My boyfriend, Daniel, never lied. He said I had a ‘fat gene’ that would shorten my life, so I needed to diet. I bit back my protest and agreed. He told me I was a bad omen for my parents, that my presence could harm their health, so I had to stay away. After much agonizing, tears blurring my vision, I agreed. Then he claimed my features weren’t ‘right’ for our future, that they needed to be ‘adjusted’ for our marriage to work. After agonizing over it, I still said yes. The day of the surgery, lying in the operating room, it suddenly hit me: I was allergic to a certain anesthetic. As I got off the bed to find a nurse, I accidentally overheard voices just outside the door. “It’s been six years since you broke up, and you still can’t let go of Lily?” Daniel’s voice, sickeningly familiar, came from just beyond the door. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. I can’t let go.” “Since I’m destined to marry someone else, I’ll just try my best to make Chloe look more like Lily, then even more…” After a long silence, Daniel’s casual, almost dismissive voice floated back. “Honestly, Chloe is so easy to mold. I tell her anything, and she just goes along with it.” In that instant, I felt like the most ridiculous fool alive. Luckily, it wasn’t too late. The wedding plans could still be adjusted. “Hello, wedding plans have changed. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”
All these years with Daniel, he knew I was an introverted social recluse, always needing someone by my side. So this morning, he’d woken up early and prepared everything. When I woke up, all that was left was to eat breakfast and follow him to the plastic surgery clinic. Before he led me into the operating room, he even kissed my forehead, his eyes overflowing with what looked like deep affection. “Chloe, as soon as this surgery is done, we’ll make it official.” “Chloe, you know? I can’t wait to tie the knot with you!” Looking at the man before me, I felt so incredibly lucky and happy, convinced I’d found the perfect guy. Lying in the operating room, I suddenly remembered I was allergic to a specific anesthetic. Just as I reached the door, I saw Dr. Miller, the plastic surgeon, in his white coat. I opened my mouth to speak, but then I heard Daniel’s familiar voice from just outside. “Seriously, I can’t believe it. It’s been six whole years since you broke up, and you still haven’t moved on from Lily? She’s married now, her kid’s two years old! You’re not still fantasizing about her, are you?” After a few seconds of silence, Daniel’s voice came through, filled with a bitterness I’d never heard before. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. All these years since we broke up, I’ve dreamt of her every single night. How am I supposed to let go?” “Since I’m destined to never marry Lily, I might as well find a woman who’s easy to mold and reshape her into Lily’s image.” “And honestly? This Chloe, she’s the easiest woman I’ve ever met to string along.” “She believes everything I say. She even believes I never lie? It’s actually hilarious. Who in this world never lies?” Dr. Miller’s voice came again. “But you clearly love Lily, yet you’re marrying Chloe. Is that fair to Chloe?” Just seconds later, Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “Fair or not, what’s it matter? I’ll treat her well after we’re married, won’t I?” “Besides, Chloe likes me so much. The fact that I’d even agree to marry her? She should buy a lottery ticket, she’s so lucky.” I leaned against the cold wall, and in that instant, I felt my body temperature drop even lower than the frigid surface beneath my back. Before I met Daniel, I never believed anyone in this world truly never lied. But then, I saw him risk everything to speak the truth for an old lady hit by a car, or choose to lose millions to be honest about his company’s finances. Time and again, in countless crises, even life-or-death situations, he always chose the truth. I’d known Daniel for seven whole years, and I’d only ever seen him lie once. And that single lie, though it was for me, almost cost him his life. That’s when I learned that since birth, whenever he lied, his body would break out in rashes, severe enough to be life-threatening. Yet Daniel’s casual ‘easy to string along’ comment effortlessly negated seven years of my love for him. Their conversation wasn’t over. Clenching my teeth against the searing pain in my chest, I picked up my phone and hit record.
