Before the wedding, I went to pick up our wedding photos, but the bride in the pictures wasn’t me.
It was Daniel’s childhood sweetheart.
As I stood there, dumbfounded, the shop assistant brought out another stack of photos and apologized:
I’m so sorry, these are your wedding photos.
I stared blankly at the same groom, two different brides, and two sets of wedding photos.
In a flash, I pulled out my phone, snapped a picture of Daniel and Ashley’s wedding photos, and posted it on Ins.
With the caption: “A match made in heaven, truly.”
Daniel called me immediately. “Chloe, are you serious? Ashley just wanted to fulfill a dream by taking wedding photos with me, and you’re being this petty?”
I said calmly, “Let’s break up. I don’t want this wedding anymore.”
Later, Daniel begged me to take wedding photos again, but I pushed him away:
“Sorry, I don’t like taking pictures, and I especially don’t like you.”
1
Stepping out of the photography studio, I casually tossed my wedding photos into a trash can.
Those were the wedding photos I’d dreamed of for ten years, now just a pile of garbage.
Along with them, I tossed in ten years of my feelings.
Back home, Daniel was already sitting on the couch, looking furious.
I ignored him and walked straight to the bedroom.
Daniel grabbed my arm. “Chloe, what exactly is your problem? It’s just a small thing, why are you making such a big deal out of it, and giving me attitude?”
He took wedding photos with another woman and then dared to ask what *my* problem was.
Right. I’d indulged him too much over the years, my boundless tolerance made him think he could walk all over me, that I didn’t even have the right to be angry.
I lowered my eyes and said coldly, “No problem. I just find it utterly meaningless now.”
Daniel’s voice rose, his impatience practically overflowing. “I already explained it to you! Ashley just wanted to fulfill a dream by taking wedding photos with me. You know she has a heart condition and can never get married in her life. I’m the only one she trusts.”
I stared at him, stunned. “Daniel, let’s break up.”
A flicker of panic crossed Daniel’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Chloe, don’t try that with me. I, Daniel, have never been threatened by anyone.”
“Go apologize to Ashley right now. I’ll let this slide, and the wedding will proceed as planned.”
In ten years of dating, this was the first time I felt Daniel was truly repulsive.
Before, I might have thrown a tantrum over Ashley, but now, it felt completely unnecessary.
I ignored him, walked into the bedroom, pulled out the wedding invitations, gently tore them to shreds, and scattered them on the floor.
The red paper confetti drifted down like snowflakes.
“Daniel, I’m not marrying you.”
Daniel sneered, “Chloe, you said it yourself. Don’t you dare regret it.”
*Slam!* Daniel slammed the door and left.
I don’t know when Daniel started acting like this.
Whenever I questioned his behavior, I was met with either accusation or the silent treatment.
Maybe he’d always been like this, and my love had just blinded me.
Daniel didn’t like having his picture taken. Our joint photos during our relationship were few and far between.
I had to nag him for ages just to get him to agree to the wedding photos.
According to him, taking such things was meaningless; they’d just gather dust at home.
I disagreed. I thought even when we were old, looking at them would bring back beautiful memories.
I visited countless photography studios before finally choosing a style I loved.
During the shoot, Daniel was completely uncooperative. He’d complain the clothes were uncomfortable or posing was too tiring.
The two-day photo shoot we’d planned was crammed into a single day, leaving two outfits untaken.
But who would’ve thought he’d turn around and take a full set of wedding photos with Ashley?
Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired, utterly exhausted. I had loved him for ten years, endured him for ten years.
Now, I just didn’t want to torment myself anymore.
2
I pulled out my phone and saw Ashley’s Ins post.
“Everyone, please don’t misunderstand. Big Brother Daniel just sympathized with my poor health, which is why he took wedding photos with me. We’re just good friends, really.”
The sickly sweet fake innocence was practically dripping off her post.
Soon, several mutual friends of Daniel and I started sending me messages on SnapChat.
“Chloe, you shouldn’t bother with Ashley. Daniel is just taking care of her. Everyone knows Daniel only has eyes for you.”
