Dodged a Bullet

A month before the wedding, my fiancé had an unexpected encounter at an auto repair shop with his ex-girlfriend, the one he had broken up with regretfully. The suppressed emotions quickly spiraled out of control. He took her back to his place to celebrate, from the couch to the balcony, and finally to the bedroom.

He told all his friends that this was the best gift life had given him before the wedding.

"I may not be able to forget Winona, but Julia's family background is more suitable for me. She'll never know what happened between Winona and me. We're going to get married. She loves me, and I'm the best choice for her."

His voice was full of confidence, as though nothing could change his mind.

But he was never my top candidate.

After a serious illness, I followed my family's wishes and switched to a new groom.

"Heath, I want to have a child with you. I know I'm not good enough for you, and I'm not willing to settle for anyone else. Let the child be my companion, someone to walk through the rest of my life with."

I slowly woke up in Heath Grant's study, the soft murmurs of a woman's playful tone and a man's heavy breathing in the air.

Through the half-open door, I saw beer cans scattered on the floor, and two people on the couch. One of them was my fiancé, Heath.

The scene seemed frozen in time, and I couldn't tell whether I was filled with anger or shock. My feet wouldn't move an inch.

Heath had just torn open the packaging when his hand froze. He whispered, "After we're married, I'll still see you."

"But it won't be the same as now, will it? This is my last wish, Heath… Can you fulfill it for me? Just this once... let's leave each other with one last memory."

The woman bashfully kissed Heath's lips, a tear slipping from her eye, as if unwilling to let go.

Then I realized who she was: Winona Stone, Heath's first love.

A loud, deafening noise exploded in my head—it felt like something had collapsed inside me.

Since the moment I met Heath in college, I knew there was a pain in his heart that could never be erased. It was the heartache from his breakup with Winona, his high school sweetheart.

Because of their differences in family background, Winona had disappeared after high school.

Heath went through an emotional collapse after their breakup, almost giving up on everything. It was only when he met me that he began to recover.

But Winona had always been a pain he couldn't let go of.

Who didn't have a past they couldn't talk about? As long as he loved me now, that was enough.

Our family backgrounds were a good match, and our relationship had gone smoothly.

But because my father didn't approve of Heath, I had been engaged and preparing for marriage for seven years.

During those seven years, Heath respected my wishes and never crossed the line. He always said he would wait until after the wedding.

But now, a month before the wedding, I caught him cheating.

"Heath, did you ever love me?" Winona asked, choking as she embraced him.

Heath almost immediately returned the embrace. "Yes."

"Between me and your fiancée, who do you love more?"

"She's not like you."

The conversation reached my ears, and a loud buzzing filled my head. Anger and sadness took over my every thought.

I felt like rushing out, slapping them both, and leaving with dignity.

But in the end, I silently collected the surprise I had prepared in the study.

I didn't remember how long it took, but after they moved from the couch to the balcony, then to the carpet in front of the study door, I heard the sound of a hand gripping the doorknob. Winona was carried into the bedroom.

I pushed open the study door, stepping over the scattered clothes and beer cans, and left Heath's house.

I couldn't remember how I made it home, only that I had a high fever once I arrived.

The family doctor and my mother stayed by my side for three days.

"Sweetheart, have you thought this through? Do you really want to marry Heath? There are better options for you... Your father doesn't really approve of him..."

"Mom, I don't want to marry Heath anymore. We'll maintain the wedding date, but I'll follow Dad's wishes and choose a different groom. As long as it's not Heath."