1 The class reunion was winding down. Jalen suddenly turned to me. "Luna, let's get a divorce." I didn't flinch. "Even if she's completely rotten, you still love her?" Jalen bit down on his cigarette, letting out a sardonic chuckle. "You forget, I'm just as rotten." Rotten souls, a perfect match. I forced a smile. "Fine." A divorce was perfect. That empty space would be filled by someone else, someone who'd been waiting. … Jalen seemed surprised by my quick agreement. But it was only a split second before he suppressed that flicker of emotion, looking at me with a calm gaze. "I'll send the papers tomorrow. You'll get everything you're owed, not a penny less." I nodded. "Alright." "Jalen!" A voice suddenly called from behind us. Ella, clearly tipsy, stumbled over and threw her arms around him. "Long time no see, handsome. All these years, have you missed me?" Jalen didn't push her away. He even wrapped an arm around her waist, a tenderness in his eyes I'd never seen in our three years of marriage. "Jalen, you bastard, why aren't you saying anything?" Ella's eyes, clouded by drink, suddenly fixed on me. She pointed a finger and started shouting. "Jalen, have you fallen for this good girl? Girls like her must be dead fish in bed. I showed you so many tricks back in the day, can you really stand a dead fish now?" Her voice grew louder and louder, until finally, she lunged at me, ready to strike. Jalen caught her wrist, pulling her into his arms, then turned to me. "I'm sorry, she's drunk." Even though I was his wife in that moment, his first instinct was to apologize to me for another woman. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "It's fine, I don't mind. If there's nothing else, I'll head home." Jalen just hummed in response. "I won't be back tonight. I'll find you tomorrow." My steps faltered, but I said nothing. Back home, I looked around the apartment we'd shared as a married couple for three years. From the hopeful anticipation when we first tied the knot, to the pang of hurt when he blurted out Ella's name during our first time together. Then the agony, the disappointment, when he had a fever and mistook me for Ella. Now, only numbness remained. Ten years. My complicated dance with Jalen was finally over. I chuckled softly and went into the bedroom to pack. I didn't have much. One suitcase was enough. After packing, I lay on the bed, expecting to stare at the ceiling, but I fell asleep the moment my eyes closed. I even dreamt, for the first time in ages, of seeing Jalen for the very first time. Every school had its popular figures. Jalen was Northwood High's most talked-about. He was charming, good at everything, but his one flaw was probably how often he swapped girlfriends. Back then, I hated people like him, even thought anyone who fell for him was foolish. Until that day, when my friends dragged me to watch him long jump. The crowd was huge. I was shoved to the very front. I felt overwhelmed, about to leave. But then, an instant later, a jacket smelling faintly of cologne landed on my head. I frantically pulled it off, my eyes meeting a roguish grin. "Hey, mind holding my jacket for a sec?" In that moment, my heart felt like it would burst from my chest. From that day on, I harbored a secret crush. In junior year, to be in his class, I chose science, a subject I had no interest in whatsoever. Watching him move from one girlfriend to the next, it pained me, but I had no right to say anything. I just kept going with the flow, writing one anonymous love letter after another. This continued until just before graduation. I didn’t want to have any regrets, so I wrote a signed love letter, intending to confess to him in person. But when I got to the classroom, I saw him kissing his new girlfriend. The girl, blushing, hid her face in his arms. He leaned back, raising an eyebrow, smiling at me. "Hey, what class are you in? My girlfriend's shy, mind closing the door for us?" It was then I realized that with graduation so close, he didn't even know we were in the same class, let alone my name. The next day, I waited all morning, but Jalen never showed up. I called him dozens of times, but couldn't get through. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I got up and went to his office. Only to be told Jalen hadn't come to work. Unusual. A workaholic, not showing up for work. Who it was for was obvious. