My best friend and I fulfilled our long-held wish a reality, tying the knot with the Waverly brothers on the same unforgettable day.

I married the elder brother, a champion swimmer with an impressive record. At the same time, she wed the younger brother, a distinguished surgeon, at the top of his game.

What was meant to be a romantic honeymoon trip for the four of us found ourselves on a five-person trip, all thanks to their bittersweet first love.

While navigating the rapids during our rafting trip, an accident caused all three women to be tossed into the water at the same time.

Without missing a beat, the brothers jumped into the water, rushing toward their first love and leaving my best friend and me to be swept away by the raging currents.

By the time the lifeguards managed to haul us out of the water, we were bleeding heavily, our bodies battered and bruised.

The emergency doctors rotated through our emergency contacts, but each call echoed in the void and met with no response.

After a long struggle, they finally reached my husband, his voice laced with frustration. "Aveline, do you honestly think you'll perish if you don't see me? Azura nearly drowned and is under observation at the hospital. Can't you show a little more understanding?"

On the other end, my best friend's husband delivered a sharp reprimand, saying, "You'd better have a solid reason for calling me, or there will be hell to pay! If this is about Azura again, save yourself the embarrassment."

The doctors shared worried looks before breaking the news. They explained that we were experiencing a miscarriage due to heavy bleeding and needed urgent surgery.

Yet, both of them chimed in unison, "Even if you're going to tell a lie, at least make it convincing. Besides, that honeymoon baby wasn't exactly healthy. Even if you were pregnant, it would have to be terminated."

The moment the surgery consent forms were signed, my best friend and I exchanged knowing glances, silently agreeing to pursue divorce.

——

As I stirred awake from the anesthesia, my first instinct was to reach for my phone and call Lennox, ready to ask for a divorce.

It was on my seventh attempt that he finally answered, his tone thick with annoyance. "What is it now? Can't you just drop it?"

We hadn't even wrapped up our honeymoon, and already, he felt this much disdain for me.

Through her fragile wails, I caught the sound of Lennox and Milo hastening to wrap her in comfort.

Swallowing my bitterness, I cut to the chase and declared, "This honeymoon is done. Let's file for divorce as soon as we get back."

At the mention of divorce, Lennox's breath caught in his throat, and he exploded with anger. "Aveline, have you lost your mind? I already told you Azura is in the hospital, and I need to be by her side!"

"If it weren't for you and Chloe pushing to be on this same boat, Azura wouldn't have fallen in the first place!" he bellowed. "You've neglected her, and now you're acting jealous? I gave you the marriage you wanted, but you're still being so petty. What's the use of it all?"

"You're completely right. The honeymoon has come to an end. You and your dear friend can wander off wherever you want! Just keep your distance from me and my brother!"

Before I could utter another word, he hung up, leaving me with the harsh reality that he had married me merely to satisfy my whim.

He probably lost sight of the promise he made, declaring he would marry no one else in this lifetime except for me.

It was Azura who proposed the rafting trip. She was adamant about embarking on the journey, brushing aside our concerns.

Once Azura declared her intentions, Lennox and Milo jumped at the opportunity, immediately making all the arrangements.

If it weren't for Azura's enthusiasm, Chloe and I would never have found ourselves on that rafting adventure.

In addition, a boat accommodating four had been the perfect setup. Azura had clearly been the extra passenger, yet it was Chloe and I who had been left to drift alone.

Once we fell into the water, the relentless rapids tossed us about like leaves in a gale, leaving us light-headed and weak from swallowing so much water.

If Chloe hadn't caught me at that moment we slammed into the rocks, I'd have ended up with my head split open.

Who would've believed that the children we once dreamed of would vanish as silently as our marriages, fading without a trace?

Chloe regained consciousness later, only to find that Milo had blocked her out, unreachable.

We sat in silence, tears streaming down our faces. Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification for a trending video.

Curious, I opened the video and found it was a viral sensation featuring the Waverly brothers gallantly saving their first love.

In the clip, Lennox and Milo united in their efforts, lifting Azura from the swirling currents, their hold firm against the fierce rapids.

As soon as Azura was brought to safety, her words about chest tightness set Lennox into a frenzy of action, performing CPR without hesitation. Milo quickly joined him, carefully tending to her barely visible wounds.

With each passing moment, viewers were filled with envy, dreaming of being swept away by the rescue of not one but two dashing men.