“Are you really going through with this? If you do this surgery, you’ll owe Chloe even more!” Daniel’s voice, now tinged with impatience, retorted, “Owe her? What’s there to owe? It’s not like I dragged her here against her will, is it?” “This was *her* decision, okay? What does it have to do with me?” “Even if I *do* owe her, I’m compensating her with marriage. Isn’t that enough?” Daniel’s voice was so familiar, yet utterly alien. All this time, the Daniel I thought I knew—kind, warm, thoughtful—deserved every beautiful word in the dictionary. Now, I realized that even the most profound, uncontrollable love could be faked. He truly was a brilliant actor. The marriage I’d dreamed of, to him, was nothing more than meaningless compensation. At this point, I had no more courage left to listen. I didn’t want to imagine what other ‘surprises’ I’d overhear if I stayed. Ignoring the two outside, I grabbed my coat from the side table and quietly slipped out through another door in the ward. I saw Daniel’s car parked at the entrance, and a bitter, twisted smile pulled at my lips. I’d always wanted to get my driver’s license, but Daniel, under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good,’ insisted he could drive me everywhere, always on call. Now, it dawned on me: he was probably just used to chauffeuring his ‘true love,’ Lily, and didn’t want to change his routine. I walked past the car, standing at a crossroads, watching the vehicles come and go, momentarily lost, not knowing where to turn. Just as I was about to step away, a hand clamped onto my wrist from behind. I knew that touch too well. I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Daniel. I’d never really liked his cologne; it was always too sweet, too cloying. I could never understand why Daniel, of all people, would wear such a strong, sugary scent—it completely clashed with his aura. But he liked it, and after so long, I’d just gotten used to it. Now, it all made perfect sense. That cologne was probably Lily’s favorite, wasn’t it? The moment my eyes met Daniel’s, a jolt of shock went through me. The man who was always so gentle and patient was now seething with rage. As if sensing my shift, Daniel reined in his anger, forcing his usual gentle smile back onto his face. “Pear,” he said. “Why are you running off?” “Pear, the surgery isn’t done. Let me take you back, okay?” “Pear, I know you’re scared of surgery, but if you don’t do it, how can we tie the knot? Didn’t you want to marry me more than anything, huh?” Hearing ‘Pear’ over and over again, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Soon after Daniel and I started dating, he started calling me ‘Pear.’ I’d asked him, confused, why he called me that. Everyone else just called me Chloe. He’d ruffled my hair, his eyes full of what I thought was adoration. “My favorite word is pear, and you’re my favorite woman. Of course, that’s what I’ll call you.” Back then, I’d just shyly buried my face in his chest, repeating his special nickname over and over. Now, I realized. All these years, he’d only been using me as a stand-in for Lily.
“Daniel,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper, “Did you forget? I’m allergic to anesthetic.” I quietly took half a step back, tears stinging my eyes. My words made Daniel frown, but I distinctly saw a flicker of guilt flash in his eyes. He took two steps forward, pulling me into his arms, his voice laced with obvious remorse when he spoke again. “Baby, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.” “How about we skip the surgery today? I’ll talk to the doctor later and adjust the plan. Will you wait for my call?” I pushed him away, my voice barely a choked whisper. “Daniel, can’t we… just not do this surgery?” “No, we can’t.” His tone was as gentle as always, but his eyes held a rare, unyielding resolve. “Didn’t we agree? As soon as the surgery’s done, we’re tying the knot, babe!” “Alright, just sit in the car and wait for me, okay? I’m going to call the doctor.” His tone was supposedly ‘negotiating,’ but Daniel didn’t wait for my answer. He simply pushed me into the car and casually shut the door. I leaned against the car window, watching him on his phone, a strange, bitter ache coiling in my gut. I pushed the door handle, trying to get out, but found he’d locked the doors. As I sat there, stunned, voices suddenly filled the car. It took me a moment to realize Daniel had forgotten his phone was still connected to the car’s Bluetooth. “What? Daniel, are you insane? You know she’s allergic to anesthetic, and you still want to go through with the surgery? Do you have any idea how painful plastic surgery is without it? Forget her, no one could stand that!” Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “She can just bear with it.” “What am I supposed to do? Stop the surgery just because she’s allergic to anesthetic?” “It’s fine. She listens to me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later. You just schedule the surgery as planned.” I sat in the car, the heater blasting, yet I felt like I’d plummeted into an ice cavern, shivering uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe it. The man who used to tear up if I just scraped my knee could be so utterly cold-blooded. And there Daniel stood, just a short distance away, mouthing the most tender ‘I love you, baby’ at me while simultaneously uttering the cruelest, most heartless words. I couldn’t even manage a fake smile. Bitterness seeped into every cell, flowing through my veins, poisoning me from the inside out. My phone buzzed in my pocket, perfectly timed. My hand trembled as I pulled it out. It was the wedding planner, asking if there were any last-minute adjustments or additions I wanted for the approaching wedding. Holding my phone, I stared at the man outside the car. After a long moment, I spoke softly, “Yes, an adjustment. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”
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