The Marriage Fraudster

Tomorrow is the wedding between Claire Sue and me. I sat on the couch, going over the ring for tomorrow again and again, my heart full of anticipation. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Claire Sue calling. Her voice was choked with tears as she said her father, Leonard Sue, was critically ill and urgently needed three million for surgery. I didn't hesitate for a second. After all, he's my future father-in-law; you can't delay money that could save a life. I asked her for the hospital address, wanting to find time to visit. But Claire Sue quickly said her mother had gone abroad with her father for treatment and wasn't in the country. Though it felt a bit odd, I didn't think much of it—after all, medical care might be better abroad. After hanging up, I immediately transferred three million to Claire Sue's account. When the transfer confirmation popped up, I was still thinking about how I'd take good care of Claire Sue and her family after we got married. That night, I wanted to surprise Claire Sue with some of her favorite late-night snacks. Just as I reached the building below her place, I heard her voice coming from the second floor. It wasn't a crying tone; there was actually a hint of a smile as she spoke to someone else. I stopped in my tracks, curious, and looked up. The window wasn't fully closed, so I could clearly hear their conversation inside. "Kane, I've transferred the three million to you. Hurry up and buy that car." Claire Sue's voice was excited. "Claire, you're very good. Your fiancé really believes your dad is seriously ill?" A man's voice came through—it must've been Kane. "That guy, as long as I say something pitiful, he'll believe anything. After we're married, I'll slowly squeeze money out of him." Claire Sue's tone was dripping with contempt. The midnight snack in my hand suddenly slipped and fell to the floor. The so-called seriously ill father and treatment abroad were all lies. Three million—the life-saving money I handed over without a second thought—was actually spent on buying a sports car for her kept male best friend. I stood frozen, chills running through me, like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. All five years of what I thought was love were, to her, just a scheme to steal money. I didn't go upstairs to confront her. Instead, I quietly picked up the fallen snack and walked away. All the hope inside me was shattered, leaving only icy anger. I knew this wedding couldn't go on. But I wouldn't let it end like that. I was going to make her pay for her betrayal. On the wedding day, I didn't show up at the reception. Instead, I drove to Claire Sue's mother's tombstone. Claire Sue kept saying her mother was getting treatment overseas, but I had already found out her mother died a year ago and was buried here. I took a million in joss paper from the car and set it ablaze in front of the tombstone. The flames rose slowly, casting light on the tombstone with Claire Sue's mother's photo. "Auntie, this one million is my 'gift' to you, to thank you for raising such a 'good daughter.'" I whispered softly to the tombstone.