In the comments beneath the viral video, Azura wrote with excitement, [What can I do to repay the lifesaving favor? I'm anxiously waiting online—it's urgent!]

Almost instantly, her comment was showered with upvotes and pinned at the top for everyone to admire.

Netizens eagerly showered her with a flurry of suggestions.

[You should repay the favor with a wedding!]

[Two stunningly handsome husbands? Girl, seize the moment! Don't wait too long, or they'll be snatched away!]

Blushing at the enthusiastic replies, Azura responded, [Alright, I'm all in! Family, get ready for the wedding treats!]

Love among the three was anything but suffocating; it was the constraints of my best and I's marriages that had stifled their connection.

In the background of the video, the two of us were swept away by the rapids, unnoticed. Much like the Waverly brothers, netizens only fixated on Azura's plunge into the water.

Knowing they desired a spectacle, we decided to put on a show.

In perfect unison, Chloe and I commented on the video, [Please notify our two gallant heroes to take a break from their honeymoon and divorce us so you three can continue your journey without interruption.]

With an air of confidence, Azura proudly showcased their relationship, fully assured of the Waverly brothers' steadfast affection.

If their love for her was genuine, what prompted them to marry us in the first place?

Just as we hit send on our comment, our inboxes flooded with messages.

The relentless netizens urged us to take a back seat, while some thoughtful ones provided us with comfort.

Two days of silence came to a crashing halt when Lennox called, his voice laced with fury. "Aveline, who authorized you to spread such nonsense online? Can't you manage a day without drumming up drama over your jealousy?"

He pressed on, "With Azura unable to swim and the situation critical, were you just going to stand by if I hadn't intervened?"

"If we hadn't joined forces to save her, what would you have done if something went wrong? Would you have been willing to trade your life for hers?"

"The lifeguards had already come to your aid. Quit playing the victim now that you're fine. Did you really bribe the doctors to claim you had a miscarriage? It's time to stop the lies."

"You and Chloe better remove that comment and issue a public apology to Azura. If the netizens continue to mislabel her as a homewrecker, I'll ensure you both regret it!"

It was a rare moment, the first time he had willingly reached out to me since the accident.

His lack of concern for Chloe and me was evident, as he took for granted that we had fared well, thanks to the lifeguards and our adept swimming skills.

He seemed unconcerned that my compliance with his demands for an apology would only fuel the netizens' insistence that Chloe and I surrender our marriages.

His sole concern was whether Azura would be unfairly judged due to our request for a divorce.

But Azura's attempt to force her way into our families was little more than a homewrecker's game.

The man I had adored for five long years truly felt nothing for me.

After all that time together, I had finally succeeded in getting him to promise marriage.

Yet, within two weeks of our wedding, the joy I had imagined was stolen away by the heartbreaking loss of our child.

Perhaps the moment our children came to realize their fathers hadn't truly picked their mothers, they instinctively chose to leave.

The Waverly brothers were true to their word. They vowed to eliminate the honeymoon babies, and even if this accident hadn't occurred, the children would have found a way to slip away.

Lennox hovered, impatience etched on his face as he snapped, "Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"

I let out a scoff, meeting his gaze with calm defiance. "Are you deaf? I said we're getting a divorce."

Being with Lennox often meant silence and distance.

Even in our worst arguments, he would always remain composed, never letting the argument escalate.

The only time Lennox ever unleashed his full wrath was when Azura was involved. And, as always, I was the one who had to swallow my pride and shoulder the blame.

Out of love, I humbled myself for him, trusting that his promise to marry me would be enough to keep him by my side.

Looking back, it might have been kinder if he had just ended things from the start.

On the other end, Lennox's breath came in sharp, irritated bursts. "Aveline, I can't stand being pushed into a corner. I brought you on this honeymoon not to watch you and Azura play out some childish rivalry. Why must you be so petty? Even my brother nearly had a heart attack, all because of your reckless friend. Keep testing me, and you'll regret it—I'll end this for good."

I retorted, "Lennox, if we go through the divorce, there's no turning back for us."

Stunned into silence, he hung up in disbelief, but it wasn't long before he reached out again by video chat.

His countenance darkened, mirroring the depths of night, betraying his struggle to hold back his emotions.

"What did you just say? Divorce?" he shot back, his tone dripping with disbelief. "Is this a joke to you? First, you begged for the wedding, and now you're demanding a divorce? Do you think I'm a fool?”

