Sea Winds Blow Away Old Vows

Sleepless in the dead of night, I scrolled through a social media thread:

[What moments made you realize they didn't love you anymore?]

A highly upvoted answer was pinned at the top.

[Probably when his fiance was doing a 'check-up'.]

[We were on a beach vacation. His impatient tone on the phone, then turning to kiss me with a terrifying tenderness.]

[He said his fiance was like a nagging housekeeper, even dictating what underwear he wore, and he was fed up with it.]

Someone questioned if it was a made-up story. The poster immediately shared a screenshot of their chat history. The mans avatar was a black German Shepherd, and his nickname was J.

I trembled as I scrolled further.

[Hes in the shower! Sneak a pic of his abs, tee hee.]

In the photo, the mans lean waist had a scar. It was in the same spot where Julian had taken a knife for me, saving me in our sophomore year.

The light from my phone screen stung my eyes. I had traced that scar countless times, my heart aching with tenderness and lingering fear. That year, when we encountered a mugging, Julian hadn't hesitated, stepping in front of me. The blade slashed, and blood soaked his white shirt. The doctor said another inch and it would have hit a kidney. He was in so much pain his forehead dripped with sweat, yet he gripped my hand and said, "As long as you're alright, I don't care what happens to me."

I flipped my phone over, face down on the covers, my chest so tight I couldn't breathe. I told myself to calm down, maybe it was just a coincidence. Many people had scars, it couldn't be him. Julian would literally throw his life away for me. Hed even wrap me in his coat when I had cramps, staying up all night to rub my belly. Wed been together for eight years, our future entwined. It had to be a coincidence.

I took a deep breath, picked up my phone again. Exiting the thread, I opened Julians social media feed. Half an hour ago, he had posted an update. The accompanying picture was of an architectural model. In the background, in the dim hotel lighting, his wrist wore the watch I had given him. The caption read:

[For our future home, no amount of hardship is too much.]

Below, a string of friends had liked it, praising him as the perfect man. My heart, suspended in mid-air, finally settled. I knew it. The man in the thread couldn't be Julian. He was working himself to the bone in a foreign country for our home. How could he be the despicable man in that post?

I switched back to the thread. The poster, KikiTheFairy, was still updating. To prove she wasnt lying, she posted a few more details.

[Some people are just jealous. My boyfriend is not only handsome, but he spoils me rotten.]

[His fiance? Ha, just a nagging old busybody who controls everything.]

[He says she even dictates what tie he wears today. Hes totally fed up with it.]

I froze, my vision blurring for a moment. This morning, before he left, Julian stood in front of the mirror, holding two ties, undecided. I walked over, picked up the dark blue silk tie, stood on my tiptoes to tie it for him, and smiled. This one makes you look fairer, and it matches your suit today. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, his eyes full of affection. My Maya always has the best taste.

I scrolled further.

[This is the Starry Night necklace he gave me. He said its to commemorate the night we met. The stars were so bright.]

In the photo, the necklace, encrusted with tiny diamonds, shimmered under the light. Its unique design depicted a meteor streaking across the night sky. Just a few days ago, I had seen the design draft of the necklace on Julians computer. At the time, I had walked in with a bowl of fruit and casually asked, Its beautiful, is it designed for me? He closed his laptop, naturally running his hand through my hair. Its an anniversary gift for a clients wife, still needs some tweaking.

[Oh, and were on a private island in the Maldives. Its absolutely breathtaking here! Just the two of us, tee hee.]

Julian told me he was in Germany for a project. His schedule was packed, and he was battling jet lag. My hand trembled as I clicked on the posters edit history. The time of the first post, counting backward, was exactly 312 days ago.

In that instant, my mind went blank with a whoosh. 312 days ago was our seven-year anniversary. That morning, he had held me, telling me he loved me, that I was the only light in his life. But that night, he said the company had an emergency and he had to work late, telling me to go to bed first.

It turned out he was with her then.

