The year I registered my marriage with Isaac Nelson, I was in my first year of grad school. After leaving the courthouse, he rushed back to manage his company, while I headed off to focus on my studies. We didn’t see each other again until winter break, several months later. Full of excitement, I lugged my heavy suitcase to see him. But the person who opened the door was a strikingly beautiful woman. She eyed me warily and asked, “Who are you?” Before I could respond, Isaac stepped out from behind her. Isaac looked at me, his expression complicated, and spoke first, “She’s a relative staying at my place temporarily.” I opened my mouth, but my throat felt stuffed with cotton, and no words came out. Under Isaac’s cold, unreadable gaze, the words “I’m his wife” got stuck in my throat. After hesitating for a moment, I lowered my eyes and murmured, “Sorry to bother you.” At my words, Lucy Parker visibly relaxed. But her tone remained guarded, every word laced with an air of claiming territory. “Hi, sweetheart. “I’m Isaac’s girlfriend, Lucy Parker.” I responded with a quiet, hoarse “Oh.” She didn’t need to introduce herself. I had known who she was for two years. She was the woman Isaac had spent his youth pining for and could never forget. In my freshman year, I met my best friend, Ellie Nelson. Isaac was her uncle. After two years of liking him, I finally learned from Ellie that he had someone he loved but couldn’t have—a woman who was always out of reach. At twenty-seven, still single, it was clear Lucy was the reason. Ellie hadn’t told me any of this in the beginning. She said Isaac treated me differently and feared that if I knew, it would create a rift between us. It wouldn’t have mattered to me. Back then, I was full of naive courage. Even if I had known, I wouldn’t have backed down. I would’ve foolishly thought that if Isaac wasn’t over her yet, I’d just give him more time. I never expected to end up waiting another two years. During that time, he’d bring me gifts, trinkets from abroad, little things he thought I’d like. He even once skipped a million-dollar business deal just to bring me ibuprofen and supplements when I was suffering from unbearable cramps. Isaac treated me well but never acknowledged my feelings. By my senior year, after securing a place in grad school, I knew there was no future for us. The last time we met was at the same restaurant where we had our first meeting. I smiled, finally coming to terms with it. I joked, “Isaac, I’m heading to Tanaxes for school. “Congrats! Finally free from me, huh?” But by the end, my voice inevitably grew heavy. “Sorry for bothering you for the past four years.” What I didn’t expect was for Isaac to suddenly pull out a ring. He asked, “Lilian, will you marry me?” Of course, I said yes. I didn’t question his reasons; I simply thought my patience had finally paid off. After we registered our marriage, I had to leave for the start of grad school. Isaac was busy running his company, and I moved to Tanaxes. I pulled several all-nighters to finish my assignments early, eager to see him. Then I returned here, only to watch my dream shatter before my eyes. At that moment, I knew what I should do. I could rage, demand answers, or cause a scene. Yet, I felt I had no right to do any of it. After all, I had always suspected there was more to this marriage than met the eye. For some reason, I chose not to ask. I was afraid Isaac might regret his decision. I just didn’t expect my fears to manifest so quickly. Lost in thought, I barely noticed when Isaac took my heavy suitcase. He walked ahead, placing my things in the guest room next to his bedroom. After settling my belongings, he didn’t leave right away. I felt utterly exhausted and just wanted to lie down in peace. So, I softly asked him to leave. “Mr. Nelson, your girlfriend is still waiting outside.” Isaac studied me with his deep, penetrating gaze. After a long pause, he finally explained, “Lucy is not my girlfriend.” Whether that was true or not no longer mattered—not after Lucy moved in or when Isaac denied our relationship.