“A woman like you, pushing thirty, always jealous and causing scenes, who else would marry you but me?"

For five painful years, I put up with his emotional torment, knowing he always hit me where it hurt the most.

"Who cares if I'm almost thirty? I'm not about to drop dead but trust me; men haven't disappeared. Even if they had, I'd still throw you out of my life!" I countered.

Chloe and I had come so close to losing our lives because they had turned their backs on us.

Even if it had been the last thing I did, I was determined to get that divorce.

Once upon a time, tying the knot with Lennox wasn't just a wish; it consumed me, and every thought wrapped around him.

Though my parents tried every trick in the book to hold me back, I refused to be slowed down.

If I had the nerve to marry him, I could just as easily find the strength to walk away.

He was the brick wall I had to collide with. Now that I had crashed, bruised, and bleeding, I finally saw the truth—marrying a man who didn't truly love me led to endless heartache.

Even though I often lashed out at Azura and him before we got married, I never seriously thought about giving up on what we had.

I thought that, as the first woman in his life, I held a unique place in his heart.

As I watched him swim toward Azura, casting a glance at me while the relentless current swept me away, I realized I was, at best, a comfort to him.

"Aveline, you've grown up. Are you truly willing to act so immaturely and end our marriage over something so insignificant?" he inquired.

So, nearly losing my life was nothing but a petty concern to him.

"Yes, over this little thing!" I confirmed.

Once, while hanging a gold medal around my neck, he joked that if his mom and I both ended up in the water, his speed would allow him to save us both.

At the time, I was completely taken by his charm.

I didn't need him to feed me empty promises about saving me first—who took such words to heart?

Yet, I never foreseen that he would leap to rescue his first love without a second thought when the moment of truth arrived.

To him, there was always one right answer, leaving me as nothing more than the wrong option.

Just two weeks ago, he took my hand from my father's grasp during our wedding, vowing to safeguard me for all the days of his life.

Yet, the rest of his life turned out to be a fleeting moment; just fifteen days after the wedding, he broke that vow.

"Alright, you're ruthless! If you want to leave, then leave! But don't come crawling back to me later—I stand firm in my choices!"

He abruptly cut off the video call, his face as cold as ice, simply because Azura had sweetly mentioned her thirst.

One simple word from her had Lennox ready to give her the world.

Though he was an exceptional swimmer, he failed to notice anything amiss when Chloe and I plunged into the water, nor did he see how pale I looked lying in the hospital bed.

Before Azura returned to the U.S., even if he didn't shower me with warmth, he would still stay by my side, unable to sleep whenever I caught a cold or ran a fever.

Once upon a time, we shared a fleeting love that sparkled like a shooting star.

That love had faded like footprints in the sand, washed away by the tide of time. One look from Azura, and I found myself on the brink of losing it all.

Lennox's voice boomed, echoing in the air, and Chloe, seated beside me, caught every word.

She climbed onto my bed, enveloping me in a tight embrace as her tears flowed freely in anger.

"Aveline, we were truly naïve to ever believe that a scoundrel like him could be the love of our lives."

Before I could say a word to soothe her, her phone lit up with calls from Milo.

In his effort to defend Azura, Milo had gone so far as to lift her from his blocklist.

Tears streamed down Chloe's face, each one spilling over with emotion. She attempted to decline the call from Milo. Still, her tears betrayed her, landing on the screen and unintentionally swiping it open, connecting the video.

"Chloe, do you really have the nerve to shed tears? Do you think I'll forgive you just because you've faked those red eyes after committing such a vile crime?"

"If you and my sister-in-law are so restless, why don't you find your adventure? If you wanted to party at a bar and hire male models, that's your business. But you had no right to stir up trouble and hurt Azura!"

"She poured her heart and soul into planning this honeymoon, and now she's getting torn apart online because of your antics! Have dogs devoured your conscience?"

Chloe's tears fell almost endlessly, flooding her cheeks with heartache.

Tears didn't slow Milo down; they only added fire to his relentless reprimands.

It was as though he wouldn't let up until we were on the ground, pleading for him to stop.

"Cut the tears! If you weren't my wife, I'd have the world turn on you in a heartbeat, using our fame to flood you with online hate," he thundered.

"If I were you, I'd swallow my pride, apologize to Azura, and then vanish from her sight. Do you honestly believe crying will solve anything?"

