My dad had uremia, and my mom had lung cancer. As they were dying, Zackary Santana and I held our wedding in the hospital room.

Just as we were exchanging rings, Zackary got a call and rushed out.

Right then, my parents, furious, took their last breaths.

My brother ran out, trying to bring Zackary back, but he got hit by a car and died on the spot.

Zackary's first love sent me a message. [As soon as I said I wasn't feeling well, Zackary came over right away to keep me company. You've lost so many times; it's time to give up.]

She attached a photo of Zackary holding her and feeding her medicine.

My hands trembled as I dialed Zackary's number.

I asked, "Why did you have to leave?"

He replied, "It doesn't matter when we have the wedding, but Carrie is sick. She can't manage without me."

...

"Zackary, let's break up," I said.

I hung up and blocked him on everything.

Ten years ago, I fell in love with Zackary at first sight.

He was a star at school—not only was he smart and talented, but he was also a sports hero and the heartthrob of all the girls.

He seemed aloof and proud, so no one dared to approach him.

But I was bold enough to ask for his number. I happily brought him water while he played basketball. I pushed my way into the student council just to get closer to him. Before long, I became his little follower.

Everyone called me a simp, but I didn't care. As long as I could be his girlfriend, it was all worth it.

We finally started dating, and in the blink of an eye, ten years passed.

From eighteen to twenty-eight, I gave him the best years of my life.

He was a picky eater and hated restaurant food, so I made cooking my mission. I experimented with recipes every day, bouncing from one cooking class to another.

He didn't like clingy girls, so I never chatted with him for long. Even when I didn't want to hang up, I would keep it brief. If I wanted to watch a movie with him, I'd book it at least a week in advance, just so I wouldn't mess up his schedule.

He didn't like dealing with chores, so I handled everything, serving him like a young master, never letting him lift a finger.

When he was in a bad mood and wanted to be alone, I would stay far away, barely daring to breathe.

I tiptoed around him for ten years.

Then Carrie Ayala came back, and I realized all the so-called rules didn't matter to her.

She could say whatever she wanted, whine, throw tantrums, and act spoiled.

Zackary just smiled at her lovingly.

He once said that first loves were for remembering, and his first love was Carrie.

They grew up together. If her family hadn't moved overseas, separating them by an ocean, I would never have had a chance with Zackary, no matter how hard I tried.

The first time I saw Zackary smile, it was for another woman.

Cold on the outside but warm on the inside? No, he just didn't love me.

It was as if my life changed overnight.

The two of us became three, and I grew more and more exhausted, always on the verge of collapse.

When Zackary finally came home, I couldn't even say a few words to him before Carrie called, and he had to leave.

The excuse was always the same - Carrie's asthma was acting up.

Once, I couldn't take it anymore and angrily asked him, "Can't she take her own medicine and call for help? Do you really have to go?"

"Yes, I do. She could die," he replied.

He shot me a cold look and dashed out the door.

He said he'd be right back, but even when morning came, he was still gone.

The same thing happened over and over again. I went from anger to disappointment, then from disappointment to numbness. Zackary never tried to comfort me, not even once.

I had loved him with all my heart for ten years, and I just couldn't let go.

I thought that as long as Zackary and I got married, Carrie would have the sense to leave us alone.

But one phone call ruined our wedding.

I would never forget the look of despair in my parents' eyes. As they lay dying, they had held on to see their beloved daughter marry the man she loved.

Their wish was shattered.

And my brother, only twenty-one, was taken from this world in the most tragic way.

In one night, the warm, loving family of four was reduced to just me.

I cried until I passed out, and even when I woke up, the tears wouldn't stop.

I had caused all of this.

The guilt would haunt me for the rest of my life.

How could I have been so blind to fall in love with a man like Zackary?

As I watched my parents and brother being pushed into the cremation chamber one by one, turning into ashes, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

I had no tears left. I could only howl bitterly.

Three small urns became their resting place.

I carefully packed them into my bag and took a taxi home to pack my things.

My parents used to say that after death, one should return to their roots. I needed to take a train back to our hometown to arrange their funerals.

I packed a few things and opened the door, only to see Zackary and Carrie step out of the elevator, laughing and chatting.

Zackary's smile froze, and he frowned. "Are you running away from home?"

I didn't say a word and tried to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.

He said, "Just because the wedding didn't happen, you're making a fuss about breaking up and running away from home, aren't you?"

His casual tone infuriated me, and just as I was about to lash out, Carrie interrupted with a sarcastic tone, "Norma, let me explain. I've been sick these past few days, and Zackary took care of me, which disrupted your wedding plans. I'm really sorry."

Carrie affectionately hugged Zackary's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.

They looked like a close couple.

"There's no need to explain," I said. "Zackary and I have already broken up. From now on, even if you two are together 24/7, it has nothing to do with me."

Zackary's face darkened instantly. "Norma, can't you speak nicely? Why are you being so sarcastic? You weren't like this before."

I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I wasn't like this before because I was stupid and blind."

