The Ashes of Our Vows

Ever since my girlfriend pulled my younger brother out of a burning house, he developed severe emotional dependency on her. His therapist warned us: "Right now, he can't survive a single day without her." From that moment on, Victoria and I had to drag my brother along on every single date. We even had to let him move into our shared apartment. The night before our wedding, my brother had an anxiety attack and swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills. He ended up in the ICU. Victoria smashed the empty pill bottle onto the floor in sheer frustration. "He's such an exhausting mess! When will he ever stop clinging to us?!" My parents and I sobbed, begging her to save him. Yet, when we tried to get married for the eighth time, my brother collapsed from a panic attack and passed out. I grabbed Victoria’s arm, begging her to sign our marriage license at City Hall before rushing to the hospital. She shoved my hand away without a second thought. "How can you be so selfish?! Keith is in the emergency room, and all you care about is signing some damn papers!" My mother slapped me hard across the face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You know damn well he can't survive without Victoria! How could you push for a wedding right now? Are you trying to get your own brother killed?!" As they bolted toward the hospital without looking back, the system in my head let out a heavy sigh. [Host, we can't drag this out any longer.] [Tomorrow is your thirtieth birthday. If you fail to complete your mission to marry the female lead within twenty-four hours, you will be permanently erased.] I glanced down at my phone, staring at the birthday countdown app Victoria had once set up for me. A dry laugh escaped my lips, slowly turning into silent tears... By the time I reached the hospital room, my brother had already regained consciousness. He was clinging tightly to my girlfriend, burying his face in her side. When I stepped through the door, Keith stared at the wedding band on my finger, then shifted his gaze to Victoria's hand resting gently on his waist. His eyes instantly welled with tears. "Why are you and Victoria both wearing rings? Did I ruin your wedding again?" "Of course not!" My mother rushed over, grabbed my hand, and violently yanked the wedding ring off my finger. "This... this is a special gift your brother and Victoria picked out for you just now. One for you, and one for Victoria." Keith gasped, covering his mouth in shock. "Really? I love it so much!" Victoria took his trembling hand and gently slid my wedding band onto his finger. "Of course. We know how much you love showing off, so we bought it just for you." I clutched my bruised finger, watching my parents hover over Keith, beaming as they snapped photos of him and Victoria. Standing there, I felt like a complete stranger who had wandered into the wrong room. I dug my fingernails deep into my palms, forcing myself to endure the scene until Victoria finally lulled my brother to sleep. Stepping forward, I took her hand. "Victoria... he's asleep. Let's go to City Hall and finish the paperwork." Victoria's eyes widened in disbelief. She reflexively cupped her hand over Keith's ear and snarled at me in a hushed voice: "Are you seriously in that much of a rush?! It took me forever to get him to calm down and smile!" My throat felt parched and raw. When I tried to speak, only a desperate whisper came out. "Do you remember what I told you? If I don't marry you before I turn thirty, I'm going to die." A holographic hourglass was floating in my vision, counting down twenty-four hours. One hour had already slipped away. The incessant ticking echoed in my mind like a death knell. My voice trembled uncontrollably. "I really will die if we don't get married before my birthday. Please, just come with me. It won't take long. Just a quick signature." Victoria knitted her brows in disgust. "Leo, I don't have time for your stupid jokes!" "The doctor said if we hadn't brought him in when we did, Keith would've suffered brain death! He just had his stomach pumped. I have to stay here with him!" My mother smacked my shoulder hard, hissing under her breath. "What kind of brother are you?! Your brother barely survived the ICU, and all you can think about is your own damn romance!" The commotion woke Keith up. Bleary-eyed, he weakly gripped the hem of Victoria’s shirt. "Where are you two going? Don't worry about me... just leave your jacket, Victoria. That's enough." He looked at me, his voice trembling with tears. "Leo, I'm sorry. I really don't want to cling to her like this. Just having her jacket is enough. If I can just smell her perfume, I'll be fine. Go do what you need to do." Victoria immediately climbed back onto the bed, wrapping her arms around him. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here with you. Don't be scared." She shot my mother a sharp look. My mother grabbed me by the collar and shoved me out into the hallway. "Go down to the cafeteria and get your brother some soup! He hasn't eaten all morning!" I desperately clung to my mother's arm, pleading with everything I had left. "Mom, I'm not lying! Please, just let Victoria come with me for thirty minutes! That's all I need!" "There's a system inside my head! If I don't marry Victoria by the time I turn thirty, it's going to wipe me out of existence!" My mother’s face twisted in rage. She began swinging her heavy purse, beating me with it relentlessly. "Even now, you're still using such childish bullshit to compete with your sick brother!" "You're the older brother! Why can't you just let him have his way for once?! You can get married any other day! Why can't your girlfriend look after your brother for a few hours without you throwing a tantrum?! How did you turn out so selfish?!" My father gave me a look of pure disgust, then slammed the door shut right in my face. My knees gave out, and I sank to the floor, watching another chunk of sand drain through the hourglass. Mom, I wasn't lying to you. If we don't sign those papers, I won't make it to tomorrow.Before I left the hospital, Victoria caught up with me in the stairwell and pulled me into an embrace. "Leo, I'm so sorry..." "I really can't leave right now. Your brother's mental state is completely shot today. He refuses to take his medication if I'm not there." I stared into her eyes for a long, quiet moment. "Can we go first thing tomorrow morning, then? Victoria... I really can't wait any longer." Victoria blinked, then let out a soft chuckle. "Are you really that desperate to marry me?" I nodded, dead serious. "Yes. The entire reason I'm here... is to marry you." She leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Alright. Head home first. I'll come back as soon as I get him to sleep. We'll be the very first couple at City Hall tomorrow morning!" Looking at the warmth in her eyes, the suffocating dread in my chest finally receded a little. Everything would be fine once we were married. I gently rested my hand against her belly. A wave of warmth and relief washed over me. That little scatterbrain hadn't even realized she was pregnant yet. I wanted to surprise her with the news right after we got our marriage license... But when I woke up the next morning, the space beside me was cold and empty. Victoria hadn't come home all night. By nine in the morning, half the sand in the hourglass had run out. A cold, mechanical chime echoed through my mind. [Mission countdown: twelve hours remaining. Please hurry, Host.] I gathered both our IDs and paperwork and headed to City Hall on my own. Before walking out the door, I texted her. "I'm heading to City Hall now. What time will you get there?" When I arrived at the entrance, there was still no reply. I tried calling her on FaceTime, but the call was declined almost instantly. Finally, a text popped up. [Keith's doctor is doing rounds right now. Be a good boy and wait for me outside.] Along with the text, she sent a picture of Keith resting his head on her shoulder. I stared at the photo, zooming in on their intertwined fingers. A memory flashed through my mind. When we first took my brother to a psychiatrist, the doctor suggested that Victoria hug him for at least ten minutes every day to ease his severe anxiety and depression. The first time she did it, Victoria was so uncomfortable that she literally set a timer on her phone. The second the ten minutes were up, she rushed to the bathroom to scrub herself clean. Afterward, she wrapped herself around me, pouting, saying she hated being that close to anyone who wasn't me. I didn't even know when it happened, but somehow, holding hands and hugging had become second nature to them. Over the past two years, Victoria had probably touched my brother more than she had touched me... I texted her back: "Come over as soon as you're done. City Hall closes at noon." Two more hours slipped by on the hourglass. I stood at the corner of the intersection the entire time. It was the only route leading to City Hall, meaning I would spot her car the second she arrived. I checked my phone. She still hadn't replied. Another segment of sand drained away. As twelve o'clock drew near, I finally spotted a matte-black G-Wagon waiting at the red light down the street. License plate: 888. It was Victoria! My heart leaped, and I scrambled to my feet, clutching the folded ultrasound report in my hand. Victoria, like many tragic heroines, had lost both her parents at a young age. Whenever we laid in bed at night, she loved burying her face in my chest, whispering softly: "I want to have a sweet little baby with you." I couldn't wait to see her face when I showed her the report right after we signed the papers. Smiling, I stepped toward the curb to wave down the SUV. Instead of slowing down, the vehicle tore past the intersection at full speed, roaring away into the distance. The slush kicked up by the tires splashed straight across my face.I dialed her number twice, but it went straight to voicemail. My fingers were trembling from the biting cold. By accident, I tapped the FaceTime button—and to my surprise, the screen connected instantly. Victoria had both hands clamped onto the steering wheel, her lips pressed into a tight line. "What is