I tugged at my lips numbly, but deep down, a trace of bitterness lingered. “Isaac, if you can’t forget her, why did you marry me?” I sighed and continued, “Let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, Isaac’s handsome brows furrowed tightly. He shot me a disapproving look and said irritably, “Stop being ridiculous. “Give me some time. I’ll take care of it.” I didn’t respond, letting the silence speak for itself. It all felt rather laughable. If he could really handle it, he wouldn’t keep wavering between two women. Fortunately, the tense silence didn’t last long. Lucy suddenly walked in with a cheerful smile. She looped her arm around Isaac’s and pouted playfully. “What are you doing here? “Come help me with dinner. We still have guests to entertain,” she added. She made a point to emphasize the word “guests.” Then, she threw me a pointed look as if issuing a warning. I knew exactly what Lucy meant—she was telling me to stay in my lane. Finally, Isaac shifted his gaze to Lucy. But he didn’t move. Instead, he pulled his arm away and said coldly, “We’re not a couple.” That explanation was clearly meant for me. Lucy’s expression shifted instantly at his words. She looked embarrassed but quickly regained her composure. She made a dissatisfied sound and pouted coyly. “We will be soon!” Before anyone could react, she leaned in and kissed Isaac on the lips. Whether it was hesitation or reluctance, Isaac didn’t dodge the kiss. He stood frozen for several seconds, letting Lucy pull him away. A wave of bitterness surged through my heart. Then again, I wasn’t surprised. Isaac had always been like this—one moment close, the next distant. One moment, he’d push me away; the next, he’d defend me like nothing happened. It made it impossible for me to let go. “But this time, I think I’m really done with him.” After they left, I didn’t react much and simply fell into a deep sleep. At some point, Isaac knocked on my door a few times, telling me to come down for dinner. But I was too exhausted and brushed him off with a few words. When I woke again, the world outside was pitch dark. The entire villa was shrouded in darkness. From downstairs, I heard Lucy’s bell-like laughter. “Isaac, does this look good?” she called out. “Oh, you’re so clumsy! Here, give it to me. I’ll take the picture,” she teased. Isaac’s voice, low and husky, cut through the stillness of the night with startling clarity. He replied patiently, “Sure, whatever you want.” Feeling a bit hungry, I went downstairs to grab something from the fridge. The villa’s front door was wide open. From there, I could clearly see Isaac holding a sparkler, letting Lucy pose him. In the faint glow, I could see the indulgence in his eyes. I must have made a noise that disturbed them. Lucy turned to look at me, her eyes brimming with smugness. “Lilian, want to join us?” she asked. “Isaac just took so many beautiful photos of me.” From a distance, I raised my voice to decline, “No thanks.” But Lucy insisted on coming over. She was holding a lit sparkler. A bad feeling surged in my chest. Sure enough, the next moment, she stumbled and lunged toward me. The burning tip of the sparkler was aimed right at my face. In that split second, I turned slightly to dodge. But it still grazed my right ear, burning it. Both Lucy and I let out a sharp scream. Isaac rushed over and pulled Lucy into his arms. “Where are you hurt?” he asked with concern.
Lucy shook her head pitifully. “I’m fine, just tripped over something earlier.” As she finished speaking, her gaze subtly shifted toward me. Isaac immediately understood. He lifted his head, his sharp eyes locking onto me. “Lilian, stop using such underhanded tricks.” I clutched my aching ear without a word, staring at him coldly. After a moment, Isaac finally realized something was off. “Why are you…” His words trailed off abruptly. I cut him off, my expression indifferent. “Isaac, let’s handle what I brought up today as soon as possible. “But you’re right about one thing—Lucy’s methods truly are disgraceful.” With that, I turned and left without a second thought. Back in my room, I immediately rinsed my ear with cold water. Fortunately, it was just a scrape—nothing serious. I checked my phone and saw several WhatsApp messages from my advisor. [Have you made up your mind? Do you want to join this project?] [This is a rare opportunity. It will greatly benefit both your studies and your future career.] He was referring to a project he was currently working on. Originally, they weren’t taking graduate students. But impressed by my abilities, he extended the offer to me. Unfortunately, the project required a full two-year commitment. I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere during that time. Without hesitation, I turned it down. Back then, I had just registered my marriage with Isaac and needed time for other things. My advisor hadn’t pressed me, asking me to think it over. And now, he had messaged me again. I replied decisively: [Professor, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll join the project after the break.] Four years had passed—it was