On our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband couldn’t come home because of a hurricane. I decided to fly over and surprise him.

While waiting in the airport lounge, I accidentally came across a wedding post from my widowed sister-in-law.

She was beaming in the photo, though the groom’s face was blurred.

The caption read: “My late husband’s brother insisted on holding this grand wedding. He even had roses flown in. If my husband sees this from heaven, he’ll finally be at peace!”

Just as I was about to scroll away, a pair of cufflinks caught my eye—identical to my husband’s.

I quickly took a screenshot and sent it to my assistant. At that moment, Ryan Walker called.

“Happy seventh anniversary, honey. I’ll love you forever.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, trying to find an excuse in my mind to deceive myself. Then the assistant sent over high-resolution photos: my husband and Sarah Lee were having a wedding.

“Ms. Walker, are you still going to Miami to meet Mr. Walker?”

My eyes instantly burned with tears, and a dull pain gripped my abdomen.

I replied, “No. Book me an appointment for an abortion.”

…

“Sorry, honey. The company was too busy that day, I couldn’t spend our anniversary with you. I’ve been drowning in guilt.”

“I rushed back as fast as I could to at least be here for your birthday today. You must forgive me.”

He had just married Sarah, yet here he was carrying a cake home to celebrate his wife’s birthday.

Ryan’s heart was big enough to fit two people.

Before I could answer, he shifted aside, revealing the person behind him.

Sarah Lee walked in smiling, carrying two bottles of beer.

“Sorry, sis, I forgot it was your birthday and didn’t have time to prepare a gift. I only managed to buy some beer. You’re not mad, right?”

The bottles matched perfectly with the ones in their wedding photos. They wanted me to use my birthday to celebrate their marriage.

I coldly refused. “I don’t drink.”

Sarah chuckled, patting me on the shoulder.

“Come on, it’s your birthday. How can you not drink at least one? If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you!”

The two of them walked in as if nothing had happened, their bodies reeking of alcohol, filling the entire room.

How thoughtful—fresh from their wedding, drunk, yet still showing up here pretending nothing had occurred.

The cake was opened—smashed, messy, with two ridiculous candles sticking out of it.

Ryan glanced at Sarah, pretending to defend himself.

“I accidentally broke the cake, honey. You’ve had plenty of birthdays, one less won’t matter. Next year I’ll get you a perfect one.”

Sarah’s hand brushed against his waist, and the tremor in his body told me exactly how that cake had gotten ruined.

A wave of nausea surged through me.

Just as I was about to slap them both, Sarah suddenly lifted a glass of beer and toasted me.

“Since it’s your birthday, sis, I’ll drink three glasses to you.”

“The first, to you—who cursed my husband to death the moment you joined the Walker family. But I don’t blame you. He simply didn’t have the luck to live longer and see more of this world.”

“The second, to you—for being so generous and skilled in training! Without your blessing, Ryan wouldn’t be taking such meticulous care of me, his poor widowed sister-in-law. He even knows which brand of pads I use!”

“The third, to you—for being such an independent, modern woman. You can live just fine without a man. Not like me—without a man, every day feels worse than the last.”

My mind went blank, as if thunder had struck.

What did she mean I cursed her husband to death?

What did she mean by my “training”?

What did she mean by me being “independent”?

Before I could speak, Sarah wrapped her arms around Ryan and punched him in the chest a few times.

“Don’t worry, sis,” Sarah slurred. “I practically watched this kid grow up. If he ever dares bully you, I’ll deal with him for his brother’s sake.”

“But wow, he really grew up well. Look at those abs—nothing like the silly boy he used to be. You probably don’t know, but when I married his brother, he even tried to steal me away at the wedding.”

With that, she leaned back drunkenly, and Ryan quickly caught her in his arms.

“I told you not to drink so much. Why don’t you ever listen…”

But Sarah pushed his head against her chest, pretending to be angry.

“Shut up! Who do you think you are, bossing me around? Call me sis! I’m your sister-in-law!”

I couldn’t stand another word. Rage rose in my chest, and with a crash, I smashed a teacup.

“Enough! Get out! Do you two have no shame?”

Sarah blinked at me in feigned confusion.

“Why so mad, sis? Him trying to steal me was years ago. Before he died, his brother asked him to take good care of me. Otherwise I wouldn’t even be telling you this.”

“I thought if you knew the stupid things he did in the past, you wouldn’t overthink his care for me now. Didn’t mean for you to misunderstand. Don’t be angry—it’s your birthday after all!”

Then she shoved Ryan toward me. “Brother, go comfort her. Women are so hard to deal with when they’re upset.”

Ryan turned to me, clearly annoyed.

“She was just being kind. She didn’t even hold it against you for ‘cursing my brother to death,’ and you can’t even speak nicely? Who taught you to yell ‘get out’? Apologize to her.”

