The Illusion of Happiness

When I woke up at four in the morning, I was planning to call the makeup artist when I noticed that my room was exceedingly silent.When I called, the makeup artist appeared perplexed and asked me, "But your fiance informed us last night that the wedding will be cancelled… You didn't know?"I rushed out of my room to find that Sean Wickham was leading his parents outside, and quickly asked, "Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me that you're calling off our wedding?"However, not only did he refuse to explain himself or apologize, he instead shot me an accusing glare. "I have to make amends to my friends since I had to call off the wedding. Would they have traveled all this way for nothing if not for you?"Sean's parents, both of whom were dressed sharply in new clothes came over, echoing, "We're cancelling the wedding for your own good, since you suddenly got pregnant and you'd have to lie your way out of it."You'd have to move so much during the wedding. It won't do if you

I was planning to visit my parents' grave before I left, and was returning with their favorite flowers the day after I booked my flight.That was when I heard a child's laughter in my bedroom, and opened the door to see a sight that sent my breath rushing out of my lungs.My parents' favorite fruit I prepared was knocked over, and Sean's son had nibbled on every single fruit.Sally was laughing and clapping for the boy, and bringing him more fruits that he hadn't nibbled."Eat up, baby! It's free anyway!"I saw red, and didn't hesitate to rush up, pushing her off. "Stop! I bought those for my late parents! You have no right touching my stuff!"Hearing me yelling, Sean—who had been outside chatting with our neighbors, rushed inside and pushed me to the floor, snapping impatiently, "Stop being so stingy! It's just some fruits—forget starting a fight for money, you're now doing the same over a few fruits?"Seeing that Sean was leaping to her defense, Sally didn't snap at me. She so

Sally's foot was still bandaged as she asked from the living room, "Sean? What are you talking about?"Hearing her, Sean strode out and held up the receipt right in front of her.Sally sighed after seeing it. "Oh, calm down—it's fake. Rachel must be upset about what happened today, so she faked that report to make you worry."Then, her voice turned tearful as she continued, "I'm sorry, Sean… I was secretly in love with you even after I went abroad, but I couldn't confess to you because I know you have someone else."I was just deceiving myself that I'm your true love… but in the end, I still caused you trouble.""I'll pack up and leave with the baby now. He's just a month old, but I've been surviving alone for years anyway."The baby's wails grew louder as Sally kept her back to Sean while packing out.Seeing how miserable she looked, Sean relented and gently picked up her clothes and put them back on the shelf, before picking up the baby and coaxing him. "It's not your fault,

Just seeing Sean looking like he was compromising left me furious.I had done the exact same thing, prostrating myself and begging him to formalize our wedding when my parents were about to die.Their last wish was for me to marry, but he kept postponing time after time—even when I begged, he never relented and even treated me like a joke.And now he wanted forgiveness? Too late!Scoffing, I told him, "I should thank you for losing interest in me, so that I could see your true nature—self-centered, and full of lies. I really have been blind all these years."Now get away from me this instant—don't let me ever see you again, or I will hurt you each time I do."Once I finished, I picked up my hoe from the dirt and swung it at Sean, who panicked and promptly begged for mercy, "No, stop! I'll leave right now, okay?"He never showed his face for a while after that, but there would be warm breakfast prepared every day outside my door, and any work that needed to be done at the farm

Later on, Sally took her child to the Wickhams' neighborhood and caused a scene, accusing Sean of abandoning his wife and child, even refusing to pay alimony.Under the blazing sun, she cried herself hoarse. "That family deceived me, taking my virginity and my money! And Sean Wickham himself divorced me as soon as I had his child, and he refused to give me a cent!"That's not all—he assaulted me when I asked for money! Please, if there's anyone listening, you have to stand up against this injustice!" She was dressed plainly and standing there in the middle of summer, her son barely breathing under the baking sun.Still, many neighbors sympathized, and soon word of Sean's behavior spread like wildfire.Soon, the neighbors were all treating Sean and his parents with utter contempt."We've been teachers for decades and we have a reputation to maintain! We can't just let her slander us like this!"Their honor besmirched, Sean's parents hanged themselves in their desperation, and ne