The Tenth Wedding，I'm Finally Letting Go

This was the ninth time Maya had ruined my wedding with Ethan. I was so furious that I wanted to call the cops and have her arrested, but Ethan stopped me. "Chloe, please. Maya is my patient, and she’s emotionally unstable. As her therapist, I have a professional duty to help her. Just do this for me, one last time." "I promise you, I’ll make it up to you with the most perfect wedding!" My heart softened, and I believed him. Until last night, when I heard him on the phone with a friend, leaning against his car. "Maya isn't actually sick. She's just my girl on the side, throwing a jealous tantrum." "My fiancée? Don't worry, even if she finds out, what can she do? Maya has crashed our wedding nine times, and every single time, I coax her with a few sweet words and it blows over. She loves me too much to ever leave me." The wind was freezing. I stood frozen in the shadows, watching the red taillights of Ethan's car slowly fade into the darkness. Now, it was our tenth wedding. Maya was acting up as usual, but the bridal suite was empty, save for a discarded wedding dress. Look, Ethan. This time, I'm finally letting go. "Ma'am, what do you think of this wedding dress? It features the most popular..." "Ma'am? Ma'am!" The saleswoman's soft voice finally snapped me out of my thoughts. I nodded blankly and gave a casual reply. "Sure, let's go with this one." Standing next to me, Ethan noticed my distraction. He reached out, squeezing my hand gently. "Are you still upset about Maya crashing the wedding yesterday? Don't worry, I gave her a stern warning. If she dares to act up again, I'll personally have her committed to an asylum." "This time, no one will ruin our wedding." But the moment the words left his mouth, Maya burst through the boutique doors. She pointed at the catalog in my hand, screaming hysterically, "You can't wear that! A cheap bitch like you doesn't deserve a wedding dress!" "Ethan, make her change it! Otherwise, my bipolar disorder is going to flare up again!" Maya panted heavily as she spoke, digging her nails sharply into her own arm. Ethan looked torn. He turned to me, his voice hesitant. "Chloe, why don't you pick another one? This one is nice, but maybe there's a better fit." "You know Maya is sick. Just let her have this one, okay?" I said nothing. I casually pointed at another design. But Maya threw another fit, demanding I choose again. After three dresses, it was clear she was just there to torment me. I looked at her and asked directly, "Maya, what exactly do you want?" Maya grabbed Ethan's hand, holding it up like a trophy. "Ethan insists on marrying you, and I can't stop him." "But you are not allowed to wear a wedding dress. I am! Otherwise, I'll keep ruining it. Every time you try to have a wedding, I'll crash it!" I stared at their intertwined hands. Ethan let her hold him. He didn't even try to pull away. "Ethan, you promised me the perfect wedding. If the bride can't even wear a wedding dress, is that still perfect?" Ethan sighed. And, right on cue, he coaxed me to back down again. "Chloe, it's just a dress. If you can't wear it, so be it. We can focus on other things—the venue, the catering, the officiant... I promise, everything else will be exactly how you want it." "Maya is in a fragile state. Don't trigger her. Just show some compassion, okay?" I let out a bitter laugh, lowering my eyes. "Okay." "Yay! The bitch gave in!" Maya smiled triumphantly. Right in front of me, she cupped Ethan's face and kissed him on the lips. Ethan didn't flinch. He only shot me a helpless, apologetic look. I couldn't watch this anymore. Grabbing my purse, I walked out. Just then, my phone vibrated in my clutch. I swiped to answer. It was the airline. "Hello, Ms. Miller. The business class cabin for your booked flight, G7920, is currently sold out. Since you are one of our elite members, would you like us to upgrade you to first class using your loyalty points?" I glanced back. Ethan hadn't followed me out. He was still inside, helping Maya choose earrings and a necklace to match her wedding dress. "Yes, please." "Perfect, Ms. Miller. Your upgrade is complete. Flight G7920 departs in three days at noon. Please arrive early for check-in. Have a wonderful trip!"After hanging up, I went straight home to pack my things. I wanted to give Ethan a proper goodbye. After all, we had been together for seven years. Everyone in our social circle called us a match made in heaven. Whether we called off the engagement or just broke up, I wanted to leave with some dignity. But I didn't expect the door to open to Maya first. She was directing movers to carry her things inside, looking at me with pure disdain. "Put everything in the master bedroom!" "Yes, all of it. Be careful, that's the limited-edition bag Ethan bought me today!" Ethan stood right