“Julian Long, let’s get a divorce.”

I received his call as soon as I sent the message.

“Molly Shane, will you stop with the tricks already? Yesterday you said your grandmother was dying, and now you want to threaten me with a divorce? The wedding is just a ceremony. Is it really that important to you?

“I told you, Sunny’s dog went missing yesterday, and she was worried sick. She’s had that dog for ages, and it’s really important to her. Its life was at stake, so what are you so jealous about? Can’t you have a heart for once?”

His accusations made my blood run cold.

Our wedding was supposed to be yesterday, but Julian ran away after receiving a call.

My grandmother was so mad she had a heart attack. I sent her to the hospital in a hurry, but the doctor there said Julian was the only one capable of such a surgery, so I called him.

He only picked up after my tenth call.

“Honey, my grandmother had a heart attack. Come to the hospital quick, save her!”

Julian said angrily, “Your grandmother is your only family member! How could you lie using your only family’s life to drag me back to the wedding? Are you crazy?

“Sunny’s dog went missing, and I’m helping her look for it. Stop calling me already.”

I sobbed, “No, I’m not lying! Grandma is really waiting at the hospital for you, and you’re the only one who can save her. I’m begging you, come to the hospital!”

Julian’s tone was impatient despite my sobs. “Enough acting, it’s just a wedding. I’ll make it up to you once we find Sunny’s dog, so stop bothering me.”

Just like that, he ended the call.

I was about to call him again when my grandmother’s ECG went flat. She was dead.

I lost my parents as a child, so she was the one who raised me all my life. If it were not for her, I would not be here right now.

The grief was too much. I cried until I passed out.

My best friend, Evie Rimm, stayed beside me the entire time. As soon as I woke up, I was determined to get a divorce.

Ever since Sunny Waters returned, Julian only ever cared about her.

Occasionally, when he said he was working overtime, he was meeting up with her instead.

He never liked or commented on any of my social media posts. Whenever I asked him to, he would call me childish.

Yet, he was the first to like any of Sunny’s posts.

I thought I had a lifetime to wait. Once we got married, he would remember me eventually, as long as I waited patiently for him.

All I received in return for my patience was a cold shoulder and his increasing impatience.

The day we registered our marriage, he went camping and moon-watching with Sunny.

Whenever she called him, he would rush to her side no matter how busy he was.

When my appendicitis flared up, when I was in so much pain I asked him in a cold sweat to send me to the hospital, he said I was weak-willed and pathetic.

When Sunny accidentally cut her hand while cooking, however, he would take her straight to the emergency room.

Sunny Waters was his most precious jewel. I knew I was no match for her, but I did not know my grandmother’s life meant less to him than her pet dog.

Julian was still going on over the phone. “Sunny said her dog’s still spooked, so I’m taking the two of them on a trip. We can talk once I get back.”

Evie could not stand it anymore. She grabbed my phone and roared at Julian, “Julian Long, Molly’s grandma died! If you still have a heart, come back right now to see her one last time!”

Julian was quiet for a second.

“Has Molly gone mad? She shouldn’t joke about her grandmother’s life like that. Tell her to stop her mind games, and I’ll be back once I’m done here.”

He ended the call before Evie could say anything else.

Evie handed my phone back to me. I checked Sunny’s new social media post.

In the picture, Sunny was holding her dog, smiling happily at the camera. The caption was, “Dodo almost went missing, but her daddy found her in time. You’re the best, Daddy!”

I tugged at the corner of my lips, tears flowing from my eyes.

How absurd. He would rather go on a trip with his long-lost love and her dog than save my grandmother’s life.

Our marriage was an accident from the very start.

Julian was my grandmother’s doctor. At the time, Grandma’s medical fees were too much for me to bear, and I was at my wits’ end. Just then, Julian showed up and said he would pay the fees for me as long as I became his girlfriend.

His parents had been bugging him to find someone, so he wanted me to play along.

I agreed, and as the days passed, I gradually began to fall for him.

Evie had married his younger brother, Caleb Long, so I thought it would be nice if we could become in-laws. I made the first move, and soon Julian and I officially got together.

Now, Evie hugged me as I cried.

“Cheer up, Molly. That jerk isn’t worth your tears.”

The thought of losing Grandma forever broke my heart. I sobbed, “Evie, Grandma’s gone. I’m alone now.”

Evie patted my back, consoling me. “You still have me, don’t you? I’ll always be with you.” I nodded.

Evie and I were childhood friends, besties for life, and closer than sisters.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was her husband.

Evie had married Caleb as part of a deal between their families. There were all sorts of scandals surrounding Caleb since they got married. Before, Evie never believed that he would betray her, not until she saw the headlines last night about his overseas trip with a famous actress. The pictures were undeniable.

As soon as Evie picked up, we heard Caleb’s voice speaking crossly across the phone. “Evie Rimm, I just landed. Are you picking a fight already?

“I just happened to bump into that actress at the restaurant. It’s not like the paparazzi said. Are you really going to threaten a divorce over something so trivial?”

Evie scoffed. “You just happened to have dinner together, then you just happened to go shopping together, and you just happened to live in the same hotel room? Don’t take me for a fool, Caleb!”

Caleb did not sound guilty in the slightest. “It’s all the paparazzi’s ploy to make headlines. I never did anything to betray you, so it’s up to you whether you believe me or not. If you want a divorce, I’m down anytime.”

