You Don’t Deserve My Wedding Dress

On my sixteenth birthday, I bought myself the best cake I could afford.
But that day, before I could even take a single bite, my warring parents signed their divorce papers right in front of me.
So, on my wedding day, I told my wife, Susan, If you ever want a divorce, just get me a birthday cake.
She held me close and whispered, Dont worry. The word birthday will never be spoken in our house again.
Seven years later, on Susans birthday, her young assistant prepared a surprise party for her. My wife slapped him hard across his smooth, handsome face and fired him on the spot.
That day, I was certain I had chosen the right woman to spend my life with.
Until three months later. On my birthday.
I discovered that the fired assistant had been quietly promoted to her personal secretary.
And he was the one who personally delivered a custom-made birthday cake to our door.
When I called to confront her, her voice was cold and distant. Dylan meant well, Anthony. Dont be a buzzkill.
I stood there for a moment, stunned into silence, and then I hung up.
So my parents werent wrong after all. A birthday cake is meant to be served with divorce papers. Thats how it was always supposed to be.
1
Dylan left the cake and a single piece of paper on the table before striding out, his chin held high in triumph. A pregnancy test report.
I stared at the date on the report, and a cold silence settled over me.
Three months ago, our company was at a critical stage in developing a new drug. Susan told me shed had an abortion, sacrificing our child for the sake of the companys future.
But three months later, she was pregnant with another mans child.
Gestation period: twelve weeks.
While I was pulling all-nighters at the lab, perfecting our new drug, Susan was bringing Dylan home.
The sofa, the bathroom, the balcony even in front of our wedding photo, theyd made them their battlefield.
This home, once my sanctuary, now made me want to vomit.
The light in the entryway flickered on. Susan stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. She saw the cake on the dining table and her brow furrowed. Then, she wrapped her arms around me from behind. She dangled a watch in front of my face, her voice as gentle as ever, but her clothes carried the scent of the cologne Dylan always wore.
Its the latest from Vacheron Constantin. Do you like it? she murmured. Its after midnight now, so its not technically a birthday gift.
My eyes fixed on the watch, and I froze. I dont know much about luxury goods, but I knew this watch. Dylan had been wearing the exact same one earlier today, flaunting it like a trophy.
Was it the same model, or the same one?
Did it even matter?
I pushed down the acrid bile rising in my throat and turned to face her, my voice calm.
We need to talk.
Susan assumed I was still sulking. A flash of annoyance crossed her face. Dylan was just trying to surprise you. He didnt know you dont celebrate your birthday. Ive already punished him for it.
Anthony, can you just stop being dramatic? she sighed, rubbing her temples. Im exhausted.
She made it sound like I was the one being unreasonable.
Before I could say another word, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and a smile instantly lit up her face. She eagerly tapped out a reply as she walked into the bedroom.
Watching her go, a bitter laugh escaped my lips.
Ten years together, seven years of marriage. Wed started with nothing and built an empire. But the Susan I knew, the girl who used to whisper sweet nothings to me all night, was gone. This was Susan Sterling, the CEO. And her time was no longer mine.
I pulled the divorce papers Id already drafted from under the coffee table. I glanced down at my own hands, the fingers slightly warped and scarred from years of chemical experiments.
I smiled again, this time with a sense of release.
I picked up my phone and called my old professor.
Professor Davis, I said. That top-secret project you mentioned before is there still a spot for me?
There was a stunned silence on the other end, followed by a burst of pure joy. Of course! Absolutely!
But Anthony, the security clearance for this one is extremely high. If you join, youre looking at a five-year commitment, minimum. Will your wife agree to that? Without you, your companys R&D would collapse.
I signed my name on the divorce papers, my voice firm.
Professor, Im getting a divorce.
The line erupted with a chorus of excited shouts. It was my old lab mates.
We always knew that Sterling woman was no good! The love-struck genius finally sees the light!
Anthony, get back here, man! The old crew has been waiting for you!
Dont sweat it, Anthony. A woman will only slow down your research progress.
The professor shushed them with a gruff affection, then spoke again, his tone now formal and serious.
Dr. Warren. Project 707 officially orders you to report for duty immediately. You have two days to arrange your personal affairs.
After hanging up, I rose and went into the guest room. Id never slept in it before.
But now, it was the only clean place in the house.
2
The next day, I didnt wake up until one in the afternoon. Three months of non-stop, high-intensity research had left me mentally drained. For the first time in a long while, I had slept soundly.