My phone suddenly vibrated. The words My Love flashed across the screen. I stared at the screen for a long time. It wasnt until the vibration was about to stop that I pressed the answer button.

Julians voice was hoarse with fatigue. Maya, are you still awake? Missing me?

I didnt speak, just listened quietly. It was very still on his end, with the occasional sound of waves crashing against the shore. He noticed my silence. Why arent you talking? Are you feeling unwell?

Just then, a womans soft giggle faintly reached my ear. Darling, hurry up, the waters getting cold

The phone went silent for a moment. Then came the sound of fabric rubbing, as if someone was muffling the receiver. A few seconds later, Julians voice returned, tinged with panic. Maya, the TV here is a bit loud, theyre showing a travel program.

I closed my eyes, tears sliding down my cheeks and into my mouth, bitter enough to make me want to vomit. I cleared my throat, my voice calm, even with a hint of a smile. Julian, is the Maldives fun?

The other end of the phone fell silent. After a full five seconds, Julian chuckled weakly. Maya, what nonsense are you talking about? Im on a business trip in Germany. The hotel is by the sea, and the TV just happens to be showing a Maldives travel program. You must have misheard. He was gambling on my trust, gambling that I was just asking casually. If it had been the old Maya Sterling, I might really have been fooled. After all, he was Julian, the man who would sacrifice his life for me. But now, looking at the constantly updated pictures of the Maldives in the thread, my heart was ashes.

Maybe so. Well, get some rest soon. Dont overwork yourself.

Okay, you get to sleep too. Ill bring you a gift when I get back. He visibly relaxed, his tone becoming gentle again. Oh, and dont worry too much about the Haven Orphanage charity project. I know you have a soft heart, but take care of yourself too. Dont get too tired.

Hanging up, my heart slowly sank. I remembered the thread saying:

[His fiance is just a fake saint, always doing charity work, putting on an act. He prefers someone real like me, who never hides anything.]

So, in his eyes, my kindness was an act, a joke he used to amuse another woman.

The next morning, I received a call from Adrian. Adrian was Julians older brother and the head of Hayes Group.

Are you free now? Lets meet. He paused. There are some things we need to discuss about your wedding to Julian.

Half an hour later, I met Adrian at Hayes Group. He had always looked down on me, believing my background was too ordinary. He felt I wasnt good enough for his golden-boy brother, that I was holding Julian back. He pushed a prenuptial agreement across the table to me. Take a look. These are the Hayes family rules. He leaned back in his chair, a haughty look on his face. If you have no objections, sign it.

I opened the agreement. The terms were extremely harsh, all restrictions on me. The most glaring clause was:

[Should the marriage dissolve due to the wifes fault, the wife shall forfeit all marital assets and leave with nothing.]

I smiled, my voice very soft. What if Julian cheats?

Adrian paused, then scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. Julian cheating? Ms. Sterling, are you telling jokes? He dismissed my concern. Everyone knows hes devoted to you. That hypothesis is meaningless.

Is that so?

Just then, my phone on the table lit up. Kikis post had updated. It was a photo of two passports stacked together. One, a dark red, was Julians passport, which I knew all too well. The one beneath it, though only a corner was visible, clearly showed two words in the name field: Kira Mendez. The caption accompanying the photo was audacious and jarring:

[He says hes taking me to see the Northern Lights, that used to be his girlfriends dream, but now its ours.]

Seeing the Northern Lights was a wish Julian and I made in our junior year of college, lying on a lawn. I pointed at the starry sky and softly said, Julian, someday I want to go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. I hear its beautiful, like a fairy tale. He turned his head to look at me, his eyes brighter than the night sky, his voice gentle and certain. Okay, when we get married, Ill take you there for our honeymoon.

I turned my phone screen towards Adrian. Mr. Hayes, please take a look at this first.

Adrian casually glanced at it. The next second, his face turned ashen.

He cheated. I watched Adrians shifting expression, calmly asking, According to the agreement, what do I get? Adrian didnt speak, his breathing grew heavy, his chest rising and falling violently.

