2
In the past, I would have begged for their
forgiveness.
My parents died protecting me, which led my
grandmother to resent and refuse to raise
- me.
So I was taken in by the Jasons, our close
family friends.
The insecurity of living under someone else’s
roof made me the one who always apologized
first, no matter who was angry, back when we
were childhood sweethearts.
They felt bad and promised to cherish me,
never letting me feel upset again.
く
After seventeen years together, Jason and I
officially started dating.
Alex threw a fit but continued to treat me like
a younger sister as we grew up.
But things changed. Mrs. Jason went abroad
for treatment, and I, like an old toy, was
discarded and unloved.
The wedding I had looked forward to became
a joke, just like me.
The guests‘ mockery grew louder, some even
started egging them on.
“Dump her, teach her a lesson!”
The two brothers looked down at me, waiting
L
I forced a smile. “Then I wish the three of you
a happy marriage!”
The room fell silent. Alex, enraged, raised his
hand to hit me.
“What do you mean? You know how
important a girl’s reputation is, why are you
spreading rumors about Sarah?! You’re
ruining everything!”
He knew, he knew this was the wedding I had
poured my heart into designing.
Yet he still humiliated me for someone else.
When his eyes met mine, wet with tears, he
suddenly paused.
r
I strode out.
Alex panicked and instinctively tried to follow,
but Jason’s calm voice stopped him.
“Let her go! I don’t believe an orphan like her, without a home, can go anywhere without
us!”
Footsteps paused for a moment, but Alex still chased out, yelling into the empty hallway.
“You really dare to leave?! We should have raised a dog instead of you!”
I walked on in silence, tears streaming down my face, hearing him curse under his breath before returning to the party.
<
towards a car on the street.
“Let’s go get the marriage license now.”
After receiving the marriage license, I felt a
bit dazed.
I had met David through work. After rejecting
his initial advances, we ended up in this
arranged marriage.
Since we were married, I decided to use the
remaining five days to settle things with the
past.
I went home to pack, but my entanglement
with the Jasons was too deep, the debts I had
incurred were beyond my ability to repay.
I nervously contacted David He didn’t
<
I nervously contacted David. He didn’t
hesitate to transfer me the money.
He had only one request.
“Help me plan a grand wedding, the kind
that’s broadcast nationwide.”
David chuckled, his voice deep and resonant.
I looked at the dreamy wedding sketches, my
heart fluttering.
He gave me access to high–level planner
resources I normally wouldn’t have, and the
wedding venue decor changed according to
my plans in real–time.
It felt like he was determined to elevate me.
The Jasons, however, gave all the best
company resources to Sarah, leaving me with
scraps. They even put Sarah’s name on the
proposals I created.
Thinking of this, my smile faded.
Jason was right, I couldn’t live without them
before.
But now it’s different.
Love isn’t about controlling someone, it’s
about giving someone the support to be free.
On the fourth night before the wedding,
drowsy and half–asleep, I heard faint rustling
outside my door.
“I told you she couldn’t live without us. She
talked tough, but she came crawling back like
talked tough, but she came crawling back like
a dog.”
I forced myself up, but Jason snatched the
draft from my hand.
“Our wedding is coming up soon, what’s the
point of you planning now?”
He didn’t know this was for my wedding with
David.
I silently took the draft back. He frowned and
softened his tone.
“Sarah just wanted to give you a surprise.
We’re getting married next week anyway,
don’t be mad, okay?”
I knew this wedding was definitely designed
L
Whether it was our three–person anniversary
or my birthday party, they always brought
Sarah along, turning my plans upside down,
making her the star of the show.
And I could only huddle in the corner, eating
the ruined cake.
Just like now, they had abandoned me for
two days for Sarah, without a single message.
I was tired and replied perfunctorily without
looking up.
Relieved, Jason took out a gift box.
He opened the lid, revealing a pair of worn
women’s high heels.
<
They held the box as if it were burning their
hands, suddenly flustered.
I looked at them, a faint smile playing on my
lips.
3
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