After finishing my Bar Exam, I found out my fiancé was cheating, and I actually felt relieved. Luckily I was too stupid and trusted Julian Hale too much, So I didn't find out before the exam, affecting my performance. I logged into Julian's Delta Airlines account. Found the information of that extra stranger girl. Then opened the contact info column, directly copied the girl's phone number into Instagram. Profile picture similar to my fiancé's popped up, I first saw the marriage certificate she pinned on her story: "I think the heavy snow will remember this Christmas we promised our lives to each other." The date on the certificate was even today. I was stunned, then added her as a friend: "Hi sister, do you know your husband has a fiancée he's been dating for five years?" ... Chapter 1 Friend request was approved almost instantly. Immediately, a voice message popped up: "Sister, it's not whoever dates first is right." "Please figure it out, I am the main one now." Background had sound of water splashing, and a man humming. That song was too familiar to me, it was Julian's favorite "Thinking Out Loud". Stomach churned, disgusting enough to make me vomit. I looked at the phone screen, hand shaking almost unstable. Just a minute ago, Julian told me on video call he was working overtime at the company. I didn't reply to that voice message, but quickly screenshotted Jessie's Instagram. Dazzling marriage certificate, their intimate photo cheek to cheek, and that caption "promised our lives". Every picture was a knife stabbing into my heart. But I didn't cry. I backed up all chat records, photos, booking information to the cloud. Then went to wash my face. Moment cold water splashed on face, numbness pain in heart suddenly exploded. Preparing for exam for a whole year. Turns out when I was gritting my teeth fighting for our future, he already had someone else. No longer needed me, and that future with me. An hour later, sound of door opening came from foyer. Julian entered with a body of cold air, holding a box of exquisite Godiva Chocolates. Usually I never bear to buy. "Zoe, not asleep yet?" He changed shoes, shook the chocolates in hand: "Finally finished exam, let's celebrate today!" If before, I would be moved to pounce into his arms. But now I only smelled the shower gel scent on him that didn't belong to me. I sat on sofa without moving, raised hand pointed: "Where did you buy these chocolates?" Julian face unchanged, while taking off coat said: "Just that shop downstairs of company, on the way." "Downstairs of company?" I chuckled lightly, lit up phone screen, threw on coffee table. "Julian Hale, your company moved to Marriott Hotel in South City?" Julian's action of taking off coat stiffened. He looked down, gaze landed on that red background marriage certificate photo on screen. "Zoe, you checked my phone?" He didn't explain, first reaction was to bite back. "I didn't check your phone, your good sister approved my friend request." I looked at him coldly, "Explain, Mr. Married Man." Julian stunned, then as if hearing some joke, sneered out loud. "You wouldn't really believe it right?" He walked over, picked up a chocolate stuffed into mouth, even rolled his eyes. "This is a truth or dare game we played at department Team Building, loser has to Photoshop a marriage certificate post on social media, everyone is playing." "Jessie is that intern, young age, loves playing, why are you so unable to take a joke?" I stared at his eyes: "Joke? Then the adjacent high-speed train tickets are also a joke? Her listening to you shower in hotel is also a joke?" Julian threw chocolate wrapper fiercely into trash can, voice raised an octave. "Are you done yet? I work myself to death every day for our future, you only know how to be suspicious!" "I said that was business trip! As for her in hotel, that was everyone playing cards in one room, I showered because I accidentally spilled drink on myself!" "Zoe, did you study silly for exam? Can you not be so neurotic?" While speaking, he took out phone, dialed Jessie's number in front of me, even put on speaker. Jessie's crying voice came from other end: "Did sister-in-law misunderstand? Sorry Julian brother, I just thought fun to Photoshop... I delete now, sorry, woo woo woo..." Julian hung up, turned to look at me, face full of "you satisfied now" expression. "You scared the little girl to cry, what else do you want?" "I won't contact her later okay? Deleted, okay right?" He blocked and deleted Jessie in front of me. Then walked over, forcefully hugged stiff me, chin resting on my shoulder. "Okay wifey, don't make trouble. Next spring when you get offer we hold wedding, I swear, my heart only has you." His embrace was warm, but I only felt cold. That night, Julian slept very deep. I kept eyes open till dawn. Taking advantage of his deep sleep, I fished out two movie ticket stubs from today in his suit pocket. And a receipt, was a 1 carat ring. Size was 5, a size I simply couldn't wear. Tears finally flowed down, along corner of eye into pillow. Turns out so-called vows were just his flirting in another woman's bed. I took photos of ticket stubs and receipt, then put them back as they were. Chapter 2 Next morning early, Julian went to work like nothing happened. Before leaving kissed my forehead, let me not too tired. Moment door closed, I rushed into bathroom, scrubbed that