“Once we’re married, we’ll take the most beautiful photo for our marriage certificate,” he added, lying more naturally with each word.

Without waiting for a reply, he rushed out.

The day before the wedding, he came home again, this time with the household registration booklet and a card.

When he handed me the card, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Is this my dowry?”

He froze for a moment, then broke into a wide smile, showing all his teeth.

“This is my sincerity, to thank you for showing up tomorrow.”

He didn’t say what role I would be playing, and I didn’t ask. We both knew. He thought that with a breakup fee, I’d obediently step aside and let Zolenn take my place at the altar.

The next day, I cut that card and the wedding dress into pieces. Then, I packed my things and headed straight for the airport.

As the flight attendant announced it was time to turn off our phones, I sent him the message I’d written long ago.

“Consider your life debt repaid.”

A second later, his calls started flooding in.