On the morning we were supposed to get our marriage license, Rylan stood me up at the entrance to the city clerk's office.

He told me, "Elise, this is Callie's first surgery. I'm worried about her. Let's get our license tomorrow instead."

The next day, we arrived at the clerk's office again, just stepping inside.

His intern called with an emergency, pulling him away once more.

"Elise, I'm so sorry, but this is serious. A patient's family is causing trouble at the hospital. Callie tried to intervene and got hurt pretty badly. I have to go check on her. We'll come back another time, okay?"

It's been five years since our wedding, and this marks the 66th time Rylan has unilaterally canceled getting our marriage license, each time because of Callie.

Since he's always busy, I guess there's really no point in getting that license after all.

I decided to refocus on my studies, heading abroad for further education. I even met someone there who shares my passions and goals.

Just as we were about to walk down the aisle together...

Rylan came chasing after me.

"Darling, when are we going to get our marriage license?"

————————

At the entrance of the city clerk's office.

Rylan and I were about to go inside to get our marriage license.

Before we could even step in, his phone started ringing.

"Rylan, I'm so scared. Some patient's family members are causing trouble at the hospital."

On the other end of the line, I could faintly hear several heated arguments - a man's furious voice and a woman's crying.

Standing close to Rylan, I heard every word Callie said to him crystal clear.

"Don't worry, Callie. I'll drive back right away."

He softly comforted Callie while completely ignoring my sour expression.

He didn't even say goodbye before turning to leave.

"Rylan, we're already at city clerk's office. Can't we just get the license first and then go?"

"Callie's at the hospital with angry men causing trouble. She can call security and keep her distance. She'll be fine."

I called out to him.

Rylan turned and glared at me angrily. "Elise, how can you say something like that!"

"Don't you know how serious it is when family members cause trouble?"

"Haven't you seen the news where angry family members stabbed the lead surgeon to death?"

"It's bad enough that you don't care, but you're actually trying to stop me from going back!"

"You've never been a doctor. You have no idea about our struggles." I silently paused, "Do you really have to go back now? This is the 66th time we've had to cancel getting our marriage license at the last minute."

At that moment, Callie overheard our conversation on the other end of the phone and said in a guilty tone:

"Rylan, I had no idea you and your girlfriend were at the city clerk's office about to get your marriage license. I'm so sorry for interrupting with my call."

"Why don't you go ahead and get your license with her first? I can handle being alone at the hospital, even if I'm scared."

Callie's words were like pouring gasoline on a fire, making Rylan feel even more torn.

"We can get the license anytime. Right now, your situation is more important."

"I'll decide when we get it or not."

After comforting Callie for a bit longer, he turned to me and said in a cold tone:

"Elise, can't you be more understanding? If you throw another tantrum like this, we might as well forget about getting married altogether."

With that, he opened the car door without looking back and drove off by himself.

Leaving me standing there, watching him leave.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Yeah, every time we try to get our license, Rylan always has some last-minute emergency. And every single time, it has something to do with Callie.

Now, he's even lashing out at me because of her. Rylan said I don't understand his pain as a doctor, clearly trying to hit me where it hurts.

How could I not understand?

I was once an excellent medical student, with the opportunity to study abroad and become an outstanding surgeon.

However, Rylan fell seriously ill just before I was set to leave the country. To take care of him, I gave up my chance to study abroad.

I sacrificed my own career, abandoning the scalpel I loved so dearly.

Yet Rylan has forgotten all of this.

Our wedding was held five years ago, and in these five years, we haven't even gotten our marriage license.

If we couldn't manage to get it in five years, then there's really no point in getting that license now.

I contacted my former mentor, telling him I planned to resume my studies.

My mentor was so excited he could barely speak.

"Good child, you've finally come to your senses. You have a great memory and steady hands with a scalpel. You're a natural-born medical student."

"It was such a shame when you gave up studying abroad and chose to get married instead."

"I'm doing advanced studies overseas now. Pack your bags and come join me as soon as you can."

I agreed, then hung up the phone and started researching the visa application process online.

Just as I finished, there was a knock at the door.

I went to open it.

Rylan was standing in the doorway with a pale-faced Callie behind him.

"Elise, why did you lock the door? I couldn't get in from outside just now."

Rylan's tone was full of reproach, not considering my feelings at all.

I looked at him calmly: "You're busy with work, and I'm usually at home alone. If something happened, I'd call you, but you wouldn't answer."

"I was worried about my safety, that's why I locked the door."

I thought Rylan would feel guilty after hearing this.

Instead, he scoffed: "What danger could there be in broad daylight? I think you're just being paranoid." Standing behind Rylan, Callie retorted with displeasure, "Rylan, how can you talk about my sister-in-law like that? Even if she's not pretty, she's still a woman."

I glanced at Callie, who had just spoken, and asked Rylan, "Why did you bring her to our house?"

Addressing this, Rylan's tone softened, "She got scared today, and being a girl living alone in the big city, she doesn't feel safe. I thought I'd bring her over to our place for dinner."

"Callie is my guest now, don't read too much into it."

I made a sound of acknowledgment and stepped aside, "No problem, come on in."

As it was almost dinnertime, I headed to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Rylan followed me in and said without looking up, "You don't need to cook today, I'll do it."

"I bought groceries on the way back. Callie said she wanted to try my cooking, I've been promising her for a while now."

Rylan's words stirred up some emotions within me.

In the five years we've lived together, I could count on one hand the number of times Rylan had cooked for me.

Even on our wedding anniversary, he only bought a gift and left it at home, too busy to even spend time with me.

Suddenly, I felt a bit ridiculous.

"Rylan, have you ever thought about how you've rarely cooked for me in all the time we've lived here, but as soon as Callie arrives, you're in the kitchen? Have you considered how that makes me feel?"

Rylan finally looked up, his eyes full of reproach:

"Elise, I've already told you Callie is my guest."

"Didn't your mother teach you to be hospitable to guests?"

"As the host, what's wrong with me cooking a few dishes to welcome a guest?"

"Do you have to be so petty? Are you really going to be jealous over something like this?"

"If you're upset about me not getting our marriage license today, you can just say so. Should I go get it with you tomorrow then?"

Rylan's string of impatient words hit me hard.

I suddenly felt too tired to argue with him and left the kitchen in silence.

I also couldn't be bothered to tell him that I no longer planned to get our marriage license.

Walking out of the kitchen, I entered the living room.

Callie was sitting there, seemingly looking for something.

Seeing me come out, she flashed a sweet smile: "Sis, where's your kettle? I'll pour some boiling water to make tea for drink."

I took out the kettle for her, and she went to the kitchen to fill it with water.

It took her over ten minutes to come back.

When she emerged, her cheeks were still flushed.

Her eyes were also full of panic when she looked at me.

She hurriedly found a table to put the kettle on and plugged it in.

"Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand. Rylan and I were just discussing some hospital matters in the kitchen."

If nothing really happened that could be misunderstood, why bother explaining it to me?

Isn't this unnecessary action exactly what would make me suspicious?

I nodded perfunctorily, not bothering to engage with her.

But Callie didn't want to let me off the hook.

After the water in the kettle boiled, she said to me again, "Sister-in-law, could you help me pour the water out of the kettle?"

"I'm holding the cup and I'm afraid I might get burned."

Not wanting Rylan to come out later and accuse me of not knowing how to treat guests, I decided to endure it for the sake of peace.

I reached out to grab the kettle and began pouring into the cup.