I got pregnant after a relationship lasting eight years, only for my fiance to call off the wedding the night before.

When I arrived, I found him changing it to a celebration of his son's first month.

I heard his parents speak ill of me, "That Rachel Stone really embarrassed us, getting pregnant even before you got married. I refuse to have such an immoral daughter-in-law like her."

Several days later, Sean Wickham let his son's mother put on the most exquisite wedding dress to get their marriage registered.

"I have a son anyway," he chuckled. "Whatever happens to the thing in your belly ain't any of my business."

The illusion of happiness utterly shattered, I left without hesitation, heartbroken.

I didn't want this marriage or the child anymore. I’d go back to my real home in the distant north.

When I woke up at four in the morning, I was planning to call the makeup artist when I noticed that my room was exceedingly silent.

When I called, the makeup artist appeared perplexed and asked me, "But your fiance informed us last night that the wedding will be cancelled… You didn't know?"

I rushed out of my room to find that Sean Wickham was leading his parents outside, and quickly asked, "Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me that you're calling off our wedding?"

However, not only did he refuse to explain himself or apologize, he instead shot me an accusing glare. "I have to make amends to my friends since I had to call off the wedding. Would they have traveled all this way for nothing if not for you?"

Sean's parents, both of whom were dressed sharply in new clothes came over, echoing, "We're cancelling the wedding for your own good, since you suddenly got pregnant and you'd have to lie your way out of it.

"You'd have to move so much during the wedding. It won't do if you hurt your child."

And with that, they hurried outside, leaving me alone in the house.

There was no telling how long had passed when my phone jingled with a notification—Sean's parents just posted a video over a dozen seconds.

I remembered the girl in the video—Sally Holt, Sean's junior back at university.

Sean had proposed to her during her graduation, which caused a huge stir on campus.

If she never chose to head abroad eventually, I wouldn't even stand a chance to get together with Sean.

Nonetheless, the video was showing Sally receiving blessings as if she was the one who was marrying.

Then, as everyone cheered, Sean pulled Sally into his arms and kissed her passionately.

As for me, I fought back my tears as I rushed to the wedding hall.

It was a full house, with every guest offering Sean and his parents their best wishes.

"Congratulations! How lucky you are to have a plump, healthy son for your first child!"

"Your daughter-in-law is so beautiful and virtuous! A perfect match for your son!"

I watched as the cocktail dress I carefully picked was being worn by Sally, while the wedding I had yearned for so long was a party where Sally showed off her son.

As the guests looked on, a heavy golden chain was clasped around the child's neck.

I also noticed that Sally's wrists and neck were adorned by necklaces and bangles, gleaming with a golden dazzle.

While she smiled dazzlingly, I brushed my fingers against the single tiny gold bead on my necklace and laughed bitterly.

Then, I pulled it violently, feeling no sentiment as I threw the necklace into a nearby trash can.

Even so, the endless cheers and applause seemed to hammer ear drums, at once shrill and deafening.

At the backstage, Sean's mother couldn't wipe the grin off her face as she carried her grandson everywhere, before turning toward Sean and scoffing, "That Rachel Stone really embarrassed us, getting pregnant even before you got married. I refuse to have such an immoral daughter-in-law like her.

"And she still had the audacity to demand money from you! Talk about thick-skinned!"

I thought Sean would defend me, only for him to nod nonchalantly, his fingers still interlocked with Sally's.

I clasped a hand over my mouth to fight back my sobs.

Then, I rushed outside, my hand still shaking as I stopped a taxi and headed straight to the hospital.

It had been eight years since Sean and I got together, and I was convinced I would be happily walking down the aisle to marry him.

But as it turned out, it was all a one-sided wish.

With that in mind, I booked a flight that would take me back to my hometown in a week.

I didn't want to get married anymore, and I wasn't going to keep the child in my belly either.

I was just pregnant for a month, and the abortion procedure was painless and quicker than I thought.

It was only then that I remembered adding Sean's number in the next-of-kin section the last time I came for a checkup—the hospital might inform him that I came for an abortion!

As such, my heart skipped a beat as several voice messages came all at once.

"What is this text I received?! You were just fine in the morning, and now you're sending me lies?!

"I know you're upset about the wedding being cancelled, but you didn't have to go that far."

The endless blaming and lecturing left my eyes welling up with painful tears.

I had learnt his family's rules and housework, taking good care of his family just to deserve him.

But in his mind, I was always at fault.

When I returned home exhausted, he was already sitting on the living room couch, clearly having waited for some time.

However, I demanded before he could, "What's the deal with the party? Is a wedding something you can cancel whenever you like?"

Seeing that my eyes were puffy from crying, Sean immediately apologized, "You knew? Just calm down and listen."

"The hall and the luncheon had been booked and couldn't be refunded, so I thought we could just change the occasion."

