After scheduling an abortion, I got into my car, only to spot Yzail and Zolenn in the parking lot.
“Yzail, if you really want to marry me, you have two options: either cancel your engagement or make Lanaya your bridesmaid.”
“Canceling the engagement isn’t right. I don’t want you to be gossiped about.”
“Then make Lanaya my bridesmaid!”
I eased off the accelerator, curious to see if Yzail, the man who always prided himself on being moral and upright, would agree to such an outrageous demand.
“Alright, you little trickster. Now you can rest easy and marry me, right?” he chuckled.
“But you have to tell her on the wedding day. If she runs away, I won’t have a bridesmaid!” Zolenn added.
“Don’t worry, she owes me her life. I’ve protected her for ten years. Now that I’ve found someone I want to protect for a lifetime, asking her for this small favor will surely save her face. She’ll agree!”
They pressed against the pillar, kissing like the world around them didn’t exist, shredding the last bit of my heart.
I took the key out of the ignition and sat quietly, too weak to drive.
They kissed all the way to their car and drove off.
Struggling to hold my emotions together, I called my uncle.
“Uncle, does your company still hire useless people? I need you to take me in.”
Surprised but happy, he asked, “You no longer want to wait around for the man you’ve been holding out for?”
I glanced at the pile of Chinese medicine prescriptions I had been taking to prepare for pregnancy, my heart heavy with grief.
“Getting married and having kids isn’t everything. Building a career and being with family—that’s what really matters.”
My uncle, who had witnessed my ten-year marathon of love, teased,
“Then I’ll arrange your trip abroad. Once you’re here, I’ll keep you so busy you won’t have time to think about anything else.”
“The man you waited ten years for—a man who promised you a home—how much could he really love you? You were just his backup plan all along.”
“With us by your side, there’s no obstacle you can’t overcome!”
Had I not seen those love messages, I would have confidently told my uncle that Yzail was my soulmate.
But the truth was, those ten years of love? They were nothing more than a cruel joke.
On my way to the hospital to collect my premarital checkup report, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the betrayal.