Chapter 1

At our wedding, my fiancé, Michael Jones, suddenly announced without even talking to me first that he was handing over our house fund to his sister, Irene Jones, so she could get her PhD.

His mother, Linda Jones, was grinning from ear to ear and yelling that this was exactly what a brother should do.

My mother, Susan Warren, stormed up to the stage and pointed right at Michael as she demanded, "So, no house now? Are you planning to let your wife sleep on the street, or do you expect your PhD sister to let you crash at her place?"

Michael frowned and sounded upset. "There is nothing wrong with renting a home. Young people can live a simple life and go through hard times together. We can't hold back my sister's schooling."

His fake selflessness rang hollow and shallow.

I looked down at the engagement band on my ring finger. Then I pulled it off and threw it right into the trash can.

Since he cared so much about his sister and acted so selfless, he could have his close sibling bond. This marriage was over for good.

*****

The reception hall brimmed with guests amid the soft clink of crystal glasses and warm chatter all around.

Wedding ornaments adorned every corner and cast a gentle glow over every smiling face in the crowd.

I stood there in a crisp white wedding gown, linking my arm through Michael's, fully believing this day marked the start of a lifetime of joy for me.

Everything shifted the second he reached for the microphone.

He cleared his throat slowly, with a self-righteous and sentimental light shining across his features.

"Thank you to every friend and family member here today to celebrate and bear witness to my wedding with Rachel," he spoke clearly.

Warm applause rippled through the ballroom right away.

I held a soft smile, and overflowing joy settled deep in my chest.

Michael paused for a beat, gazed at me with tender eyes, and then steered his speech in an entirely new direction. "I have another meaningful thing to share with everyone here today."

My heart lifted in anticipation, and I assumed he planned some sweet, unexpected gesture for our wedding day.

His gaze drifted toward the table that held family members, where his mother, Linda, sat beaming from ear to ear alongside his quiet, reserved younger sister, Irene.

"My sister Irene has always been great in school, super smart and all," Michael said. "She recently got into a PhD program. She's the pride of our whole family."

People clapped again, way louder than before.

Linda patted Irene's hand over and over, her face all flushed with excitement.

I was really happy for Irene, ready to clap along with everyone else.

But what Michael said next made my hand stop halfway up.

"As her brother, I gotta step up and help her chase this dream of hers," he went on. "It's my job to support her through school.

"So I decided that we're using the down payment Rachel and I saved for our first house to pay for all her PhD costs."

He was talking so loud and proud, like he was up there giving some big speech.

The whole ballroom went totally silent for a second.

Then Linda started cheering and clapping, so loud that it echoed, and everyone else joined in.

"That's my boy! What a great brother," Linda yelled out. She popped right up, all hyped up, her voice sharp enough to cut through the noise.

Irene got up too, eyes glistening, and gave Michael a deep bow. "Thanks, Michael."

The moment painted a heartfelt portrait of loving family connection between mother, son, and sister.

I remained the bride standing front and center, yet I existed as the only stranger trapped in their heartfelt family moment.

My mind turned utterly empty and numb all at once.

That home down payment held immeasurable meaning for our future life together.

It included 100 thousand dollars I had saved through five long years of steady hard work, plus an additional 100 thousand dollars my parents set aside as my wedding gift.

The combined sum reached a total of 200 thousand dollars, which we had reserved solely for our first house.

Michael had admitted his family lacked financial means and could only cover the home renovation expenses.

I recognized his circumstances and agreed to the arrangement.

Yet he had taken my money to fuel his own self-righteous image without mentioning the matter to me ahead of time.

My mother's expression turned cold in an instant.

She rose to her feet and walked quickly toward the stage.

She snatched the mic from the wedding host and held it straight toward Michael. "Michael, I'm asking you straight. Do you pull in 15 thousand dollars every single month?"

Michael went rigid with shock. He never saw my mother's public callout coming. "Susan, that doesn't have anything to do with what's happening right now, does it?"

"It certainly does." My mother kept her tone calm, but every word cut sharp and heavy. "You don't earn that kind of monthly income, so how will you ever sustain a household?

"You took all the money Rachel and you saved for a home and gave it to your sister. So, are you throwing your home plans away for good?"

Michael knitted his brows together, obvious frustration spreading across his face. "Plenty of young couples start out renting and build their lives step by step over the years."

My mother let out a cold, mocking laugh and pointed right at me in the crowd. "Do you expect my daughter to live in a cramped rental unit with you forever?

"Or are you counting on your sister, the PhD candidate, to make it big someday and take you both in?"

Her words were harsh and unreserved.

Michael's pride crumbled, and deep embarrassment washed over his features.

"You have no right to talk about my son that way," Linda shouted sharply from her seat. "Supporting a younger sister through school is a brother's duty. Rachel will be part of our family once married, and she needs to understand that much."

Michael breathed deep, and then spoke into the mic in a condescending, lecturing tone, "There is nothing wrong with renting a home.

"Young people can live a simple life and go through hard times together. We can't hold back my sister's schooling."

His fake selflessness rang hollow and shallow.

He tossed around that word "we" like it meant nothing, going on about youthful struggles and family duties with plain arrogance. He acted as if that 200-thousand-dollar sum belonged to him alone.

I stared at the man I once planned to marry and build a life with. He felt like a complete stranger in that moment.

Every time he said "we," it grated on my nerves.

Every guest in the ballroom watched my every move. Some felt for me, others enjoyed the messy scene, and many simply watched the drama unfold.

I looked down at the diamond ring on my ring finger.

Michael told me before the wedding that he'd spent two months of his salary on this ring to prove his devotion to our future.

That sweet promise turned out to be nothing but a cruel joke.

I took the ring off at a slow, steady pace.

Every guest fell into stunned silence as I moved across the hall.

I walked over to the trash bin in the far corner of the hall.

Then relaxed my fingers, and the ring floated through the air in a soft arc. It landed with a faint sound and disappeared into the garbage below.

The whole ballroom went dead silent.

I turned around, grabbed the microphone, and looked at Michael on the stage, whose face was pale with anger.

"Since you're such a great guy, so devoted to your sister," I said, "then go ahead and make your sacrifice. This wedding is off."

Linda let out a sharp scream that cut through the silence, and the whole wedding reception exploded into chaos.