On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Xavier suddenly demanded that I take legal responsibility for his aunt's unborn child. "My aunt is pregnant out of wedlock, and it would ruin her reputation. Put the child under your name, and we'll raise it as our own." When I refused, Xavier dropped a bombshell: "We'll get married when you agree!" He left me at the courthouse, striding away without looking back. This was the ninth time our marriage registration had failed because of his aunt. Did he think I would wait for him like I always did? I looked down at my phone and saw a notification from a friend's post: "The girl I love most is marrying someone else today. Heartbroken!" I sent him a message: "Want to get married? I'm at the courthouse, waiting for you. Now." 1 Fifteen minutes later, Liam roared up in his car. "Really? We can get married? You and me?" His eyes couldn't hide the secret joy and disbelief. "Cut the crap. Did you bring your ID?" Liam muttered under his breath: "I dropped an eight-hundred-million-dollar contract signing to come here, can't I ask one question?" But after getting the license, he stared at the little red book repeatedly: "I really married you, Serena? You're my wife now?" Then he apologetically told me he had to go back to finish signing the contract and asked me to take a taxi home. While waiting for a cab, Xavier pulled up in front of me with his aunt, Felicity. "Get in." I pressed the bag containing my marriage certificate and opened the car door. "For you." He handed me a box. Inside was a silk scarf. Xavier was always like this. After upsetting me, he would give me a small gift. Then we would tacitly never mention the unhappy incident again, and it would pass. Xavier's aunt, Felicity, subtly touched the bag beside her. Looking at the scarf in the box again, I realized it was just a free gift that came with her bag. I pretended not to notice, as usual, and put the gift box aside. Felicity curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Where are we going?" I asked. Xavier looked at his aunt tenderly: "Picking up a gift, then heading to the old family mansion." I remembered then, today was Xavier's grandfather's eightieth birthday. We had agreed to go long ago. It was good to go today, to say goodbye to Old Man Xie. Through the rearview mirror, Xavier looked at my face cautiously and explained for the first time ever: "Serena, don't overthink it. Auntie being pregnant alone will cause gossip." "Raising the child under our names will make it easier for her to marry in the future." I said indifferently: "Indeed, being an unwed mother is bad for reputation. Not even having a boyfriend makes it look cheap. Raising it under your name is best." Hearing my words, Felicity's face turned purple with anger. She turned around and said, "You..." Xavier corrected me: "It's raising it under our names." Then he looked at me expectantly. I sneered: "What if I'm not willing?" Xavier's face darkened instantly: "If you're not willing, we break up." I said "Okay." Seeing Xavier's face relax. My "Okay" meant breaking up. He must have misunderstood. He continued: "See, Serena, if you were this obedient earlier, we would have gotten the certificate already." I didn't answer, just watching the scenery fly backward outside the window. Just like our three-year relationship, flying away from me. Felicity and Xavier were the same age; she was the adopted daughter of his grandfather. And she was the thorn in our relationship. On dates, Xavier would bring her. At meals, Xavier would bring her. Even the house we lived in together had a room for her. I complained many times, but Xavier always said: "She's my aunt, what are you thinking?" Xavier and his aunt grew up together and were very close. Every time he said this, I would back down. But Felicity seemed to lack boundaries, always deliberately showing intimacy with him. They got out to pick up the gift together, and Felicity specifically linked arms with him. From behind, they really looked like a couple. And I was left alone in the car, like an outsider. For almost three years, it had been like this. I felt like the third wheel. But I spent two years chasing Xavier and couldn't bear to let go. He knew my psychology, which is why he abandoned me at the courthouse time and again. Lost in memories, my phone rang. It was Liam: "Wifey, finished signing the contract, but I have to entertain clients tonight, so I'll be back late. Eat well by yourself." "I'll contact you when I'm done." 2 I just realized I was someone else's wife now. It was too sudden; I hadn't adapted to this identity yet. But answering Liam's call, I felt more relaxed than ever before. "Who