On the day we were supposed to get married,my fiancé,Ethan Walker,went behind my back and legally married Claire Bennett. His friend tried to talk him out of it over the phone. “What about Erin?” “You’ve been together for seven years,and now you’re marrying someone else?” Ethan was silent for a long time before saying softly,“Erin will understand. “Claire’s father only has a few days left.We’re just signing some papers and having a ceremony.I’ll file for divorce after he’s gone.” His friend still hesitated.“But she’s waited seven years for you.” Ethan smiled. “That’s exactly why I know she won’t leave me just because I make her wait one more month.” I stood frozen around the corner,still clutching the wedding chocolates I had brought for the staff. I did not go in to confront him.I did not cry and beg him to come back. I simply canceled our appointment and walked away. He married another woman on the day he was supposed to marry me. Then I no longer wanted this marriage. … The clerk looked at me several times when I canceled. “Are you sure you want to withdraw the application?You waited almost six weeks for this appointment.” I nodded. My phone buzzed with a message from Ethan. [There’s an emergency at the construction site.We’ll have to postpone our wedding for a few days.Don’t be mad.I’ll explain tonight.] I stared at the message for a long time,then shoved the wedding chocolates into my bag and left the building. I still had classes that afternoon. I went back to school and taught my second graders as usual. During reading class,we read a story about a young bird leaving its nest for the first time.One of the children raised her hand. “Ms.Miller,did it finally fly away by itself?” I held the chalk and took several seconds to answer. “It did.” “Wasn’t it afraid of falling?” I smiled.“It was.But it still had to learn to spread its wings.” After class,several colleagues gathered around me in the teachers’lounge and laughingly asked why I had not taken the day off. “Weren’t you getting married today?Didn’t Ethan come pick you up?” “Where are the wedding chocolates?Don’t hide them from us.” I took the bag from my purse and passed it around. Some of the chocolates had melted and stuck to their wrappers. My colleagues teased me.“Looks like your marriage is going to be just like this chocolate—sweet enough to melt.” I laughed with them. None of them knew that the man I was supposed to marry had just become someone else’s husband. Ethan called that evening. “Erin,have you eaten?” I could hear hospital announcements in the background and a woman crying softly. I did not expose his lie. “No.” “I’m really sorry about today.Something happened with Claire.Her father’s condition is bad,and he’s confused.He keeps worrying that no one will take care of her.” I sat alone in the empty classroom,watching the lights come on across the playground. “So you married her today?” Silence filled the line. After a long time,Ethan lowered his voice.“You know?” “Yes.” He actually sounded relieved.“Erin,it’s only a formality.Professor Bennett paid for my education.Without him,I wouldn’t even have finished high school.This is his last wish.I couldn’t refuse him.” “So you used our marriage to repay a debt?” “Don’t put it like that.” His voice grew urgent.“You know who I love.There’s nothing between Claire and me.As soon as Professor Bennett passes away,I’ll have a lawyer handle the divorce.One month at most,and then you and I can get married.” One month at most. He spoke as if he had bought the wrong item and could simply return it before buying the right one. “Would it have been so hard to tell me beforehand?” “I was afraid you’d overthink it.” “You did it anyway.Why worry about what I’d think?” Ethan rubbed his brow wearily,his voice hoarse. “Erin,I already have enough to deal with today.Professor Bennett is still being resuscitated,and Claire can’t handle everything alone.I know you’ve been hurt.I’ll make it up to you later,okay?” He had married another woman,yet he believed being a little nicer to me afterward would make everything go away. But I had never wanted compensation. I hung up. Ten minutes later,a new post appeared on my feed. Claire had uploaded a photo. Beside the hospital bed,her slender hand rested over Ethan’s,the corner of their marriage certificate visible between her fingers. Her caption read:[Thank you for finally putting Dad’s mind at ease.] Our mutual friends flooded the comments. [Congratulations?Is this the official announcement?] [Claire finally has someone to take care of her.] [You’re a good man,Ethan.Professor Bennett was right about you.] Ethan liked the post too. Maybe he only meant to comfort Claire. But to every mutual friend who saw it,that like was as good as publicly acknowledging the marriage. I stared at the screen until my eyes ached.
