There were seven photos, and each one featured a girl.
The first four were photos of her and Hugh Pei together, taken under a cherry blossom tree, in front of a matchmaking temple, on a concentric lock bridge, and on a Ferris wheel. They were wearing matching couple outfits, their smiles sweet.
The next two were filled with sadness, selfies of her crying, with blood on her wrists.
The last one was the most terrifying, a corpse. It looked like she had drowned. She was soaking wet, covered in seaweed, her skin pale and bloated.
It took me several minutes to regain my senses. My voice trembled, "Mom, who is she?"
"Have you seen anyone who looks like her?" my mother-in-law asked me another question softly.
I nodded. Yes, Lila Wei was practically her double.
My mother-in-law put away the photos and sighed. "Zoe, her name is Xena Tao. She was a girl Hugh Pei once liked."
"Mom, please tell me clearly. What does this have to do with me?" I was getting anxious.
As my mother-in-law explained, I realized that my supposed understanding of Hugh Pei was missing a crucial piece of information.
It was right before graduation. Ginny Deng and I and a few others had gone to another city for internships. That was the only time I had been away from Hugh Pei for so long. All I could do was try to find topics to chat with him about online every day.
I remembered very clearly that Hugh Pei's unchanging social media background photo had been replaced with a picture of a pink cartoon peach.
I had been anxious about it for a long time, afraid that he had found someone new.
My intuition at the time had been right. It was during that period that Hugh Pei had met Xena Tao, the first girl who had made him truly understand what it meant to like someone.
Unlike his previous flings, he was serious about Xena Tao. But his family had opposed the relationship.
At that time, Grandpa Pei was seriously ill and wanted to see Hugh Pei get married. He had looked for a suitable candidate and finally decided I was the one.
When I found out I was going to marry Hugh Pei, I agreed without hesitation, which only strengthened the Pei family's opposition to Xena Tao.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me back then?" I asked.
"We were firmly against Hugh Pei and Xena Tao being together. We thought they hadn't been dating for long and that if he agreed to marry you, they would just drift apart. Who knew that child… sigh." There was a hint of guilt and regret in my mother-in-law's eyes.
I finally understood why Hugh Pei had said so many harsh things to me on our wedding night, each word like a knife stabbing my heart.
And what he said about making me regret marrying him and suffer for the rest of my life.
It turned out the girl he liked had committed suicide by jumping into a river on our wedding day.
"Zoe," my mother-in-law's face was a little pale, "I know it was wrong to hide it from you. You had the right to know. But we were in such a hurry at the time. And when she jumped, you and Hugh Pei had already completed the wedding ceremony. It was too late."
"Mom." My heart had turned cold, my smile a little tragic. "I understand."
With that, I stood up and got my coat. "Please have someone drive me back. I need to calm down."
My mother-in-law sighed helplessly. "Zoe, I'm telling you this in the hope that you will reconsider Hugh Pei. It was all my fault and your father's for being so cruel back then. Hugh Pei is also a victim."
"Mm." I didn't want to say more and just nodded perfunctorily.
Soon, my mother-in-law arranged for someone to drive me back to A-City. On the way, my mind was in turmoil, replaying all the past events.
It turned out my mother-in-law, knowing full well how Hugh Pei treated me, had refused to tell me what had really happened, letting me believe I wasn't good enough.
It turns out Hugh Pei once had someone he liked—that Xena Tao is the real "one that got away," and Lila Wei is just a substitute.
It turned out I was really a joke. I didn't even know the reason why Hugh Pei had hurt me again and again.
It turned out that in this story, I wasn't even the second female lead.
I rolled down the car window, and the cold wind rushed in, blowing on my face. The tears that had just fallen were blown away.
The driver asked, "Ma'am, aren't you cold? You'll catch a cold."
"I'm not cold." I was already so cold that my temples were throbbing, but I answered stubbornly.
Or maybe I should let the cold wind blow away my foolishness and ignorance.
By the time I got home, it was already dark. My parents were surprised to see me back so soon.
But they also immediately guessed that I was in a bad mood and that something must have happened at my in-laws'.
"Zoe, what's wrong? Your eyes are so red," my mom asked with concern.
"It's nothing. My in-laws were just trying to persuade me not to divorce Hugh Pei. I got a little angry thinking about it and shed a few tears." I had calmed down a lot and could even manage a small smile.
My dad said angrily, "How dare they? Why didn't they teach their scumbag son a lesson sooner?"
My mom chimed in, "Exactly."
"Mom, Dad, don't worry. I'll go to my uncle's after the New Year. We'll be separated for two years, and then we can get a divorce directly," I replied.
"Have you decided?" my mom asked tentatively.
"I've decided." I didn't want to be the third female lead anymore. This marriage was burdened with a human life; it shouldn't continue.
My dad nodded with satisfaction. "Good. We respect your choice."
"Alright, since you're back, let's make dumplings together. Do something to keep your mind off things," my mom said, pulling me into the kitchen and giving me some tasks.
I took on all the tasks and worked hard as her assistant. Before midnight, we had prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.
This was the first New Year's Eve dinner in five years of marriage without Hugh Pei.
There would be no more in the future. I needed to start getting used to it from today.
The New Year's Eve dinner for the three of us was also very warm and harmonious. My mom suddenly lamented that she hadn't had a second child, otherwise it would be even more lively now.
My dad agreed and started to advise me, "Zoe, after you divorce Hugh Pei, find another good man. Listen to Dad, have one more child in the future, so it's lively during the New Year."
"Just to have a lively New Year, I have to have one more?" I had had two or three glasses of wine, and my face was warm.
"Of course. The point of having children is to have a lively holiday season. Otherwise, why have a bunch of troublemakers?" my dad said, expressing his straightforward opinion.
My mom and I exchanged a look. My mom scolded him playfully, "You men talk so easily. If you're so capable, go have one yourself. Having a child is like walking through the gates of hell. I don't want my daughter to suffer the same thing twice!"
Hearing this, my dad seemed to agree. "Hey? That seems to be right. Your mom had a hemorrhage when she gave birth to you. It scared me to death. I was thinking, is this child here to take my life? I should just stuff it back in!"
"Why are you saying such unlucky things on New Year's? Spit, spit, spit!" my mom panicked, hitting my dad's mouth with her chopsticks.
My dad realized his mistake and also spat three times. I was so amused by this old couple that I burst out laughing. Suddenly, the sound of fireworks came from outside. I turned to look out the window. The night sky was filled with a continuous display of brilliant fireworks. It was so beautiful.
It was a new year. I silently watched the fireworks, praying in my heart, "Let me start a new life."