Late at night, I was scrolling through my feed when I saw the news of Arthur's wedding. With trembling hands, I posted a status update. "Why can't people who love each other be together? Woo woo woo, I just want to die." After posting, I blocked Arthur and all his friends. But I forgot to block my family. Soon, my phone was buzzing like crazy. I opened the comments, and my family's replies completely broke me. 1 At 11 PM, I was lying in bed scrolling through my feed, my thumb swiping up mechanically. And then I saw that photo. Arthur Sterling and Emily Chen's wedding photo. They were both wearing white dress shirts, standing in front of the city hall, smiling so radiantly. Emily had her head resting on Arthur's shoulder, and Arthur had his arm around her waist, holding their marriage certificate. The caption read: "Finally waited for you, the rest of my life is all you." My finger froze in mid-air, my whole body seemingly hitting the pause button. A sharp pain shot through my heart, hurting so much I couldn't breathe. I opened my mouth wide to gasp for air, tears falling without warning. We had only been broken up for six months. Six months, and he had already gotten his marriage license with someone else. Back then, he said he needed to focus on his career, that he didn't have the means to get married, that we should wait a little longer. I waited for five years. For five years, I lived frugally, helping him take care of his sick parents and paying for his younger brother's college tuition. For five years, I stayed by his side as he went from an intern to a department manager. For five years, I never bought a decent piece of clothing or went to a nice restaurant. He said that when he was capable, he would definitely give me the best wedding. And the result? He gave it to someone else. I stared at that photo for a long time, so long my eyes ached. Then I opened the status update box, my fingers trembling as I typed: "Why can't people who love each other be together? Woo woo woo, I just want to die." Before hitting send, I specifically blocked Arthur and all his friends. And Emily Chen. I didn't want them to see me in this pathetic state. 2 Less than a minute after posting, my phone started buzzing uncontrollably. I clicked it open; it was replies from my family. My Dad: "Why don't you go drive their wedding car? You know that route better than anyone." My Mom: "Go make their bed, isn't that the bed you loved sleeping in the most?" My Aunt (Dad's sister): "Why don't you go toast the guests? Don't his relatives and friends like you the best?" My Aunt (Mom's sister): "Go be a bridesmaid, you know the answers to all the questions the bride won't know." My other Aunt: "Why don't you go hand out the wedding favors? Weren't you the sweetest thing in front of him?" My eldest Aunt: "Why don't you go help him hold the baby? Didn't you want to have his kids?" My Uncle: "Go cook the banquet food, didn't you love cooking for him the most?" Looking at these replies, my tears completely broke loose. Every word they said was like a needle piercing my heart. Yes, I knew that route best. When Arthur first started in sales, I accompanied him every day, running through every street and alley of this city. He said I was better than GPS. That bed, I did love sleeping in it the most. The first apartment Arthur rented had a mattress hard as a rock, but I still loved curling up on it because it was our little home. His relatives and friends really did like me. Every gathering, his aunt would always hold my hand and say, "Chloe, when are you and Arthur getting married? Auntie is waiting to drink at your wedding." I knew everything about him. He loved spicy food but couldn't handle it too spicy; he hated cilantro; his birthday was March 7th; his dad had high blood pressure and needed to take medication every day. I really was sweet in front of him. Sweet without a bottom line, so sweet I believed anything he said. I did want to have his kids. I had even thought of the names: Leo for a boy, and Mia for a girl. I cooked for him. Three meals a day, for five years straight. He had a weak stomach, so I got up early every day to make him millet porridge. But in the end? In the end, he married someone else. In the end, he held someone else's hand and walked into city hall. In the end, he told someone else, "The rest of my life is all you." I held my phone, trembling all over from crying. Tears blurred the screen, and the replies kept popping up one by one. My Aunt (Uncle's wife): "Chloe, come home, Auntie will make you chicken soup." My Cousin (older brother): "Sis, I'm taking tomorrow off to take you to a steakhouse, the most expensive one." My Cousin (older sister): "Silly girl, a guy like that isn't worth it. I'll introduce you to