"If you won't agree, I'll jump off this balcony tonight."
He rushed to the balcony and stood swaying at the edge, out in the driving storm.
Delilah panicked.
She lunged after him and pulled him hard against her chest.
Then she rose onto her toes and crushed her mouth against his.
The two of them kissed desperately, tearing at each other's clothes, and toppled together onto my wedding bed.
I grabbed my phone and dialed like a madman.
Again and again.
On the camera feed, Delilah glanced at her phone, expression blank, and held the button down until it powered off.
Listening to the cold, dead automated voice in my ear, my heart died along with it.
That bed was one we'd tried out together.
The sheets on it, I'd chosen with such care.
In the wedding photo on the wall, I was grinning ear to ear, like a fool.
Watching Delilah lose herself on that screen.
I crouched on the floor as my stomach lurched.
I made it to the toilet and heaved until the world went dark.
But nothing came up.
Only tears, dropping one by one into the bowl.
Sickening. So sickening.
For the next three days, they stayed in my wedding home and never once went out.
Going at it day and night.
The cameras faithfully recorded everything.
Sometime in there, Delilah sent me a message.
"I'm away on a business trip these few days. Keep an eye on the wedding arrangements."
"The wedding's in three days. I'll be there on time."
"Aaron, I love you."
I don't know what she felt when she typed that she loved me.
Guilt, some need to make it up to me, or the thrill of thinking she'd pulled it off right under my nose.
I didn't care anymore.
Those three days, I wasn't idle either.
I handed all the property documents over to the agent and signed the contract face to face with the buyer.
"All the smart-home systems in the place, I'll throw in for free."
"I only have one request."
The buyer was a media reporter, and she didn't mince words.
"I'm getting such a steal, I'll agree to anything you want."
I leaned close to her ear and murmured.
She ground her teeth. "Don't you worry, Aaron. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a cheating man and his mistress."
"I'll get it handled for you, clean and tidy."
The fourth day. My wedding.
I put on the suit I'd had ready for a long time.
The man in the mirror stood tall and sharp, a fine figure. His eyes were hollow.
Mom pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of dumplings.
"Aaron, eat something."
I looked at the dumplings in the bowl, each one plump and round. She'd stayed up all night making them.
"Mom, you don't blame me?"
She froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Blame you for what? For finally learning to be good to yourself?"
She reached out and smoothed the loose hair off my forehead.
"Aaron, the thing I regret most in my whole life is teaching you to be the good, obedient boy. The obedient ones always get the short end of it."
The tears came all at once.
I found the wedding emcee.
"Change the order today. Once everyone's here, play the video first, then hold the ceremony."
When all of it was done, I walked out of the venue and got into a cab.
Mom and Dad sat quietly in the back, dressed in clean clothes.
"Airport, please."
The car pulled away. In the rearview mirror, the balloon arch reading "Delilah & Aaron, Congratulations on Your Wedding" slowly shrank and disappeared.
Delilah, I hope you'll like the gift I've left you.