patch of skin on forehead red. When cleaning bathroom, I found a pink electric toothbrush in the cabinet corner of sink. It was hidden behind spare toilet paper roll. But I clearly remembered, here before put my towels to change. Just then, a strange number sent a text message. "Sister, toothbrush I left, Julian brother said I not used to disposable ones, this soft bristle one brushes clean." No signature, but I knew it was Jessie. Julian deleted her WeChat in front of me yesterday, she changed a way to disgust me today. "Oh, then can only throw, after all things used by dog, human holding feels dirty." That side didn't reply again. Noon time, doorbell rang. I opened door, Jessie stood at door, holding a stack of files. She wore a large men's white shirt, shirt hem tied a knot, revealing slender waist, face hanging innocent smile. That was birthday gift I gave Julian last year, cuff still embroidered Julian's initials "JH". "Sister, Julian brother left urgent files at home, let me come pick up." Her sight crossed me, greedily looking at furnishings inside, eyes full of unabashed possessiveness. "This house really big, Julian brother really amazing." I leaned on door frame, didn't let her in. "Files in study, you go get yourself? Or I get for you?" Jessie blinked: "I go myself, I know where." She didn't even change shoes, directly stepped high heels walked into living room, leaving few gray marks on floor. "How do you know where?" I asked coldly. She turned back, covered mouth light laugh: "This is me and Julian brother's couple joint property, of course I know." "When Julian brother brought me here overtime before, sister you seemed at library right?" Just then, Julian came back. He said came back to get a USB drive, entered door saw Jessie, face changed a bit, but soon recovered normal. Jessie immediately changed to a aggrieved expression, hiding behind Julian. "Julian brother, sister seems not very welcome me, how about I leave..." Julian frowned looking at me: "Zoe, people come help me send files, why you show face?" I pointed bathroom direction: "That toothbrush also sent along with files?" Julian waved hand impatiently: "Before overtime late occasionally stayed, anyway that time your room empty, just convenience. Why your heart so narrow?" "Also this shirt on her." I pointed Jessie. Julian looked, righteous: "Last team building dirty clothes lent her wear, haven't had time return, you even quarrel for this broken matter?" "No wonder you took so long to pass exam, mind not on right path, whole day just staring at these chicken feathers garlic skin." This sentence, accurately stepped on my thunder point. How much I paid for exam, only myself know. And in his mouth, my effort worthless. Julian turned to Jessie gently said: "Ignore her, since came, eat lunch here, taste your sister-in-law's cooking." Jessie cheerfully responded, flew into kitchen like a flower butterfly. Eating time, Julian kept picking food for Jessie. "Eat more, look you thin." "This shrimp is your sister-in-law's specialty, only you have mouth luck." I mechanically shoveled white rice in bowl, watching them talking laughing, as if I was the outsider in this home. Jessie went to serve soup, deliberately hand slipped. "Crash!" Mug responded sound broke. That was my favorite limited edition mug, was first year me and Julian together, saved money went Disney bought. "Ouch! Sorry sorry!" Jessie exclaimed. Julian first time grabbed Jessie's hand, nervously asked: "Scratched or not? Pain not?" Even if Jessie's hand didn't even have a red mark. I silently stood up, squatted down to pick up fragments on ground. Sharp porcelain piece cut my fingertip, bright red blood bead instantly popped out, dripped on floor. Very painful. But Julian didn't even look at me once. He was still blowing that simply non-existent wound for Jessie. I looked at blood on fingertip, suddenly felt that place always tight in heart broke. Blood drained dry, love also gone. I poured bloody fragments into trash can, calmly said: "It's okay, broken pieces mean peace (pun)." Just like our relationship. Chapter 3 That night, I had a fever. Probably daytime finger cut not treated well bit infected, plus emotions up and down, by midnight, temperature soared to 102 degrees. Whole body like run over by truck painful, throat dry smoking. I pushed awake Julian beside: "Julian, I uncomfortable, seem fever." Julian groggily opened eyes, touched my forehead, frowned: "Why so hot? Home has fever medicine, you find yourself." Finished, he turned over, back to me continue sleep. I endured dizziness, climbed up find medicine, pour water myself. Just then, Julian's phone on bedside table rang. That kind special attention notification sound, appeared exceptionally harsh in this quiet late night. Julian almost catapulted out of bed. He looked at screen, expression instantly became nervous. Connected phone, Jessie's crying voice came out, clearly audible in quiet bedroom: "Julian brother... home power cut, thunder so scary... I so afraid..." Julian while listening, while flying putting on pants. "Don't fear, Jessie don't fear, lock door well, I come immediately." I holding water cup in hand, weakly pulled his shirt corner. "Julian, where you going?" Julian threw off my hand, buttoning shirt, tone urgent: "Jessie side power cut, she a little girl live alone, afraid dark, I go look." "I burn to 102 