The seventh time I planned to register for marriage with Piero Conrad, he didn't show up again.

I was about to text him and ask when he would arrive when I stumbled upon his childhood friend's post.

[Celebrating the 999th day since marrying my dear, from the past to the future, it's always been you.]

The video showed a marriage certificate, with Piero's name listed as the husband.

The registration date was May 20, three years ago.

I realized that was why he never showed up those seven times.

He was already married to someone else.

When I saw that marriage certificate, my first thought was maybe it was someone with the same name.

But then I saw the photos of them. The face on it, the one I'd spent five years with day and night, stared back at me.

I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

My boyfriend, Piero Conrad, was married to someone else, and his wife was his childhood friend, Vivian Brett.

The date on the certificate was May 20, three years ago. The hard reality hit me like a punch to the chest.

Tears fell onto my phone screen, unstoppable.

Piero and I had been together since college, five years in total. But three years ago, he married another woman.

He'd been lying to me for three whole years.

Every morning, he'd wrap his arms around my waist and give me a good-morning kiss.

He'd thoughtfully make breakfast and see me off to work. Therefore, even though he bailed on our six previous marriage registration plans with excuses, I never doubted him.

I trusted our love so much that I thought getting married was just a matter of time. There was no rush.

I never imagined the man who was so gentle with me was already someone else's husband.

I swallowed the bitterness and continued to watch the video.

It stretched as long as seven minutes.

Photo after photo showed Piero and Vivian's childhood bond, his sadness when Vivian went abroad at 18, and their rekindled romance when she returned three years ago.

It was a perfect love story of childhood sweethearts turning into a couple.

The video had a lot of views, and the comments were full of praise.

[Made me believe in love again.]

[Childhood sweethearts are the best.]

[The old girl beats the new one every time.]

[What a beautiful reunion! Wishing them all the happiness!]

The comments stung. I could hardly breathe.

If I weren't Piero's girlfriend and that new girl, I might have been moved by their story too.

As if possessed, I paused every photo and read the captions word for word.

[May 20, 2021, first thing after coming back home: I made the boy who used to follow me around my husband.]

In the photo, Piero and Vivian were cheek-to-cheek, holding up their marriage certificate. Piero's eyes were full of tenderness.

On that day, I waited three hours at the restaurant we'd booked, only to get a text from him saying he had to work late.

When he came home at midnight, I hugged him, feeling bad that he had to work so late.

Now I realized I was the pathetic one.

[December 31, 2021, chasing the Northern Lights with him.]

They kissed passionately, framed by the dreamy glow of the aurora.

Three years ago, when Piero said he was going abroad for a week-long business trip, he was actually chasing the Northern Lights with Vivian.

Every time I brought up traveling abroad together, he'd brush it off, saying it was too far and too tiring.

Maybe in his mind, I didn't deserve that trip with him.

...

[Celebrating the 999th day since marrying my dear. Here is to forever happiness.]

By the last photo, I forced a bitter smile.

No wonder Piero stood me up again. He was busy celebrating his 999th day with Vivian, his wife, and totally forgot about me, his girlfriend of five years.

I knew even if it wasn't their anniversary or there were no other plans, he wouldn't show up at City Hall.

He was someone else's husband and couldn't possibly marry me. The harsh truth hit me, making my head spin.

Around me, couples were all smiles. I sat there alone, isolated.

My phone kept looping Vivian's video, flaunting their perfect love story. The background music was Piero's favorite song, one he'd said we'd use for our wedding entrance.

It became my go-to song, always pushing me to imagine our dream wedding.

Now that song stung my ears and grated on my nerves. Those sweet memories turned into sharp thorns stabbing my heart.

The loudspeaker called my number three times, but I didn't hear it.

A staff member tapped my shoulder. "Miss, is your partner still not here yet?"

I nodded mechanically.

She pointed to my number ticket and kindly reminded me, "You've missed your slot. You'll need to get a new number to register."

I stared at the ticket I'd carefully held, snapped out of it, and felt bitterness spread through me. My fingers clamped, crumpling the ticket.

