"You're out of your mind!" Allan's voice rose, his anger eclipsing his confusion. "Even so, Ruby at least deserves to know the truth. You shouldn't have snuck behind her back to register a marriage, then parade it to the world!"

But Robbie spoke with the tone of a man convinced no one could possibly understand him.

"Allan, that's how an outsider thinks! Lucy needs security. If I marry her and keep it secret, how could she ever trust me?"

So… all this time, he'd only been thinking about Lucy's feelings. To give her a sense of safety, he could trample on my dignity and our love without a second thought.

It felt as if a blade had pierced straight through my heart. My knees went weak; I could only lean against the doorframe, gasping for air.

"What about Ruby?" Allan thundered. "We were all classmates. I've watched you two from the start. She's my friend, just like you are!"

Robbie hesitated for a moment.

"No matter what, I need to stabilize Lucy's condition first. When she stops thinking about ending her life, I'll slowly bring up divorce. It's just a year or so. Ruby and I have been together this long. She'll wait for me."

And then, unbelievably, he chuckled. "She loves me so much she can't leave me. Of course she'll understand."

In that instant, I no longer had the strength to open the door.

I stumbled downstairs, hollow and lost, and walked away.

What gave him the right to assume I would naturally understand everything he'd done?

I drifted aimlessly through the snowy streets, memories of the past years with Robbie unspooling in my mind like an old film.

His nervous but earnest confession in the university library.

The first night we spent together after graduation, his awkward yet pure expression.

The time I prepared a birthday dinner just for him, when tears welled in his eyes as he hugged me tightly, swearing he'd never let me go.

And yet, the one I had loved and trusted with everything had driven a knife straight into my unguarded heart.

Snow began to fall harder, and people in the city quickened their steps, hurrying to find shelter from the storm.

But my feet felt heavy as lead. Snow settled on my hair and shoulders as I wandered, directionless.

The squeal of brakes cut through the night, snow crunching under tires. A car screeched to a stop beside me.

Robbie leapt out, pulling me into the car in one quick motion.

He handed me a blanket, his expression tight and uneasy.

"Baby, I called you so many times. Why didn't you pick up? It's snowing so hard. Why didn't you find somewhere to wait?"

Hearing him still call me "baby" in that same tender tone made my stomach turn.

He was someone else's husband now.

"Don't call me that. Go to Lucy. She's your wife, isn't she?"

I flung the blanket aside, opened the door, and stepped out of the car.

His car sat motionless in the snow, wipers sweeping back and forth.

In eight years, I had never been this cold to him.

I ran into the snow, pain burning in my chest, not knowing where to go.

Behind me came hurried footsteps.

Robbie caught up.

He was much taller and stronger; he seized my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

"Baby, please… don't do this. We can talk about everything. Just give me another chance. It's snowing so hard. Let's go home first…"

He used the same tone, the same sweet words I'd heard a thousand times.

Looking at his disheveled face, a damp, suffocating weight rose inside me.

The world went dark.

I fainted.

When I woke again, I was in a hospital.

My whole body ached as I burned with a fever.

Robbie sat by my bedside, clutching my hand with a face full of concern.

"You're finally awake… you nearly scared me to death just now."

While unconscious, I had dreamed of him and me walking hand in hand into the courthouse to get married, then stepping into a chapel to the sound of solemn, holy bells.

But dreams were all they were.

"I'm sorry," he began, his voice heavy with guilt. "I told you about Lucy before. We'd been together since primary school, only breaking up after high school because of irreconcilable differences.

"You have to believe me—these past eight years with you, you're the one I've loved. But when she suddenly appeared again, her wrists covered in scars… She told me if I couldn't give her a home, she'd end her life…"

His eyes, always so moving, filled with tears again.

"I couldn't just watch her die. But believe me, once her illness stabilizes and she stops trying to hurt herself, I'll divorce her immediately. It won't take long. You have to trust me."

"What if her illness never gets better?"

I fixed him with a cold, unwavering stare.

"I…" His words faltered. At that moment, his phone rang.

His expression shifted instantly, but after glancing at me, he still answered.

"Baby, I'm caught up with something. I'll be home soon, all right? Take your medicine. I'll bring you a gift when I get back. Of course I love you. Why else would I have married you?"

Though he lowered his voice, the syrupy endearments to another woman rang loud and clear in the hospital room.

My boyfriend was calling someone else "baby". He was whispering promises to another woman right in front of me.

Tears blurred my vision, spilling over before I could stop them.

When he hung up, he immediately reached to wipe them away.

"Get out! You disgust me!" I slapped his hand aside with all the strength I had.

For a few seconds, he just stared, frowning, as though unable to comprehend my fury.

