"How did your parents raise you?!"

Olivia’s Dad voice boomed with anger.

"You don’t even understand the most basic decency. How can someone like you marry into our family?"

I took a deep breath.

"I'm not marrying Olivia. If you're done, please step aside."

"You—!"

Their expressions shifted instantly, clearly shocked.

The always-compliant me had finally spoken with conviction.

I didn’t spare them another glance.

Stepping around them, I walked straight toward the dressing room.

Behind me, Olivia’s Mom shouted furiously, “Uncultured brute!”

Inside the dressing room, someone was already waiting.

She wore a sleek designer gown that hugged her perfect figure, the soft lighting tracing the contours of her elegant face.

Only the dark circles under her eyes betrayed her—she hadn’t slept well.

When she saw me, she approached with her usual graceful air, a familiar sweet smile tugging at her lips.

I turned my face away. “Didn’t someone swear they’d never attend my wedding?”

She stepped in closer, her warm breath brushing against my ear.

As our eyes met, I suddenly saw the stubborn teenage girl from a decade ago.

"Alex," she whispered, "a bet is a bet—you lose, you pay."

I pressed my lips together, silent.

She instantly grew anxious. “You forgot?!”

“I don’t care,” she blurted.

“Three days from now, we’re getting married. If you don’t show up..."

She hesitated, as if trying to gather courage.

"I’ll go straight to the Alex household and steal your household registry myself!”

Before I could reply, she spun on her heels and darted out, clearly afraid I’d reject her.

I couldn’t help it—I laughed.

This fool. Of course, I remembered the bet.

Our families were close—we’d grown up together. Too familiar to be lovers, or so I thought.

Ten years ago, she’d confessed to me. I told her it was better to stay friends. She was heartbroken and challenged me to a bet. I lost.

I had just changed out of my wedding suit when Olivia sent a photo.

My belongings—thrown out like trash—were piled in front of the villa.

Most glaring among them was the hand-sewn wedding quilt from my mother, stuffed into a clear plastic bag, its vibrant red fabric practically glowing under the harsh sunlight.

“Come get this immediately.”

“If you don’t, I’ll tell Mrs. Olivia to throw it all away.”

My fingers turned cold as I stared at the screen.

Olivia knew exactly where to strike. I could leave everything else behind—but not that quilt.

“I’m coming,” I replied.

My mother had worked on that quilt for three months.

She didn’t even know how to sew, yet her fingers were pricked and bloodied.

The night before the wedding, she handed it to me with a soft smile.

“My son, be happy. For the rest of your life.”

But when I arrived at the house, the courtyard was empty.

It had only been thirty minutes since her message. I told her I was coming.

Was she really in such a hurry to erase me?

Anger surged through me. I shoved the door open and stormed inside.

And then I froze.

It felt like falling into an icy lake.

Olivia sat on the edge of the dining table.

While her brother, Danny, stood beside her, one hand gently cradling her waist, his cheek pressed lovingly against her swollen belly.

His expression was so soft it pierced straight through me.

“Olivia” Danny whispered, eyes bright. “The baby just kicked.”

A smile spread across Olivia’s face—a smile I had never seen before. Her voice turned warm, tender.

“So naughty... Just like you were as a child. If only he had your eyes.”

Danny chuckled quietly.

Olivia leaned in, dropping a kiss on his lips. Then she murmured with a hint of guilt,

“Do you really want to leave after the baby’s born? You could stay... help me raise him. A baby this small deserves to grow up with his real father.”

Danny gently pressed a finger to her lips and shook his head.

“Olivia... If I stay, what about my brother-in-law?”

The word “brother-in-law” made her visibly flinch. Her smile faltered. Darkness crept across her face.

“Him? Saying 'break up' now is just a bluff. Once the child is born, he’ll come crawling back, begging to help raise it. Guys like him—sons of businessmen—only care about profit. Dignity? He doesn't even know the word.”

Olivia laughed scornfully.

“Have you forgotten how desperate he was to be my boyfriend? That smug, arrogant face of his—ugh, I feel sick just thinking about it.”

My tears rolled down in silence. So that moment—my sincere, trembling confession—had disgusted her for years.

Olivia’s family is the most prestigious artist in Oxford, and Olivia, the youngest calligraphy master, its proudest gem.

Five years ago, she approached my father for investment in the academy with her calligraphy portfolio.

My dad was so impressed, he introduced her to me.

I fell for her at first sight.

I insisted on learning calligraphy from her, using every excuse to get close.

She snapped at me. “Stupid. No talent!”

I grinned and joked, “Then be my girlfriend. That way, we’re a perfect match.”

She looked at Danny, who was bent over writing silently.

Then, all of a sudden, she grabbed my hand, smiled bitterly and said, “Okay.”

I was ecstatic. I hugged her, clueless to the way Danny suddenly stormed out, or how her body went stiff in my arms.

Only now do I realize—she never truly had me in her heart. It was always Danny.

No wonder she never taught me how to write, never let me into her study.

My chest ached. I wanted to turn and leave, but then I remembered—the wedding quilt. My mother’s quilt couldn't be thrown away.

“Alex!” Olivia snapped suddenly, turning her head and curling her lips into a mocking sneer.

“What are you doing, lurking at the door? Regretting it now? After I threw all your junk out?”

I clenched my fists. “Where’s the wedding quilt? Give it back.”

She froze for a moment. Her face darkened. “It’s just a stupid blanket. Why should I care?”

“That quilt was sewn by my mother.” My voice trembled.