behind her, watching her with a doting smile. The moment he noticed me sitting on the couch, his expression instantly shifted. He stammered an explanation. "Maya's mental state is really unstable today. I was worried something might happen to her if she stayed alone, so I let her move in with us. The master bedroom connects to my study, where I keep my medical equipment and files. It's easier to monitor her there. Let's let her have it for now." "Chloe, I'm sorry to make you suffer, but could you crash in the guest room for a bit?" I didn't argue. I was leaving anyway. Whoever Ethan wanted to put in his bed in the future was none of my business. I stood up and said, "Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready." At the dining table, Maya shamelessly claimed the seat right next to Ethan. I was pushed to the far end of the long table, looking like a stranger in my own home. Maya clung to Ethan's arm, whining for him to feed her. "Ethan, I want that shrimp. Peel it for me." "Feed me, or I won't take the meds you prescribed." "It's a promise, then. Tonight, you have to hold me and do that deep therapy session. The last one was so helpful!" ... I watched them coldly, silently chewing on my dry rice. My stomach felt like it was filled with cold stones, dragging me down. Finding a gap in their conversation, I spoke up. "Ethan, there's something I need to tell—" Before I could finish my sentence... "Pah!" A mouthful of half-chewed food, dripping with saliva, was spat directly onto my face. Maya pointed at the fish dish in front of her, screaming in exaggerated terror. "Why the hell is there ginger in this?!" "You bitch! You know I'm allergic to ginger! Are you trying to kill me?!" I froze, completely stunned. Before I could even react, Maya grabbed a handful of spinach from the plate. Slimy green juice dripped through her fingers. In a few quick strides, she rushed over to me. "You want to poison me? Let's see how you like an allergic reaction!" Instinctively, I tried to pull back, but Maya was too fast. She violently pried my jaw open with one hand, while her other hand stuffed the disgusting, crushed spinach leaves deep into my mouth. "Mph—" My eyes widened in horror. A suffocating wave of nausea and panic hit me instantly. I tried to spit it out, struggling with everything I had. But Maya ruthlessly crammed the spinach further down my throat, ignoring my struggles. My stomach churned violently. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan. He sat there, completely indifferent, watching Maya abuse me. It was as if he were watching two kids having a silly food fight. It wasn't until my face turned from pale to red, then to a suffocating purple, and my eyes began to bulge with burst capillaries, that Maya finally loosened her grip on my neck. She smeared the last bit of slimy spinach across my lips and pulled her hand back in disgust. "Cough! "Cough, cough!" The moment she let go, I bent over, coughing violently. Slimy leaves mixed with saliva flew out, but most of it had already slid down my esophagus. My throat burned like fire. Breathing became harder by the second. It felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing my windpipe shut. "Help... help..." I reached out weakly toward Ethan. But before my hand could even get halfway up, Maya stomped her stiletto heel right onto the back of my hand. The sharp heel pierced straight through my skin. An agonizing pain shot through my body, making me shiver. But the lack of oxygen was so severe that I couldn't even scream. I could only collapse onto the floor, groaning weakly. Ethan noticed my face didn't look right. He started to get up to check on me, but Maya quickly grabbed his arm. "Ethan, don't you dare go over there! It's just a little allergy, she won't die. If you show care to this bitch again, I'll be furious! Didn't you promise to do my therapy session tonight?" "Come on, let's go back to the master bedroom!" She dragged him away. Before leaving, Ethan cast a casual glance back at me. He offered a half-hearted, dismissive comfort. "Chloe, don't take it to heart." "Maya just has a temper. Just try not to make her angry in the future." With that, Ethan wrapped his arm around Maya and headed upstairs. At that moment, the pain and suffocation almost drowned me. I had been abandoned by Ethan. Unable to draw a single breath, my body spasmed helplessly on the cold floor. I was left there to die.When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at the sterile, white ceiling of a hospital. "You're awake?" A familiar voice sounded beside the bed. Ethan was sitting in the chair next to me. Seeing me open my eyes, he immediately leaned forward and helped me sit up. "Thank god Martha found you in time. You were in critical condition. The doctor said if you'd been brought in just a few minutes later, you might