it, Leo? I'm busy right now." "You just drove right past City Hall! Why didn't you stop? It's almost noon! Don't you know I've been waiting out here the entire morning?!" Victoria furrowed her brows. Instead of answering, she let out a muffled whimper. A second later, she cleared her throat, coughing awkwardly. "Leo, I think I caught a cold. I don't want to get you sick. Let me stop by a pharmacy to grab some masks first." She looked genuinely distressed. Sweat was beading along her temples, her breathing came fast and shallow, and her cheeks were flushed crimson. Every few seconds, an involuntary, stifled gasp slipped past her lips. A sudden wave of worry hit me. "How about I take you to urgent care first, and then we can head to City Hall?" Suddenly, the low, deep grunt of a man echoed through the speaker. "Alright, that's enough—I have to run and pick up those limited-edition dumplings Keith wanted. Just wait for me, okay? I'll be there soon." "Victoria—" Did she completely forget that I had already been waiting out in the freezing cold for hours? The phone was abruptly snatched away. In the scramble, the camera tilted downward for a fraction of a second, and my blood ran ice-cold. In that single heartbeat, I saw a man's hand resting squarely between Victoria's thighs. And on that hand... was the wedding band that belonged to me. The call was abruptly disconnected. A suffocating chill crept over my entire body, stinging behind my eyes. My mind reeled, refusing to process what I had just seen. My hands shook violently as I hammered out a message to Victoria. "City Hall reopens after lunch and closes at five. I'll wait for you." "Victoria, don't forget what today is. You promised me." I collapsed onto a concrete bollard by the curb. My eyes stayed glued to the hourglass that only I could see. One bar drained: one in the afternoon. Two bars drained: three in the afternoon. ... Another bar was nearly empty. Five o'clock was creeping up. City Hall was about to lock its doors for the day. My legs had gone numb from the freezing wind, but I dragged myself to the entrance steps. That way, if she pulled up, we could sprint inside before they turned the lights off. I tried calling her again. An automated voice coldly informed me that the phone was turned off. Ping! Ping! Right as I lowered my phone, a notification popped up. Keith had posted a short clip in the family group chat on SnapChat. In the video, Victoria had her hair tied back in a messy bun, tossing a sizzling skillet in the kitchen with a bright smile on her face. Keith had specifically tagged me: [Don't worry, Leo! Victoria brought me safely back home. Hurry back for dinner~] [She made her famous garlic butter shrimp just for us!] My parents replied within seconds: [Victoria is an angel! Such an amazing, caring woman!] [Keith, don't eat too many shrimp, honey. You just got discharged; you need to keep it light.] Keith posted another quick clip. Victoria was pouring soy sauce into the pan, laughing warmly: "Don't worry, Mom and Dad! I made a special low-oil, low-sodium batch just for Keith." The warm, domestic scene felt like a knife twisting into my eyes. I was deathly allergic to shellfish. She seemed to have forgotten completely. We were supposed to get married today. She seemed to have forgotten that, too. Rain began to pour from the sky without warning. Through my blurred vision, I watched the final newlywed couple walk out holding their certificate, laughing happily under a shared umbrella. The lights inside City Hall went dark. My foot slipped, and I crashed hard into a puddle of freezing water, breaking down into ragged, helpless sobs. No matter how cold or bruised my body felt, it didn't hold a candle to the agony ripping through my chest. I cried out hoarsely to the voice in my head. "They're closed... I can't get married today." "System... am I going to die?"It took a long time for the system to answer. [Due to City Hall operating hours, an alternative task has been issued: Secure a genuine marriage proposal from Victoria before the timer expires.] Only three bars of sand remained. I had less than three hours... I scrambled to my feet and rushed home. The moment I pushed the front door open, I froze. Victoria was laughing brightly, sitting astride Keith’s waist as he playfully carried her around the living room like a horse. I stared at them, a hollow, bitter laugh slipping from my throat. Once, just to cheer Victoria up after a bad day, I had asked her to do the exact same thing with me. She had rolled her eyes and scoffed: "What's so fun about that? That's so childish." Why was it childish with me, but fun with my brother? My parents were sitting on the couch, watching them with adoring smiles. My father glanced up, frowning when he saw me. "Why are you so late?" "Hurry up and eat. Wash the dishes when you're done." The smile on Victoria's face vanished instantly. She hurriedly slid off Keith’s lap. "Leo, I'm sorry about today, I—" "Victoria..." I cut her off, pulling the crumpled ultrasound report from my pocket and holding it up, my voice trembling. "You're pregnant." The entire living room plunged