someone way better." Looking at these messages, I cried even harder. They all felt sorry for me. They knew how I had spent the last five years. They knew how stupid I had been. 3 My phone rang again; it was my Mom calling. I wiped my tears and answered it. "Mom." "Chloe," My Mom's voice was very soft. "We saw your post. Don't take it to heart, we were just so angry we said some harsh things." "I know," I said, choking back tears. "Know what?" My Dad roared from the other end of the line: "That guy is a piece of garbage. What did I say back then? I said all he cares about is money and climbing the ladder. You didn't believe me, do you believe me now?" "Dad, please stop yelling." "I will yell." My Dad's voice got louder: "My daughter suffered such a huge injustice, and I can't even yell? That bastard Arthur, I was truly blind to ever agree to let you two be together." "Alright, alright, don't yell at the kid." My Mom grabbed the phone back: "Chloe, come home. Come stay at home for a few days." "Mom, I have to go to work tomorrow." "What work! Call in sick." My Dad snatched the phone again: "Come home, Dad will support you. We don't have to take this crap." Listening to them argue on the other end, my heart felt sour but warm. Sour because my last five years really were like a joke. Warm because no matter how silly, stupid, or disappointing I was, my family would always be on my side. "Dad, Mom, I'm fine." I sniffled: "I'm really fine, just... just a little sad." "If you're sad, come home. Mom will make your favorite sweet and sour ribs." "Yeah! Come home!" My Dad shouted: "Dad will take you out for a fancy meal, we'll celebrate. Celebrate you escaping that sea of bitterness." I laughed, laughing until I cried again. After hanging up, I looked at Arthur's post one more time. In the photo, Emily Chen was smiling so sweetly. I couldn't clearly see Arthur's expression, but I knew he must be very happy now. After all, Emily Chen could give him what I couldn't. Emily Chen could save him twenty years of hard work. While I could only endure hardships with him. I put down my phone and pulled the covers over my head. That night, I cried until dawn. 4 Arthur and I got together in our junior year of college. He was a prominent figure in our department: handsome, had good grades, and was the student council president. I was a girl as ordinary as could be: average grades, and my looks weren't particularly stunning. I don't even know what he saw in me. He said I was grounded, that I was kind, that being with me felt comfortable. I believed him. The year we graduated, something happened in his family. His dad was diagnosed with liver cancer, his mom was hospitalized with high blood pressure, and his younger brother was still in high school. His family's savings were wiped out instantly, and they were deeply in debt. My parents were dead set against us being together. My Dad said: "Chloe, if you stay with him, you'll suffer." My Mom said: "Honey, Mom isn't being a snob, I just can't bear to see you suffer." I didn't listen. I thought love could conquer all. I got into a massive fight with my family, dragged my suitcase, and moved into the basement apartment Arthur rented. That basement was only about a hundred square feet, with no windows, requiring the lights to be on even during the day. In the summer, it was hot as an oven; in the winter, it was cold as an icebox. But I was very happy. Because Arthur said: "Chloe, when I make money, I'll definitely buy you a big house." I believed him. To save money, I only ate two meals a day. To make more money, I worked three jobs simultaneously. I worked at my company during the day, worked part-time at a convenience store at night, and tutored on weekends. Arthur worked hard too, working late into the night every day. We were like two spinning tops, constantly spinning. But every night, squeezed onto that tiny bed, he would hold me and say: "Chloe, thank you. When things get better, I'll definitely treat you doubly well." Then I felt everything was worth it. The first year, his dad's condition stabilized, but the medical bills were several thousand dollars a month. The second year, his younger brother got into college, and we paid for his tuition and living expenses. The third year, he finally got promoted to manager, and his salary doubled. I thought the bitter days were finally over. But at the end of the fourth year, he met Emily Chen. 5 Emily Chen was his boss's daughter. She had just returned from studying abroad and was parachuted into his department as a director. The first time I heard Arthur mention her was during a late night at work. He surprisingly called me on his own initiative, his tone laced with excitement: "Chloe, Director Chen took our department out to dinner