I opened my phone to a flood of notifications. Everyone was celebrating the successful completion of the new drugs first phase trials. Susan was tagging me in every group chat, sending out a storm of celebratory cash gifts.
Reading through the endless praise and congratulations, I felt nothing.
After lying in bed for a while, I finally got up, divorce papers in hand, and went out. The living room was empty. Susan was gone.
On the coffee table was a ticket to see The Weeknd, my favorite artist.
And a sticky note:
Seven oclock tonight. See you there.
I understood. This was my reward. My treat for a job well done.
I thought about it for a moment and decided to go. Not to reconcile, but to finalize the end.
After all, seven years ago, Susan had proposed to me at a concert. We got our marriage license the very next day.
Now, we would discuss our divorce at a concert. And get a different kind of license the day after.
It felt fitting.
At five, I put the divorce papers and the ticket in my bag, threw on the first thing I found, and left. In the past, whenever I had a date with Susan, I would spend two hours getting ready. I was terrible at choosing clothes and styling my hair, a process that was equal parts agony and joy.
Not anymore.
And I certainly didnt need to wait for her, starving, so we could eat together. I could just grab a bite downstairs.
I arrived at the venue at 6:50. I sent Susan a text. No reply.
I shook my head. Instead of waiting for her like I always did, I got in line and went inside.
Just then, a notification popped up on my phone. A social media post from Dylan, specifically tagging me.
No concert, but Ive got the amusement park. The view tonight is amazing!
The photo was of his hand holding a womans on a Ferris wheel. You couldnt see his face, but I recognized the ring on her finger. Susan wasnt coming.
So even the concert ticket was meant for another man.
It didnt matter. She had betrayed our seven-year marriage. Why would I care about one concert?
As long as she signed the papers, who she slept with was her own damn business.
3
After the concert, I walked home.
I passed a familiar street and stopped. The old dumpling shop where Susan and I used to go every day to save a dollar had been replaced by a trendy artisan bakery.
Thats when it truly hit me. People change, and so do places. Even our most beautiful memories had been eroded by time.
It was one in the morning when I got back. The living room light was on. Susan was sitting on the sofa, texting.
When she saw me, her brow furrowed and she rushed over.
What happened to you? You didnt answer your phone, you didnt reply to my texts. Do you know you were almost out all night?
She was waiting for me?
But for the past three months, Id come home later than this every single night.
Maybe it was because I wasnt working late today. That meant she couldnt bring Dylan home.
Fine. After the divorce, Dylan could move in permanently.
I pulled my hand from her grasp and said flatly, Its been a while since I went out. My phone died at the concert.
At the mention of the concert, a guilty look flashed across Susans face. She remembered she had stood me up. Her lips pressed into a thin line. She awkwardly picked up a box from the side and opened it with a flourish.
I glanced inside. It was a suit.
After we got our license, we were too poor for a proper wedding. We just had dinner with a few close friends. Not being able to walk her down the aisle in a suit had been a lingering regret of mine for years.
But that was then.
Seeing my lack of excitement, Susan quickly added, as if shed just remembered something, Ive booked the church for tomorrow night. We can finally make up for what we missed.
I looked at her and managed a small smile. I pulled the divorce papers from my bag.
Instead of this, Id rather you sign this.
4
Susan took the papers, staring at me in confusion. Then, she burst out laughing.
Anthony, youve really changed. Youre not just all about your experiments anymore. Youre learning to be jealous, to ask for gifts.
But Im happy about it, she continued, her tone magnanimous. Whatever you want, Ill give it to you.
As a show of her generosity, she flipped straight to the signature page without even reading the contents and scrawled her name.
As she handed the signed papers back to me, she seemed overcome with emotion and leaned in to kiss me.
I was trying to figure out how to pull away when her phone rang, shattering the moment.
It was Dylan.
Susan impatiently declined the call. As she moved to embrace me again, the phone rang once more.
She opened her mouth to explain, but I spoke first. You should take it. What if its something important?
A weak voice came from the other end. Dylan had sprained his ankle and couldnt move on his own. He was calling Susan for help.
After she hung up, she looked at me, her guilt palpable. Um Dylans in a bit of a situation. He cant handle it alone. I think I need to go.
Then you should go. Dont keep him waiting.
My understanding seemed to stun her. She gripped my hand, desperate to understand what was wrong with me. But her phone rang again.
Finally, with me watching her, Susan let go of my hand. Her voice was full of emotion.
Im looking forward to our wedding tomorrow. It will be our moment.
Then, she hurried out the door.