into dead silence. I locked my eyes onto hers. "Will you marry me? If you say yes right now, from the bottom of your heart... I will forgive everything you did today." Victoria froze completely. Her throat bobbed, but no words came out. My parents sprang to their feet, rushing forward to clap their hands over Keith's ears. "Leo! Your brother just got out of the hospital! How can you push for a wedding right in front of him?! Are you trying to kill him?!" I ignored them, keeping my gaze locked on Victoria. After what felt like an eternity, she glanced nervously at Keith's pale face and forced the words out. "Of course I want to. But you know Keith's condition... he can't handle us getting married right now." The system gave no response. The countdown alarm ringing in my skull didn't stop. Desperate, I lunged forward and grabbed her hands, begging like a stray dog. "Victoria... please. For the sake of our unborn child, just propose to me. Just once. Mean it." Victoria’s brow furrowed, a flash of annoyance crossing her features. "Leo, stop making a scene!" "I'll marry you eventually! But I'm in no mood for this right now! You know damn well Keith can't live without me!" Keith pushed my parents away and suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me, tears streaming down his face. "Leo... please stop forcing her." "Did you already figure it out? The baby she's carrying... it's mine." A deafening roar blasted through my head. I stared at Victoria, then at my parents, in sheer disbelief. None of them looked surprised. Victoria immediately stepped in front of Keith, shielding him behind her back. She looked down at me, her words dripping with cold venom. "Why the shock? Weren't you the one who begged me to take good care of your brother?" Her words were so light, yet they felt like a jagged blade gutting me from the inside out. Nausea surged up my throat, accompanied by a sharp, stabbing pain in my stomach. I collapsed to my knees, dry-heaving uncontrollably. Clutching at her coat like a madman, I choked out: "So you've been cheating on me this whole time?! How do you even know whose child it is?!" Victoria shoved me back violently, her tone freezing over. "Stop cornering me! Even if this baby is yours, the only person I care about taking responsibility for is Keith." "If I leave him, your brother will die!" I could only watch as she gently helped Keith up and led him toward our bedroom, speaking in soft, comforting murmurs to hush his tears. My mother dragged me out onto the balcony, her eyes rimmed with red. "Leo, do you have any idea why your brother passed out yesterday?!" "It's because he got Victoria pregnant! He felt so guilty toward you!" "You're the older brother, why can't you just let him have this?! You can always find someone else, but Keith will literally die if Victoria leaves him!" I stared at my mother, tears spilling freely down my cheeks. "She's my girlfriend! She was supposed to be my wife!" My father let out a heavy, weary sigh. "Consider it a favor to your mother and me. We can't survive losing Keith..." The hourglass in my mind was almost completely empty. A wet, broken chuckle escaped my lips. "Fine." "I won't fight him for her anymore." My parents gave my head a patronizing pat before heading back inside. Before the sliding door clicked shut, I could hear them whispering about which boutique they should take Keith to tomorrow to pick out a tuxedo. I was left entirely alone in the dark. Only a few stray grains of sand remained in the glass. The ticking in my ears morphed into a cold, mechanical voice. 10...9...8... "System... how am I going to die?" I hoped it would hurt. I hoped the pain would be so blinding that it would burn away every memory of this place. The system didn't answer. When the counter hit zero, the expected agony in my chest didn't come. In the very next second, a thunderous explosion ripped through the air, and a blinding wall of fire erupted before my eyes. The kitchen had blown up. The building's fire alarms screeched into life. Before the thick black smoke choked the consciousness out of me, I saw Victoria burst out of the bedroom with Keith. She darted to the sink to wet several towels, rushed into my parents' room to drag them out of bed, and ushered everyone out the front door. She even turned back into the bathroom to scoop up Keith’s pet cat. Not once did she look toward the balcony where I was trapped. Down on the street, tenants were screaming, scattering in total chaos. Victoria patted Keith's head, whispering words of comfort. Suddenly, my mother looked around in a panic. "Where's Leo?! Did Leo make it out?!" Victoria froze for a second, but quickly waved it off. "Mom, don't worry. Leo was a varsity sprinter. If he was in the apartment, he would've made it out before any of us." My mother immediately nodded in relief. "Right, right. Leo always knows how to take care of himself. We never have to worry about him." Floating in the air above them, I smiled. They didn't know. The sensible, self-reliant Leo they never had to worry about was already a charred corpse inside the ruins, burned beyond recognition.