Evie wanted to curse him. “Caleb Long, you…” Doot doot!

He hung up on her.

She wiped away her tears. “They really are brothers, each scummier than the last. We have to get rid of them, right now!”

I knew that Evie was heartbroken. Theirs may have been a marriage of convenience, but Evie truly loved Caleb, enough to learn how to cook for him despite her cushy upbringing.

When Caleb went outstation during his birthday, Evie took a ten-hour flight just to celebrate with him. She even stayed up all night with him when he had to work overtime.

In his eyes, however, she was just a jobless housewife clinging onto him all the time. He never had any patience for her.

Evie and I held each other, crying soundlessly.

After we handled Grandma’s burial, I texted Julian, asking him when he would be free to settle the divorce.

Julian took forever to reply. “How long are you going to play at this, Molly? Are you still upset I left the wedding early? We’re officially married, so what does a mere ceremony matter?

“If you keep threatening divorce, I might just say yes. Then you’ll really regret it.”

I had brought up divorce with Julian before, but my stance softened every time he got seriously angry with me. Each time, I would give in and wind up asking him for forgiveness. That was why he thought I was only throwing a tantrum this time as well.

I replied, “I’m serious this time, Julian. Let’s get a divorce. I’ll meet you tomorrow morning at half-past nine.”

He responded instantly. “Fine, if you insist, I’ll do it your way.” I did not reply after that.

Not long after Evie and I arrived the next morning, Julian showed up with Sunny in tow.

Julian dated Sunny in college, but they split up over a misunderstanding. After all these years, he still never forgot her.

I looked at the dog in Sunny’s arms and remembered my grandmother on her deathbed. My heart prickled in my chest.

Julian walked up to me, shot me a glance, and made to walk into the building.

I said calmly, “Hold on. Evie is getting divorced too, but Caleb isn’t here yet.” Julian frowned. “Molly, did you have to mess up the entire family with your little tantrum?”

Evie could not help but bark at him. “I wanted this divorce, it has nothing to do with Molly. You know what your younger brother is like. Both of you are trash!”

Sunny smiled. “Miss Rimm, there’s no need to yell. We have your best interests at heart.”

She turned to me, saying, “Julian just wants to make sure you don’t get carried away by Miss Shane, demanding a divorce for no reason.”

I stared at Sunny. “Is Julian deaf or mute? Since when did you have the right to speak on his behalf?”

Sunny glanced at Julian with tears in her eyes. “Sorry, Julian. It looks like I said the wrong thing and made Miss Shane mad.”

Julian’s tone was hard. “Enough, Molly Shane.”

I just rolled my eyes at him.

Julian seemed to have a bone to pick with me, barking, “What did Sunny do to offend you? First you wanted to prevent me from looking for her dog, and now you’re insulting her on purpose.”

Sunny said softly, “Don’t misunderstand, Miss Shane. Julian was only helping me look for Dodo that day. There’s nothing between us.

“Still, you shouldn’t have taken your grandmother’s life so lightly with your lies. It’s bad luck, especially for someone her age.”

Julian looked at me in contempt. “After all your grandmother did for you, too. You’re so ungrateful, Molly.”

I pulled my grandmother’s death certificate and brandished it before his eyes. “Look at this, Julian Long. Take a good look! My grandma is dead! She’s dead!

“On the day you helped Sunny look for her dog, my grandmother had a heart attack. I begged you to come back and save her, but you refused! You think her dog is worth more than my grandmother’s life. You have no right to scold me!”

Julian glanced at the death certificate and snorted. “I’m her doctor, Molly. I know her condition better than you do. I never thought you would forge a death certificate just to trick me! You disappoint me.

“I’ve seen right through your plans. You don’t intend to get divorced at all. You’re showing me the death cert now because you want me to give in. Don’t even think about it! You’re the one who demanded a divorce, and a divorce is what you’ll get!”

I closed my eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted. There was no point arguing with him any longer.

I no longer cared how he thought of me.

“You’re so stupid, Julian Long!”

His expression darkened the second I insulted him. After all, I used to love him with all my heart. I would never insult him like that.

Before he could say anything, however, Caleb finally arrived.

Evie and I exchanged a glance, heading into the building without another word.

The office was quite empty that day, so we soon got our divorces finalized.

Julian kept his eye on me the entire time. I knew he was waiting for me to beg him to change his mind, but I never did. I could not even be bothered to look at him.

When we left the building, Sunny’s dog suddenly pounced at me. I instinctively tried to wave it away.

“Don’t hurt Dodo!” Sunny rushed forward to protect her dog, only to trip and fall.

Julian immediately helped Sunny to her feet, asking anxiously, “Are you alright, Sunny?”

He then glared at me. “Molly, apologize to Sunny!”

I ignored him, turning to leave. However, Julian caught up to me and tried to grab my arm. For some reason, he suddenly stumbled and pushed me down the stairs.

“Ah!” I cried out and instinctively reached out to protect my stomach, but it was too late. “My stomach hurts…”

Evie rushed to my side, her eyes turning red when she saw the look of pain on my face. “It’s okay, Molly. Don’t be scared, you’ll be alright!”

As she dialled the emergency number, she roared at Julian, “Julian Long, don’t you know Molly’s pregnant?! How could you push her like that?”

Julian saw the blood flowing out from between my legs, his pupils dilated. He froze up in shock.