When I became pregnant, my gravely ill mother mentioned that her final wish was to witness my wedding.

My boyfriend, William Jones, finally agrees to marry me after I have been asking for 99 days.

Yet, on the wedding day, he never shows up, even though I was waiting in my gown at the hotel the whole day.

The truth only emerges when someone found his marriage certificate that he had posted a month earlier on social media. He married his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Ashton, during that time.

When my mother learns this, the shock triggers a fatal attack. She passes away despite the doctors' efforts.

William sends me a message.

"I'm sorry, honey. Caroline twisted her ankle, so I had to take care of her. We'll have our wedding next month, okay? I promise I'll make it up to you this time."

…

A month later, William prepares a lavish, grand wedding just for me. Dressed in a custom-tailored suit, he waits at the hotel.

Yet, all he receives is the report from my abortion procedure.

There is only one sentence on the back—"William, this is goodbye forever."

On the 99th day of asking my boyfriend, William Jones, to marry me, he finally said yes. However, on our wedding day, he never showed up.

It wasn't until a guest noticed on social media that he had posted a marriage certificate a month earlier that I learned the truth.

He had already been married for more than a month to his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Ashton.

I stood frozen, everything around me feeling distant and unreal, while whispers rippled through the crowd.

"William got married a month ago. So, Diana was the other woman all along?"

"How bold can a mistress be to throw herself a wedding?"

"She was probably trying to pressure him into marrying her. No wonder he didn't show. Serves her right.

My mind went completely blank until a scream suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"Someone just fainted. Call an ambulance!"

I turned toward the sound, and my face went pale. It was my mother, Madeline Emery. Her heart condition had flared up again from the shock. She collapsed on the ground.

My mom had already been seriously ill. The doctors had warned she didn't have much time left.

After I found out I was pregnant with William's child, she told me she didn't think she would live to meet her grandchild. Her final wish was to see me marry William.

So, I begged William every day for 99 days to marry me, but he always found an excuse to reject me.

On the first day, Caroline's cat had gone missing, and he needed to help her find it.

On the second day, the light in her house had gone out, and he had to fix it.

On the third day, she got sick and he had to take care of her.

...

The days passed on like that. Then on the 99th day, he finally agreed to marry me.

However, he left me at the altar instead.

If someone hadn't spotted that marriage certificate he posted online, I would still be clueless.

William had lied to me from the beginning to the end.

I waited outside the operating room for what felt like forever until the doors finally opened.

The doctor came out and told me they had done their best but couldn't save Mom.

Tears streamed silently down my face. I opened my mouth, but not a single word came out.

My mother was gone.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from William.

"Sorry, honey. Caroline twisted her ankle, and I had to look after her. Let's plan another wedding sometime soon. I promise I'll give you the most extravagant ceremony."

My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white.

There would be no next time.

The moment he failed to show up, we were done for good.

I kept vigil alone by my mother's bed all night.

By dawn, I finally accepted that her eyes would never open again.

As I left the hospital, I ran into William at the elevator doors. His arm rested around Caroline's waist, and he yanked it away the instant he saw me.

"Diana, what are you doing here?" he asked, his face tense with worry.

I looked at Caroline's steady steps and asked with a cold smile, "So, this was the twisted ankle you told me about, huh? I see it healed overnight?"

I used to believe his excuses, but it was clear everything had been a lie.

Caroline blinked with a wounded look. "I'm sorry, Diana. I only asked William to accompany me to the hospital for a checkup. Please don't be upset. We're just friends. It's not what you think."

Just friends? Friends who had already registered their marriage?

They had no idea I already knew the truth, and they kept putting on an act in front of me.

I found it absurd and turned to leave, and William grabbed my wrist. "Diana, I was wrong. I would make it up to you at the next wedding. Please do not be angry."

"There's no need."

William tightened his grip. "But your mother's wish was to see us get married."

The mention of Mom sent a wave of anger and grief through me. I clenched my teeth to hold back tears and tore my hand free. "William, did you forget she had heart disease?"

During Mom's treatment, the doctors told me again and again that she could not be upset and that strong emotions could put her life at risk.

William knew all of this. He also knew she would attend our wedding. Yet, he left me alone at the ceremony, let everyone laugh at me, and pushed her over the edge on the spot.

He seemed not to grasp what I said and kept trying to placate me. "Then, I would send her some vitamins and supplements next time. Once she recovers, we will get married. Would that be okay?"

There would be no such day. Mom was gone.

I parted my lips and still could not bring myself to tell him the truth.

"Which room was your mother in? I could visit her now."

I twisted my mouth in a bitter smile and answered, "Sure, she was in—"

"William, my stomach hurts so much!" Caroline's voice cut across mine.

She caught hold of William's attention. He held her in a panic, asked what was wrong, and called for a doctor. Then, he ignored me and rushed off with Caroline in his arms.

I watched them disappear and set my hand on my slightly rounded belly.

"Nurse." I stopped a young nurse who walked by and spoke to her. "Please schedule an abortion for next week."

After I left the hospital, I went home to pack my belongings.

Five years with William had filled the place with our memories. However, since I had decided to leave William for good, I planned to erase every trace of myself from the home.

I threw out the matching slippers, toothbrushes, and pajamas.

I opened a drawer and found a photo album tucked in the back. It held only pictures of William and me, a record of our five years together.

It showed the day we confessed our feelings, the first birthday he celebrated for me, the first gift he gave me, and our first trip together, among others.

On the cover, he had written by hand, "I will love my only lover, Diana, forever."

I suddenly found it absurd. I tore every photo to pieces and tossed the album into the trash.

When I carried the trash downstairs, I ran into William coming home.

He saw me hauling so many trash bags alone and mentioned with concern, "Didn't I tell you to rest and avoid heavy work while you're pregnant?"

I said nothing and let him take the bags from my hands to throw them into the bin himself.

"Why are they so heavy? Did you clean the place?"

I nodded.

William noticed how quiet I was and assumed I was still upset. "Don't be mad, honey. I bought your mom's favorite Blue Mountain coffee. Let's visit her together."

I looked at the gift box and felt a little dazed.

Mom loved Blue Mountain coffee before she fell ill. It was pricey, and we were an ordinary family, so we could only splurge once in a while.

After William and I built a business together, I thought life would get better.

However, he didn't promote me. He sweet-talked me into quitting and staying home while he handled the earnings.

Two years ago, on Mom's birthday, I suggested he buy her Blue Mountain coffee as a gift.

He frowned and blamed me. "Coffee is all the same. Why does it have to be the expensive one? I worked hard so we could live better, not for you to buy luxury items."

Later, I saw on Caroline's social media that William had given her a limited edition Blue Mountain coffee gift set for her birthday.

By then, Mom had been seriously ill and couldn't drink any coffee. She never tasted another sip before she died.

I pushed away the gift box William held out. "She can't drink it now."

It was already too late.

William froze for a moment and then came back to himself. "Sorry. I forgot that she probably can't have coffee due to her condition."

He awkwardly pulled the box back and took my hand. "Then, we can go to the grocery store together and buy something else for your mom. How about that?"

I was about to refuse when his phone rang first.

I clearly heard Caroline's teary voice on the other end. "William, a big spider got into my place. I am so scared!"

Worry flickered in his eyes, and just like always, he turned to me and said, "Sorry, Diana. I needed to go to Caroline's place. I will go with you to see your mom next time."

He was always promising there'd be a next time, but it never came.

Thankfully, I no longer waited for him like I did before. I wouldn't give him another chance.