That night, Diana didn't come home, and I didn't bother calling to ask where she

was.

I already knew what she was doing from Ian's social media.

After leaving the clinic that afternoon, they went straight back to Ian's house

to tell his family the news of the pregnancy.

In the photos, Ian's grandmother was holding Diana's hand affectionately, saying

something, while Diana rested her other hand gently on her stomach, smiling with

a tenderness I rarely saw.

In the five years we had been together, Diana had only visited my family's house

once, right after accepting my proposal.

Even though my parents lived less than a thirty-minute drive away, she had never

once initiated a visit before that. She claimed she didn't like being around

older generations; it made her uncomfortable.

And during that one visit, her attitude was strictly polite—nothing like the

genuine warmth she was showing Ian's family in those pictures.

I closed my eyes, forced down the bitter taste in my throat, and locked my

phone.

The next day, I met up with a few friends and broke the news that the wedding

was off.

Originally, Diana had said she hated weddings. She thought they were just

meaningless formalities. It was only because of my persistence that she

reluctantly agreed to a small ceremony, inviting only our closest family and

friends.

Everyone in our circle knew how much I loved her. Hearing that the wedding was

canceled left my friends in shock.

"Haven't you been crazy about Diana for years? Why give up now?"

An indescribable bitterness welled up inside me.

Severing a twenty-year bond... how could it be easy?

But the truth was, this relationship had been completely one-sided from the very

beginning. From start to finish, I was the one chasing after Diana. And she

never once slowed down for me.

I didn't care at first. I told myself that since I had finally gotten her to say

yes to marrying me, I could win her heart after the wedding. I was willing to

wait. Wait for the day she’d completely open up to me.

But everything changed six months ago when Ian—her so-called "savior"—showed up.

I finally realized that Diana wasn't cold and ruthless to everyone. Around Ian,

her expression was always soft. She never held back her smiles.

But with me, I was forever just a supporting character in her life.

What made it unbearable was how she pretended to ask for my consent, while

secretly going through with the artificial insemination behind my back.

That was the moment I finally understood: there was no future for me and Diana.

I didn't tell my friends the whole truth. I just said I was taking a new

hospital position and would be off the grid for long stretches of time. To make

it up to them, I stayed out late drinking before finally heading home.

When I walked into the apartment, Diana had just gotten back too.

She smelled the alcohol on me, frowned, and took a few steps back. Covering her

nose and mouth with one hand, she said impatiently, "Stay away from me. Don't

get that alcohol stench on me."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She was probably worried the smell of alcohol would affect the baby. After all,

she was pregnant now.

I didn't say a word. I just turned around and went into the bathroom to take a

shower.

When I came out, Diana was sitting on the sofa, texting furiously on her phone,

her eyes brimming with a smile.

I glanced at her and planned to head straight to the bedroom to sleep.

To my surprise, she suddenly called out to me. "There's something we need to

discuss."

I stopped in my tracks.

The last time I heard that exact phrase was a month ago, when she first brought

up having a child with Ian. We had argued for an entire month after that.

Now that she was already pregnant with his child, what else was there left to

discuss?

"Let's not go take the wedding photos tomorrow."

I glanced at the calendar on the desk. Under tomorrow's date, the words "Wedding

Photos" were clearly written.

I didn't know why Diana was suddenly canceling the shoot, but I had already

planned to walk away from this marriage anyway. Even if she hadn't brought it

up, I would have found an excuse to cancel. Now that she was the one suggesting

it, it not only saved me the trouble but actually brought me a sense of relief.

I nodded, my tone perfectly calm. "Alright. I'll call the photographer and

cancel."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Diana froze. She clearly hadn't expected me

to agree so readily.

She paused, then barely masked a flicker of unease. "You don't need to cancel

it."

She continued, "Ian said he might never get the chance to get married in his

lifetime. He wants to take a set of wedding photos with me, just to feel like

he’s been married once so he won't have any regrets."

"Let Ian take the photos with me tomorrow. We can always do ours later."

