His Betrayal Led to My Parents' Death on My Wedding Day

My dad had uremia, and my mom had lung cancer. As they were dying, Zackary Santana and I held our wedding in the hospital room.

Just as we were exchanging rings, Zackary got a call and rushed out.

Right then, my parents, furious, took their last breaths.

My brother ran out, trying to bring Zackary back, but he got hit by a car and died on the spot.

Zackary's first love sent me a message. [As soon as I said I wasn't feeling well, Zackary came over right away to keep me company. You've lost so many times; it's time to give up.]

She attached a photo of Zackary holding her and feeding her medicine.

My hands trembled as I dialed Zackary's number.

I asked, "Why did you have to leave?"

He replied, "It doesn't matter when we have the wedding, but Carrie is sick. She can't manage without me."

...

"Zackary, let's break up," I said.

I hung up and blocked him on everything.

Ten years ago, I fell in love with Zackary at first sight.

He was a star at school—not only was he smart and talented, but he was also a sports hero and the heartthrob of all the girls.

He seemed aloof and proud, so no one dared to approach him.

But I was bold enough to ask for his number. I happily brought him water while he played basketball. I pushed my way into the student council just to get closer to him. Before long, I became his little follower.

Everyone called me a simp, but I didn't care. As long as I could be his girlfriend, it was all worth it.

We finally started dating, and in the blink of an eye, ten years passed.

From eighteen to twenty-eight, I gave him the best years of my life.

He was a picky eater and hated restaurant food, so I made cooking my mission. I experimented with recipes every day, bouncing from one cooking class to another.

He didn't like clingy girls, so I never chatted with him for long. Even when I didn't want to hang up, I would keep it brief. If I wanted to watch a movie with him, I'd book it at least a week in advance, just so I wouldn't mess up his schedule.

He didn't like dealing with chores, so I handled everything, serving him like a young master, never letting him lift a finger.

When he was in a bad mood and wanted to be alone, I would stay far away, barely daring to breathe.

I tiptoed around him for ten years.

Then Carrie Ayala came back, and I realized all the so-called rules didn't matter to her.

She could say whatever she wanted, whine, throw tantrums, and act spoiled.

Zackary just smiled at her lovingly.

He once said that first loves were for remembering, and his first love was Carrie.

They grew up together. If her family hadn't moved overseas, separating them by an ocean, I would never have had a chance with Zackary, no matter how hard I tried.

The first time I saw Zackary smile, it was for another woman.

Cold on the outside but warm on the inside? No, he just didn't love me.

It was as if my life changed overnight.

The two of us became three, and I grew more and more exhausted, always on the verge of collapse.

When Zackary finally came home, I couldn't even say a few words to him before Carrie called, and he had to leave.

The excuse was always the same - Carrie's asthma was acting up.

Once, I couldn't take it anymore and angrily asked him, "Can't she take her own medicine and call for help? Do you really have to go?"

"Yes, I do. She could die," he replied.

He shot me a cold look and dashed out the door.

He said he'd be right back, but even when morning came, he was still gone.

The same thing happened over and over again. I went from anger to disappointment, then from disappointment to numbness. Zackary never tried to comfort me, not even once.

I had loved him with all my heart for ten years, and I just couldn't let go.

I thought that as long as Zackary and I got married, Carrie would have the sense to leave us alone.

But one phone call ruined our wedding.

I would never forget the look of despair in my parents' eyes. As they lay dying, they had held on to see their beloved daughter marry the man she loved.

Their wish was shattered.

And my brother, only twenty-one, was taken from this world in the most tragic way.

In one night, the warm, loving family of four was reduced to just me.

I cried until I passed out, and even when I woke up, the tears wouldn't stop.

I had caused all of this.

The guilt would haunt me for the rest of my life.

How could I have been so blind to fall in love with a man like Zackary?

As I watched my parents and brother being pushed into the cremation chamber one by one, turning into ashes, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

I had no tears left. I could only howl bitterly.

Three small urns became their resting place.

I carefully packed them into my bag and took a taxi home to pack my things.

My parents used to say that after death, one should return to their roots. I needed to take a train back to our hometown to arrange their funerals.

I packed a few things and opened the door, only to see Zackary and Carrie step out of the elevator, laughing and chatting.

Zackary's smile froze, and he frowned. "Are you running away from home?"