Breathing a long sigh, he continued exasperatedly, "The child is mine, but I have no feelings for Sally at all. She wanted a child but didn't want marriage. So I helped her. After that, she went abroad.

"I wouldn't even know that she returned with the baby if she didn't text me last week."

That was when Sean smiled, putting a hand around my shoulder while caressing my belly, "Don't worry. You're the only one for me—we will have our marriage registered soon."

My ears were left ringing while bile churned in my gut.

Those sweet words used to be music to my ears, but it only left me sick now.

Sean watched me as I quickly picked up a bucket to retch, and brought a box of candies, smiling, "Morning sickness, I take it? I bought you some fruit candy—open wide, here's a lemon gummy."

The sourness couldn't clear off the bitter taste in my mouth, however.

That night, I couldn't sleep even though I kept my eyes closed.

Sean seemed to think that I was asleep, and went to his parents' bedroom.

I quietly followed and leaned against the door, and heard him say, "Sally was alone abroad when she got pregnant, and took care of him on her own. I can't just let her suffer out there alone."

His parents were beaming and nodded repeatedly at his words.

"Oh, Sally's much more mature than Rachel, not to mention that she's not greedy and always obedient.

"Once the child is a year old, let's buy her a house for her to settle down. She raised your child all on her own—she worked really hard."

My molars were gnashing so hard they almost broke, as I could never forget the last two years that had been sheer agony.

My parents were asking for 400 grand for the wedding, but the Wickhams refused and would only agree to give 40 grand, and that money was supposed to be used for Sean only on top of that.

The Wickhams were not rich, but his parents both taught at universities, and the money wouldn't have been issued for them.

I even got into a big fight with Sean on top of that, and our relationship had been on the brink while our wedding kept getting postponed.

Even when my parents died, they never got to see me marry.

My friends envied me for marrying into a scholarly family, but they wouldn't know the pain I had lived through.

I was planning to visit my parents' grave before I left, and was returning with their favorite flowers the day after I booked my flight.

That was when I heard a child's laughter in my bedroom, and opened the door to see a sight that sent my breath rushing out of my lungs.

My parents' favorite fruit I prepared was knocked over, and Sean's son had nibbled on every single fruit.

Sally was laughing and clapping for the boy, and bringing him more fruits that he hadn't nibbled.

"Eat up, baby! It's free anyway!"

I saw red, and didn't hesitate to rush up, pushing her off. "Stop! I bought those for my late parents! You have no right touching my stuff!"

Hearing me yelling, Sean—who had been outside chatting with our neighbors, rushed inside and pushed me to the floor, snapping impatiently, "Stop being so stingy! It's just some fruits—forget starting a fight for money, you're now doing the same over a few fruits?"

Seeing that Sean was leaping to her defense, Sally didn't snap at me. She sobbed miserably. "I-I'm sorry, I really didn't know. Have I caused you trouble, Sean?"

Sean shook his head, gently wiping her tears as he assured her, "No—you can have anything you like in this house. Those fruits are the cheap stuff anyway. If you want the good stuff, I'd even take you abroad."

My belly was left aching, while my hands and posterior were bruised.

There were pieces of fruit caking my stark-white dress, but what hurt more was the sight of the broken watermelon strewn all over the floor.

I carried it all the way back from the north ten days ago—it was my parents' favorite, and unavailable in the market.

My parents had been so worried about me when I moved south for work, insisting on moving here with me even if they weren't used to this place.

They missed the watermelons back home, but I couldn't even afford to let them have a taste of home before their passing.

My hands shook in rage even as I watched Sally and Sean dote on each other, and as I wobbled out of the room, Sally leaned on Sean's chest and asked, "Don't you think Rachel will leave you because of me? I knew it—I should stay abroad with our son. I'd be an eyesore here."

"It's fine, don't worry," Sean promptly replied. "She got pregnant without being married at thirty—no man will want her if she leaves me."

After that, Sean and I both gave each other the silent treatment.

He even moved my blanket and pillow to the living room, telling me that Sally needed the room to take care of the child, and couldn't do that outside.

And with that, the room I had designed meticulously became Sally and his son's property.

-

Three days later and presuming that I had calmed down, he drove to the bridal shop we had chosen before.

He smiled as he showed me a yellowed photo album, asking, "Check out these dresses. See anything you like?"

I frowned as I saw that the designs were all ancient.

Before I could ask for newer designs, Sean's phone rang, cutting me short.

He answered it, asking loudly, "The investment's not enough? Well, I'll try to make up for it, but I don't have much money either."

I pursed my lips, picking the cheapest dress and giving him a look.

I expected that he would tell me to pick something better, only for him to nod without hesitation. "Sure, let's go with that—it suits you. Let's take the photo soon too, or it'd look bad if you have to wear it heavily pregnant."