My Sister Wants To Marry The Man I Love

My mother spoke as if it were completely normal, “How could your sister be like you? She was born to live an easy life, and you were born to serve others.”

A tight knot rose in my throat. All that favoritism since childhood, I had never once been chosen.

By now, I should have been used to it, yet every time, my chest still hurt like it might burst.

Trying not to cry, I was just about to hang up.

Then my mother suddenly commanded, “Bring your ID and come to the City Hall right now.”

My eyelid moved. “What are you trying to do?”

“Are you stupid? Didn’t I tell you yesterday, you’re divorcing Waylon today? Your sister is going to marry him.”

I stood frozen in shock, my vision spinning. “Mom, have you lost your mind? Waylon is my husband! Just because Reese wants him, I have to give up my own marriage?”

“What are you screaming for?” Impatiently, she said, “Your sister is prettier and more capable. The fact that she likes your husband is good luck for you. She doesn’t even care that Waylon is secondhand after you’ve shared a bed with him for three years. What right do you have to yell? You’re just a small, low-class thing. You’ll never match your sister, you’ll never be presentable.”

My ears rang, and I yelled in anger, “I will never divorce him, not even if I die! And Waylon won’t either!”

“That might not be true!” My mother laughed proudly. “I already told Waylon that you were seen messing around in a hotel with five men last night. He’s heading back right now to divorce you. Just in time for him and your sister to get their marriage license.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing; tears of rage ran down my face. “Mom, how can you accuse me like that?”

Coldly, she laughed. “If you refuse to divorce, I’ll show up at your job and tell everyone. I’ll post online that you abused and hit me. I’ll ruin your name until it stinks across the city, what people now call ‘social death.’ No company will ever take you again. You’ll end up begging on the streets.”

Before I had a chance to answer, she ended the call.

Quickly, I wiped away my tears, asked my boss for leave, and hurried to the City Hall by taxi.

While riding there, I called Waylon.

We were in the same company, though we worked in separate departments. He had been tied up with a big project recently, often working late and sleeping in the office so he wouldn’t disturb my rest.

When he heard my shaky voice, he spoke gently, “I’m already heading to the City Hall. Don’t worry, wait there for me.”

From our school days to our wedding, Waylon and I had always been together, our interests matched, and our bond grew.

Four years of dating and three years of marriage, we supported and understood one another.

Hearing his calm tone felt like a dose of comfort.

Not long after I ended the call, I reached the City Hall. From far away, my mother’s voice already echoed through the hall, bothering the staff nonstop.

“Aren’t you supposed to handle marriage problems for regular people? I already said it, my younger daughter cheated! She shamelessly messed around with a group of men! And you still refuse to process her divorce?”

“How long are you planning to delay this? Is it really that hard to press a few keys? Just divorce them already, my elder daughter is waiting to get her marriage license with my second son-in-law!”

Her loud words left every staff member frozen in shock.

Carefully, a young worker spoke, “Ma’am, this is a government office. We have to follow the rules. If one person isn’t here, we can’t handle a divorce.”

“How can you not? If your husband slept with several women, could you take it? I bet you’re just like my second daughter, itching to be handled by a bunch of men!”

The young woman’s face turned bright red with anger. “Ma’am, what kind of nonsense are you saying?”