Chloe hadn't meant to join the video call, but watching her get scolded without a word in defense made my heart ache. I couldn't hold back, "Milo, you're just like your brother! Just end it already and get the divorce!"

Fighting back her tears, Chloe's voice trembled with anger as she declared, "Milo, I want a divorce!"

After the video call, Chloe shook with fury and heartbreak, her body trembling.

I pulled her into my arms, and we cried together in silence.

Who would have guessed that a swimming sensation and a famed doctor would neglect the well-being of their wife?

Their glamorous allure not only earned praise from outsiders but also swept Chloe and me off our feet.

But once the mask fell away, only we knew the truth hidden beneath.

"Aveline, let's view this as a silver lining. At least we've caught a glimpse of their true colors early on, sparing us the heartache of bringing children into a loveless marriage!"

"Chloe, it's encouraging that you see this so clearly. What worries me most is the possibility that you may cling to Milo."

Since her innocent teenage days, Chloe had been in hot pursuit of Milo.

That youthful infatuation was a cherished memory, one that had kept her on his heels for over ten long years.

Now, she stood at a crossroads, caught in a predicament that felt all too surreal.

"Aveline, a heart doesn't cool off overnight. I have no regrets about our marriage, and I won't regret the divorce either. This path was mine to choose, and leaving now is just a way to lessen my losses."

We clung to each other, sharing warmth and resilience.

Our marriage, though, had faded away like bubbles disappearing into the air. When we left the operating table, we had already accepted the reality before us.

It was a cruel twist of fate that the two children who briefly lived within us became the sacrifices of a marriage that couldn't last.

I hope their next journey leads them to a home filled with happiness and care.

Chloe and I pulled ourselves together and began preparing for the divorce.

Since our marriage was still fresh, there were no property battles to fight.

We just needed Lennox and his brother's signatures, and after two visits to the civil affairs bureau, it would all be wrapped up.

The moment we finalized the divorce papers, both of our phones buzzed at the same time.

Checking our Tiktok inbox, we uncovered just how far these two had fallen into disgrace.

They shamelessly used their verified accounts to publicly reply to our comments.

[My wife loves to stir up drama over the littlest things. If you've got questions, ask me, and leave the innocent out of it!]

[My wife and sister-in-law are both quite the swimmers. When they splashed into the water, trained professionals swooped in to rescue them, so they're perfectly fine. Don't be misled by their teasing, everyone!]

They even shared a photo with us as if to prove Chloe and I were perfectly fine.

It set off a wave of gossip, painting us as manipulative, green tea girls looking to bask in Azura's spotlight.

Once the video went viral, she quickly seized the moment, building her image and amassing hundreds of thousands of followers.

When I checked WhatsApp, Lennox messaged me, insisting on the verification code for my account, just because I hadn't obeyed him about deleting comments and apologizing.

He had the nerve to try logging into my account, planning to impersonate me and handle things his way.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly; he would stop at nothing to defend Azura.

But when it came to me, sincerity was nowhere to be found.

Every password was our anniversary date, and he had the nerve to forget them.

It was a good thing he forgot because I dread to think how he had ruined my reputation online just to win Azura's favor.

While they made their so-called righteous declarations online, Chloe and I were left to weather the flood of insults and slander without a second thought from them.

It felt as though, like when we plunged into the water, they abandoned us to be swept away by the raging currents.

[You two pathetic women, why don't you just disappear?]

[What's with the jokes about divorce? Do you see yourselves as goddesses? If you're truly brave, then get divorced. Don't push me to hurl insults!]

[You ladies, what's the issue with your husbands saving lives? Now that they're safe, why the long faces?]

[Get real, ladies—just go ahead and get that divorce. I can only imagine how bitter you both are!]

[If competing for jealousy is your game, why not team up and give my gorgeous sister-in-law a little peace?]

Though the internet has its rules, the cruelty that swept over us came without warning or justification.

As we opted for divorce following the trials of drowning and a miscarriage, the anguish we felt was a bond only Chloe and I could grasp.

Though genuine understanding might elude us, it was disheartening that Lennox and Milo were oblivious to our hospital beds.

They chose to ignore us entirely and then took to the internet, lied to us, and painted Chloe and me as despicable manipulators.

Watching the insults flood our phones, we knew we couldn't play the role of the victim anymore.

If the brothers aimed to unleash online bullying in Azura's defense, we wouldn't simply stand by and let ourselves be butchered.