“Just give it back. I’ll leave immediately.”

Her brows knit together as she looked at me like I was insane.

“You’re crying? Over that? What’s wrong with you?”

“It matters!” I shouted. The tears I’d been holding back finally fell.

Olivia groaned in frustration, rubbing her temple, clearly trying to come up with a response.

Just then, Danny suddenly chimed in, as if a lightbulb went off in his head.

“Brother-in-law, don’t yell at Olivia,” he said hurriedly. “I had the maid move your things into the guest room.”

As he spoke, his fingers gently caressed Olivia’s belly. His eyes turned red.

“Brother-in-law… if this is because of the child… I–I’ll ask Olivia to abort him. He was a mistake anyway. No one wants him...”

He broke down before he could finish.

“I won’t allow it!” Olivia’s voice shattered the air. She trembled violently and leaned into Danny’s arms, glaring at me with fury.

“You can leave. Leave as far as you want—but don’t you dare lay a hand on my child! You two are all I have left!”

“Alex, if this is why you came here—then get the hell out!”

I laughed coldly and turned without a word, walking to the guest room.

There, the wedding quilt lay crumpled on the floor, stained and covered in cigarette butts.

The embroidered dragons and phoenixes were blackened, filthy.

I pointed at it with trembling fingers. “Danny, explain.”

He shrank back, guilt all over his face.

“I didn’t mean to… I thought it was just garbage.”

He bent down. “Don’t be mad, brother-in-law. I’ll clean it up for you.”

But just as he reached out, Olivia lunged over and shoved me hard.

“Don’t touch it! Don’t get your hands dirty!” she screamed.

My head slammed into the bed frame.

White-hot pain exploded through my skull and warm liquid trickled down the side of my face.

I didn’t make a sound. I simply looked up at Olivia and smiled, wondering…

Did she even have a heart?

Olivia clutched Danny’s arm, her eyes cold, sharp, filled with a disgust so raw it pierced right through me.

“How much is it? I’ll pay!” she snapped.

“I’m begging you—stop tormenting me and my brother over such petty things. What, does that make you feel powerful? Are you proud of yourself?”

It was as if someone had driven a stake through my chest.

She had always treated me with indifference… but never with this kind of contempt.

Now, it was clear—she hated me.

Suddenly, everything felt meaningless.

Why was I still standing here, still hoping for anything from her?

I gave in.

I didn’t want the dirt.

I didn’t want the past.

And I sure as hell didn’t want her.

Forcing myself upright, I said quietly, “Olivia, I don’t lack money.”

Just as I turned to leave, she grabbed my arm.

Her expression shifted, softening with a strange helplessness.

“You’re just upset today,” she said.

“Go back to your family for a few days. I’ll come pick you up in three.”

I yanked my arm free and left without looking back.

This so-called home we built over the years… I was just a guest passing through.

***

Alex Family Residence…

The wedding drama—I had already explained it all to my parents. They weren’t surprised.

Seeing me come through the door, my mother let out a long sigh of relief.

“Son,” she said, clasping my hands, “thank God. If all this had come out after the wedding… what would you have done?”

She shook her head. “That Olivia’s family… always looking down on us for being in business, calling us vulgar. But look at them—scholars raising such shameless people!”

My father let out a tired breath.

“Let it go,” he said. “Our son’s hurting enough as it is.”

Then he added, “I’ve already told my assistant to pull all investments from the academy. From today onward, our family has nothing more to do with their family.”

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to bring up Emily—until my mom spoke again.

“Oh, by the way—Emily dropped by today. She even brought her dowry.”

She took out a small velvet box from the coffee table drawer.

“That girl doesn’t waste time.”

Inside the box was a pair of ancestral jadeite pendants, smooth and flawless.

Only then did it truly hit me—Emily was serious about the wedding in three days.

That night, my phone buzzed. A message from Danny.

[Brother-in-law, come back.]

[I’m moving out. I’ll convince Olivia to abort the baby.]

[You’ve been with her for five years. I can’t be the reason that falls apart. I’d never forgive myself.]

I stared at the screen and scoffed. If he wanted to put on a show, let him do it for his sister.

Why drag me into it?

I typed two words: [As you wish.] Then I blocked him.

But even after all that, I couldn’t shake the dull ache in my chest.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the silent city lights, feeling hollow.

Just then, my phone buzzed again—a video call.

Emily.

Her face filled the screen, radiant and full of mischief.

“Alex” she said, her eyes sparkling, “Give me a heart.”

I blinked. “What? Why are you—what heart?”

She pouted. “I don’t care! I want one now!”

I chuckled despite myself and raised my fingers, forming a heart. Goosebumps prickled up my arms—this was so corny.

She gasped dramatically, clasped her hands over her heart and shut her eyes like she’d been struck by Cupid himself.

Then, peeking one eye open, she gave me a playful wink.

My heart skipped a beat.

“Now,” she whispered, “look out the window. Your return gift.”

The call ended.

And then—The sky outside suddenly lit up.

Hundreds of drones rose into the air, forming glowing hearts… then slowly shifting into a line of shimmering words:

[Alex, Happy Birthday.]

Tears blurred my vision.

The absurdity of today had made me forget my own birthday.

But she remembered.

It was flashy, a little cheesy—but her sincerity? I felt it. I cherished it.

And then I thought of Olivia.

Every year, she scribbled a plain “Happy Birthday” in a notebook. No name. No warmth. Nothing.

Emily, in her lighthearted way, had shown me more love in one night than Olivia ever had in five years.