was that?" Xavier opened the car door just as I hung up. He looked at me suspiciously. "A friend." I don't know why, but I didn't want to tell him about marrying Liam yet. Felicity also got in the car carrying gifts. Putting down the gifts, she rubbed her hands and blew on them. "So cold." Xavier immediately wrapped her hands in his: "I'll warm them for you." As if I wasn't in the car. Suddenly I was glad he abandoned me at the courthouse this time. If we had really gotten the license, could I stand their ambiguity for decades? I shook my head gently. "Xavier, it was so cold outside just now, is the baby okay?" Hearing her words, Xavier looked nervous. He quickly took off the Bodhi bracelet from his wrist and put it on Felicity's wrist. Through the rearview mirror, Felicity gave me a triumphant smile. I had climbed 999 steps on my period to pray for this bracelet for Xavier at a mountaintop temple. Caught in a storm on the way down, I was almost washed away. Two years ago when I gave it to him, he was moved to tears. He said he would never take it off. Now, just two years later, he gave it away so casually. The past flashed by like a meteor. I tried hard to hold back my tears. I grabbed Felicity's hand, snatched the bracelet, and threw it out the window. A flash of anger crossed Felicity's face, then she looked on the verge of tears: "Xavier, why is Serena angry? Is she blaming you for giving me the bracelet? Even if she's angry, she shouldn't throw it away, right? After all, it's something you wore. She doesn't care about you at all." Xavier's face was livid: "Serena, what are you fussing about now? It's just a broken bracelet, not something precious. What's wrong with me giving it to Auntie? If you keep being so selfish, I can't marry you." I said dismissively: "Then don't marry, what's the big deal?" Hearing my words, Xavier got even angrier. I should be the one angry about this, right? But he pursed his lips tightly and drove fast. Even running two red lights. As soon as we arrived home, Felicity was taken to a room by the old man. "Whose bastard are you carrying? If you can't get engaged, abort it immediately." "Women of the Xie family are not allowed to have children out of wedlock." Even from far away, I could hear the old man's roar. And Felicity's sobbing. Xavier looked worried. He pulled me over, face solemn, and persuaded again: "Serena, you see how hard it is for Auntie." "Go tell Grandpa you can't conceive, and Auntie is a surrogate for you." "You're afraid of pain anyway; with this child, you won't have to give birth yourself." I slapped his hand away: "For your aunt, I have to say I'm infertile? Are you sick? Is this child yours?" Xavier's face darkened, obviously displeased: "Serena!" He said heavily. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I do such a thing?" "Didn't you agree in the car just now?" I sneered: "The things you've done could fill a book." Xavier grabbed my wrist: "Serena, if you still want to marry me, accept this child and stop spreading rumors about me and Auntie. Otherwise, we break up." "Think about it." Before I could answer, he shoved me and walked away. Near the end of the banquet, I was about to say goodbye to the old man. Turning a corner, I was dragged onto the terrace by Xavier. 3 Felicity was waiting there. Eyes red. Xavier gripped my wrist tightly, his voice cold as ice: "Serena, you must give a definite answer today. Will you put the child under your name or not?" I struggled hard but couldn't break free. "Xavier, let go. You care so much about this child, it must be yours." After saying this, I saw Felicity panic for a second. Xavier gripped harder, hurting my wrist. "Still spreading rumors. I've really indulged you too much." His other hand pinched my chin forcefully: "Grandpa scolded Auntie today. Are you satisfied seeing Auntie embarrassed?" "If I knew you were such a vicious woman, I wouldn't have accepted your pursuit back then." Whenever he argued with me before, he always said he regretted accepting my pursuit. I would immediately surrender and start coaxing him. No matter whose fault it was, it was all mine. I apologized and made promises until he reluctantly accepted. But this time, I suppressed the anger in my heart and said softly but firmly: "It's not too late now. Let's break up!" Xavier was stunned for a moment. He let go of my wrist and took a step back. His skeptical gaze swept over my face again and again: "Serena, are you serious?" Before I could answer, he added: "You know me. If I agree to break up, you won't even have a chance to regret it." "Don't say break up lightly in front of me in the future." With that, he turned and walked out. I also