My fiancée had always prided herself on her excellent memory. Yet she forgot to hold out her hand for the diamond ring during the proposal, forgot to bring her ID to get our marriage license, and on our wedding day, she forgot to show up altogether. She was too busy saving her childhood friend’s wedding next door. When my mother saw this, she had a heart attack on the spot. I begged my fiancée to come explain things at my mother’s hospital bed. Instead, she sweetly linked arms with her childhood friend’s mother, calling her “Mom” and claiming I was just a persistent suitor who wouldn’t leave her alone. Later, I handled my mother’s funeral arrangements alone and applied for an overseas work assignment. As I was packing up to leave, my fiancée returned from her honeymoon with her childhood friend, looking blissfully happy. With a smile in her eyes, she said: “Jack, how is your mother doing? Let’s set a new wedding date to make her happy.” She didn’t know that from the moment my mother died, there was no longer any possibility between us.
I was gathering all my winter clothes and neatly folding them into my suitcase. Suddenly, the front door opened and someone crept in quietly. Cold fingers covered my eyes from behind. “Guess who?” she said playfully, lowering her voice like she always did when returning from business trips to surprise me. In the past, I would have laughed and said “Of course it’s my darling” before warming her hands in mine. But now, I no longer felt that sweet affection. I wasn’t in the mood to play along. I simply removed her hands and continued packing without a word. My girlfriend Olivia looked at me in bewilderment. She clenched her fingers, then said in a coy voice: “What’s wrong, handsome? Isn’t a month of the cold shoulder enough? When you suddenly burst into the wedding, it was so awkward for everyone. I had to explain for ages.” I couldn’t help but smirk sardonically. A month ago, I had become the laughingstock of all our friends and family. Because my bride had publicly married someone else. My mother had a heart attack as a result, while Olivia had me thrown out of the venue like a beggar. Even on the day of my mother’s funeral, the villagers were still pointing and whispering mockingly: “That’s him – the one whose wife ran off on their wedding day. And he’s supposed to be so smart! Thirty years old and still can’t find a wife!” “How embarrassing. I heard he angered his mother to death. If I had such a useless son, I’d bash my head against a wall!” The damp, suffocating feeling from my mother’s burial enveloped me again. Coming back to my senses, I spoke flatly: “It’s not the cold shoulder…” I was about to say “Let’s break up” but before I could get the words out, Olivia nodded and drawled: “Oh, I see. You’re not giving me the cold shoulder, you’re picking a fight, right? Come on, didn’t I text you? Ethan’s fiancée ran off, and our families are old friends. Helping out won’t kill me.” She plopped down on the sofa and picked up a grey sweater, folding it as she frowned slightly. Her red lips pouted as she muttered: “This sweater is so ugly. You should just throw it away!” I said nothing, just staring blankly at the sparkling diamond on her ring finger. Only then did I realize what that extra cold sensation on my eyelids had been earlier. Olivia followed my gaze and quickly removed the ring, shoving it in her pocket. She stuck out her tongue with a guilty smile. “We had to make it look convincing for the act. I forgot to take it off. You jealous little thing, don’t tell me you’re upset again?” The truth was, I didn’t feel upset at all. I suddenly remembered. When I had proposed to her, getting down on one knee with a custom diamond ring, she hadn’t held out her hand. She said she didn’t like the constricting feeling of rings and would rather wait to exchange rings at the wedding. But in the end, she had eagerly worn Ethan’s ring first, even reluctant to take it off. Jealous? I would never feel jealous again. This past month, I had masochistically followed the news of Olivia and Ethan’s honeymoon travels around the world. My heart no longer stirred at all. I looked away without responding, just taking back the sweater she was folding. I said flatly: “This is a wool sweater my mom knitted for me.” Olivia’s hands were suddenly empty. She was clearly annoyed but still tried to keep her tone gentle: “By the way, how is your mother doing? After a month of rest, she must be much better now, right?” Her eyes curved into a smile as she continued: “I always thought our wedding venue was too small and shabby anyway. Let’s take this chance to set a new date and have a grand wedding. That would