“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.

When I collapsed in the bathroom from acute appendicitis, Ryan Walker was busy playing video games with Sarah Lee.

When I worked late into the night with a high fever, Ryan went hiking with Sarah to watch the sunset.

When I had a kidney stone attack and my car broke down in the middle of nowhere, Ryan was accompanying Sarah to Comic-Con.

His heart and eyes were filled only with Sarah.

I used to think I could endure it, but not anymore.

I opened my phone and typed in our shared TikTok group: “Ryan Walker, we’re done.”

Hours later, the breakup message remained unread.

Just as I turned off my phone, a WhatsApp group notification popped up with a video.

Sarah and Ryan, still not done drinking, were at a Bar with friends.

Sarah lounged lazily in Ryan’s arms, the backdrop a big red banner that read: Happy Birthday to Me.

She had lost a round of Truth or Dare and was dared to kiss a man for two minutes through a rice paper sheet.

The crowd pushed Ryan toward her, and Sarah lifted her chin proudly, pretending to resist.

“No way! You want me to kiss him? Over my dead body.”

Ryan smirked at her. “If not me, then who?”

Sarah reluctantly tiptoed and hooked her arms around his neck. “Fine. Like being chewed by a pig.”

The two kissed through the paper, clinging to each other so hard they didn’t even notice when the sheet tore.

Minutes later, they rested their foreheads together, panting.

Ryan stroked her lips tenderly, with a depth I had never seen in his eyes before.

Sarah shoved him away, her lip bleeding.

“You bit me, you dog! Get lost.”

Seeing someone recording, she laughed.

“Don’t film this. If Emma sees, she’ll misunderstand again. It’s her birthday today—we promised to wish her well.”

“If she gets jealous, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Ryan didn’t deny it, twirling her hair between his fingers as if to agree.

Just as I typed a response, the video was deleted.

I called to demand an explanation but got nothing but excuses.

“Didn’t I book a restaurant to apologize? Go first, honey, I’ll be there soon.”

I forced a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling voice.

“You didn’t see the message I sent you?”

Ryan sounded confused. “What message?”

A bitter laugh escaped me, my heart clenching tight. Even a breakup message could be ignored when love was gone.

I was about to speak when a woman’s voice came through the phone.

“Honey, something came up here. Gotta go.”

Then the line cut.

Since he hadn’t seen it, I would say it face-to-face.

I put on some makeup and headed to the restaurant Ryan had booked for the fireworks show.

“Hello, do you have a reservation?”

I gave Ryan’s name. The server immediately asked,

“Are you Mrs. Lee?”

I froze, my heart clamped tight by invisible hands. Forcing a stiff smile, I nodded.

The server led me to a seat. I waited from daylight to nightfall. The dishes grew cold and were reheated, over and over.

Ryan never showed. My phone remained silent.

“Would you like me to reheat your meal again, ma’am?”

I shook my head. “No. Just take it away.”

“There’s a fireworks show starting soon, would you like to watch?”

As I stepped out of the restaurant, the sky exploded with fireworks. Three words blazed across the night.

I’m Sorry…

Tears slid silently down my cheeks, a fragile hope flickering in my chest.