time I let go of the past. Just after sending the message, a knock sounded at my door. Isaac’s voice came through. “Lilian, it’s me.” I really didn’t want to see him. So, I asked through the door, “What is it?” “I brought you some ointment,” he replied. He answered plainly. Too tired to argue, I flatly refused, “I don’t need it. Just leave.” Then, he opened the door from the outside and stepped in, his tall frame filling the room. Before I could react, he squeezed some ointment onto his finger and applied it to the burn. “Does it still hurt?” I frowned, ignoring his question. Instead, I got straight to the point, “Isaac, let’s set a time to go to the registry office.” Before the words fully landed, he suddenly hugged me. His voice was muffled, tinged with frustration. “I told you I’d take care of it.” I pushed him away, meeting his gaze with nothing but mockery in my eyes. “Are you lying to me, or to yourself? “If you really wanted to fix this, you’d get rid of Lucy and stand up for me. Instead, all you do is make empty promises and blame me for everything.” Hearing this, Isaac averted his gaze and stayed silent. Not long after, Lucy called him away again. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. I should’ve seen this coming. That night, I packed my belongings, planning to move out in the next couple of days. I decided to minimize any interactions with them in the meantime. But Lucy sought me out anyway. With a sneer in her eyes, she said dismissively, “Your tricks for seducing men are something else. “Staying here, huh? I think you just want to be the lady of the house. Too bad Isaac will never want you. Little girl, stop coveting what’s not yours—or you’ll only end up hurting yourself.” I stared at her calmly, a flicker of pity surfacing in my heart. “Lucy, have you ever considered that you might actually be the other woman? “And Isaac might not even care about you that much.” Her voice turned sharp the moment she heard this. Taking advantage of my distraction, she slapped me hard across the face and snapped, “You little liar! What nonsense are you spewing? Do you want me to throw you out right now?!” My cheek burned from the sting. I curled my lips into a smirk and slapped her back. Lucy fell to the ground from the impact. Towering over her, I looked down coldly and said, “What are you so scared of? “Afraid I’m telling the truth? Well, congratulations, you guessed it. “Isaac and I got legally married months ago. Do you know what that makes you? A homewrecker.” Saying those words felt incredibly satisfying. Lucy froze for a moment, but then she lunged at me. She tried to claw at my face with her long, sharp nails. “You liar! You’re full of it! “Everyone knows Isaac has loved me for a whole decade. “Why would he ever marry you? “I’ll tear apart that lying mouth of yours!” Her movements were fast and frenzied. Despite my efforts to fight her off, she managed to scratch several lines across my face. When Isaac arrived at the scene, this was what greeted him. He quickly pulled Lucy away and scolded, “What are you doing?” Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her face was full of grievance. “Isaac, throw her out! “She’s spreading lies, saying you married her. How is that even possible?” As soon as she finished speaking, Isaac turned to me. His gaze carried disapproval, reproach, and even a hint of surprise. It seemed like he hadn’t expected me to say it out loud. He called my name in a low voice, laced with warning, “Lilian.” Of course, I knew exactly what he meant. But I just smiled, refusing to play along. “What? Did I say something wrong?” In the tense silence, Lucy seemed to pick up on something. She clutched at Isaac’s sleeve cautiously, refusing to give up. “Isaac, is what she said true?” He didn’t answer. From start to finish, his eyes never left me. After a long silence, Isaac sighed and said with disappointment, “Lilian, I told you to give me time to handle this. There was no need for this. “You don’t really want a divorce. You just want to provoke Lucy, don’t you? “You’ve been holding onto me for four years. How could you let go so easily?” A wave of helplessness surged in my chest. I suddenly regretted wasting four whole years on Isaac. He wasn’t worth any of it. I pressed a hand to the scratches on my face and glared at the man before me. I spoke each word clearly and deliberately, “Isaac, don’t flatter yourself. I stopped liking you a long time ago.” But it was like he didn’t hear me. He continued, “Lilian, don’t push my limits.” “You were the one who provoked Lucy first. I won’t argue with you, but you’ll stay in the villa and reflect on your behavior.” With that, he scooped Lucy up and walked out. I gave a numb tug at the corners of my lips. I couldn’t help but wonder how Isaac came to the conclusion that I was the one who started it. Or maybe it was just because, in his eyes, I could never measure up to Lucy. Whatever. The answer didn’t matter anymore. As soon as Isaac was gone, I packed up and left the villa. I checked into a reasonably priced hotel.
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