My Wedding, My Dad's Funeral

On our wedding day, my groom, Jason Dudley, took a phone call and, without a second thought, abandoned me to be with Wendy Sullivan.

My father, Dylan, who already suffered from a heart condition, couldn't handle the shock. He collapsed on the spot and had to be rushed to the emergency room.

In his final moments, he wanted to see Jason one last time, but every call he made went unanswered.

I fought back tears, my hands trembling as I sent Jason a desperate message, pleading with him: [Jason, could you come to the hospital?]

Jason's reply was immediate.

[Alice, you should understand your place!]

At the same time, Wendy was updating her social media with a post. [He said that in this lifetime, I will always be his first choice!]

The accompanying photo showed two hands intertwined, resting naturally on a pink bedsheet.

——

[Jason, from now on, we're done.]

After saying goodbye to my father, I sent Jason one last message and blocked all his contact information.

Jason had been my childhood sweetheart. From a young age, I'd always followed him around like a devoted shadow. If he said go east, I'd never dare to go west; if he frowned, I'd be upset for days.

I never dared to be anything less than perfect around Jason. I feared he'd find me annoying or, worse, grow weary of me.

The years when Wendy was in the picture were the hardest of my life. His smiles were for her; his worries were for her. Watching him lose his mind over her, I could only swallow my own heartache in silence.

When Wendy left, choosing her future over Jason, my heart ached even more.

I tried to be overly attentive, tiptoeing around him, catering to his every need.

Even when he told me to leave when he was angry, I wouldn't stray far, waiting until he calmed down to joke, "I'm back."

I always believed that if I was good enough, I could warm his heart.

But in the end, I was no match for Wendy. No matter how deeply Wendy had hurt him before, whenever she turned back, she could effortlessly reclaim him, even when we were about to be married!

In accordance with my father's wishes, I didn't hold a funeral. After burying him beside my mother, I stayed at the cemetery for a long time.

As I was leaving, I ran into Jason and Wendy, who was half in his arms. Wendy was clutching an urn, sobbing as she walked forward.

I considered bypassing them, but my innate pride kept me rooted to the spot.

I thought, I have never wronged anyone, so why should I avoid them?

When we came face to face, Jason's expression flashed with panic, and he awkwardly pulled away from Wendy.

But a moment later, realizing his own guilt, he scowled and put on a face of annoyance.

"Alice, are you tracking my whereabouts?"

Jason never believed in coincidences, and since he couldn't fathom why I'd be there, he naturally assumed I was trying to confront him.

I wasn't in the mood for a confrontation. Avoiding eye contact, I continued walking down the hill. A few steps later, Wendy caught up with me.

Her face was filled with guilt, but her eyes were laced with provocation. "Alice, don't misunderstand. Mia fell ill suddenly, and that's why Jason was with me. You know, Mia was our baby..."

"We're done. You don't need to explain," I interrupted, my patience already wearing thin.

I knew Mia was their cat because I had helped Jason pick the cat out. But whether the urn she was holding contained Mia or another cat, I couldn't tell.

Casting a scornful glance at the urn, I sneered.

Seeing my sour expression, Jason, as usual, jumped in to defend Wendy, terrified that I might slight her in any way.

"What's with the attitude? Wendy's trying to explain, and you're not even appreciative. It's incredibly rude."

If it had been before, I would have cried and fought for myself. But now, I felt it was all pointless.

I was just too exhausted.

"Fine, just let me go now. Can I leave?"

Perhaps my reaction was too out of the ordinary, as Jason only furrowed his brow and stayed silent.

I took his silence as consent and continued my heavy steps down the hill.

"Alice."

For the first time ever, Jason turned around to catch up with me, trying to explain himself, "Leaving you at the wedding was my fault, and I'm sorry. You know how much Mia meant to Wendy. The wedding could be rescheduled, but I had to be there for her."

His apology was nothing short of ironic to me.

So, in his world, a living person wasn't as important as a cat.

"Did she die?"

But my father had gone. I'd lost my only family in this world.

Facing my cold demeanor, Jason finally stopped, his face darkening.

He'd always been like this—if I said even one thing he didn't want to hear, he'd look at me as if I'd committed a grave sin.

In the past, I was terrified of making him angry, so I would instantly apologize and try to soothe him.

But he didn't know I'd never apologize to him again.

"Jason, stop disgusting me."

I had no desire to drag this out any further. As I tried to walk past him, he grabbed me again.

"Alice, there's a limit to how much tantrum-throwing I'll put up with. My patience isn't endless."

His patience was indeed limited—limited enough that even a stranger would be treated better than me.

I forcefully pried his fingers off and, under his furious gaze, walked away.

The moment I got into the car after leaving the cemetery, I received a call from the cemetery.

"Ms. Simmons, someone's trying to dig up your parents' graves…"

My mind went blank, and I scrambled out of the car, running back up the hill, ignoring whatever else the caller said.