make your mother happy!” I knew Olivia was in a good enough mood today to have given me plenty of chances to make up. If I didn’t take them now, she would surely lose her temper. But she had forgotten. On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, she showed up at the courthouse saying she forgot her ID, then immediately left to help Ethan try on wedding outfits since his fiancée was absent. We never actually got married, so there was no need for any wedding. Coming back to my senses, I could only smile bitterly: “There’s no need.” After being coldly rebuffed multiple times, Olivia’s face suddenly darkened. She was about to speak when her phone rang. Seeing “Ethan” on the screen, her expression softened and she answered sweetly: “I just got home. Why are you calling?” I don’t know what was said on the other end, but she wedged the phone between her ear and shoulder as she picked up a camel-colored wool coat from the rack, laughing: “Ethan, you’re terrible! I’m in the middle of smoothing things over with my boyfriend! This is the last time, okay?” I watched as she expertly slipped the ring back on, checked her makeup and clothes in the full-length mirror, then grabbed her purse to leave. With her hand on the doorknob, she seemed to suddenly remember my existence. She quickly turned back, stood on tiptoe to ruffle my hair, and said in a sticky-sweet voice: “Alright Jack, don’t be mad anymore. I bought you a little gift. I’ll bring it over tonight.” I watched her leave, then went to stand by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Through the glass, I saw a bright yellow sports car parked below, its chassis so low it seemed to hug the ground. Ethan was leaning against the car door, a glowing cigarette between his fingers. Olivia, who was usually a germaphobe, expertly took the cigarette from Ethan’s hand and got into the passenger seat with the cigarette between her lips. I stopped watching and closed the curtains. Turning around, I picked up the overseas assignment application form I had already filled out, sitting on my desk.
Running my fingers along the sharp edges of the application, I left without hesitation and took a taxi to the company. After packing all day, it was already evening. I had submitted my application for an overseas assignment through the system a couple days ago and it had been approved. Now I just needed to submit the paper form for the records. At the company, everyone was whispering and staring as I walked by. “Isn’t that the guy who crashed the CEO’s daughter’s wedding in that viral video? Didn’t he take bereavement leave and disappear for a while? How dare he show his face here again?” “I bet he’s here to quit. He’s been at the company for 10 years and is still just a team leader. I heard he applied for promotion five times and got rejected every time. What a loser.” These harsh comments used to really get me down, but now I felt nothing. After all, I had heard far worse during the time I was arranging my mother’s funeral. I kept my eyes straight ahead and knocked on my boss Tom’s office door. “Come in,” he called. Tom nodded with satisfaction when he saw the form in my hand. “Jack, when you told me a few days ago that you wanted an overseas assignment, I didn’t believe it. You always refused before, saying you didn’t want a long-distance relationship with your girlfriend. But this time you seem quite determined.” “The head office is sending someone to review the overseas assignments tomorrow. Come by the office again tomorrow to show your face, then you can leave.” “You know, we started as interns at the same time. You were always more capable than me and helped me out a lot. I’m glad you’ve finally decided to spread your wings…” I lowered my eyes. It’s true, perhaps it was just bad luck, but all the interns who started with me had become executives while I remained stagnant. Leaving the company, I looked back at the skyscraper where I had worked for the past decade. In those ten years, Olivia’s family company had grown stronger and stronger. Even their branch office buildings now reached into the clouds. But why had my relationship with Olivia crumbled so completely? My meeting with Olivia was the typical story of a poor student and a rich heiress. My father died when I was young, leaving my mother to raise me alone. Back then, I spent every spare minute outside of class working part-time jobs and tutoring to make ends meet. Until one day, when a thug not only refused to pay me for tutoring, but brought his buddies to try and take what little money I had. In my moment of despair, Olivia came to my rescue with her bodyguards. She helped me up off the ground and