have..." Ethan paused, leaving the sentence unfinished. Then he sighed and started blaming me. "I mean, you know you have a severe spinach allergy. Why did you insist on having Martha cook it for every single meal?" Weakly leaning against the pillows, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was October 5th, 3:50 PM. Good. I hadn't missed tomorrow's flight. I looked at him coldly and replied, "Because you like eating it. That's why I ordered her to make it every day." Ethan froze. Clearly, he hadn't expected that answer. A smug smile crept onto his face, and his tone softened. "You don't have to do that anymore. What if you eat it by mistake? It's too dangerous!" "As for last night, I already lectured Maya. She promised me she would never do it again. She was actually terrified after you passed out. Try to be understanding, Chloe. She is a patient, after all." I said nothing, silently watching him put on his little show. My heart was as still as a graveyard. When Ethan's fingertips almost brushed the back of my hand, I flinched away. He didn't seem to care. After a brief hesitation, he spoke up again. "There's one more thing... Maya said she wants to wear the wedding dress for our ceremony tomorrow. Keeping her happy will help with her recovery. As for the officiant, the venue, and the catering we discussed..." "Since you were unconscious, I went ahead and finalized all of it with Maya this morning. So, can we move the wedding up a bit? How about tomorrow?" I gave a faint nod, showing no real reaction. I just wanted him to leave so I could rest. But suddenly, the hospital door was violently kicked open. Before I could process what was happening, Maya stormed in, leading a group of men. She pointed a finger at me and screamed: "That's the bitch!" "Even in a hospital bed, she's still trying to seduce Ethan! Cure her for me! I'll pay you whatever you want!" Confused, I instinctively grabbed Ethan's arm. Even Ethan was caught off guard for a second. "Maya, what are you doing? Who are these people?" Maya didn't answer him. Instead, she grabbed the collar of my hospital gown and dragged me off the bed, snarling, "The people who are going to cure this bitch of her sickness!" Immediately, the men behind her pinned me down and began dragging me out of the room. Finally, Ethan panicked. He grabbed Maya's hand, demanding, "Where are you taking Chloe? I'm warning you, don't cross the line!" Maya glared at my struggling figure. Then, she turned to Ethan, her face instantly melting into a sweet, innocent expression. "Ethan, don't worry. I just want some alone time with Chloe to personally apologize to her. I was too impulsive yesterday, and I really regret it." "I promise, I'll return her to you safe and sound tomorrow morning! I swear!" I didn't believe a single word coming out of her mouth. I screamed at Ethan with all my might, "Don't believe her! She almost killed me with that spinach! If she takes me, god knows how she'll torture me!" "Ethan, don't let her take me! Please, save me!" Ethan looked conflicted. After a long moment, he turned to Maya to confirm. "You won't hurt Chloe, right?" "This is the last time. Once we have the wedding, you are not allowed to act up again." Hearing this, my heart turned to ice. Maya nodded obediently. I stared at Ethan in absolute disbelief. "Are you insane, Ethan? She's going to torture me! She'll kill me!" "Ethan, I'm begging you! For the sake of our seven years together! For the sake of me almost dying last night! Don't let them take me! Please, save me!" Ethan heard my desperate, agonizing pleas, but he only gave me a deep look. "I'll pick Chloe up tomorrow morning for her makeup." With that, Ethan turned his back on me. I opened my mouth to scream for help from the hospital staff, but Maya was too fast. She stuffed a dirty rag into my mouth. The men were dressed in white lab coats, making them look like medical staff. Just like that, they dragged me away. I struggled with every ounce of strength I had, catching one last glimpse of the hospital room. Just like in the bridal boutique. Ethan didn't chase after me.I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. Then, Maya's voice, laced with mock regret, drifted into my ears. "What a shame. Ethan told me not to touch you." "I guess I'll just have to get creative." Before I could even process her words... A brutal kick slammed into my stomach, sending me flying backward. "Splash!" Water instantly engulfed me from all sides. The freezing cold made my muscles spasm. My hands were tied behind my back. As I suffocated, gasping for air and inhaling water, a sharp, tearing pain erupted on my scalp. Maya grabbed me by my hair, dragging me violently out of the water! "Tsk, why won't a worthless bitch like you just drown?" "Cough, cough—" I desperately coughed up water, but before I could catch my