Her tone was flat and casual, like she was deciding what to have for dinner. As

if this was the most normal suggestion in the world. It was exactly like that

day a month ago when she told me about the artificial insemination. On the

surface, she was "discussing" it with me, but her words made it clear she had

already made her choice. She was just letting me know.

But what she didn't know was that we didn't have a "later."

I gave a soft reply: "Okay." Then I turned around and headed to the bedroom to

rest.

The wedding wasn't happening anyway. Who Diana took wedding photos with had

absolutely nothing to do with me anymore.

Watching my back as I walked away, a trace of inexplicable anxiety crept into

Diana's chest.

I was far too calm. I hadn't even asked a single question. All the excuses and

arguments she had prepared were completely useless. She had expected me to get

emotional, to interrogate her about this sudden decision, but I gave her no

reaction at all.

The next morning, I woke up just in time to see Diana getting ready to leave.

As she slipped on her shoes, she instructed, "After the photoshoot, Ian and I

are going to take a little vacation. He’s always wanted to visit Hokkaido, so

I’m going with him."

"Let’s just keep the wedding simple. I don’t have time for rehearsals or dealing

with the setup. You handle the decisions; you don’t need to ask me."

I stared down at my toast, chewing slowly, and replied in a detached voice,

"Okay."

Keep it simple.

This wedding wouldn't just lack photos, guests, or an officiant. It wouldn't

have a groom, either.

Seeing me eat my breakfast so calmly, Diana thought for a second and added,

"After the wedding, let's go to Europe for our honeymoon. I remember you've

always wanted to go."

In the past, hearing her bring up a honeymoon on her own would have made me

ecstatic. I would have started planning the itinerary immediately. After all, I

had begged her to travel with me countless times, but she always refused, saying

she didn't like leaving the city and found traveling too exhausting.

Now, I just focused on my bread, showing absolutely no reaction.

Diana wanted to say something else, but when she glanced at the clock on the

wall, she hurriedly opened the door to leave. "We'll talk when I get back," she

threw over her shoulder.

I picked up the calendar on the table and used a marker to draw a huge X over

the words "Wedding Photos."

Twelve days left.

After breakfast, I started cleaning the apartment, taking the opportunity to

throw out unnecessary things.

The photo album that held no more than five pictures of us, the dust-covered

projector in the corner, that set of matching couple’s pajamas we never wore...

In our five years together, every single item in this place was something I had

carefully picked out and slowly accumulated, turning an empty apartment into a

warm little home.

But if you looked closely, you'd realize Diana had never used most of it.

She used to say that even though we were dating, she was still an independent

individual. She hated matching couples' items because they made her feel tied

down.

Since that was the case, I might as well clear them out early, and let those

memories fade into dust.

Over the next week, Diana still didn't come home.

But I knew exactly what she was doing. With Ian posting every little detail on

social media, it was impossible not to know.

They soaked in hot springs, looked at the ocean, and took photos together at

sunrise...

Scrolling through my feed, I saw a completely different side of Diana once

again. It turned out she was capable of acting like a normal woman in love.

I hadn't been idle those few days either. There was a lot of stuff in the

apartment, and it took me several days to clear it all out completely.

I also found time to visit my parents, telling them I was heading to a medical

research institute in Milan and that it would be hard to keep in touch for a

while.

My father looked surprised. "Aren't you and Diana getting married soon? Are you

two going to live apart after the wedding?"

My mother looked worried. She grabbed my hand and urged, "Think about this

carefully, Nathan. You and Diana finally made it this far. I'm afraid if you go

off to do medical research, she won't agree. She might even cancel the wedding

and break up with you..."

I understood my parents' concerns.

They had seen my relentless devotion to Diana over the years, and they were well

aware of her coldness toward me. My parents had subtly advised me in the past,

telling me that I didn't hold much weight in her heart and urging me to

reconsider. But back then, I was full of confidence, convinced I could change

her and make her fully accept me. So, they eventually stopped pushing the issue.

But now, the one deciding to cancel the wedding was me.

When I told my parents my decision, they were silent for a long time.

I didn't mention that Diana was already pregnant with Ian's child; I was afraid

they wouldn't be able to handle the blow. I simply told them I wanted to

continue my career in medicine and contribute to the field.

