Don't Marry Him

There was one month left until my wedding.
I sat on the living room carpet with a stack of off-white invitations spread out in front of me.
I've been dating Chip Geller for two years. He's gentle and considerate, the perfect partner in everyone's eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains outside, casting a glow over the invitation like a halo of happiness.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
I got up, puzzled—there was no visitor expected at this time.
Peeking through the peephole, I saw a woman standing outside.
She wore a dark coat, her hair disheveled, with clear bruises marking her face.
I hesitated for a moment but still opened the door.
"Hello, may I ask who you're looking for?" I asked politely.
The woman looked up, her gaze fixed directly on my face.
Her eyes were complex and heavy, as if carrying too much pain.
"I'm looking for you, Stella Xavier." She spoke, her voice hoarse.
I was stunned. "Stella Xavier" is my name—how could she know?
"Who are you? Do we know each other?" I took a cautious step back.
The woman gave a bitter smile, brushing aside the strands of hair on her forehead to reveal a jagged scar at her temple.
"I am you, 35 years old."
Those words hit my ears like a thunderclap.
I stared at her face, and from the fine lines around her eyes and her features, I could see traces of my future self.
"Don't joke around. How could that possibly be true?" I forced myself to stay calm, but inside, I was panicking.
"I'm not joking." She stepped into the room, her eyes scanned the invitation on the table, and her expression immediately darkened.
"Don't marry Chip Geller. Please, I'm begging you." She grabbed my hand; her palm was icy cold, and her grip was so tight it hurt.
I tried to break free, but she gripped me tightly.
"Why? Chip is great, and we're about to get married." I protested, but a twinge of unease began to stir in my heart.
"Great?" She sneered, laughter laced with bitterness.
"He doesn't love you at all. He's only using you as a substitute for his first love."
My heart sank sharply. "Substitute? What do you mean?"
"His first love is Julia Watson. She has the same eyes and smile as you." Her voice shook.
"After the marriage, he'll slowly show his true colors. He'll lose his temper over the smallest things, throw things, and eventually, he'll hit you.
I shook my head in disbelief. "No way, Chip is so gentle, he would never do something like that to me."
"I've lived through days like those!" she suddenly raised her voice, her emotions growing intense.
"These wounds on my body were all caused by him."
"I live in fear every day. I want to divorce, but he threatens me, and I don't even dare to contact my family."
She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the bruises on her arms—some already scabbed over, others still fresh.
My eyes stung from those scars, and my stomach churned.
"I traveled back to stop you from repeating my mistakes." Her voice softened again, filled with pleading.
"Don't marry him. Leave him while you still can."
I stood there, my mind completely blank.
The woman before me, her scars, the sadness in her eyes—they all felt too real to be a hallucination.
But Chip Geller's usual tenderness kept flashing through my mind.
Should I trust her?
This woman claiming to be my future self, bringing this cruel warning—how much of it is true?
After that day, I felt uneasy.
The warning from my 35-year-old self was like a thorn piercing my heart.
I tried to convince myself it was just a dream, a hallucination caused by pre-wedding anxiety.
But the scars on her body and the desperate look in her eyes kept replaying over and over in my mind.
Chip Geller called me as usual, gently asking how the invitations were coming along.
I gripped my mobile phone, my throat tightening. I wanted to ask him about his first love, but the words caught in my throat and I swallowed them back.
"It's pretty good, just a few details that need fixing." I forced a smile and tried to keep my voice steady.
"Don't overwork yourself. Tonight, I'll take you to your favorite Western restaurant." His voice was filled with affection.
After hanging up, I sat on the sofa, feeling deeply conflicted.
I decided to watch him a little longer.
If he really is like my future self said, he's bound to slip up sooner or later.
On a weekend afternoon, I met up with my best friend to hang out at a café.
Passing by a café by the window, I caught sight of a familiar figure by accident.
It was Chip Geller.
He was sitting by the window, with a woman across from him.
My heart tightened, and I instinctively stopped in my tracks.
My best friend followed my gaze and asked, "Isn't that Chip Geller? Who's the woman sitting across from him?"

I said nothing, my eyes fixed on them.
The woman had long hair, and her profile was exquisitely delicate.