breath for even two seconds... Maya shoved me back down without mercy. I was pushed deep into the pool again. Drowning, coughing, pulled up. Pushed back down. Over and over again. By the time she pulled me up for what felt like the hundredth time, I didn't even have the strength to cough. I hung from her grip like a ragdoll, gasping weakly for air as water dripped from my chin and hair. Disgusted, she let go, and I collapsed onto the concrete floor. "How boring. Passed out already? Weak bitch, you're no fun at all." She kicked my limp body with the tip of her stiletto. No response. Maya picked up a bucket of ice-cold water and dumped it directly over my head. The shock made my body shudder, forcing me back to consciousness. "Fine, let's try something more fun. I heard electroshock therapy is great. No marks left behind, but highly effective." "You guys, crank up the voltage. As long as she doesn't die, keep shocking her. I want to see just how tough this bitch really is!" The moment she finished speaking... An excruciating pain shot through my bones, exploding in my limbs. It felt like I had been thrown onto a high-voltage grid. My body contorted uncontrollably. "Ah—!" A bloodcurdling scream tore from my throat. Wave after wave of electricity surged through me. I blacked out from the pain, only to be shocked awake again. I bit through my lip, my mouth filling with the metallic taste of blood. Eventually, drenched in cold sweat, I couldn't even make a sound. Maya's twisted voice sounded like it was coming from a mile away, muffled and distorted. "There we go." "See? A few more sessions, and we'll cure you of your pathetic attitude." She leaned down, her venomous breath brushing against my ear. "Time flies. Ethan is here to pick you up. We'll stop here for now. But don't worry, we'll continue at the wedding!" "Untie her and clean her up. Don't let Ethan notice anything." The ropes binding my wrists were cut, and the blindfold was violently ripped off. Someone hauled me up, carelessly drying my hair and face with a towel. They threw a large coat over me, barely covering my soaking-wet hospital gown underneath. I was half-carried, half-dragged outside. Seeing how pale I was, Ethan reached out to take my hand. Terrified, I shrank away from his touch. As if waking from a nightmare, I bolted into the back of his car. I curled up in the tightest corner, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees, burying my face, shivering violently. Ethan glared at Maya. "What did you do?" Maya shrugged casually, her voice light and careless. "What could I possibly do to her? Ethan, don't accuse me of things." "Look at her. There isn't a single scratch on her." Ethan stared at Maya for a few seconds. He clearly didn't believe her, but he didn't press further. He opened the car door and got in. Once inside, Ethan wanted to comfort me, but my body wouldn't stop shaking. I violently resisted his touch, yet I couldn't utter a single word. His heart ached. He pulled me into his arms by force, whispering soothingly, "Don't be afraid. I'm right here." "Maya is sick, and she can't control her actions sometimes. I promise, this is the absolute last time. Once the wedding is over, I'll have her committed to a closed facility. She won't bother us ever again." I said nothing, shivering in silence. The only thing keeping me going was my flight at noon. Ethan patted my head and led me to the bridal suite. "I still prepared a wedding dress for you. The one you chose first." "I brought your purse, too. Take a rest and try to calm down. The makeup artist will be here soon. I have to greet the guests, but I'll come back for you later." I watched Ethan walk away. With trembling hands, I grabbed a notepad and a pen from the desk. I hurriedly wrote a note calling off the wedding, placed it on top of the wedding dress, grabbed my purse, and left for the airport without looking back. Time ticked away. Inside the banquet hall, the guests had mostly arrived. Even though they knew this wedding would probably be ruined again, they still showed up out of respect for the Carter family. They whispered among themselves, gossiping about how Maya would sabotage the wedding this time. Ethan stood at the entrance, greeting guests with a distracted mind, a deep sense of unease gnawing at him. Even though there were no visible injuries on my body, his professional instincts as a therapist told him something was deeply wrong with my mental state. Knowing he wouldn't get answers from Maya, Ethan turned to his assistant. "Go investigate where Maya took Chloe last night. Find out exactly what she did." The assistant nodded and left. Just as he did, the makeup artist ran toward Ethan, holding a piece of paper, her face pale. "Mr. Carter, something's wrong!" "Ms. Miller left a note. She's gone!" "She said she's calling off the wedding!"