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Anya. The moment I answered, a furious shout came from the other end. “Luna! That bastard Jalen is cheating! I swear to God, I just saw Jalen taking some woman to an abortion clinic!” “I’m going to go kill those two lowlifes right now! How dare they do this to you!” “That cheap tramp! That disgusting jerk! I’m going to make him suffer!” Beep— Before I could utter a single word, the call disconnected. Without another thought, I quickly hailed a cab to the hospital. As soon as I reached the entrance of the Women's Health department, I heard Anya’s booming voice. “Jalen! You're a married man, and you’re cheating! You actually brought your mistress to get an abortion in broad daylight!” “And you, you shameless hussy, have some self-respect! You’re a homewrecker!” “Today, I’m going to make sure you two lowlifes don't leave here alive! I hope you both rot!” “Bitch! Whore! Jalen, how could you do this to Luna after she loved you for ten years? After everything she did for you…” “Anya!” I rushed in and cut her off, pulling her away. Seeing Jalen, his face grim, holding a pale and fragile Ella, I pressed my lips together. “I’m sorry, my friend lost her temper.” Jalen’s tone was icy. “Control her. If she’s ever so careless with her words again, I won’t let it go.” With that, he picked up Ella and left. Anya’s eyes widened instantly. “Luna! Why are you apologizing to him? He’s the one who’s wrong!” I pursed my lips. “Anya, that’s Ella.” Anya froze. I told her everything, from the beginning of the reunion last night to its end. Anya listened to everything, then took a deep breath. “So, just because Ella broke up with that guy and came back from abroad, and went to a reunion, Jalen wants to divorce you?” I nodded. “Why the hell?” Anya slapped the table, her eyes blazing red. “That woman treated Jalen like dirt, then dumped him, and even hit him with her car, almost killing him. You were the one who saved him, your hand crushed and bloody, so badly you could never hold a scalpel again. You nursed him out of the hospital, stayed by his side. Why does he get to just say ‘I want a divorce’ now?” “No! I’m going to tell him! Even if you divorce, I want his conscience to be plagued with guilt.” I grabbed her arm. “Anya, it’s pointless. Now, I genuinely want this divorce. I’m done loving him.” Anya stared at me intently, as if disbelieving. After all, every time I’d said I was done loving him, I’d ended up eating my words. But this time, I was truly tired. I even felt that Jalen, well, he wasn't all that special. After saying goodbye to Anya, I asked the nurse for Ella's room number. As soon as I reached the door, I heard laughter from inside. “Jalen, I treated you like dirt back then, and then hit you with my ex-boyfriend in the car, and you still love me! You even divorced that good girl for me, and you’re here with me getting rid of my ex-boyfriend’s baby!” I froze, looking up at the scene inside. Jalen’s expression remained gentle as he fed her porridge, not saying a word. Ella seemed bored and leaned in to kiss him. Jalen didn’t dodge, wanting to deepen the kiss. But in the next second, Ella pulled away, her lips curled in a mocking sneer. “Jalen, you’re so pathetic!” Jalen suddenly grabbed her chin and bit her. The sound of wet kissing filled the room instantly. After who knows how long, Jalen released her, his voice slightly breathless. “Yeah, I’m pathetic! Pathetic enough to fall for you! Pathetic enough to love you year after year.” Year after year? Could a rogue like him even love? I tugged at the corner of my mouth, about to leave. Ella suddenly saw me. She hooked her arm around Jalen. “What about your good girl wife? Don’t you love her? After all, she’s liked you for ten years.” Jalen’s hoarse voice responded, “The good girl is just a stepping stone for a mess like me. Someone like you, though, you’re my perfect match.” Ella burst out laughing, then lifted her chin. “Look, your stepping stone is outside.” Jalen stiffened, turning to look at me. My nails dug into my palm as I forced a smile. “I just came to ask when you can sign the divorce papers.” “Any demands you have, feel free to make them.” Jalen handed me the documents. I flipped to the last page, signed my name, and handed it back to him with a smile. “It’s fine, you wouldn’t screw me over anyway.” Jalen looked at the woman’s smile opposite him, finding it inexplicably grating. But wasn’t this exactly what he wanted right now? A divorce, then tying himself to that rotten Ella. Jalen shook his head, about to sign his name, when his phone suddenly rang. He murmured an apology and stood up to answer it. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but his face suddenly changed, and he started to walk out. I immediately grabbed the papers and stood up, blocking his way. “Just sign, it’ll only take a few seconds.” Jalen sharply looked up, his dark eyes fixed on me. I kept smiling, maintaining my stance. He took the pen, signed his name with a flourish. “I’ve already contacted the civil affairs office. It’ll take at least seven days to get the divorce certificate.” Seven days. I silently calculated the timing for my wedding with the other man. It was enough. Back home, I immediately shipped my belongings to Emerald City. By the time I was done, it was evening. Just as I was about to rest, I received a call from the police station. “Hello, are you Mr. Jalen Bianchi’s wife? Your husband has been reported for imprisonment and assault. We’d appreciate it if you could come down to the station.” I didn't want to go, but we weren't officially divorced yet. Fine, one last time. When I arrived, I saw Jalen’s face was grim, and beside him sat a smirking Ella. Seeing me, an officer immediately stepped forward. “Do you know this lady? She claims Mr. Bianchi imprisoned her, that she was recaptured after escaping, and that there were attempts to assault her in the car.” Before I could speak, Jalen suddenly interjected, “She’s my fiancée. There’s no imprisonment or assault. We’re in a legitimate relationship.” With that, he suddenly pulled out a yellowed but well-preserved piece of paper. On it was Ella’s promise, written the year they first got together, right after high school graduation. He had kept it perfectly, even carried it close to his heart. It showed just how much he liked her. The officer’s eyes widened. “But isn’t Ms. Luna Carter your wife?” I gave a strained smile. “We’re already divorced. We just haven’t received the certificate yet.” In the end, it turned out to be a misunderstanding. By the time we left the police station, it was deep into the night. Jalen went to get the car. Only Ella and I remained. She looked at me, then suddenly laughed. “Luna, you haven’t changed all these years, still fawning over Jalen as always.” I said nothing. Ella continued, “Do you want to know why Jalen likes me?” She suddenly leaned closer. “Because the person he should like is you.” I froze. Ella went on, “He received so many love letters back then, but he only kept yours. At first, I didn’t know it was you who wrote them, until one time, during recess, I came back early and saw you putting a letter into his locker that was identical to the purple envelopes he kept.” “Later, after you threw that confession letter into the trash, I picked it up. On graduation day, I crossed out your name, wrote mine, and confessed to him. He agreed, even told me those letters were interesting and he liked them a lot. That’s how we got together. That wild man even settled down for me.” I stood rigid, from head to toe. Ella’s laugh grew even more arrogant. “I went through all those letters you wrote to him later. They were pretty interesting, actually. You remembered what he liked to eat, what he liked to drink, even what he did every day, like a diary. Oh, and one more thing,” “After college, you heard Jalen and I broke up, so you mustered the courage to pursue him. Too bad, he immediately sent me the chat history and asked me to reply to you on his behalf. All those ambiguous messages during those two years? I sent them, deliberately leading you on. You have no idea how much fun I had watching you dance around for me.” “Later, Jalen and I broke up and got back together repeatedly. Even during that time, reports surfaced of him with different women in hotels, and he never said a word.” “Luna, ultimately, I have to thank you. You’re the one who made a wild man settle down and fall in love with me.” I was chilled to the bone, unable to utter a single word. Just then, Ella’s eyes suddenly darkened. She grabbed my hand and slapped herself across the face. “Ah!” Before I could react, an even harder slap landed on my face. Followed by Jalen’s icy voice: “Luna, are you asking for trouble?” He didn’t ask a single question, immediately siding with Ella. Watching Ella’s triumphant smirk, I clutched my burning cheek, then took one last, long look at Jalen. “Jalen, you’re right. You truly are a jerk too.” I turned and left, packing my things as fast as I could and returning to Emerald City that very day. Three days later, I saw a wedding invitation on social media. It was for Jalen and Ella. And my wedding was on the same day as his.
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