My body trembled, my abdomen aching so badly I couldn’t stand straight.

“Ryan, are you even human? Your brother died in a car accident while out with her. I was the one who handled the aftermath, tracked down the driver, and secured her compensation—enough for her to live comfortably for life. And now you blame me?”

The room fell silent. Then Sarah’s fake sobs filled the air.

“I knew it—I’m unwanted. You’d better go comfort your wife. If she doesn’t forgive you, I’ll just end my life.”

Ryan reluctantly muttered, “Sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Was I satisfied?

He could only apologize when someone else prompted him.

Ryan, what am I to you?

He then pulled out a Tiffany & Co. jewelry box.

I immediately recognized it as a promotional gift, matching Sarah’s necklace and bracelet set.

So my anniversary and birthday present was just an unwanted freebie.

I’d rather have nothing than accept something chosen half-heartedly.

“Forgive me, honey. Sarah and I picked it out together. You’ll love it, won’t you?”

I laughed bitterly, fury burning away the last of my reason.

“Would you like a freebie?”

“Sarah, Sarah! Ryan, she’s all you think about. I’ve had enough. Why don’t you just marry her already? I’ll step aside!”

Ryan’s face darkened.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Sarah is my sister-in-law. Who marries their sister-in-law?”

I pulled out a printed high-resolution wedding photo, lips curling into a mocking smile.

“Haven’t you already married her?”

Ryan froze, his smile stiffening.

“You followed me? Don’t I deserve even a little privacy?”

Sarah waved it off with a laugh.

“It was just a symbolic ceremony, sis, to comfort Ryan’s brother in heaven. Don’t be so dramatic. Clinging to something so trivial will only hurt your relationship with him.”

Ryan’s face turned cold, his voice dripping with frustration.

“You’re jealous over this? Do you want my brother to die restless in his grave?”

“We hid it from you because we knew you’d be jealous. And look, we were right.”

“If you’re going to throw a fit over this, you don’t deserve to be my wife.”

I inhaled sharply, my whole body trembling.

“My husband marrying his sister-in-law—and I’m wrong for being jealous?”

Sarah patted his thigh, her legs draped casually across him.

“Girls get jealous, that’s normal. You can’t expect everyone to be as generous as me.”

“She just doesn’t understand your good intentions. Explain it to her, then let’s keep drinking.”

Sarah lifted his chin, pressing her half-empty beer to his lips. Ryan drained it in one gulp.

I closed my eyes, nose stinging, too exhausted to argue anymore.

Thunder boomed outside. I grabbed my bag and stormed out into the rain.

Before I could leave, Ryan seized my hand.

“It’s late! It’s raining! What if you slip? You’re being ridiculous!”

“There’s nothing between me and Sarah. And if there was, it’s in the past.”

“You’re always jealous. I can’t even take you out anymore!”

My icy, disappointed gaze swept over him.

He ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

“Sarah is my sister-in-law. My brother’s gone, so it’s my duty to take care of her.”

“You and Sarah are the two most important women in my life. And besides—we’re legally married. What are you jealous of?”

Sarah, face flushed from drinking, collapsed into his arms, looping her arms around his neck and whispering sweetly.

Ryan instinctively let me go, holding her tightly instead.

I let out a bitter laugh, stepping into the downpour as tears mingled with the rain.

I took a cab straight to the hospital.

The doctor looked at me in shock when I asked for an abortion.

“An abortion? But you were so happy when we told you you were pregnant. It’s only been a day. Why change your mind?”

“You’ve gone through so much to get pregnant. Are you sure about this?”

I had a condition that made pregnancy difficult, but Ryan loved children.

I was terrified of pain, yet for him I endured countless herbal treatments and acupuncture sessions.

Even now, my hands were covered in tiny needle scars.

I nodded, my chest heavy as if weighed down by stone.

“Yes. Please schedule the surgery as soon as possible.”

After paying, I headed out—only to bump into Ryan, scattering medical forms across the floor.

He froze. “What are you doing here? Your hair’s wet, you’ll catch a cold.”

I ignored him. As he bent to pick up the papers, my heart nearly stopped.

Then his phone rang. Sarah’s shrill voice pierced the air.

“Ryan, where are you? Your brother’s gone and you dare ignore me? You’re dead!”

If Ryan looked at the papers for even a second, he’d know about the baby.

But he just stuffed them back into my arms without a glance, then hurried to reassure Sarah.

“I’ll be right there. She’s drunk, I can’t leave her alone.”

Before leaving, he tried to placate me.

“Be good, honey. I booked a fireworks show to make it up to you. Go enjoy it—we’ll have our night together.”

Without waiting for my reply, he was gone.

Every time I needed Ryan, Sarah’s call would drag him away.

Too many times to count.