offered to treat me to a meal. She said her grades were bad and she was afraid of failing, so she wanted me to help her cram for finals. Of course, I knew her grades were actually excellent. This was just her way of helping me out. I was drawn to her kindness and outgoing nature, and we gradually grew closer. The day she confessed her feelings, she held my hand and proudly announced to everyone on campus: “This is my genius boyfriend!” When we graduated, I gave up the opportunity for a fully-funded overseas graduate program. When I started working, I turned down a high-paying executive job offer from a major international company. I only wanted to stay by Olivia’s side, with the simple hope of marrying her, having children, and growing old together. Until a year ago, when Olivia’s childhood friend Ethan returned from abroad. Everything changed after that. For the first time, Olivia abandoned me when I was sick, just to pick up Ethan from the airport. That night she got completely drunk at his welcome party. Lying in Ethan’s arms and refusing to leave with me, she cried: “Ethan, why did you take so long to come back?” From then on, Ethan became a constant source of arguments between us. I wanted her to maintain some boundaries, but she accused me of being too controlling and not letting her have any friends. She even sarcastically pointed out that she had known Ethan since childhood, while I was the newcomer. Then two months ago, the day Ethan sent her a wedding invitation, Olivia suddenly leaned against me and mumbled: “Jack, why don’t we get married too?” This was after rejecting my proposals 99 times. Shaking my head to clear the memories, I found my shadow stretched long and lonely in the setting sun. In this world, I no longer had any family left. After walking a few steps, night had fully fallen. I was about to take out my phone to call a taxi home when I heard a familiar laugh nearby: “Ethan, put me down! If you drop me, you’re dead!” Turning my head, I saw the entrance of a brightly-lit bar. Ethan was spinning in circles while carrying Olivia in his arms. Olivia had her arms tightly wrapped around Ethan’s neck, laughing with pure joy. A crowd of people surrounded them, cheering them on. “Keep going! Three more spins to go! Don’t forget to drink from the same glass when you stop, Ethan!” “Now that’s true love! No wonder our little princess Olivia can’t get over our Prince Ethan!” When Ethan finally set her down, Olivia was a bit dizzy but smoothly took the glass someone handed her. She and Ethan linked arms and drank together like it was the most natural thing in the world. The crowd’s cheers grew even louder as they chanted: “Kiss! Kiss!” Olivia hesitated for a moment, not moving. Ethan smiled and tried to defuse the situation: “Alright, alright. You’ve been teasing us about the honeymoon all day. My wife has been a good sport, playing along since lunchtime. Time for everyone to head home!” But the next second, Olivia grabbed Ethan’s tie and pulled him down for a kiss. Her eyes were open, gaze clear and tender. A moment later, she looked away and slowly released Ethan’s tie. Holding her head, she pretended to be drunk: “I want to go home… my head hurts…” I witnessed every bit of Olivia’s care and cautious love for Ethan. I also watched as she swayed and took out her phone to make a call. Then, my phone started ringing. From just a few meters away. When Olivia heard the ringtone, our eyes met and she instantly straightened up.
The crowd looked at us in confusion, asking Olivia: “Olivia, who’s that?” Olivia’s gaze flickered as she mumbled vaguely: “Our family driver. My mom wants me to go home for dinner with her today.” Ethan’s eyes were full of smug triumph as he said slowly and deliberately: “Oh, it’s the driver. Well, you’d better take good care of your young mistress.” In the past, I definitely would have grabbed Ethan’s collar and started a fight. Now I just found it tedious. Without even a glance at them, I turned and got into the ride share I had called earlier. Back home, my stomach cramped painfully since I hadn’t eaten all afternoon. I made myself a simple bowl of noodles. I had barely taken two bites when I heard the click of high heels outside. The next second, Olivia kicked the door open. Seeing me eating, she flew into a rage and swung her purse at my back: “Jack, how could you just walk away earlier? Do you know how embarrassing that was for me!” To my surprise, Ethan had followed her. He put his arm around Olivia’s shoulders with a concerned look, saying soothingly: “Olivia, you shouldn’t hit Jack. Didn’t we agree to talk things out calmly?” He turned to me with a smile that barely concealed