After a long moment, he pressed the intercom on his desk. Check all transactions in Julians private account for the past year, and his whereabouts. Hanging up, he slumped back in his chair. He closed his eyes, his earlier haughty demeanor instantly crumbling. I heard him murmur to himself, Exactly like Dad His voice was very soft, but filled with deep disgust and weariness.

Less than ten minutes later, his assistant knocked and entered. Mr. Hayes, I found it.

Adrian snatched the tablet, rapidly swiping the screen. With each swipe, his face grew darker. Finally, he handed the tablet to me. You should see this too.

Dense, endless pages of transaction records. The private island rental fee in the Maldives, a custom Cartier necklace, the rent for a luxury apartment in the city center, and a fixed monthly allowance transferred to Kira Mendez And what chilled me most was the large transfer on the last page. The note read:

[Haven Orphanage Phase Two Construction Fund].

But this money did not go into the orphanages account. Instead, it was transferred to a company named Kiras Miracles, with Kira Mendez as the legal representative. The Haven Orphanage was a project Julian and I had been funding since college. I knew every child there. Julian had once vowed to me, Maya, every time I see you working tirelessly for these children, I feel a light radiating from you. Its your kindness that makes me want to be a better man.

Now, he used our shared compassion to support his mistress. All my lingering affection for the past died completely at this moment.

Adrian looked at me with a complex gaze, a mix of guilt and sympathy. He silently picked up the prenuptial agreement and threw it into the shredder. Our father was the same. He played the part of a perfect husband while keeping women outside. Our mother eventually died of depression. He gave a self-mocking laugh. I never thought genes would really be passed down.

He stood up, looking at me gravely. "What do you want to do? If you want to cancel the wedding, I can help you release a statement."

I stood, my voice calm. "No cancellation. I want to give him a wedding he'll never forget."

Adrian looked at me deeply, then nodded. "Alright, I'll help you."

Stepping out of the Hayes building, the sunlight was blinding. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Julian:

[Finally landed, darling. Can't wait to see you. Let's finalize the wedding plans tonight.]

Julian embraced me the moment he walked in. His chin rested on the crown of my head, his voice hoarse. "Maya, I missed you so much." I suppressed the nausea churning in my stomach, not pushing him away, just stiffly letting him hold me.

Then he pulled a bracelet from his bag, presenting it like a treasure. "A gift for you. See if you like it?" I recognized it instantly as a popular, mass-produced item from an online shop. He smiled, "I went to several markets to find this handmade, unique piece." I looked at the bracelet, then thought of Kira Mendez's expensive Starry Night necklace. Only a cold laugh remained in my heart. I smiled and accepted it. "Thank you, I love it."

The next few days, we confirmed the guest list, tried on wedding dresses, and rehearsed the ceremony. Julian was gentle and attentive, even at the wedding dress fitting. Watching me put on the main gown he had personally chosen, his eyes welled up. "Maya, you're so beautiful." He choked out, "I'll cherish you forever."

A week flew by. The wedding was set in a glass conservatory by the sea. As I walked towards Julian in my pristine white gown, his eyes were filled with awe and love. "Maya, you're truly beautiful today." I smiled at him, saying nothing.

The ceremony began, the officiant reciting moving vows. As he spoke of "through poverty or wealth, sickness or health," Julian's phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. He frowned, ignoring it, just gripping my hand tighter. Then, the phone vibrated again, this time for a long duration. He gave me an apologetic look, pulling out his phone to hang up. But when he saw the message on the screen, his face instantly turned ashen.

Julian looked up at me, his eyes frantic. "Maya, something urgent came up at the company. There's been a building collapse! I have to go immediately!" With that, he didn't wait for my reaction, turned, and rushed off the stage.

The entire venue erupted in murmurs, guests exchanging bewildered glances. Just then, my phone vibrated. Adrians message:

[It's all handled.]

At the same time, my special notification popped up. Kira Mendez had updated her social media. A photo of a pregnancy test stick, showing two bright red lines. The caption:

[Sorry, wedding's off. He chose us.]