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 hurt your child."

And with that, they hurried outside, leaving me alone in the house.

There was no telling how long had passed when my phone jingled with a notification—Sean's parents just posted a video over a dozen seconds.

I remembered the girl in the video—Sally Holt, Sean's junior back at university.

Sean had proposed to her during her graduation, which caused a huge stir on campus.

If she never chose to head abroad eventually, I wouldn't even stand a chance to get together with Sean.

Nonetheless, the video was showing Sally receiving blessings as if she was the one who was marrying.

Then, as everyone cheered, Sean pulled Sally into his arms and kissed her passionately.

As for me, I fought back my tears as I rushed to the wedding hall.

It was a full house, with every guest offering Sean and his parents their best wishes.

"Congratulations! How lucky you are to have a plump, healthy son for your first child!"

"Your daughter-in-law is so beautiful and virtuous! A perfect match for your son!"

I watched as the cocktail dress I carefully picked was being worn by Sally, while the wedding I had yearned for so long was a party where Sally showed off her son.

As the guests looked on, a heavy golden chain was clasped around the child's neck.

I also noticed that Sally's wrists and neck were adorned by necklaces and bangles, gleaming with a golden dazzle.

While she smiled dazzlingly, I brushed my fingers against the single tiny gold bead on my necklace and laughed bitterly.

Then, I pulled it violently, feeling no sentiment as I threw the necklace into a nearby trash can.

Even so, the endless cheers and applause seemed to hammer ear drums, at once shrill and deafening.

At the backstage, Sean's mother couldn't wipe the grin off her face as she carried her grandson everywhere, before turning toward Sean and scoffing, "That Rachel Stone really embarrassed us, getting pregnant even before you got married. I refuse to have such an immoral daughter-in-law like her.

"And she still had the audacity to demand money from you! Talk about thick-skinned!"

I thought Sean would defend me, only for him to nod nonchalantly, his fingers still interlocked with Sally's.

I clasped a hand over my mouth to fight back my sobs.

Then, I rushed outside, my hand still shaking as I stopped a taxi and headed straight to the hospital.

It had been eight years since Sean and I got together, and I was convinced I would be happily walking down the aisle to marry him.

But as it turned out, it was all a one-sided wish.

With that in mind, I booked a flight that would take me back to my hometown in a week.

I didn't want to get married anymore, and I wasn't going to keep the child in my belly either.