Chip was smiling at her—a smile I'd never seen before: gentle, with a cautious, almost pleading warmth.
Suddenly, Chip Geller pulled out his phone, as if asking that woman for her contact details.
The woman smiled and nodded, then picked up her phone to scan Chip Geller's QR code.
Seeing this scene, my heart felt gripped by an invisible hand, aching so badly I could barely breathe.
Chip had never treated me like this before; he was always gentle, but that gentleness seemed to lack a spark of true passion.
"Stella, are you okay?" My best friend noticed my pale expression and asked anxiously.
I shook my head, fighting back tears. "I'm fine. Let's go."
When I got home, I locked myself in my room.
The scenes I'd seen during the day and the warnings from my future self tangled up in my mind.
Could it be that what my future self said is true?
Did Chip really treat me as a substitute?
Just as I was lost in wild thoughts, the doorbell rang again.
I opened the door. It was that thirty-five-year-old me again.
She looked even more haggard than last time, the redness in her eyes unmistakable.
"You saw it, didn't you?" She got straight to the point, her voice betraying a quiet certainty.
I was stunned for a moment. "How do you know?"
"I've been through this." She walked into the room and sat on the sofa. "That woman is Julia Watson, Chip Geller's first love."
"He never forgot her. All these years, he's been searching for someone like her."
"Why me?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Because your eyes and your smile are exactly like Julia Watson's when she was young." She looked at me, her eyes full of sympathy.
"He came after you and pursued you because you look like Julia Watson."
"His kindness toward you is just him shifting the regrets he has for Julia Watson onto you."
"But he treats me well; he's very considerate." I was still trying to defend Chip Geller, but it felt like I was trying to convince myself.
"He's nice to you now, but what about after you get married?" She sneered, "Once the novelty wears off, or when Julia Watson comes back to him, he'll show his true colors."
"He'll think you're no match for Julia Watson, grow colder toward you, and might even take out on you the frustrations he had with Julia."
Her words were like a cold blade, slowly cutting away my trust in Chip.
I sat there, trembling all over.
The doubts in my heart completely dissolved, replaced by a deep fear and unease.
I began to suspect that my relationship with Chip Geller had been a lie from the very beginning.
My birthday had arrived.
Beforehand, Chip and I had agreed to cook a meal together at home and have a quiet celebration.
I had already bought the groceries and ordered a small cake, looking forward to the evening with hope.
In the evening, Chip came home.
But he wasn't alone—there was a young woman right behind him.
The woman was dressed in professional attire, looking very capable, with a sweet smile on her face.
"Stella, this is our company's new intern secretary, Julia Watson." Chip Geller introduced her to me.
Hearing the name "Julia Watson," my heart skipped a beat, and I almost dropped the dish in my hand.
It was her—the woman who met with Chip Geller that day at the café.
"Hello, I'm Julia Watson." Julia Watson took the initiative to extend her hand to me, smiling sweetly, but with a barely noticeable hint of challenge in her eyes.
I stiffly reached out my hand and gave hers a light shake; the coldness at my fingertips made me feel uneasy.
"Chip, didn't we agree it would just be the two of us?" I forced down the discomfort in my heart and asked.
"Julia just joined the company; she's still unfamiliar with many things. I brought her over to introduce her to you,"
Chip said casually, but his gaze never left Julia.
For the rest of the time, I felt like a stranger.
Chip busied himself pouring water for Julia, fetching fruit, and chatting enthusiastically about work, completely ignoring my presence.
The dishes I had carefully prepared sat untouched on the table.
Julia, on the other hand, acted as if it was only natural, enjoying Chip Geller's attention, while sneakily glancing at me with a look full of triumph.
"Chip, Miss Xavier's dishes look so delicious, but I'm on a diet lately and can't eat much." Julia said coquettishly, deliberately casting a glance my way.
Chip immediately chimed in, "You shouldn't starve yourself even when dieting; having a little less is fine." As he said that, he even took the initiative to serve Julia some food.
Seeing this scene, the last bit of hope in my heart was completely shattered.

I silently watched them, feeling like a clown playing a ridiculous role in this drama called "love."
"I'm feeling a bit unwell. I'm going back to my room first." I stood up, my voice calm and steady, without a trace of emotion.
