The night before our wedding, I found photos of another girl on Jared's phone. She had a sweet smile, full of energy, mostly candid shots. I didn't choose to suffer in silence. I handed the phone to him and demanded an explanation. Jared smoked in the living room all night. In the morning, he walked into the bedroom and said: "I admit, I have some feelings for her, but that's all." After ten years of love, I wasn't willing to give up on Jared just for some photos. I put on my wedding dress and let the ceremony proceed. But halfway through, his assistant Liam rushed out and shouted to Jared: "Chief Jared! Claire found out you're getting married and slit her wrists!" The diamond ring hovered in mid-air, then fell heavily to the floor. Jared bolted toward the door like lightning. Red-eyed, I screamed at his back: "If you walk out that door today, we are done forever!" He paused for a second, then left the wedding without hesitation. Chapter 1 Looking at the endless stream of photos on his phone, my heart seized with pain. No intimate poses. Just moments of her eyes shining while working. Pouting playfully while eating, pretending to be mad. Laughing freely when she got a bonus. ... Most were candid shots. There were also a few selfies acting cute for the camera. In the past, I would have smashed the phone in Jared's face and walked away瀟洒ly. But now, tomorrow, we were about to complete our ten-year marathon. A happy ending. Marriage. We notified all friends and family, booked the venue, sent the invitations. Happiness was within reach. And I found this at such a critical moment. I didn't want to face it. I forced the tears back and took a deep breath. I decided to confront him. Jared is an excellent man. Youngest Chief Engineer at NASA JPL. Ten years of mutual support, I knew his character. When I placed the photos in front of him, he wasn't surprised. He probably didn't intend to hide it. During the eight long hours of darkness. He smoked two packs of cigarettes in the living room. I watched the stars from the bedroom all night. Early the next morning, before the makeup artist knocked. He walked into the bedroom and confessed. "This girl is my assistant, Claire." "I admit, I was moved by her." My heart, suspended in mid-air, sank violently. Then I heard Jared say: "But Winnie, it hasn't been easy for us to get here. I will transfer her out of my team. I promise you this will never happen again." Jared promised sincerely. In ten years, he never broke a promise to me. I couldn't let go of these ten years, couldn't cut off this love connected to my bones and blood. So I chose to forgive. Until the wedding, when the officiant asked that solemn question: "Do you take Winnie to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish her forever?" My heart pounded with anxiety. Thump, thump. Waiting for him to give me, give this relationship, a perfect ending. But with one sentence from his assistant, he threw the ring onto the cold floor. Everyone watched him rush out of the wedding. Leaving me behind. His promise was broken. Chapter 2 The wedding turned into chaos. Neither set of parents knew what happened. Assistant Liam's eyes flickered as he explained anxiously: "An assistant under the Chief had an accident. She... she has important experimental data. The Chief just went to check. He'll be back soon." Liam has been with Jared for eight years. He was always respectful to me, calling me "Sister-in-law" with a smile. But now, he didn't even have the courage to look me in the eye. I didn't know how much he helped Jared hide from me, or what was going on with that girl named Claire. A dense pain spread in my chest. I truly felt Jared's betrayal. My parents held my hands, anxious. "This is ridiculous! Who is more important than his wedding? Making him leave Winnie like this?" Jared's parents were guilt-ridden, making calls while comforting me. "Winnie, don't worry. I'll make that brat come back and apologize to you immediately." I gripped the ring in my hand, piercing the skin. Leaving a bloody mark. For three full hours, Jared didn't answer any calls. He ran recklessly to save that girl. Leaving me alone at the wedding like a moth to a flame, accepting the strange looks and whispers of the guests. Overwhelmed by rage and grief, I fainted. When I woke up, the doctor gently instructed: "You are eating for two now. Don't get agitated. Take care of your body." My heart sank. Looking at my excited parents and in-laws. I forced a bitter, ugly smile. Tears filled my eyes. How do I explain to my parents that this ten-year marathon had its first real tear? Not long after, Jared arrived. His face was pale, looking at me with guilt. My parents left the room, telling Jared to apologize properly. The room was quiet. He held my cold hand, silent for a while, voice raspy. "Winnie, in ten years, I've never asked you for anything. Our relationship has always been good. Just this once, I beg you not to spread this, it will ruin Claire's reputation, okay?" Looking at his pleading eyes, my heart twisted into a knot, suffocating me. He shouldn't beg me. He should apologize. A person's first reaction doesn't lie. He didn't think about how humiliated I was left at the wedding. Didn't worry why I was in the hospital. He opened his mouth only for Claire. Tears uncontrollable rolled down my cheeks onto the blue sheets. Creating a wet stain. I squeezed out a word from my throat with difficulty. "Okay." He sighed in relief and continued: "Claire is emotionally unstable knowing I was getting married." "I want to stay at the hospital to comfort her these days. Let's wait a bit, maybe half an year. Just six months, then we'll get married, okay?" Jared's voice was tentative. Half a year. I waited ten years. Six months. I could afford to wait. But there was no need. It was just a change of heart. I could take it. A dull anger blocked my chest, burning my insides. There was a little life in my belly, waiting for me to nurture. I thought for a long, long time. My mind was full of that girl's smile, and Jared's doting look at his phone. The blockage in my chest slowly dissipated. Suddenly, I didn't want to wait anymore. I pulled my hand from his and spoke softly. "Jared." "I'm not a smart girl. I've loved you since I was eighteen, for ten years." "I remember how you trembled when