Jasmine’s story 1
Five years of marriage, and Jasmine Holt was finally pregnant.
She immediately went to apply for a birth permit, intending to give it to her husband, Adrian Thorne, as a fifth–anniversary gift.
However, when the system inputted their marriage license information, it repeatedly flagged the document as invalid.
“Ms. Holt,” the clerk said, her expression peculiar after repeated failed attempts, “are you sure that you didn’t fake a marriage license?”
Jasmine felt a prickle of annoyance.“We’ve been married for five years. How could the document be fake?”
The clerk tried once more, then returned the documents.“I suggest you check with the Municipal Services Bureau first. Using a fraudulent certificate is illegal. You can apply for a birth permit even if you’re single.”
Jasmine understood the implication.
She went directly to the Municipal Services Bureau next door.
She emerged pale and devoid of the joy she’d felt earlier.
The clerk’s words echoed in her mind, a relentless hammer blow: “Mr. Thorne and you are both unmarried. The marriage license you hold is fake…”
Five years of marriage… was a sham!
She and Adrian had been childhood sweethearts.
Everyone knew how much he loved her, showering her with the best the world had to offer.
So why would he give her a fake marriage certificate?
Jasmine immediately booked a flight to Andorra to find Adrian.
He was on a business trip.
She needed answers.
She found the hotel where Adrian was staying and witnessed a wedding in progress.
Andorra, a unique country, allows only one marriage per person; there was no divorce, only widowhood.
Distracted, she pushed through the crowd toward the elevator.
Her gaze accidentally fell upon the groom, surrounded by well–wishers, and she felt a jolt of recognition, a bolt of lightning.
The man, dressed in a leather jacket, tight trousers, high boots, a beret, and a wide red belt–the quintessential Andorran attire – wore a blissful
smile.
The man was none other than her husband of five years, Adrian.
Had she not seen it with her own eyes, she would have found it hard to believe Adrian would dress like that.
“Congratulations on your wedding, Adrian!”
edorra
“Adrian, you’re amazing! Such extravagant ceremonies in both America and Andorra!”
“But Adrian, are you serious about Rosalie? She’s penniless!”
Another curious voice chimed in,“Is this bigamy? Wasn’t Adrian already married to Jasmine in America?”
“You don’t know? To wait for Rosalie to grow up, Adrian never officially registered his marriage with Jasmine. Legally, he’s been single for five years!”
“Wow, Adrian really doesn’t let any woman slip by, does he?”
Jasmine stood frozen, her blood turning to ice.
She thought she had misheard, but Adrian’s following words plunged her into an icy abyss.
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“I’m serious about Rosalie. She risked her life to donate blood to save Jasmine, even willing to be my secret lover. She only wants a marriage and carry my baby. My heart belongs to Jasmine, but the marriage and the child can go to Rosalie.”
Adrian’s words were slow, deliberate, each syllable carefully chosen.
So that’s it!
Tears welled up in Jasmine’s eyes.
The fake marriage certificate was Adrian’s doing.
Five years earlier, Jasmine had been in a car accident.
Rosalie, a high school student at the time, had rushed her to the hospital and donated blood to save her life.
Rosalie was poor, she only had a heavy–sick mother.
To repay Rosalie, Jasmine and Adrian had paid for her education, even sending her abroad for study and travel.
Adrian said that Rosalie had saved Jasmine, and therefore saved him.
He wanted to express
his
gratitude in every way he could.
But Jasmine never imagined that his gratitude would include marrying her after she came of age.
Even more ludicrous was that for five years, Jasmine had been completely oblivious, unaware of when or how they had gotten together.
Adrian’s friend leaned in, whispering, “What about Jasmine? Aren’t you worried she’ll find out?”
Adrian lowered his gaze. His long fingers tapped rapidly on his phone screen, his voice laced with an almost imperceptible certainty.“I always love Jasmine, but she won’t find out in her rest of life.”
“Keep your mouth shut! Be smart! Don’t let Jasmine know!”
The next second, Jasmine’s phone buzzed. She saw Adrian’s message, a chill seeping into her very being.
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“My baby Jasmine, I miss you day so much. Every second away from you is torture. I will finish the work ASAP If I’m lucky, I might make it in time for the anniversary. Sending you all my love, Your hubby, Adrian”
Jasmine clutched her phone, looking at Adrian walking away, a sharp pain lancing through her heart.
Her vision blurred, hot tears streaming down her face. This
wasn’t her Adrian.
Her Adrian was the boy who’d climbed through her window to retrieve her fallen hairpin, breaking his leg in the process, and comforted her
tears.
He was the eighteen–year–old who climbed a snow–capped mountain to confess his love, vowing to love her forever and never lie to her.
He was the twenty–year–old who wrote 9999 love letters and baked a hundred cakes for her proposal.
He was the twenty–two–year–old who planned their grand wedding, the man who showered her with affection and wouldn’t let her out of his sight after the wedding…
Not this man, who professed his love while marrying another woman.
A searing pain ripped through Jasmine’s heart. She bit her lip hard, her phone buzzing again–Adrian was calling.
She hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“My little girl Jasmine, where are you? Babe, how’s your stomach? Have you been eating on time? Why is it so gentle as eyer, each word saturated with love.
noisy there?” Adrian’s voice was as
“Adrian, what are you doing now?” Jasmine instinctively tightened her grip on her phone. If Adrian confessed, she would talk to him, give them
both another chance.
Adrian didn’t hesitate.“Just escaped from a business meeting to catch my breath. I missed your voice so much. Babe, are you shopping? I can’t be with you, so let my card keep you company while you shop!”
Jasmine’s lips curled into a wry smile, the light in her eyes extinguished. After a two–second silence, she softly said, “Hmm.”
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Adrian immediately sensed her change in mood, unease creeping into his voice.“Babe, are you upset? What happened?”
“Just busy on dressing up.
Call you
later.”
Jasmine hung up, only to see Rosalie, dressed in a traditional Andorran bridal gown, snuggle into Adrian’s arms.
‘Honey, do I look pretty?”
“Beautiful, my love. You’re even more radiant than the sun.”
Adrian smiled, pulling her close, placing a kiss on her forehead. His gentle smile pierced Jasmine’s heart.
His tenderness and affection weren’t exclusive to her. His love and heart could be divided in two.
Adrian, how could you share your heart with two women?
Jasmine fled the hotel, crouching in a back alley, curling into a fetal position, letting her tears flow freely.
She was near collapse when she finally stood, a steely resolve flickering in her eyes.
She didn’t want this five–year sham of a marriage. She didn’t want this man anymore.
Since they were already legally married, she would grant them their wish.
In half a month, it would be her parents‘ Day of Remembrance. After paying her respects, she would leave, disappearing completely from Adrian’s life.
Jasmine took a taxi to the airport, catching the earliest flight home. Her first act upon returning was to schedule a termination appointment at the hospital.
