He Married His Childhood Sweetheart for a Day, Then Lost Me Forever

The words had barely left my mouth when Keira, who was cutting cake nearby, burst out laughing.

"Vivian, come on. It's just a birthday wish. If you're jealous, just say so. There's no need to joke about being pregnant."

Adrian patted my shoulder. "She's right, Vivian. Don't be so petty. I'm only marrying her for one day. As soon as her birthday is over, we'll remarry right away."

Right in front of me, Keira fed a piece of cake into Adrian's mouth. "Granting my birthday wish every year is our tradition since we were kids. Don't take it personally."

Then she hooked her arm around Adrian's shoulder and urged, "Hurry up. My birthday only lasts one day, and I don't want to waste it."

Adrian immediately called his lawyer and told him to bring over a divorce agreement as fast as possible.

While Adrian wasn't looking, Keira shot me a smug, taunting glance.

Adrian and I had been married for five years. I was a medical officer in his unit, and I had walked beside him all the way from enlisted soldier to the high-ranking officer he was today.

He had promised to love me for the rest of his life, to buy me the most expensive ring, to have fighter jets write my name across the sky.

But those promises had proved worthless. In five years, he hadn't kept a single one.

Instead, every year on Keira's birthday, whatever she asked for, he delivered without hesitation.

It really was that obvious when a man loved you and when he didn't.

Ten minutes later, the divorce papers lay in front of me. Adrian signed in a flash and pressed, "Hurry up. I still have to get a marriage license with Keira."

My hand trembling, I picked up the pen, took a deep breath, and made a life-changing decision.

"Fine. I'll sign."

The moment I signed my name, our five-year marriage was over.

Adrian handed the papers to his lawyer, then turned and left the private room with Keira.

I was the only one left in the room, along with a crowd of friends who'd been watching the whole show.

Their eyes held pity, mockery, and thinly veiled delight at my humiliation.

I couldn't remember how I got home.

All I knew was that by the time I came to my senses lying in bed, my pillow was already soaked with tears.

I tried to distract myself by checking my phone.

But the moment I unlocked it, a notification popped up.

Keira had posted on X.

In the photo, Adrian was wearing a crisp suit, his arm gently around Keira's waist.

The two of them were beaming at the camera, proudly showing off their marriage license.

Another photo showed them heading to the wedding venue.

Dozens of luxury cars formed a grand convoy, flanked by two helicopters. Keira wore a stunning couture wedding gown, flashing a peace sign at the camera.

The comments were flooded with congratulations.

"Such a perfect couple! You two were made for each other. Be happy!"

"Bro, you finally came to your senses. She's so much prettier than that frumpy wife you married before."

Adrian had even paid to have their wedding announcement run in Military Times.

A spectacle like that was something I had never been given.

When Adrian and I got married five years ago, he was just a newly enlisted soldier.

We had done nothing more than sign the paperwork at the courthouse. No wedding, no congratulations, not even a decent dress.

He had promised to make it up to me with a grand wedding someday.

He kept that promise. But the bride wasn't me.

Like I was punishing myself, I scrolled through Keira's posts. Shortly after, she uploaded a video.

They exchanged rings in a church with a pastor presiding, making solemn vows before God.

"For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, we will love and cherish each other as long as we both shall live."

I let out a bitter laugh. Even before God, he could treat a vow like a game.

I put the phone down. The early pregnancy nausea hit me like a wave.

I rushed to the bathroom and threw up violently into the toilet, as if trying to empty everything inside me.

Today, this farce needed to end.