Only then did Chip Geller notice something was wrong. "Stella, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing. Maybe I'm just tired." Without looking at him, I walked straight to my room.
Back in my room, I locked the door, and finally, tears began to fall uncontrollably.
The warning from my 35-year-old self, the scene in the café, and everything about today's birthday—they all struck me like hammers, breaking my love for Chip Geller bit by bit.
The happiness I believed in was nothing but a carefully crafted lie.
The tenderness I thought I had was just his pity for a substitute of his first love.
I wiped away my tears, my eyes growing firm.
I can't keep lying to myself like this.
This birthday left me utterly disheartened.
I decided I won't put up with it any longer—I'm leaving Chip Geller and ending this absurd relationship.
From my birthday onward, I started packing my things.
I packed my clothes, shoes, books, and some daily necessities, one by one into the suitcase.
Each item I packed felt like bidding farewell to a memory.
Some were sweet, some warm, but most, in retrospect, were painfully ironic.
Chip Geller didn't seem to notice my strange behavior. He still came home on time every day and occasionally brought Julia Watson over, under the pretense of "discussing work".
I didn't confront him, nor did I argue.
I knew arguing was pointless; it would only make things harder for me.
I just want to pack up quickly and leave this suffocating place.
That night, I was packing my jewelry box when my mobile phone suddenly rang.
It was a video from an unknown number.
I hesitated but opened it, and the images in the video sent an instant chill down my spine.
In the video, Chip Geller and Julia Watson were in a hotel room, acting intimately.
Julia leaned against Chip's chest, smiling as she said, "Chip, when are you finally going to break up with Stella Xavier?"
"I don't want to keep sneaking around like this."
Chip Geller gently stroked Julia Watson's hair, his voice soft: "Soon, once the wedding is over, I'll find a reason to divorce her."
"She's just a substitute; how could she ever compare to you?"
At the end of the video, Julia gave the camera a defiant smile.
I gripped my mobile phone tightly, my fingers turning white from the pressure.
Tears fell like beads broken off a snapped string.
So, everything my future self said was true.
Chip really only saw me as a substitute; he never truly loved me.
He even planned to divorce me right after the wedding and be with Julia Watson.
I turned off the video and took a deep breath.
The last trace of attachment in my heart vanished completely.
I looked at the things packed in the suitcase, my eyes growing even more determined.
I can't just let them get away with this.
I will go to the wedding.
But I'm going to prepare a big "surprise" for Chip Geller and Julia Watson.
I kept packing, putting important documents and valuables into my carry-on bag.
Then, I hid the suitcase deep inside the wardrobe, covering it with clothes so Chip wouldn't notice.
I'll wait until the wedding day to expose their true colors in front of everyone, and then walk away with dignity.
Thinking about how panicked Chip and Julia looked at the wedding, I couldn't help feeling a flicker of satisfaction from revenge.
I know this might make me look bad, but I don't care.
They need to pay for their lies and betrayal.
Three days before the wedding, Chip asked me to go to the bridal shop to try on wedding dresses.
I know, this is all part of his plan. He wants to act like a devoted groom in front of everyone.
But I didn't expose him; I just smiled and agreed.
I want him to believe I'm still in the dark, so the "surprise" at the wedding will be even more dramatic.
At the bridal shop, the assistant greeted me warmly, holding a pure white wedding dress.
"Miss Xavier, this wedding dress was specially made for you by Mr. Geller. Please try it on soon," the assistant said with a smile.
I took the dress and stepped into the fitting room.
The wedding dress is beautiful, with lace trim and pearl accents—just like I once dreamed.
But now, looking at this wedding dress, all I feel is disgust.
I put on the wedding dress and stepped out of the fitting room.
Chip Geller was sitting on the sofa. When he saw me, a flicker of admiration passed through his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
"Looks pretty good." He said casually, with no trace of surprise or warmth in his voice.
Just then, the door of the bridal shop opened.

Julia Watson walked in.
What made me even angrier was that she was wearing the same style of wedding dress as mine, and it looked even more exquisite than the one I was wearing.
"Chip, do I look good in this wedding dress?" Julia Watson walked up to Chip Geller, twirled once, speaking in a coquettish tone.