“There’s absolutely nothing going on between Ashley and Daniel. They grew up together; don’t overthink it, okay?”
“Daniel just feels too sorry for Ashley. His true feelings are for you. Don’t take it out on Ashley.”
I let out a bitter laugh as I read those messages.
It just showed how much sway Ashley had, sickening me while making me out to be the jealous, petty one who couldn’t tolerate her.
But it didn’t matter. I didn’t want Daniel anymore, let alone these outsiders.
I blocked everyone who had sent me messages, one by one.
Next, I called the wedding planning company.
The person on the other end was very enthusiastic: “Miss Chloe, your wedding plan has been revised according to your requests. When would you like to come in to finalize it?”
I said blandly, “No need. My wedding is canceled. I apologize for all your work on the plan; you can keep the deposit.”
From start to finish, Daniel had shown no interest in the wedding.
Whenever I asked for his opinion, he’d just say a wedding was a meaningless performance.
For Ashley, it was “fulfilling a dream.” For me, it was “a meaningless performance.” What a double standard.
Hanging up the phone, I let out a long breath. It turns out letting go of a fixation wasn’t that hard after all.
Marrying Daniel and starting a family had always been my dream.
My family wasn’t well-off, so I got a part-time job in the campus cafeteria during college.
Daniel often came to my serving window.
He said I was always generous with portions, making sure everyone got a full plate.
I smiled and gave him an extra scoop of rice and a bit more soup.
Later, Daniel told me to quit, saying he could work part-time to support me.
I laughed, calling him silly, wondering why I’d quit such a good job.
We made a pact: every month after payday, we’d go out for a big meal.
The rest of the money, we’d save.
Every time we saved a sum, Daniel would happily hug me. “Chloe, I’m one step closer to marrying you.”
Those days, though poor, were filled with sweetness and hope.
Now, we had enough money, but we detested each other.
Daniel sent me a SnapChat message:
“Friends’ dinner tonight. Get ready and come over.”
“Ashley wants to explain things to you herself.”
Explain what?
To gather a bunch of people as Ashley’s advocates, just to criticize my pettiness again?
I wasn’t that desperate.
“Can’t make it, busy.” I refused directly.
I wasn’t lying to Daniel; I truly was busy, packing my things.
This apartment was Daniel’s; it was his pre-marital property.
Since we were breaking up, I naturally had to move out.
We’d lived together for too long, accumulated too many things. I needed to buy some large boxes.
As soon as I stepped out, I ran into Daniel.
“Where are you going?” Daniel grabbed me.
“To buy some things.”
I turned sideways, trying to leave quickly.
Daniel pulled me directly into his car.
“Stop being dramatic. All our friends are here tonight, and you’re the only one missing.”
The ride was silent.
I was fiddling with my phone, but then I noticed the passenger seat floor mat had been replaced with a cartoon design.
Sailor Moon, of all things.
Daniel saw me staring at the floor mat and said, a little sheepishly, “Ashley said my car was too boring, so she took the liberty of changing the floor mats.”
I glanced at Daniel’s feet; his side also had cartoon floor mats.
Ever since Daniel bought this car, he’d never allowed anyone to decorate it freely.
I once bought a few cute ornaments for the passenger seat, and he’d immediately thrown them out.
“Putting these things in a perfectly good car really cheapens it.”
After that, I never bought any car decorations again.
It seemed it wasn’t the ornaments that cheapened things, but me.
Realizing this, I actually found it a little laughable.
“Hm, they’re nice.”
Daniel opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.
He just floored the gas pedal.
I knew Daniel was angry. He thought I was being petty and jealous again.
In the past, I would have argued with him, but every argument always ended with my compromise.
So, why bother making myself unhappy?
When we arrived at the restaurant, before I even got out of the car, Ashley practically fluttered over like a butterfly, the small, jade-like amulet on her neck swaying and glinting under the lights.
“Sister Chloe, you’re here!”