Finally, my father sighed, patted me on the shoulder, and said, "As long as you

won't regret it yourself."

After returning home, I called my best friend, Lucas, to help me throw out all

the boxes I had packed. The cardboard boxes were piled high in the living room,

taking up a huge amount of space.

We went up and down the stairs a few times until we finally dumped all the boxes

into the trash. Suddenly, the apartment felt incredibly empty.

Lucas looked at the bare room, shaking his head in disbelief.

He still remembered how, just two months ago, when Diana finally accepted my

proposal, I dragged him out to drink all night, excitedly telling him my dream

had finally come true.

He couldn't believe that only two months later, I had decided to call it off.

"You're actually serious? I thought you were joking when you said the wedding

was off," he said, staring at me in shock. "I've watched you chase Diana for

years. What the hell happened? Why are you suddenly letting go?"

Maybe it was because I was leaving soon, but I suddenly felt the urge to spill

everything.

I told Lucas everything that had happened over the past month—Diana, Ian, and

the baby.

When I finished, Lucas swore loudly. "You treat her like gold, and she gets

knocked up by another guy right before the wedding, and expects you to just

accept it? What the hell is wrong with her?!"

I looked down, swallowing the bitterness. "Who knows. She says Ian is her

savior, and she's just fulfilling his dying wish."

Lucas's face twisted with anger. "But you're her savior too! How could she do

this to you?!"

I didn't answer.

Five days before the countdown hit zero, I submitted my resignation to the

hospital.

Back then, to stay with Diana, I had given up the opportunity for advanced

medical studies and followed her to Manhattan, becoming an attending physician

just to remain in this bustling city.

When my colleagues saw my resignation, they were all surprised.

"Why are you suddenly quitting, Nathan?"

"You just handed out wedding favors a few days ago. Are you planning to become a

stay-at-home husband?" one colleague joked.

I held my files, smiled faintly, and shook my head. "No. The wedding is

canceled."

When I got home and pushed open the door, I saw Diana and Ian sitting on the

couch, talking in low voices. I hadn't seen her in a week.

Seeing the folders in my arms, Diana subconsciously asked, "What are you doing

with all that?"

I gave a random excuse: "Just some old files I don't need. Bringing them back to

throw away."

Diana nodded, then scanned the room, looking slightly confused. "I’ve only been

gone a week. Why does it feel like there's less stuff in here?"

I took the folders into the bedroom to put them away, replying calmly, "I just

cleared out some things we don't need."

Diana seemed like she wanted to say something else, but Ian interrupted her.

"Nathan, Diana’s been working so hard taking care of me on our trip. Thank you

for letting her take wedding photos with me. You really made my dream come

true." His tone carried a hint of smugness.

"How about I treat you both to dinner? Think of it as a thank you for taking

care of me. I might be a burden to you two for a while longer, so I hope you

don't mind, Nathan."

I had no interest in getting involved in some pointless power struggle with him.

In five days, I’d be completely out of Diana's life. Right now, I just wanted to

wrap things up smoothly so I could leave quickly.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Ian instantly put on a hurt expression.

"Diana, is Nathan upset? I know you guys are getting married, but..."

Hearing Ian's words, Diana frowned immediately. She shot me a look of

displeasure. "Ian genuinely wants to thank us. Why are you giving him attitude?

It's just dinner. It's not like he's going to poison you."

Before I could even speak, Diana had already labeled me the "jealous bad guy."

In the end, I was dragged to the restaurant by Diana.

When the waiter came to take our order, I had barely opened the menu before

Diana spoke up. "Nothing too oily or spicy, and no cilantro in any of the

dishes."

When the food arrived, Diana thoughtfully placed food on Ian's plate, then

pushed a plate of prawns toward me.

"Ian can't eat seafood right now. I ordered this specifically for you."

Looking at the prawns, I suddenly lost my appetite entirely and put down my

fork. "I'm allergic to seafood."

Diana didn't even remember my seafood allergy, yet she knew Ian's dietary

restrictions by heart. She even remembered that he hated cilantro.

Diana froze. When she looked at me, a flash of guilt crossed her eyes. She

quickly ordered a few more dishes.