This was the first time I had ever snapped at him.

Zackary was taken aback and finally realized something was off with my mood.

He gently brushed off Carrie's hand and tried to hug me, but I dodged him.

He said, "Can't you stop making a scene? Did your parents get upset and yell at you?"

He softened his tone to coax me.

But it was too late. I didn't care anymore.

Before I could say anything, Carrie snorted, "They should be grateful instead of upset. Their family has been poor for generations, and their daughter marrying into the Santana family should be a dream come true. A golden catch like Zackary isn't something just anyone can snag."

Her words were full of sarcasm, but Zackary didn't seem to mind.

"I'll go explain to your parents," he said. "They're usually easy to talk to."

I instantly broke down, my voice trembling. "Just because they're easy to talk to, you think you can hurt them again and again? You promised to visit them, but you always broke your promises. Seeing that they didn't blame you, you thought you could even cancel the wedding halfway?"

"I'll go apologize to them right now," he said. "I promise to arrange a grand wedding soon. That should be enough, right?"

He thought he was giving me an easy way out, and I should just accept it.

He was wrong.

Dead wrong.

I scoffed, "No need."

Every word from him made me sick.

Seeing him blocking the elevator, I turned and headed for the stairwell.

Behind me, Carrie called out, "Norma, stop right there. If you're really running away from home, I'll admire your guts. But you must leave Zackary's things behind. You've been eating his food, drinking his drinks, and using his things for years. If you have the guts, don't take anything and earn your own way."

She clung to Zackary's arm again, acting like the hostess of the house.

I shot back, "These are all my things. Not a single one belongs to Zackary."

"I don't believe you," Carrie sneered.

She turned to look at Zackary.

Zackary stared at me with a poker face.

At that moment, my heart felt like it was being stabbed.

"Zackary, you don't believe me either, do you?" I asked.

He didn't say a word.

His silence was like a slow torture, cutting through my heart. My world turned gray.

Carrie had insulted my parents, and he said nothing. Now she was accusing me of stealing his things, and he still said nothing.

It turned out that in his eyes, my family and I were so worthless.

I loved Zackary for ten years. They said time would tell everything, I thought he knew me well enough to know I wouldn't take his things.

My once-firm belief crumbled in an instant.

The whole world turned gray.

Seeing my pale face, Carrie thought she had hit the mark and gloated, "If you haven't taken Zackary's things, open your backpack and suitcase and show us. If you don't dare, it means you're guilty."

"Why should I?" I shot back.

I had lost my loved ones, and I was heartbroken. Why should I continue to let them bully me?

Carrie turned to Zackary and said, "See, she's guilty. Go inside and check if the bank card and valuable items are still there. If they're not, it must be Norma who took them."

Zackary gave me a look, signaling me to do as Carrie said.

It was ridiculous how a man could spoil a woman so shamelessly, without any sense of right or wrong.

I had been too compliant in the past, making Zackary think I was a pushover.

For Carrie's happiness, he disregarded my dignity.

Ten years of my youth were wasted.

I turned to leave, but suddenly, Carrie rushed over and grabbed my backpack.

The strong force made me stumble and fall to the ground.

She said, "Still trying to run? Zackary is too nice, but I won't let you off. Zackary supports your whole family, and you still have the nerve to steal his things. Hand them over!"

Carrie was convinced that my backpack contained something suspicious and unzipped it.

I desperately tried to pry her hand away, not wanting her to disturb my family's peace.

She wrestled with me, cursing, "What's this bulging thing inside? Did you steal a lot of jewelry from Zackary? Are you planning to squander it with your parents? Zackary's money isn't easy to come by. You and your family are leeches."

I slapped her across the face.

The force was so strong that half of her face visibly twisted, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

She froze for a moment, then burst into tears.

She said, "Zackary, did you see that? This bitch, hit me. She must have been caught red-handed, and she's so angry."

Carrie cried harder and harder, then started gasping for breath.

"Medicine... quick..." she mumbled incoherently.

Zackary quickly pulled out an asthma inhaler from his pocket and handed it to her.

Seeing how worried he was, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

I had loved him for so many years, but even when I was very sick, I never saw him this worried.

The details revealed his true feelings.

"Norma, you're the first person to ever hit me. You hit me, and I'll make you pay," Carrie shouted.

She broke free from Zackary's embrace and rushed towards me like a madwoman.

I thought Zackary would stop her, but instead, he held me back.

He said, "Carrie is sick, don't provoke her."

I retorted, "So, you're saying I should let her hit me back?"

Zackary fell silent again.

His silence was deafening.

I thought I would be upset, but at that moment, I felt nothing.

Carrie kept hitting me.

I endured the stinging pain on my cheeks, staring blankly at the beautiful but twisted face in front of me. I remembered the moments I had spent with Zackary over the past ten years.

He said he loved me. He said he would marry me and would make me the happiest woman in the world.

But now, he was holding me down, letting another woman slap me.

My life had become a complete joke.