"Liam, can you not marry this woman?"

On my wedding day, Melanie arrived on the red carpet before me.

Her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at Liam, once again feigning a heart attack.

***

It was also on this day that my mom passed away forever, leaving me on the night of my wedding. She never got to see the day I got married.

I called Liam, but all I got was his cold response, "Don't bother me, I've been very stressed lately."

I hung up and took one last look at my mom's tombstone.

Mom had been diagnosed with acute leukemia two years ago, and her greatest wish was to see me have a happy family.

I begged Liam for so long before he finally agreed to marry me.

Now that Mom was gone, I suddenly realized that none of it seemed to matter anymore.

"Let's break up."

I calmly sent a text to Liam and then blocked and deleted all his contact information.

When I got home, I prepared to pack my things and leave this heartbreaking place.

But as soon as I stepped into the yard, I caught sight of two people flirting.

"Oh, Liam, you're so naughty! If my dress gets dirty, you have to wash it for me."

Melanie lifted her dress and draped it over Liam's head.

Liam was sitting on the ground, fixing the lawn, completely used to this.

If he had even a shred of shame, he would have pushed Melanie's dress aside and seen me.

"Just leave it there; Nina will wash it when she gets back."

He said it casually.

"Then what am I supposed to wear? Nina's clothes are too big; I can't fit into them."

As she spoke, Melanie stared at me provocatively.

Five years.

I had been with Liam for five years, and she had been provoking me for just as long.

And Liam always ignored it, only ever saying to me, "She's still a child; you have to tolerate her."

I walked around the two of them, ready to go back inside.

Apparently hearing footsteps, Liam poked his head out from under the dress, confused.

"Oh, you're back? My phone's dead; go charge it for me."

Liam spoke to himself.

"And for lunch, Melanie wants to eat your steak."

"I suggested taking her to a restaurant, but she refused, insisting that you cook it because it suits her taste."

"You've got to put in the effort to give her a good meal."

He went on for a while, getting no response.

When he looked up, he realized I was already gone.

"Oh, forget it, forget it. If she doesn't want to cook, don't force her. You can make it for me to eat, just the same."

Melanie cooed in a sickly sweet voice.

I almost vomited when I just went upstairs.

How long do these self-righteous people think they can bully me?

Liam and I met at the hospital his family owned.

At the time, my mom was already sick from overwork, and I would often take her for check-ups.

I happened to meet Liam's grandfather, and we got along very well. He often gave my mom free check-ups and waived some of the medical fees.

One day, when I took my mom to the hospital, Liam attended to us.

"You must be Nina, right? Grandpa hasn't been well lately, so he specifically asked me to take care of you."

The first time we met, his handsome face and elegant voice made me fall for him.

Later, with Liam's grandfather's help, we naturally got together.

But that was also when my nightmare began.

At first, I genuinely believed Melanie was just Liam's younger sister.

Until one day, she openly told me what she thought of me.

"Oh, so you're the woman who brainwashed Grandpa and then cozied up to Liam?"

"Your tricks are all ones I've played with before. Be careful!"

I can still remember the disdainful look on Melanie's face.

Downstairs, Liam had chased after me.

"Nina, what are you doing? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

He stood at the doorway, shouting at me.

I ignored him and continued packing my clothes.

"What do you mean?"

Liam's face darkened.

Seeing that I was still packing, he immediately stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

"Can you stop this nonsense? It's just a wedding. I'll make it up to you!"

There was a hint of irritation in Liam's words.

As if the wedding was not an interrupted ceremony, but merely a breakfast he hadn't finished.

I shook off his hand and continued packing.

Liam's patience seemed to have run out. He stared at me with a look of annoyance, as if thinking this would make me feel his anger.

Of course, I wouldn't pay him any mind. I grabbed my suitcase and was ready to leave.

Suddenly, Melanie appeared at the doorway.

Her voice came before she entered.

"Oh, Nina, I'm so sorry..."

Before she finished speaking, she subtly raised her elbow and moved toward me.

Five years—I knew every one of her tricks inside and out.

As I sidestepped, I pushed the suitcase in front of her.

Melanie, losing her balance, stumbled to the floor.

Before she hit the ground, I saw the disbelief in her eyes.

"Melanie!"

Liam rushed over like a madman to hold her.

I could hardly believe it; I almost laughed out loud.

Every time Melanie bullied me, no matter how much it hurt, Liam always thought I was faking it. But if Melanie even scraped her skin, he would treat it like the sky was falling.

"Nina! Are you crazy?"

He looked at me, enraged.

"What's the problem?"

I calmly met his gaze.

Melanie clung to Liam's hand, speaking in a soft, delicate voice, "It's not Nina's fault. Melanie just accidentally tripped. Melanie is so clumsy."

Liam's face turned dark as he carried Melanie to the bed that used to be mine.

"Nina, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Liam glared at me, his tone harsh.

He probably thought he could bully me like he used to.

That just scaring me a little would make me apologize.

"Are you blind?"

But I coldly threw this remark at him.

Liam was stunned.

In his mind, I had never once defied him!

"If you don't need your eyes, you could donate them. There are plenty of disabled people in the world."

A slight smirk curved on my lips.

Over these past few days, I handled my mom's funeral alone, while Liam stayed in the hospital with his dear sister, not even bothering to call me.

When we met again, they were flirting, and he showed no remorse for the wedding.

He even wanted to treat me like a maid, as he always had.

How could that be possible now?

Now, I had nothing to fear.

"How dare you talk to me like that?"

Liam grabbed my wrist forcefully.

"Exactly! Watch your attitude!"

"Don't forget, it's been Liam who's been supporting you all these years, and it was also Liam who saved your mother!"

Melanie kept shouting from the bed.

She was extremely bothered by her earlier embarrassment and couldn't wait to humiliate me to regain her confidence.

But no matter what she said now, I wouldn't get angry.

"You're like Alex from downstairs at our office building."

"Alex is a poodle that barks at everyone it sees."

"Oh, of course, Alex is much cuter than you."

I looked at Melanie calmly, a hint of mockery in my eyes.

In the past, I would have considered Liam's feelings and usually wouldn't bother to engage with Melanie.

But now, I made up my mind to leave Liam.

I didn't care about anything related to him, so why would I care about some manipulative girl?

"Liam! Look at her! This vile woman has such an annoying mouth!"

Melanie clung to Liam's arm, shaking it in front of her chest.

Only then did Liam realize that I seemed to have changed.

He had a dark expression, unsure how to deal with me.

"When you have time, check your phone for messages."

I glanced at the two of them holding each other and pushed my suitcase, continuing to head out.

But Liam rushed over again and grabbed me.

I pushed him away and pulled my hand back.

"This is your last warning, stop bothering me."

I pointed my finger at his nose.

Seeing the shocked and helpless look in Liam's eyes, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Five years, I had spent five whole years walking on eggshells.

Because of the difference in our families, I was destined to be the one treated unfairly in this relationship.

Everything I did had to be approved by him; I always had to consider his feelings.

From eating to traveling, I handled everything.

I wasn't like his girlfriend; I was more like his assistant.

And an unpaid one at that.

As for him, he handled everything with grace, maintaining his image and reputation, but he never considered me.

It was as if I was born to be his servant.