you first confessed to me. Your performance that day made me laugh and my heart flutter." "I remember when I agreed to be your girlfriend, you hugged me and cried tears of joy. That was the first time I felt love outside of family." "Over the years, you bought me everything I liked, fulfilled every promise, kept every vow." "For ten years, I thought you loved me to the bone." I looked up, tears suddenly surging. "But today, I feel... you don't love me anymore." One sentence: Not loving anymore. Defeated me completely. Ten years of love, too many beautiful memories. Jared's eyes reddened, a tear slipping out. "But Winnie, she needs me right now." One sentence: She needs me. Nailed me in place. Completely awake. I didn't ask him to stay. I let Jared leave the room. Chapter 3 The next day, as I prepared to be discharged, I bumped into Jared in the hallway. He didn't see me. His eyes were full of the girl he was supporting. She was tall and thin, looking very pure, eyes big and round. So that was Claire. The girl who slit her wrists for Jared, making the usually calm Jared lose composure at his wedding. Probably because my gaze lingered too long, she noticed me. Her face turned white, turning away, gripping Jared's arm nervously. Jared noticed me. He walked towards me unhappily, voice muffled. "Winnie, Claire is weak. Let's talk at home. Don't make a scene here and embarrass Claire." Claire in his arms looked even paler, terrified of me. "Si... Sister Winnie, I... there's nothing between me and the Chief. Don't misunderstand." I gripped the lab report, smiling lightly. "You misunderstood. I'm here to pay the bill." Jared looked at me weirdly, his anger inexplicably dissipating. I walked past him to the payment window. Walking out of the hospital, Jared texted me. [Winnie, don't be mad. I was just urgent earlier. I bought you a gift, remember to sign for it.] When the courier knocked, I accepted a cake. I was spoiled and loved romance. When Jared upset me, he always sent a Disney castle cake. I ate it for ten years. I was tired of it long ago. But Jared was so busy. I felt sorry for him, staying up late for research and still trying to coax me. So every time I received this cake, I pretended to be happy. Hoping he would be happy too. Now, I finally didn't have to pretend. I gave the cake to the neighbor's kid and replied to Jared. [Ten years. Just like you, no matter how good the cake is, I'm sick of it.] Jared probably understood my insinuation. He replied with an apology. [I was inconsiderate. Tomorrow, I'll pick a gift for you personally at the mall.] That night, Jared didn't come home. Peeling away a ten-year relationship isn't easy. I had insomnia, so I got up to pack my things. Throwing things into boxes, I couldn't help recalling. Graduation year, Jared just entered the research institute, busy as a bee. A year later, he put a ten-year contract and five million dollars in my hand. "Winnie, I'll give you a home. I keep my word." The boy in my memory was sincere and brave. His love burned hotter than the rising sun. That day, I cried and hugged him. We bought this house. Kissed in the sunset. Blushed while shopping at IKEA. Chatted like chirping birds. The star lights on the balcony were hung by us, the rocking chair held ten years of whispers. We leaned on the carpet eating watermelon, drinking soda, watching cheesy dramas. He said he'd give me a home. Now he forced me to leave this home. Chapter 4 I spent three days clearing out everything that belonged to me. While packing, both sets of parents came. I was too ashamed to tell them what Jared did, so until today... They didn't know why we separated. My parents respected my decision, but Jared's parents kept persuading me: "Winnie, the wedding is so close. Couples fight, it's normal. Don't really separate!" I didn't speak, letting the movers carry boxes out one by one. Jared's parents were wearing out their lips when Jared unexpectedly returned. Holding Claire's hand. The room went silent. Everyone looked at them, expressions varying. Jared's mom's voice trembled: "Jared... did you... do something wrong to Winnie?" Jared's dad stared wide-eyed in anger. "Son! Who is this woman?" Jared didn't answer. He scanned the half-empty room and looked at me. "Where are you moving?" He was still so calm and rational, accepting my departure peacefully. No explanation. No retention. And shamelessly brought Claire back here. I said calmly. "Back to my real home." Jared nodded. "Okay. I'll visit you later." After saying that, he pulled Claire to his side and introduced her. "This is my lab assistant. She was discharged today. I brought her to see the house and have a meal." Jared's open introduction made our suspicions seem petty. Claire warmly held Jared's mom's arm, smiling sweetly. "Auntie, the Chief takes good care of me at the institute. He said he'd treat me to dinner to celebrate my discharge!" "But how dare I trouble the Chief? Since you and Uncle are here, why not try my cooking?" Jared's mom looked at me awkwardly. "Winnie, why don't we sit down and talk it out..." I was about to refuse. Claire interrupted, eyes flashing with provocative triumph. "Sister Winnie, let's eat together, what do you say?" Slap. The change happened in an instant. I widened my eyes, watching my mom slap Claire. "Mom, you..." Mom looked at me with red eyes, voice trembling. "I gave birth to you. You think I don't know anything?" "You've been with Jared since eighteen. Now twenty-eight. Ten years of youth! For him, a rich young lady learned to cook, knit, swallow grievances... if it wasn't unbearable, would you come home?" "Mom doesn't ask for much, but today, Jared brought this woman to slap your face. Mom can't stand it." "If my daughter won't stand up for herself, I will." Mom's words were powerful. Claire covered her face, daring not to speak. Jared looked at her with heartache, face ugly. "Winnie! You're an adult, still tittle-tattling to parents..." Before he finished, I rushed out with red eyes and slapped him hard several times. After venting, I took a diagnosis report from under the coffee table and threw it at him. "Do you know what I regret most in my life?" Jared turned his head, opened the report, and pupils shrank. "Winnie... you... you're pregnant?"
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