Chapter 1

I had been married to Douglas for sixty years.

Right before the holiday weekend, he suddenly proposed a fake divorce.

His excuse was that we needed to qualify for a property in a top school district for our grandchildren.

When I hesitated, he frowned at me with deep irritation. "We've been married for six decades. Do you honestly think I'm going to run off?"

Our children turned on me as well, complaining that I was being selfish for refusing to make a small sacrifice for the kids' education.

With no other choice, I finally agreed.

On the day the paperwork went through, my children booked me a bus tour, claiming it was their way of making it up to me.

However, when I rushed back home to grab my forgotten ID, I found our front lawn transformed into a lavish wedding venue.

Douglas was holding his long-lost first love by the arm, smiling broadly as he soaked in our children's congratulations.

In that instant, the harsh truth hit me.

If I hadn't agreed to the divorce, how else could he have given his first love the grand wedding of her dreams?

I stood quietly in the distance, looking at the festive decorations, and then turned away without making a sound.

Being divorced wasn't such a bad thing after all.

When I returned to the house that morning, I honestly thought I had pulled up to the wrong address.

Banners and floral arches decorated the front lawn, and the entire driveway looked set for a massive celebration.

I stared at the remnants of confetti and party poppers on the pavement, completely bewildered.

How could there be such a grand wedding at my own house without my knowledge?

Both of my children had been married for years, and my grandchildren were only five or six, just getting ready for grade school.

Who on earth was getting married?

The front gates swung open to welcome arriving guests.

I took a curious step forward to peek inside, and the sight froze me where I stood.

My husband, Douglas, was dressed in a tailored tuxedo. Though his hair was completely white, he looked remarkably sharp and vibrant.

He stood tall and proud like a pine tree, and on his arm was a woman in a flowing white bridal gown.

She was also white-haired, but her skin was radiant and smooth, and the gentle wrinkles on her face could not hide her past beauty.

Even in her old age, she possessed an undeniable grace.

I recognized her instantly. She was Douglas's first love, Rosalie.

I stood alone at the gate, staring at the lively ceremony.

My children and relatives stood around the platform, clapping and cheering relentlessly for the elderly newlyweds.

There was a floral arch, a manicured green lawn, and a flawless white gown.

I had dreamed of having a wedding like this countless times in my life. I had imagined a loving husband holding my hand while our family showered us with blessings.

Douglas and I had been married for sixty years. When we tied the knot in our youth, there was no carriage, no modern ceremony, and not even a ring.

He simply wore a clean shirt, took my hand, and treated a few neighbors to a modest dinner. That was our entire wedding.

Later, our financial situation improved, and we never lacked money again.

I once asked him if we could hold a proper ceremony, just a simple one, because I wanted to wear a real wedding dress at least once in my life.

Whenever I brought it up, Douglas would scowl and snap at me.

"You're a grown woman. Stop acting like a foolish little girl!"

I carried that unfulfilled dream in my heart for sixty whole years.

Just a few days ago, our children came to me claiming that the grandkids needed a home in a premier school zone.

They told me their own purchasing quotas were maxed out, so the only solution was for us to divorce on paper to buy another property.

They begged me to make a sacrifice so the little ones could get into a prestigious elementary school.

I refused at first, telling them I was already in my eighties and couldn't handle such chaotic schemes.

Douglas merely glared at me and scolded me harshly.

"We've been married for so long. Are you actually afraid I'm going to leave you?"

My children joined in, blaming me for being stubborn and refusing to help my own grandchildren.

Helpless and pressured from all sides, I finally gave in.

Seeing that I agreed, the kids were overjoyed. They immediately booked me a guided holiday tour, claiming it was a vacation to make amends.

In all sixty years of marriage, I had barely traveled anywhere. They either demanded that I stay home to look after the house, or dumped the grandkids on me to babysit.

I had gladly accepted the trip, genuinely looking forward to having some time for myself.

Yet when I reached the airport terminal, I realized I had left my ID card behind.

The staff told me a digital ID on a smartphone would work, but I only carried a cheap, basic flip phone.

I had asked my children several times to teach me how to use a smartphone, but they always brushed me off, claiming it was a waste of money.

Left with no alternative, I took a cab back home to retrieve my card.

And that was how I ended up witnessing this scene.

I stood outside the gates, watching the joyous crowd under the bright morning sun.

The early autumn breeze felt warm, but inside, my heart turned completely to ice.

I watched the guests mingle and observed the wedding I had spent a lifetime longing for.

The sunlight beat down on my skin, and the world around me began to blur.

Just as dizziness threatened to pull me under, a sharp pain shot up my right leg.

I snapped back to reality and looked down.