Ashley intimately linked her arm through mine; anyone watching would have thought we were close sisters.
We barely settled down.
Ashley, acting like the hostess, began to address the others: “Everyone, please make yourselves at home. Big Brother Daniel is treating us tonight, so don’t be shy.”
That “Big Brother Daniel” nickname made my stomach churn.
Ashley raised a glass of wine to me, apologizing: “Sister Chloe, Big Brother Daniel and I really didn’t have any other intentions with the wedding photos. I just wanted to experience wearing a wedding dress. You know I can’t ever get married because of my heart.”
As she spoke, tears welled up and rolled down Ashley’s face, making her look utterly pathetic.
The others started to chime in: “Exactly, Ashley is just a kid at heart. Chloe, don’t hold it against her.”
“Ashley’s so considerate. Chloe, just drink it. You two will still be good friends afterwards.”
Everyone stared at me, as if refusing Ashley’s apology would be a crime.
I looked at Daniel. His arms were crossed over his chest, his head down, wearing an expression of smug confidence.
He was signaling that I had to drink this wine, whether I wanted to or not.
Ashley’s wishes were his wishes. He was certain I wouldn’t dare publicly embarrass him.
I smiled faintly, taking the glass from Ashley.
3
“My dear sister, since you’ve already taken the wedding photos, why don’t you stand in for me at the wedding too?”
“If you’re going to experience it, go all out. Just taking wedding photos is so boring, isn’t it?”
Ashley’s face instantly flushed a furious crimson, stammering, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Daniel stood up to shield Ashley:
“Chloe, if you have a problem, direct it at me. Don’t pick on a young girl like Ashley.”
“She’s not as venomous as you, and not as petty.”
Ten years of our relationship, and to Daniel, all that was left of me was venom and pettiness.
Even though I’d already decided to sever ties, Daniel’s words still pierced me deeply, like a thousand tiny cuts.
My hand trembled uncontrollably.
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
I turned to Daniel. “Do you think you’re some kind of saint? You’re old enough to know better, still playing that sickening ‘big brother, little sister’ act? Don’t you find it disgusting?”
I poured the entire glass of wine over Daniel’s head. “You said I was petty? Well, today I’ll show you what true pettiness looks like.”
Daniel wiped his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I grabbed Ashley, ripping the protective pendant from her neck.
“If I’m not mistaken, this pendant was *mine*, the one I got for you. You almost died in that car accident years ago, and I prayed for days and nights at the temple just to get you this protective pendant.”
“Then you told me you lost it. Turns out you gave it to Ashley.”
“Is this how you trample all over my sincerity?” I practically screamed the words.
All the grievances of the past few days exploded out of me.
My chest heaved violently. Everyone present was too stunned to utter a sound.
Daniel’s face, which had been contorted in anger, instantly deflated. He quickly stammered an explanation:
“Chloe, it’s not what you think. Ashley had a heart attack and was in critical condition. I was afraid she wouldn’t make it, so I gave it to her…”
“Enough.” I cut Daniel off.
Painful memories assaulted me one after another.
Ever since Ashley returned, the cracks in my relationship with Daniel had grown wider and wider.
Ashley’s issues always took precedence over mine.
On my birthday, one call from Ashley was enough to pull Daniel away.
During our vacation, Ashley claimed her heart hurt, and Daniel abandoned me, buying a plane ticket to rush to her side.
Even when my mother passed away, Daniel stayed with Ashley at the hospital.
I was consumed by grief, but Daniel lightly dismissed it: “She’s already gone. What good would I do there? But Ashley only has me.”
We had reached this point because the final straw had fallen, breaking the camel’s back.
I picked up the pendant, tracing its surface with my fingers, then, with a sharp movement, I smashed it onto the floor. Daniel tried to grab it, but he was too late.
The exquisite jade shattered instantly, just like my relationship with Daniel at that moment.
I lifted my face, wiped away my tears, and forced a bright smile.
“Everyone, Daniel’s and my wedding is canceled. From now on, Daniel and I are completely done, separate paths, no looking back.”
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