But I didn't touch my food. I just sat there in silence, quietly sipping my

water.

After dinner, as we walked down the stairs, I got a call from my senior at the

research institute.

"Nathan, the Professor asked me to confirm one last time. Are you sure you're

okay with the standard schedule? This project involves confidential research,

which means you might be cut off from the outside world for a year or two."

My eyes rested on Diana and Ian walking ahead of me. They were descending the

stairs side by side, and Diana was carefully supporting Ian by the waist.

My tone was completely calm. "I'm sure."

My senior breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. The Professor was worried you

wouldn't be able to bear leaving your wife."

I pulled my gaze away and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

"The wedding is canceled."

"I'm ready to leave."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a confused voice came from behind me.

"Who's leaving?"

Diana had just put Ian in the car when she caught the last few words of my

sentence.

I realized she hadn't heard the first part, so I made up a quick excuse. "My

friend is leaving town soon."

Diana nodded and didn't press further.

With four days left on the countdown, Diana brought home her wedding photos with

Ian.

She held her phone in one hand, video-calling Ian, and proudly held up a framed

photo with the other. Her eyes were full of tenderness.

"Ian, our wedding photos are finally printed. The staff said we look amazing in

them."

At that moment, I was just walking out of the kitchen with a glass of water.

A flash of awkwardness crossed Diana's eyes. She looked at me, seeming like she

wanted to say something.

I glanced at the photo and forced a faint smile. "They look really good."

I had paid top dollar for that photographer, just to capture the happiest moment

between me and Diana.

In my imagination, those photos were supposed to be filled with the sweetness of

our love. Diana in her wedding dress, looking breathtakingly beautiful—the woman

who was once the love of my life.

The only difference was that the groom in the picture wasn't me.

Diana froze.

She suddenly realized that I hadn't initiated a conversation with her in a long

time. I hadn't even sent her a single text during the entire week she was on

vacation with Ian.

She wasn't used to this.

On the video call, Ian was still chattering away, but Diana's attention was

entirely on me. A sudden wave of unease bubbled up in her chest, though she

tried to push it down.

Two days before the deadline, I went to the hospital to pick up some medication

for my trip. Unexpectedly, I ran into Diana and Ian just coming out of an OBGYN

appointment.

A rare look of panic flashed across Diana's eyes. She opened her mouth to say

something, but Ian beat her to it.

He walked up to me and grabbed my hand, his eyes welling up with tears. "Nathan,

I know you never agreed to Diana having a baby with me, but I really can't wait

anymore. The doctors said I have a year left at most. I just really want to see

my child born with my own eyes."

"Once the baby is born, I promise I'll stay far away from Diana. I would never

ruin your relationship."

Before I could even speak, Diana grabbed his arm, her face full of heartache.

"You're sick. Why are you doing this?"

She looked at me, her eyes complicated. "Don't worry. This won't affect our

wedding."

I looked at them silently for a moment, then pulled my gaze away.

"I get it."

With that, I grabbed my medication and got ready to leave. My departure date was

closing in, and I still needed to finish packing.

The two of them clearly didn't expect me to be so calm.

Especially Diana. Her expression grew complicated as she watched me walk away.

A month ago, I had fought with her for weeks over the pregnancy idea. But now,

finding out she was actually carrying Ian's baby, I showed absolutely no

reaction.

For some reason, the unease in Diana's heart grew stronger. It felt like

something had quietly shifted, and she had been completely oblivious to it.

Just as I reached the stairwell, Ian suddenly chased after me and yanked hard on

my sleeve.

Diana was still far behind us, and Ian finally dropped his mask.

"Nathan, how does it feel? Watching your fiancée have another man's baby right

in front of your eyes?"

I didn't want to argue with him. I shook off his hand and turned to leave.

But the moment I pulled away, Ian deliberately lost his balance and tipped

backward toward the stairs.

My reflexes kicked in, and I reached out and grabbed him to stop him from

falling.

But before I could even let go, Diana's furious voice echoed from behind me.

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing Diana rushing over, Ian instantly switched back to his pitiful victim

act, his eyes red and teary.

