The Other Side of Reality

"Just fill in the name and give it to me," Jessica Carter said, rapping her knuckles impatiently on the table.

I stared at the marriage application. As my fingers lightly traced the rough edge of the paper, my thoughts drifted.

In my past life, I wrote my name down as seriously as if I were signing a royal decree before excitedly dragging her off to buy wedding favors.

I ended up getting chewed out by Jessica, all because she was in a rush to go home and make soup for a sick Marcus Jensen.

I gave a noncommittal response. "Yeah, okay."

I glanced up, taking in her agitated expression and the way her eyes kept darting to her watch.

Jessica was wearing a white shirt-dress today. The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing her slender forearms.

I remembered that Marcus loved it when she dressed like this. He said she looked clean and fresh.

"If you've got things to take care of, go ahead," I said, forcing down the bitter tide rising in my chest and feigning nonchalance. "I'll submit it once I fill it out."

Relief washed over Jessica's face, and her tone softened slightly.

"Don't worry. Since we're getting married, I'll take responsibility for you. But stop being jealous of Marcus from now on. If people find out, it'll damage his reputation."

I stayed silent.

In my past life, I'd explained myself countless times. But in her eyes, I was just a jealous, petty elder brother who couldn't tolerate his kindhearted younger sibling.

Jessica didn't say anything else and hurriedly turned to leave.

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, but my mind couldn't stop replaying scenes from my past life.

On our wedding night, Jessica had used the excuse of caring for her sick younger brother and stayed out all night. Other than that, when she was getting stationed at a new base, she only brought Marcus along, claiming he'd never been to Lisbeth before.

Even on our son's first month birthday, Jessica was too busy consoling the recently divorced Marcus to show up.

And right before I died, I heard my son pleading in my ear, "Dad, just let Mom go. You can't compare to Uncle Marcus, anyway. She's been miserable with you all these years. Let her be happy."

I lay in that hospital bed looking at my indifferent wife beside me. She didn't say a word. That deathly silence was her tacit agreement.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, only releasing it when I tasted the metallic tang of blood. I had decided that I wouldn't repeat those mistakes in this life.

I picked up the pen and slowly wrote the name "Marcus Jensen" in the applicant field.

Since Jesicca loved Marcus that much, I'd grant her that wish.

I handed the completed form to the clerk, took the marriage certificate, and walked out of the City Hall. I didn't feel sad but rather an indescribable sense of liberation.

In my past life, Marcus and I were adopted by the Carter family after our parents died in the line of duty. Marcus had a way with words that made the Carters' elders favor him over their own son.

Jessica's mother, Margaret Sullivan, had long harbored the idea of him marrying her daughter.

But with a single, well-placed "I don't want to compete with Zachary", Marcus effortlessly made Jessica willingly marry me instead.