My mother passed away too early, and my father had worked his whole life to shield me from suffering. Now, finally, at rest, he still couldn't find peace.

I felt like the worst daughter.

After stumbling and falling countless times, I finally arrived, and the sight that greeted me was like a lightning bolt.

My father's urn was open, and Wendy was squatting on the ground, pouring the ashes of the cat into it.

"Mia, we picked out a lovely couple for you. They'll take good care of you too."

"What are you doing?"

I stormed over, shoving Wendy aside, but I was at a loss for what to do with the ashes now mixed together.

"Who gave you the right to do this? Who allowed you to tamper with someone else's grave?" I yelled, grabbing Wendy by the neck in a frantic demand.

"Alice, are you out of your mind?" Jason yanked me away from Wendy and threw me aside.

My forehead hit the sharp edge of a tombstone, and blood smeared across my face.

When Jason picked up Wendy and looked at me, he was visibly shocked, but he kept his face stern and his stance aloof.

"Alice, apologize to Wendy, and I'll have someone take you to the hospital immediately."

I pretended not to hear, letting the blood flow as I knelt by my father's urn, trying to separate the white powder, hoping to identify which was Dylan's and which was the cat's.

"Let go of my daughter." Seeing what was happening, Wendy lunged at me, and in the scuffle, Dylan's urn was knocked over.

The wind on the hill was strong, and the ashes scattered the moment they were exposed.

"No!" I scrambled to gather the drifting ashes, but they were quickly blown away again.

I felt suffocated by my grief, my anger almost tearing me apart.

Wendy began to cry, hitting me with her hands as she wept.

"What are you doing? We just saw the couple loved each other and thought Mia would be well cared for. Why are you making such a scene? You're about to marry Jason—what more do you want?"

At the burial of my mother, Dylan didn't have a name inscribed on the headstone. He left only one line: [Bound as husband and wife, loving each other without doubt.]

After Dylan's death, since he was interred with my mother, I chose to continue that tradition.

Jason pulled Wendy into his arms, comforting her, while Wendy took the opportunity to clutch his collar, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Jason, our daughter... our daughter..."

"I know, I know. I'll make Alice apologize to you."

His voice was so soft as if he were afraid of disturbing her.

"Apologize?" I laughed harshly, pointing at my father's urn and confronting Jason. "What about an apology for them?"

"They're just strangers," Jason said dismissively, "If their family cares, I'll just pay a bit more.

"Besides, if it weren't for your scene here, their ashes would still be intact."

His cold words stunned me. I thought, How have I never noticed before how heartless Jason could be?

"Jason, you really are something else."

At that moment, my disappointment in Jason reached its peak.

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Alice, I've clearly spoiled you too much."

"You all, bring her over here. Wendy needs an apology today."

As Jason spoke, two of his bodyguards immediately restrained me and dragged me in front of Wendy.

I held my head high, even though a wave of dizziness washed over me. I refused to give in.

"I won't apologize. If you want, just kill me. If you dare."

Jason frowned, seemingly sensing something off about me. He took a step forward, trying to help me.

Wendy, still in his embrace, noticed his change in demeanor and quickly spoke up.

"Forget it, Jason. I'm fine. I'm just worried about you. Ms. Simmons always causes such scenes, and it might end up bringing shame to your family."

"No one would dare mock my wife!" Jason retorted, surprising Wendy with his response.

"I'm just concerned for you. Ms. Simmons's temper is a bit too much."

Wendy's comment reminded Jason that I had never been this stubborn before. Although he had apologized for leaving the wedding, he thought it should have been enough.

In his mind, if I had a fiery temper, then it was time for him to deal with it properly.

"Of course, I won't hit you. But don't forget, the foreign experts you need for your dad's illness still rely on my help, right?"

I stared at him, speechless and stunned.

I thought, Has Jason forgotten how my father had cared for him when his own parents passed away? My father has supported him in every possible way, even funding his business after he came of age. Countless tough nights have been spent with my father, guiding and encouraging him. In other words, without my father, Jason wouldn't be where he is today.

How dare he use my father's life as a bargaining chip?

"Jason, are you saying that if I don't apologize, you'll cut off my father's treatment?"

Jason met my gaze steadily, then finally answered, "Yes."

"Ha." I laughed bitterly, tears streaming down my face.

"Alice, I'm giving you one last chance to apologize."

"Get lost." I shouted at him, feeling too enraged to say anything more.

"I'll make you learn your lesson," Jason said, nodding as he took out his phone and dialed a number. "Zach, tell the foreign experts they're not needed. Also, cut off the special medication provided to the Simmons family."

Zach sounded confused as he stuttered, "Mr. Dudley, Ms. Simmons' father passed away on your wedding day.

"The grave you just asked me to contact is Ms. Simmons' parents'."