his gloating. “Jack, please don’t be angry. I only followed to make sure you two didn’t fight. But you were wrong to leave Olivia alone on the street like that. She’s a woman after all.” I took another bite of noodles without looking up and replied to Olivia: “Olivia, what are you afraid of with your husband Ethan there?” Olivia’s face darkened, her chest heaving with anger: “What do you mean, my husband? Jack, there’s a limit to how jealous you can be! Those were just some acquaintances from our social circle. Ethan and I were just playing along! You think I like drinking? I only did it for your sake!” I found it absurd. She had clearly been enjoying herself with Ethan, yet now she was acting all wronged. Looking at Olivia, I set down my chopsticks and asked: “For my sake?” Olivia replied as if it were obvious: “Yes, for you! My mom only agreed to make me heir to the company if I went along with the marriage alliance with Ethan’s family! That’s how I can be with you and get you transferred to headquarters as VP. Isn’t it all for you and your career?” Ethan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, a flash of malice in his eyes, but he played along: “Olivia’s right. You probably don’t know this, but to protect you, she’s been the one rejecting all your promotion applications these years. She’s been looking out for you!” I was stunned. A chill ran through me as I realized. So all the cold treatment I’d received over the years was Olivia’s doing. What about all those late nights I spent working on proposals? The business dinners where I drank until I got ulcers just to land contracts? The holidays I missed, barely ever seeing my mother’s face? What was the point of it all? I asked Olivia: “Is that true?” Olivia didn’t look guilty at all. If anything, she seemed to be seeking praise as she nodded: “Yes, not just to protect you, but to toughen you up. How else could you handle big responsibilities? It’s just a bit of salary anyway. You’re my husband now – you’ll have everything you want in the future.” I found it laughable. Olivia had always insisted on keeping our relationship secret. Even for the wedding, she only let me invite my closest family and friends, not wanting to make a big announcement. No one knew about our relationship. All that talk of protecting me was just empty words. It was all just to satisfy her desire to put me down and keep me wrapped around her finger. Only now did I realize that what I had thought was sweet, genuine love had never been pure. I shook my head, finally speaking the words I had been holding back: “Olivia, let’s break up.” Olivia’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her lips trembled, unable to form a single word. A gleam of joy flashed in Ethan’s eyes as he quickly scolded me: “Jack, you can’t break up with Olivia just because she’s close with me! Olivia really loves you. Even on our honeymoon, her first thought whenever she saw something interesting was to buy it for you!” He just had to bring up the honeymoon to rub salt in the wound. Ethan was truly despicable. With someone backing her up, Olivia snapped out of her shock and grew even angrier. She put her hands on her hips and snorted coldly: “Jack, you’re really pushing it now. Do you think you’ve got me all figured out? Break up? Who are you to break up with me? For the past 10 years, you’ve eaten my food, used my things, worked at the job I got you. What more do you want?” The words flowed smoothly, as if she had rehearsed them. So this was how she really felt, thinking she was the one who had sacrificed the most. In the past, I might have argued with her about who had actually given more to the relationship. But looking at her enraged face now, I suddenly smiled. “Thank you,” I said. Olivia’s anger instantly deflated, replaced by confusion. “Thank me for what?” My lips remained curved in a smile as I calmly replied: “Thank you for letting me know that in your heart, I’m just a useless freeloader.” With that, I took my empty bowl to the kitchen and washed it clean. When I came back out, Olivia was still standing in the same spot, not having moved an inch. Ethan handed her a glass of honey water, saying softly: “Olivia, drink some honey water to sober up. You always liked it before.” For the first time, Olivia absentmindedly set the glass down on the table. Her face flushed as she finally said in a quiet voice: “That’s not what I meant…” I ignored her, turning to pick up my packed suitcase and head out the door. Just as I stepped out, a glass shattered against the doorframe behind me. Sticky honey water splashed all over me. Then another box hit the ground. Two ceramic rings tumbled out.
