to ash. Suddenly, the yard door burst open. Anderson rushed in, pulling me away from the fire. “Ella, what are you doing?” The strong smell of alcohol hit me.
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