today, we went to a Michelin-starred restaurant." Me: "Really? That's great." Him: "Director Chen is so nice, completely unpretentious, and she said she wants to focus on developing me." Me: "Then you should work hard." After hanging up, I felt a little uncomfortable. But I didn't dare say anything. I was afraid he would call me paranoid. Later, Emily Chen appeared more and more frequently. Arthur's phone started having messages from her. Arthur's clothes started smelling like her perfume. The hours Arthur worked overtime got longer and longer. I asked once: "You're getting pretty close to Director Chen." He said: "She's the boss, I have to suck up to her a little. Chloe, you have to understand me. Isn't my working so hard all for our future?" I believed him again. At the beginning of the fifth year, Arthur celebrated my birthday. He bought a small cake, stuck candles in it, and told me to make a wish. My wish was: "I hope we get married soon." He was silent for a long time, then said: "Chloe, wait a little longer. Wait until I'm a bit more stable." Me: "Okay." That night, he got a call. It was from Emily Chen. He said there was an emergency at the company and he had to go back to work. I ate that cake all by myself. In March of our fifth year, Arthur suddenly moved out of our rented apartment. Him: "Chloe, I got promoted. The company gave me an apartment." Me: "What about me?" Him: "You stay here for now. Once I'm settled, I'll come get you." I believed him again. The day he moved out, I helped him pack his bags. He looked at me, his eyes a little red: "Chloe, I'm sorry for making you wait so long." Me: "It's okay, I'll wait for you." He hugged me, turned around, and left. 6 I only found out later that the apartment was Emily Chen's. Emily Chen let him move in. After Arthur moved out, we saw each other less and less. He always said he was busy, rushing a project, accompanying a client. When I called him, he often didn't pick up. When I messaged him, he took a long time to reply. I panicked. I went to his company to find him. The receptionist wouldn't let me in. I said I was looking for Arthur Sterling. "Manager Sterling is in a meeting. Do you have an appointment?" I said no. "Then you can't go up." I waited in the lobby all afternoon. At 6 PM, Arthur came out. Not alone, but with Emily Chen. Emily Chen was holding his arm, and the two were laughing and talking. Seeing me, Arthur's expression changed. He pulled his arm away and walked over quickly: "Chloe, why are you here?" I looked at Emily Chen, and she was looking at me too, with a provocative look in her eyes. "I came to find you." "I'm busy." Arthur lowered his voice: "You go back first. I'll come find you tonight." "Can't we talk now?" "It's not convenient." Emily Chen walked over, looked me up and down, then said to Arthur: "Arthur, who is this?" Arthur looked a bit embarrassed: "This is my friend, Chloe Miller." Friend. Five years of relationship, exchanged for the word "friend." I laughed: "Arthur, I'm your friend?" "Chloe..." Arthur frowned: "Don't make a scene." "I'm making a scene?" I looked at Emily Chen: "Director Chen, right? Do you know who I am?" Emily Chen smiled gracefully: "I know, Arthur's ex-girlfriend. He said you guys broke up a long time ago." I looked at Arthur: "We broke up?" Arthur didn't dare look me in the eye. Emily Chen continued: "Ms. Miller, since you're broken up, stop harassing him. Arthur is my boyfriend now. You're causing him trouble by doing this." Boyfriend. That word was like a knife stabbing into my heart. I looked at Arthur: "Is what she saying true?" Arthur remained silent. Silence is consent. "Arthur, say something," I yelled. People in the lobby were staring at us. Arthur's face turned red. He grabbed my hand: "Chloe, let's go outside to talk." "We'll talk right here!" I shook him off: "Tell me clearly, did we break up? Did I agree?" "Can you stop making a scene!" Arthur also raised his voice: "This is my company. If you have no shame, I still do." I have no shame. He said I have no shame. Looking at him, I suddenly felt he was very unfamiliar. Was this still the person who said he would treat me well for the rest of my life? Or the one who called me kind and grounded? Emily Chen tugged at Arthur's arm: "Arthur, stop arguing with her. Let's go, we still have dinner with Mr. Zhang tonight." Arthur glanced at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Then he said: "Chloe, you go back first. I'll call you tonight." With that, he turned and walked away. Emily Chen followed behind him, looking back at me with a smirk on her lips. I stood rooted to the spot, watching their figures disappear through the lobby doors. A chill ran through my entire body.
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