I looked at the ceramic rings by my feet in confusion. Behind me, Olivia cried out in an aggrieved tone: “I had these rings custom made for us abroad! I was always thinking of you. Jack, why are you being so difficult? Why are you running away from home?” I could only laugh. I don’t know what she was thinking. The inside of the rings were engraved with “O&E” – clearly meant for Olivia and Ethan as a couple. Yet she had the nerve to claim they were made specially for me. I didn’t stop walking, just checked into a hotel for the night. I was leaving this city tomorrow anyway. In the morning, I got ready and went to the office. But as soon as I entered, I heard a chorus of praise. “Wow, Ms. Johnson and Mr. Parker, you two make such a perfect couple! Even wearing matching outfits. I’m swooning!” “Ms. Johnson, Mr. Parker, I’m a huge fan of you two. Could I get a photo please?” Olivia and Ethan were arm-in-arm in the center of the office, basking in everyone’s adoration. My boss Tom was bowing and scraping with a fawning smile. So they were the representatives from headquarters. Seeing me, Tom introduced: “Jack, this is our CEO Ms. Johnson from headquarters, and VP Mr. Parker. They’re here to review the overseas assignments.” Olivia deliberately turned away without looking at me, her previously upturned lips now a flat line as she asked coldly: “Who all is going on overseas assignment this time?” Tom pulled out my file along with two others, smiling: “These three.” Olivia’s expression instantly froze, her eyes filling with inky darkness. Ethan’s eyes flashed with schadenfreude as he quickly jumped in, feigning shock: “How are you running things here? Don’t you know our company strictly forbids married employees with children from taking overseas assignments? Both the applicant and approver will be punished!” Tom looked bewildered as he stammered: “But none of them are married…” Olivia’s delicate brows furrowed as she pointed at me, her red lips curving coldly: “Didn’t this person take marriage leave recently?” Tom answered honestly: “He did request marriage leave at first, but it seems there was a mistake. He changed it to bereavement leave later. His mother passed away.” Hearing this, the color drained from Olivia’s face. Her outstretched finger froze as she stared at me in disbelief. As if suddenly remembering something, her gaze flickered as she asked in a low voice: “Why didn’t you tell me… about your mother’s death…” I found it laughable. My mom had always thought highly of Olivia as a daughter-in-law. She said I was blessed beyond measure to marry Olivia and had been eagerly waiting for the day Olivia would call her “Mom.” But what my mom got instead was Olivia marrying someone else and affectionately calling another woman “Mom.” I replied flatly: “There was no need, Ms. Johnson. Does headquarters really concern itself with the family affairs of ordinary employees?” Olivia seemed to sense things spiraling out of control. She gritted her teeth, anger flaring up: “What do you mean no need? I’m her daughter-in-law after all!” “Whose daughter-in-law are you?” As everyone looked on in shock, the company doors swung open. An older woman walked in, the fine lines around her eyes radiating sharpness. Olivia’s mother, the true power behind Johnson Corp – Mrs. Johnson. Everyone snapped to attention, calling out in unison: “Madam Chairwoman!” Mrs. Johnson nodded slightly. She turned to Ethan with a smile, asking: “Ethan, I sent you two newlyweds to make an appearance at the branch offices. What’s going on here?” Remembering Olivia’s earlier outburst, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Ethan’s face cycled through shades of green and white before he forced a smile: “Olivia’s friend is Jack’s wife. When she heard Jack was being sent overseas, Olivia wanted to speak up for her friend.” Hearing this, Olivia bit her lip and stayed silent, head bowed in conflict. Mrs. Johnson’s eyes flashed dangerously as she demanded: “Who dares to violate company policy? I want to see who’s so bold!” I spoke up calmly: “Madam Chairwoman, there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not married. My ex-girlfriend and I broke up amicably a while ago.” Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down before turning to Olivia: “I’ve seen Jack’s file. He is indeed single. Olivia, are you mistaken? He’s flying out for his assignment today. Don’t delay him.” Flying out? Olivia’s pupils suddenly constricted. She turned to see my calm expression and her heart skipped a beat. A panicked look flashed across her face as she blurted out: “Mom! It’s not a friend, it’s me! I’m Jack’s wife! How could I be mistaken? We got our marriage license on November 3rd. He must be lying. I was there with him that day!” Everyone in the office swallowed hard, not expecting to witness this kind of family drama. Olivia relaxed a bit, thinking this would be enough to prevent me from leaving. Mrs. Johnson’s brow furrowed even deeper as her gaze moved between Olivia and me. After a moment, she pronounced her judgment: “What nonsense are you spouting? Even if he was your ex-boyfriend, your household registration book has been safely in my possession this whole time. What did you use to get a marriage license?”
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