turned to leave. This place, this Xie family, had nothing to do with me anymore. Just one step out, Felicity pushed me hard. In desperation, I grabbed Felicity's arm. She rolled down the terrace steps with me. I was pinned under Felicity. Pressed too painfully, I pushed her. She rolled onto the ground. Turning half my body, sitting up, I slapped her face hard. Too much force, making my palm sting. Hearing the commotion, Xavier turned back. The blurted "Auntie" echoed through the banquet hall. He rushed over, kicked me away, and picked up Felicity. "Auntie, how are you? Where does it hurt?" Felicity was incredibly weak: "It hurts, it hurts. She hit me." Felicity pointed at me, tears flowing instantly. Xavier looked at me with fire in his eyes: "Serena, I won't forgive you this time. Just wait." "Aren't you even going to ask why?" Shouting this sentence, tears swirled in my eyes too. Partly from pain. Partly because Xavier always unconditionally believed Felicity, never me. It had been like this for three years. With that, he carried Felicity and walked out. After two steps, he turned back: "Serena, follow us to the hospital. If anything happens to Auntie, I will definitely call the police." His tone contained a thousand years of ice. I hurt all over. Especially my legs; when Felicity fell, she landed right on them. My elbows hit the ground, now bloody patches. My injuries were more severe; anyone could see. But to Xavier, it was like he was blind; his eyes only saw his aunt. I stood up with difficulty, grabbed my down jacket, and followed them into the car. Xavier drove even faster than before, almost hitting the guardrail. While driving, he asked: "Auntie, don't sleep, we're almost at the hospital." That tone, as if his aunt was about to die. Hearing his words, Felicity also pretended to be extremely uncomfortable. But she was just scrolling on her phone a moment ago. At the hospital, after blood tests, Felicity made me hold the cotton swab. After pressing, I quietly pocketed the swab. After a round of checks, besides a little anemia, Felicity was fine. Even the baby was growing steadily in her belly. Hearing about the anemia, Xavier was sweating with nervousness. "Anemia? What should we do?" "Right, Auntie has a rare blood type, and Serena has a rare blood type too. She can transfuse her blood." He dragged me in front of the doctor. 4 The doctor looked at him mockingly: "It's normal for women to be slightly anemic. No need for a transfusion at all." But Xavier wouldn't listen to the doctor. "You must give her a transfusion today. She's pregnant; you can't be responsible if something happens." The doctor wanted to persuade him further, but Xavier flashed his business card. "My family invested in this hospital. If you don't want to lose your job, draw the blood now." Seeing Xavier's obsession, I wanted to break free and leave quickly. The doctor saw my reluctance and said helplessly: "Even if we draw this lady's blood, we need her consent, right?" He looked at me inquiringly. "I don't consent. Why should my blood be given to someone else?" Xavier gripped my wrist tightly: "Serena, you have to understand. Auntie is pregnant and can't be harmed." "She can't be harmed, but I can, right?" When I spoke, my voice trembled with anger. I didn't know the man I had been with for so long was such a scumbag. Hearing my words, Xavier hesitated for a moment. But he still didn't let go of my hand: "Serena, be obedient. After giving blood to Auntie, we'll go get the license tomorrow." "Haven't you always wanted to? I promise not to break my word this time." I tried to shake off his hand while shouting "Let go! Let go!" He still wouldn't let go. And started calling security to help hold me down. In desperation, I dialed Liam's number: "Save me—" Before Liam could answer, the phone was knocked to the ground. Liam's voice still came from the receiver: "Serena, what's wrong? Where are you?" But the surrounding noise drowned out Liam's urgency. Several people pushed me into the blood draw room. I couldn't move at all. My menstrual flow has always been heavy, so I've always been anemic. I've been treated many times without obvious results. Xavier knew this clearly. He even introduced me to Chinese medicine doctors before. But when facing his aunt, he could be deaf, mute, and blind. My health in his eyes wasn't worth a single hair on his aunt's head. Tears flowed uncontrollably. Watching the nurse's needle about to pierce my arm, I closed my eyes in despair. Just then, chaotic footsteps approached. Seven or eight people ran towards us simultaneously. "Who wants to draw my wife's blood?" It was Liam.
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