"No need. He's not coming," I muttered. "He's already someone else's husband."

I stood up, tossed the crumpled ticket into the trash, and left.

Outside, couples came and went.

Those entering the hall looked eager; those leaving with certificates beamed with joy.

Watching them, I thought back to the six times before. I always walked in hopeful and left disappointed.

This place, meant to be full of happiness, brought me nothing but pain. It registered my emotional changes, from the regret of failed registrations to today's anger and heartbreak from betrayal.

For three years, through six failed attempts, I stayed optimistic, thinking that Piero and I had plenty of opportunities and that the marriage would happen eventually.

But today, Vivian's video shattered all my hopes. The shards tore my heart apart, leaving it bleeding.

I knew then that Piero and I had no future.

I met Piero back in college.

I was prepping hard for a job interview, waking up early to practice on the field.

One day, I heard a chuckle, and Piero stepped out from behind the bleachers, grinning at me.

"I've heard your self-introduction for days," he said. "How about practicing with me as your interviewer? It'll feel more real."

His eyes were limpid and kind. There wasn't any hint of mocking.

Blushing, I stammered my agreement.

After that, the morning practice became our unspoken routine. We grew closer, and after graduation, we naturally became a couple.

On our second anniversary, he proposed. I said yes through tears, hugging him tightly.

I was sure he was my Mr. Right, and we planned to register our marriage that year on Valentine's Day.

Then I waited all day at City Hall, but he never showed up.

That night, he hugged me, full of apologies. "Honey, I'm so sorry. Work got in the way. Can we do it next time?"

I believed him.

Every time after that, he'd miss our registration dates for various reasons, delaying it until now. I never complained, still loving and trusting him completely.

But instead of his wife, I ended up as the other woman.

As I looked at the marriage certificate on my phone, my heart was bleeding, but for those five years, I'd get to the bottom of this.

When I got home, Piero wasn't back yet.

I called him, but the phone rang once before he rejected it.

A second later, he texted: [Honey, I'm in a meeting.]

I stared at those words, silent.

If I hadn't seen Vivian's video, I might have been fooled again.

In fact, the previous missed registrations had given me doubts. But his love and care over five years seemed so real that I brushed everything aside.

It was said that once trust broke, it was gone for good.

Now I couldn't stop wondering, 'If he tricked me about those seven registrations, what about the rest of the time? Is his kindness all fake? Are his promises all lies? When he calls me honey, is he thinking of me or Vivian?'

A chill ran through me. I didn't dare think further, feeling like a hand was choking me.

This was the worst betrayal I'd ever faced.

I texted Piero to come home immediately. He replied instantly: "Honey, I'm on my way back."

The clock ticked on.

Two hours later, Piero rushed through the door. "Ugh. Work held me up today. What's wrong, honey? Something urgent?"

He moved to hug me like always. For five years, he'd been this gentle and patient.

I didn't ask why the trip back had taken so long because I had found the answer in the comments of Vivian's video. They had been at a fountain, tossing coins and making wishes.

I stepped back, avoiding his arms, and stared at him seriously. "Today was our seventh try to register for marriage."

His smile stiffened, then shifted to a helpless look.

"Every time we plan to register, work screws it up," he sighed. "But don't worry. If it happens again, I'll quit my job. I can't lose you."

I looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of guilt. There was none.

His eyes were as clear as they were five years ago, only showing frustration with work.

But I knew better. That boy on the field was gone.

Seeing my blank expression, Piero put his arm around my shoulders. "We've been together so long. Our love is already set in stone. No rush for the certificate, right? I swear, you're the only one I'll ever marry."

He always said these soothing words after missing a registration.

Before, I thought he made sense. We were like a married couple, just missing the paper. Today, I realized it wasn't just a piece of paper separating us. It was an uncrossable gap.

His wife was not me. I was, at best, his mistress.

I looked at him, expressionless. "When you say honey, are you talking to me or Vivian, the woman on your marriage certificate?"