That evening,I went to our new house. We had bought it the year before. I had used every cent I had saved from part-time jobs in college and from working after graduation for the down payment. While Ethan was busy at construction sites during the renovations,I went to home-improvement stores after work to choose the flooring and lights. But when I opened the door,Claire was sitting on the sofa in my slippers. Her eyes were red.She stood as soon as she saw me. “Erin,don’t misunderstand.Dad was transferred to a nearby hospital tonight.Ethan thought it would be too exhausting for me to travel back and forth,so he told me to rest here for a while.Don’t worry.I won’t touch your things.” She was holding my mug. It was one of a matching pair I had bought for Ethan and me to use after we got married. Ethan came out of the kitchen with a spatula in his hand. “Why are you here?” I looked at him.“This is my house.Am I not allowed to come?” His face stiffened.“That isn’t what I meant.Claire’s had a long day,and it wouldn’t be convenient for her to stay alone in a hotel.” Claire hurriedly put down the mug.“Erin,I’m sorry.This is all my fault.Please don’t fight with Ethan.He hasn’t eaten all day.” She reached for her bag. After two steps,she swayed. Ethan immediately caught her.“Why are you pushing yourself?” Tears slid down Claire’s cheeks. “I don’t want to upset Erin.” Ethan looked at me,torn. “Erin,her father is still in the ICU.Let her stay tonight.I’ll take her back to the hospital tomorrow.” I laughed. “You really need my permission?” He missed the meaning in my words and thought I had agreed. “Thank you.” That simple thank-you hurt more than any argument could have. Claire moved into the guest room that night. That room was supposed to become my study.I had imagined grading papers at the desk beside the window. My nightgown had been pushed onto the back of a chair.Claire’s lace underwear,skincare products,and perfume covered the desk,and even my jewelry box had been shoved into a corner. She explained carefully,“I thought my things might be in the way outside,so I put them here.I’ll clean everything up tomorrow.” Ethan ladled soup in the kitchen.“Erin,come eat.Your stomach is sensitive.Don’t stay hungry just because you’re angry.” He sounded so natural. As if we’d only had an ordinary argument. I sat at the dining table and looked at the two place settings. Ethan paused,then returned to the kitchen for a third. Claire spoke softly.“I’m not hungry.You two eat.I’ll go to my room.” Ethan frowned. “Your blood sugar is low.You need to eat.Sit down.” She glanced at me before slowly taking her seat. I did not touch a single bite of dinner.
When I did not pick up my fork,Ethan put some food on my plate. “You like the shrimp.” Claire was drinking her soup when her phone rang. “Ethan,Dad’s awake.He wants to see us on video.” Ethan’s chopsticks stopped in midair. I looked up too. Claire bit her lip,tears gathering in her eyes again. “I know I shouldn’t keep bothering you,but the doctor said he may not stay lucid for long.I’m afraid he’ll become confused again.” After a moment,Ethan wiped his hands. “Answer it.” The video connected.The old man on the screen wore an oxygen tube,and his voice was muddled. “Claire…where’s my son-in-law?” Claire turned the camera toward Ethan. He leaned closer and spoke gently.“I’m here.” The old man smiled,tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. “Good…good.I can rest easy knowing Claire is with you.” Ethan swallowed. “Just focus on getting well.” I sat beside them like an outsider who had no place there. Claire suddenly touched her bare hand in panic.“Dad,look.I’m wearing my ring.” There was nothing on her finger. The old man could not see clearly,but he still strained toward the screen. “A ring…yes.A marriage needs a ring.” Claire froze. Ethan instinctively looked at me. I looked back at him. The wedding rings we had chosen were in the nightstand in the master bedroom. I thought he would at least show some restraint.Instead,he got up and walked straight into the bedroom. I heard the drawer open. A moment later,he returned with the ring box. He took out the woman’s ring and held it toward Claire. “Just wear it for now.” I stared at him,unable to say a word. Claire shook her head in alarm.“No.That’s Erin’s.” Ethan did not look at me.He said gently,“It’s only to put Professor Bennett’s mind at ease.” He slid my ring onto Claire’s ring finger himself. It did not fit.Claire’s fingers were slimmer than mine,and the ring hung loosely. She smiled at the camera,then began to cry. “Dad,look.We really are married.” The old man finally smiled. Ethan relaxed too. I stood abruptly,the chair scraping harshly across the floor. Ethan turned. “Erin,where are you going?” I walked into the master bedroom,pulled my clothes from the closet,and started packing. Ethan followed and closed the door. “Don’t do this.Professor Bennett doesn’t have much time left.I can’t upset him now.” “So you upset me instead?” “You’re perfectly healthy.Do you really have to compete with a dying man?” I looked up at him. The room went cold the moment those words left his mouth. Ethan realized he had gone too far.He reached for me.“Erin,that isn’t what I meant.I’m just exhausted.” I stepped away. His hand froze in the air. Claire knocked softly outside.“Ethan,your mother is calling.I think she’s asking about the wedding.” His frown deepened. He answered on speaker,and his mother’s voice filled the room. “Ethan,what is going on with you and Erin?The hotel says the remaining balance hasn’t been confirmed.Your father’s colleagues have all been invited.Don’t embarrass us at the last minute.” Ethan glanced at me.“Mom,we may have to postpone the wedding.” “Why?” He said nothing. Claire stood in the doorway,her face pale. At last,Ethan said,“Erin hasn’t been in a good mood lately.We postponed the ceremony too.” The clothes slipped from my hands. His mother immediately grew agitated.“You’ve been together seven years.Why is she causing trouble now?Ethan is so busy,and she’s a teacher.Surely she has more time than he does.Can’t she be a little more understanding?” I stared at Ethan. He did not explain.He did not even say that it was not my fault. After the call ended,Claire looked at me with reddened eyes. “Erin,I’m sorry.Did Mrs.Walker misunderstand you?I’ll explain.” Ethan stopped her. “Don’t make things worse.” I tugged at the corner of my mouth,my chest hollow with grief.
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