"Diana, I just wanted to thank Nathan for being so understanding, but I never

expected him to..."

Hearing Ian's words, Diana's face instantly darkened.

"Nathan, I never thought you could be this kind of person!"

"Apologize to Ian right now!"

Hearing Diana's blind accusations, I actually laughed.

"Me, apologize? Why don't you go check the security footage and see who's really

lying!"

She furrowed her brows in disbelief. "Ian is a sick man. Why would he throw

himself down the stairs on purpose?"

A flicker of panic crossed Ian's eyes. He quickly chimed in, "Forget it, Diana.

It's normal for Nathan to be angry... Let's just go."

I could tell he was terrified she might actually check the cameras, so he

quickly put on a weak, fragile act.

Sure enough, Diana's expression changed. She held him carefully and hurried

away.

She didn't come home that night.

I guessed she was too busy taking care of the "injured" Ian.

The next day, I shipped my luggage to the medical school dorms, keeping only a

single carry-on suitcase.

That night, Diana finally came back, still carrying a look of anger.

"Ian is still lying in a hospital bed. Even if you didn't do it on purpose,

couldn't you be the bigger person? Do you really have to be so petty with him?"

I smiled. A smile that was cold to the bone.

I had been the bigger person for a long time.

Big enough to let him have my fiancée. Big enough to let him wear the tuxedo I

ordered and take my wedding photos.

Diana's eyes fell on the red circled number on the calendar, and her tone

softened a bit.

"Look, we're getting married tomorrow. I don't want to fight. Just apologize to

him after the ceremony, and then we can go on our honeymoon."

"Did you finish planning the honeymoon itinerary?"

I didn't answer.

If she had paid even the slightest bit of attention, she would have noticed

there wasn't a single fresh flower in the apartment. It looked nothing like a

place where a wedding was happening tomorrow.

"We..."

I was about to speak, but her phone rang. She answered it. It was Ian.

"Wait for me, I'll be right there."

Hanging up, she hurriedly changed her shoes by the door. "Ian isn't feeling

well, I'm going to the hospital to check on him. Don't be late tomorrow. Be at

the hotel on time."

The moment the door clicked shut, I finally spoke.

"Let's break up, Diana. The wedding is canceled."

No one heard me. Only the old clock on the wall ticked away.

I sat in the living room, waiting from the dead of night until dawn. My phone

buzzed with a reminder: Two hours until boarding.

I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and took a marker to the calendar. Over

the 10th—the day that was supposed to be my wedding day—I drew a massive X.

Then, I wrote my final words:

"Diana, let's break up."

I placed the calendar in the most obvious spot in the living room, and walked

out of the apartment that had been my home for years without looking back.

Meanwhile, Diana stayed at the hospital until Ian's condition stabilized before

leaving. On the way, she sent me a text.[Is everything set up at the venue? I'm

almost there.]

But she didn't get a reply.

She scrolled up through our chat history. Over the past month, it was almost

entirely messages from Nathan:[What time are you coming home tomorrow? I'll wait

to eat with you.]

[Do you have time to look over the wedding menu?][I picked red roses for the

church decor, is that okay?]

And her replies were always: "Whatever." "You decide." "I don't care."

A wave of unease washed over her.

The last time she mentioned getting pregnant through IVF for Ian, Nathan's eyes

had been colder and more desperate than ever before.

Since that day, he had stopped reaching out. He had stopped waiting for her to

come home.

She gripped her phone tightly. "Drive faster."

When she arrived at the hotel, her friends and mother were waiting in the lobby.

"Why haven't you even changed into your dress? Isn't Nathan with you?" her

mother frowned.

Diana froze for a second. "He should already be in the banquet hall."

But she had no idea which hall the wedding was in. Nathan had never told her,

and she had never cared to ask.

She quickly grabbed a staff member. "Which banquet hall did Nathan book?"

The staff member checked their clipboard and replied, "Hall number three...

but..."

She frowned.

"Nathan called to cancel the reservation half a month ago," the staff member

continued. "He said—the wedding was canceled."

Diana stood there, completely paralyzed.

The wedding... canceled?

In that exact moment, her entire world came crashing down.