"Have you really only ever loved one person in your whole life? Feelings change. Why can't you put yourself in my shoes? I promise you, once she's better, I'll marry you. It's just a year or two. Can't you wait that long?"

His voice softened again, coaxing. "Come on, let's not fight. I just wanted to discuss something with you. Lucy's wedding was arranged in a hurry… could we borrow your wedding dress? You two are about the same size. I'll make sure it isn't damaged."

I stared at him, almost laughing through my bitterness. He had the gall to make another woman wear the gown I had chosen for our marriage.

My cries of helpless rage drew the doctors and nurses. Seeing my labored breathing, they quickly drove him out.

That night, alone in the quiet ward, I unlocked my phone again. There it was—their announcement, the photo of him and Lucy proclaiming their marriage to the world.

This time, no tears came. My heart felt hollow.

If he had never truly cared about my love or my feelings, why should I waste grief on him?

He wavered between women, feigning devotion while playing both sides.

I was almost grateful to see his hypocrisy before the wedding. Thank God it wasn't too late.

Soon came the day of their wedding.

In the days leading up to it, he shamelessly asked again and again about borrowing my wedding dress.

I told him flatly, "It's not for loan. If she wants it, she can buy it for eight thousand."

"What? That's daylight robbery!" he exploded.

Over the phone, Lucy's saccharine voice chimed in, "But I want that one. The boutique dresses are filthy and don't fit right."

And in the end, Robbie hesitated, then gave in.

"Fine. Eight thousand it is. Also… we both hope you'll come to our wedding."

"I'll be there."

I gave a cold laugh and hung up the phone.

Of course I'd go.

But not to bless them.

Robbie, usually so stingy, had suddenly turned generous for Lucy. That very night, he transferred eight thousand into my account.

Every time I looked at the dress, it reminded me of him. I could never wear it again. Selling it to him felt less like betrayal of my effort, and more like cleansing.

On the day of the wedding, I dressed up and arrived at their ceremony.

The venue, the cars, the banquet—all of it had once been our shared plans, carefully debated and pieced together. The only difference was the invitation: the bride's name had been changed.

My efforts, my devotion, and my dreams had been handed over to another bride.

The moment he saw me, Robbie's face lit up in delighted surprise.

"Ruby, I knew you'd come! I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

He reached for my hand, eyes shining with emotion.

I yanked mine free in an instant.

"Holding another woman's hand on your wedding day is really improper. Aren't you afraid your wife might notice? Go on. Don't let me keep you."

With a mocking laugh, I turned and found an empty seat in a corner.

Every gaze in the hall was fixed on the newlyweds. Not a soul spared me a glance.

The ceremony began quickly.

I had spent days fortifying myself, convincing my heart I was unshakable. Yet when I saw the man I'd loved for eight years smiling radiantly at another woman as they walked down the aisle together, basking in blessings meant for us, the sting in my chest was unbearable. My nose burned, and tears threatened.

The emcee handed the microphone to Lucy. "Our beautiful bride, would you like to say a few words?"

Blushing, radiant, unrecognizable from the frail, despairing woman I'd once known, she accepted it.

"Everyone can see this ring, right?"

Her eyes flickered—deliberately, unmistakably—in my direction.

"I've always dreamed of becoming Robbie's wife. This ring was something I designed and perfected over the years. Now, I finally get to wear it as I stand beside him."

My body jolted, my eyes locked on her.

What? How dare she?

That ring was mine. I had spent years sketching, redrafting, choosing the stone, and overseeing the jeweler through every painstaking step. And now, she claimed it was her "design"?

"Magnificent! I noticed the ring right away. It's unlike anything I've seen."

"Lucy is so talented! I'll have her design my daughter's wedding ring someday."

Their praise buzzed in my ears like needles.

The emcee, smiling, handed the microphone to Robbie.

"And what about our groom. Did you know?"

His gaze flickered nervously toward me.

The moment his eyes met mine, burning with fury, he looked away. He nodded with a forced smile.

"Of course I knew. It's all a testament to Lucy's love for me."

Applause thundered through the hall. Cheers rose up.

"What a perfect match!"

"Come on, kiss! Kiss!"

Blushing, Lucy gazed up at him with wide eyes. Robbie returned the look.

And under the weight of every gaze in that room, I stood. My eight-centimeter heels struck the floor like a drumbeat as I walked to the stage, head held high.

The emcee froze, baffled, as if to ask—was this planned?

I didn't give him the chance. I snatched the microphone from his hand.

Anger ignited every last ember of grief inside me.

I drew in a sharp breath and spoke, my voice ringing clear, "I'm Robbie's ex-girlfriend. And today, I've come to offer the bride and groom my most heartfelt blessing. So please, everyone, listen up."