degrees." I looked at him, voice hoarse, "Can you not go?" Outside window exactly a thunder struck, heavy rain pouring. Julian looked outside window, then looked face full red me, eyes flashed a trace impatience. "Zoe, why you so selfish?" "You just fever, eat some medicine sleep a sleep fine. Jessie side power cut! In case something happen what do?" "She guts small, you are adult, can you be sensible?" I let go hand, gently smiled: "Okay, you go. Remember bring umbrella." Julian stunned, probably didn't expect me so easy talk, eyes flashed a trace guilt, but soon interrupted by phone vibration. "You take care yourself well." Dropped this sentence, he grabbed car key, head not back rushed into rain curtain. Main door heavily closed, shook my eardrum painful. I paralyzed on floor, listening thunder outside, feeling whole body blood flowing backwards. I struggled took out phone, called Uber to hospital. During waiting, I habitually refreshed Instagram. Sure enough, Jessie updated. A photo under dim candlelight. A bowl of steaming hot noodles. Caption: "Stormy night, exclusive knight braved rain deliver warm heart noodles. Not only stomach warm, heart also warmer." I liked this post. Then put on coat myself, dragged heavy body downstairs. Hospital emergency hall crowded. I alone registered, drew blood, paid fee, finally sat on cold chair in infusion room. Medicine water flowed into vein along tube, cold me straight shivering. Just then, I saw familiar figure. Julian. He holding Jessie in arms, carefully walking out from emergency room. Jessie draped Julian's coat, face ruddy, where has a bit look of overly scared? She hung on Julian like boneless person, hand still holding a cup hot milk tea. "Julian brother, people ankle twisted, want hug hug." "Okay okay okay, hug hug." Julian eyes full doting picked her up, look not sideways passed in front of me. Only two meters distance. I wrapped in down jacket we bought shopping together, sat on chair closest to aisle. Julian's gaze swept over here, paused half second, then moved away without wave. He didn't recognize me. Even we shared bed and pillow full five years. Chapter 4 Next day noon, Julian then came back. He looked refreshed, completely didn't remember last night had a high fever fiancée abandoned by him. "Zoe, better?" He hypocritically asked a sentence, didn't even reach hand touch my forehead. "Tonight our engagement fifth anniversary banquet, friends all called, you don't forget clean up." He threw suit jacket on sofa, still remaining Jessie's perfume smell on it. I sat in front mirror drawing brows, tone calm: "Relax, won't forget." Night, I put on most exquisite makeup in these years. Wore that red slip dress. That was Julian gave me two years ago, but I always disliked too revealing never wore. When Julian saw me, eyes lit up, obviously thought I already turned page. "Wifey, you tonight really beautiful." He wanted come hug my waist. I sideways avoided, picked up handbag: "Let's go, don't be late." Arrived restaurant, private room already full of our good friends. Everyone seeing me, all booed: "Ouch, sister-in-law today outshine everyone ah!" Julian face full pride. However, just when everyone raising glass, room door pushed open. Jessie wearing a pure white little dress, timidly walked in. "Julian brother... I don't want eat alone, can I..." Whole venue quiet for a second. Julian immediately stood up, smilingly greeted whole venue: "Come come come, introduce to everyone, this is our company intern Jessie, today bring her see world." Friends looked each other, eyes spinning between me and Jessie. As long as not fool, can see trick inside. Jessie very sensibly squeezed to seat beside Julian, face full shyness. During meal, friends to relieve awkwardness, booed let us drink cross-cupped wine. Julian raised wine glass, just about lean over. Jessie suddenly low cry, body soft, whole person fell into Julian arms. "Aiya... head so dizzy..." Julian hand wine glass tilted, red wine spilled some on table. He pushed away wine glass, supported Jessie: "Jessie what wrong? Is it hypoglycemia?" Jessie weakly opened eyes, gaze however dead staring at engagement diamond ring on my hand. "Julian brother, sister-in-law's diamond ring really shiny... I also want try wear..." "Heard diamond ring can bring good luck, I also want touch joy, just once okay?" Julian actually turned head, face matter of course said to me: "Zoe, look Jessie like this, you just lend her wear a bit? Don't be so stingy." Room dead silence. I looked at Julian that face, accumulated long anger suddenly turned into a light laugh. "Okay." I slowly took off that ring wore five years. Julian sighed relief, reached hand want take. My wrist turned, directly threw ring out an arc. "Clang" sound. Ring accurately fell into trash can in corner. "Aiya, hand slipped." I faintly said. Julian face changed suddenly: "Zoe! You crazy? That cost twenty thousand bought!" "Twenty thousand?" I took out phone, connected to room big screen projector. Next second, screenshots rolling play on huge screen. Jessie Instagram fake marriage certificate. Julian transfer 520, 1314 records to Jessie. And those explicit chat screenshots. "Julian Hale, you also know twenty thousand expensive ah? Buy bag for mistress cost thirty eight thousand, buy me ring still want installment?"
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