Chip stood up, took Julia's hand, and smiled, "You look good. You'd look good in anything."
His gaze rested on Julia with a tenderness and admiration I had never received.
I stood frozen, watching them so close, feeling like a complete joke.
"Chip, what do you mean by that?" I forced down the anger welling up inside me and asked.
Only then did Chip turn to me, a trace of impatience on his face: "Stella, don't misunderstand. Julia was just curious and wanted to try it on."
"Try it on?" I scoffed, "If she was just trying it on, why was she wearing the same wedding dress as me? And this dress was clearly custom-made by you for me."
"It's just a wedding dress. What's the big deal?" Julia Watson walked up to me, eyeing me up and down.
"Miss Xavier, I think this wedding dress looks better on me."
"Look at you—your figure isn't as good as mine, your temperament isn't as good as mine. You simply don't deserve this wedding dress, let alone Chip."
Julia's words were like a sharp knife, piercing through my last shred of patience.
I suddenly stepped forward and grabbed the wedding dress Julia was wearing, tearing at it fiercely.
"This is my wedding dress! How dare you wear it!" I shouted, my emotions spiraling out of control.
Julia was startled by me and quickly stepped back. Seeing this, Chip immediately shielded her behind him, then shoved me away.
"Stella, have you caused enough trouble?" Chip's eyes burned with anger. "It's just a wedding dress. Is it really worth such an unreasonable fuss?"
He shoved me back a few steps, and I collided with the clothes rack behind me. Clothes spilled all over the floor.
I looked at Chip, my heart aching with disappointment and anger.
"Unreasonable fuss?" I said, my voice trembling.
"Chip, you're with Julia Watson, deceiving me, using me as a substitute, and now you're even helping her bully me. And you dare say I'm overreacting?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Chip's expression changed as he tried to defend himself.
"Nonsense?" I took my mobile phone out of my bag and played the video. "See for yourself—this is your 'love' for me!"
Chip and Julia turned pale instantly when they saw the video.
Julia panicked and grabbed Chip's arm. "Chip, you have to think of a solution quickly!"
Chip Geller looked at me, his eyes full of cold menace: "Stella, what do you think you're doing?"
"What do I think I'm doing?" I grabbed the scissors next to me and stepped toward the wedding dress Julia Watson had worn.
"I don't want this wedding dress anymore. Since you like it so much, I'll just ruin it!"
With that, I raised the scissors and cut deep into the dress.
The lace tore apart, and pearls spilled across the floor.
Chip and Julia tried to stop me, but I shoved them aside.
As I cut, tears streamed down my face, the grief and anger inside me exploding all at once.
The wedding dress lay in tatters from my scissors, just like my relationship with Chip Geller—beyond repair.
After cutting the dress, I threw the scissors aside and looked at Chip Geller and Julia Watson. "Chip, I will go to our wedding."
"But I promise you, betraying me will come with a price."
With that, I turned and walked out of the bridal shop, leaving Chip Geller and Julia Watson standing there, their faces pale as ash.
After the clash at the bridal shop, I went home and stayed awake all night.
Outside, the sky gradually brightened. I sat by the window, watching the morning light slowly brighten the room.
The anger and hurt I'd felt earlier had faded, leaving only calm and resolute determination.
The night before the wedding, Chip Geller came back.
He carried a faint smell of alcohol, and his face looked worse than usual.
"Stella, we need to talk." He came up to me, his voice softer than usual.
I looked up at him. "What do you want to talk about?"
"What happened at the bridal shop earlier today was my fault." He grabbed my hand, trying to look apologetic.
"I shouldn't have let Julia try on your wedding dress, and I shouldn't have lost my temper with you."
I pulled my hand away and took a step back to keep my distance from him.
"Chip, you don't need to apologize to me." I said calmly, "I know exactly what you're thinking."
Chip's expression shifted. "Stella, I know you're still upset."
"But our wedding is tomorrow. If there's anything, can we talk about it after the wedding? Okay?"
"After the wedding?" I sneered, "So you're planning to wait until after the wedding to talk about divorce and then be with Julia, right?"
Chip Geller's eyes flickered. "Stella, don't jump to conclusions. Julia and I are just colleagues. The one I love is you."

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