Chapter 2
The weather was fickle, changing as quickly as someone's promise.
Thunder suddenly cracked overhead, and people scattered, scrambling to dodge the rain.
But my steps were heavy, and even as the rain soaked me to the bone, I kept wandering down the street in a daze.
A screech of brakes and a splash of water broke my trance as a car skidded to a stop beside me.
Andrew jumped out, rushing to pull me into the passenger seat.
He started gently drying my hair with a towel, his face as natural and relaxed as if nothing had happened.
"Darling, why didn't you answer the phone? I was seriously losing my mind trying to reach you," Andrew said.
Listening to his words, I felt like I could puke.
I snapped, "Don't call me that. Your wife is Lily, not me. Open your damn eyes and look!"
I shoved his hand away, opened the car door, and jumped out.
The door hung open, and his car just sat there, silent and still in the downpour.
It was the first time in ten years that I'd ever sworn at him.
I dashed through the pouring rain, didn't know where to go.
But before I could get far, Andrew caught up.
He held an umbrella, grabbed my wrist from behind, and with a forceful tug, pulled me straight into his arms.
He said, "Please hear me out. I didn't have a choice.
"Don't do this. Just give me another chance. Let's go home, and we can talk there."
He still smelled the same—that scent from his laundry detergent.
The words were also the sweet words I was used to hearing.
Looking at him, soaked and miserable with rain dripping down his face, I suddenly felt a wave of revulsion rise up inside me.
My blood rushed, my vision went dark, and I was out cold.
Guess I crashed from the combo of skipping meals, emotional overload, and getting drenched in the rain.
When I finally came to, I realized I was in hospital.
My clothes were soaked and clinging to me, and every joint in my body was hurting badly.
I must've caught a fever.
Andrew was sitting by my bedside, holding my hand, and looking concerned.
"Darling, you're finally awake. You really scared me," he said.
While I was unconscious, I drifted into a dream.
In the dream, we got our marriage license.
I was wearing the wedding dress I'd designed and sewn myself, holding his arm as we stepped into the chapel, surrounded by the sacred sound of wedding bells.
But in the end, a dream was just a dream.
Andrew said, "I'm sorry. I told you about Lily before.
"She and I had been together since we were kids, until she had to move away when high school started.
"We've been in touch, but after I met you, I've only cared about you. Just recently, she showed up out of the blue, arms covered with fresh cuts. She said she wanted to have a family with me, and if I didn't give her that, she was going to end it all."
As he spoke, Andrew's usually captivating eyes grew teary.
He continued, "I couldn't stand by and watch her take her own life, could I? But I swear, once she's better, I'll divorce her. It won't take long. I promise."
"And what if she never gets better?" I said.
Andrew paused, about to say something, but his phone rang.
His face instantly darkened. He shot me a look, turned his back on me, and picked up the call.
"Darling, I'm busy right now. Once I'm done, I'll come home and stay with you, alright? Make sure you take your medicine, and I'll bring your favorite tiramisu," he said.
"How could I not love you? Come on. I married you, didn't I?" he added.
He dropped his voice, but every loving word he whispered to another woman echoed loud and clear in the ward.
My fiancé just called someone else "darling" right in front of me.
My eyes instantly welled up, tears streaming down.
Andrew ended the call, and the moment he saw me crying, he rushed over, trying to wipe away my tears.
I slapped his hand away hard, voice trembling with fury. "Don't touch me. You make me sick."
Andrew paused, looking stunned.
He said, "Can you quit making such a scene? Can't you have a little empathy for me? Why is it so impossible for you to see things from my side?
"I promise once she's healthy, I'll divorce her and make you my wife. It's not like you'll be waiting forever. What's the rush?
"Alright, darling. Be reasonable. I need to talk to you seriously. My wedding with Lily got put together last minute, so I want to use your wedding dress. Don't worry, you two are about the same size, so it'll fit. I'll make sure it doesn't get ruined."
He looked me straight in the eyes, still calling me "darling."
But just minutes ago, he'd called another woman the same thing.
And now, without a single shred of shame, he was asking to use the dress I'd stitched together with my own hands for his wedding to someone else.
My helpless sobbing brought the doctors and nurses.
Seeing me barely able to breathe from crying so hard, they kick Andrew out of the room.
Later that night, I lay alone in my bed.
I opened the video again, the one where Andrew and Lily announced their marriage.
But this time, it didn't hurt as much, and the tears that had been flowing so easily just hours ago were gone.
Why should I let myself feel miserable over a guy who couldn't care less about me?
At least I saw through that jerk's mask before the marriage license was signed. Guess life wasn't completely unfair to me after all.