I placed the divorce papers on top of the wedding dress she had laid out and began to pack my things.
Tomorrow, I would be gone.
And Susan Sterling would never see me again.
5
Susan didnt come home that night. I didnt ask, and I didnt care.
Early the next morning, the car sent by the Professor was already waiting for me.
Before I left, I had one last stop to make: the office. I had to retrieve the photo of me and my grandmother.
After my parents divorced, she was the one who raised me. It was the only photo I had of us together. I had to take it with me.
The moment I stepped into the company, I was met with strange looks from my colleagues. When I reached my office, I understood why.
Dylan was sitting in my chair, a look of pure provocation on his face.
Anthony, he said with a smirk. Susan decided I should take over the post-launch phase of the new drug. She picked out this office for me especially.
I think its quite nice. You dont mind, do you?
Putting a rookie in charge of such a crucial project. Susan was really spoiling him.
Or was she expecting me to stick around and mentor him?
I looked at him and smiled. Be my guest. Im leaving now.
My calm response disappointed many of the colleagues who were ready to stand up for me. I was Susans husband, the head of R&D. To be pushed around by a junior like this it was pathetic.
But the driver was waiting downstairs. Hed already done me a favor by bringing me here. Wasting more time bickering with Dylan would be ungrateful.
As I was leaving with my grandmothers photo, Susan appeared.
She saw me putting the framed picture into my bag, and her face tightened. Where are you going?
I
Dylan cut in before I could answer. Hes clearing out the office for me. I like this one.
Susan rushed over and grabbed my arm. No. This office has always been yours. No one can
I cut her off. If he likes it, he can have it.
Id already submitted my resignation. All it needed was her approval. And even if she didnt approve, it didnt matter. It was just a formality. I would be automatically terminated in a month.
Just like our marriage. It would be over in a month.
Susan stood frozen, her expression unreadable. She only snapped out of it after I was gone.
She shoved Dylan, who was happily humming and rearranging the office, out the door. Then, in front of everyone, she slapped him across the face.
I warned you. Anthony is my husband and the head of R&D. Without him guiding the project, the post-launch phase will completely stall. You will show him respect at all times. Her voice was laced with fury. Have I been too lenient with you? Did it give you the wrong idea? How dare you provoke him?
Downstairs, I received a text from her.
[Seven oclock tonight. Southside Chapel. Dont be late.]
[I booked our honeymoon to Bali. We leave tomorrow.]
[Well come back as soon as Im pregnant.]
I shook my head, took out the SIM card, snapped it in two, and threw it in the trash.
Dont disgust me.
I got into the car waiting for me and headed to the airport.
At seven oclock that evening, Susan Sterling, dressed in a wedding gown, stood at the entrance of a chapel.
6
Why a church wedding?
Years ago, while reading the Bible, I came across a line that resonated with me.
What God has joined together, let no one separate.
The church upheld the sanctity of a lifelong, monogamous marriage.
When I chose to be with Susan, I had nothing. No house, no car. We lived in a leaky basement apartment.
I still remember what my father said to me. If she really loves you, why is she making you quit a great job to struggle with her?
I was young and arrogant, and I retorted, We just graduated! Of course we dont have money! Susan is good to me, and shes ambitious. Well build our own life. We wont be like you and Mom!
My mothers affair and my parents subsequent divorce was a thorn in my side, and in my fathers.
On the plane, I replayed it all in my mind, trying to understand how we had ended up like this.
Maybe my father was right.
When Susan was young, poor, and full of romantic ideals, she met a boy who would do anything for her. Of course she would choose him. He was smart, hardworking, cooked, cleaned, and took care of her every need.
Who wouldnt want a free, brilliant caretaker?
Once she had achieved success, the first thing she did was go looking for her ideal man.
If it werent for the company needing me to develop the new drug, there would be no church wedding, no talk of a honeymoon.
In seven years of marriage, she had never once tried to fulfill any of the promises shed made. The concert was a perfect example.
She did it because she needed me.
Not because she loved me.
It was all just a ploy to tie me down.
But I wasnt that love-struck young man anymore.
I closed my eyes and could still see it clearly.
The day we got our marriage license, I immediately went with Susan to meet a client. On the way, we passed a church. The flowers planted along the path were in full bloom, their fragrance thick in the air. I stopped our bicycle, staring at the newlyweds inside.
Susan waved a hand in front of my face. Anthony, what is it? Do you like it?
I smiled and shook my head.
Of course I liked it. How could I not?

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