ManyWriters

1
On the morning we were supposed to get our marriage license, Rylan stood me up at the entrance to the city clerk's office.
He told me, "Elise, this is Callie's first surgery. I'm worried about her. Let's get our license tomorrow instead."
The next day, we arrived at the clerk's office again, just stepping inside.
His intern called with an emergency, pulling him away once more.
"Elise, I'm so sorry, but this is serious. A patient's family is causing trouble at the hospital. Callie tried to intervene and got hurt pretty badly. I have to go check on her. We'll come back another time, okay?"
It's been five years since our wedding, and this marks the 66th time Rylan has unilaterally canceled getting our marriage license, each time because of Callie.
Since he's always busy, I guess there's really no point in getting that license after all.
I decided to refocus on my studies, heading abroad for further education. I even met someone there who shares my passions and goals.
Just as we were about to walk down the aisle together...
Rylan came chasing after me.
"Darling, when are we going to get our marriage license?"

Husband Rejected Our Marriage Registration for 66 Times

Even on our wedding anniversary, he only bought a gift and left it at home, too busy to even spend time with me.


"Rylan, have you ever thought about how you've rarely cooked for me in all the time we've lived here, but as soon as Callie arrives, you're in the kitchen? Have you considered how that makes me feel?"


Rylan finally looked up, his eyes full of reproach:


"Elise, I've already told you Callie is my guest."


"Didn't your mother teach you to be hospitable to guests?"


"As the host, what's wrong with me cooking a few dishes to welcome a guest?"


"Do you have to be so petty? Are you really going to be jealous over something like this?"


"If you're upset about me not getting our marriage license today, you can just say so. Should I go get it with you tomorrow then?"


Rylan's string of impatient words hit me hard.


I suddenly felt too tired to argue with him and left the kitchen in silence.


I also couldn't be bothered to tell him that I no longer planned to get our marriage license.


Walking out of the kitchen, I entered the living room.


Callie was sitting there, seemingly looking for something.


Seeing me come out, she flashed a sweet smile: "Sis, where's your kettle? I'll pour some boiling water to make tea for drink."


I took out the kettle for her, and she went to the kitchen to fill it with water.


It took her over ten minutes to come back.


When she emerged, her cheeks were still flushed.


Her eyes were also full of panic when she looked at me.


She hurriedly found a table to put the kettle on and plugged it in.


"Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand. Rylan and I were just discussing some hospital matters in the kitchen."


If nothing really happened that could be misunderstood, why bother explaining it to me?


Isn't this unnecessary action exactly what would make me suspicious?


I nodded perfunctorily, not bothering to engage with her.


But Callie didn't want to let me off the hook.


After the water in the kettle boiled, she said to me again, "Sister-in-law, could you help me pour the water out of the kettle?"


"I'm holding the cup and I'm afraid I might get burned."


Not wanting Rylan to come out later and accuse me of not knowing how to treat guests, I decided to endure it for the sake of peace.


I reached out to grab the kettle and began pouring into the cup.


Chapter 3