Love Ends Before Dawn

My fiancé’s first love developed photophobia. She became so fragile that she had to stay indoors.

Despite knowing about my claustrophobia, he painted our entire wedding room pitch black, then demanded I sing lullabies to help her sleep.

When I accidentally left a tiny gap in the curtains, she went into shock and fainted.

My fiancé even turned our wedding venue into something resembling a funeral, all for her.

“If you can't accommodate Claire, then there's no need for us to get married!”

But when I truly grew cold and turned to leave, he went mad trying to find me.

I had just gone to inspect the wedding house, only to discover that the offwhite embossed wallpaper had been completely painted black and all the curtains had been replaced with thick black velvet.

The crystal chandelier, which I had spent half a month choosing, had been thrown straight into the trash.

Terrified, I quickly called David, but he responded indifferently, "I made the changes because Claire is moving in."

I was anxious. “I spent 42 thousand dollars on the renovations. How could you just change everything without asking? Besides…”

Besides, I had claustrophobia and I was terrified of the dark. I even had an electronic diagnosis from the hospital on my phone.

"It's just a house! Claire has photophobia and can never be exposed to strong light for the rest of her life. Your design style would only harm her!" David impatiently hung up the phone.

By evening, he rushed into the bedroom, holding Claire, who was wearing a black cloak.

"Quick, get the heart medication! Some idiot downstairs was flashing his high beams and it scared Claire badly."

Seeing that I didn’t move, he angrily gave me a shove. "Noria, are you deaf? I told you to get it, hurry up!"

Without thinking, I grabbed the heart medication and handed it to him.

He coaxed Claire to take the pills with the gentleness of soothing a child, even tenderly wiping her lips with his thumb, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Watching this scene, a wave of bitterness surged through my heart.

Afterward, David said to me, “Claire’s photophobia is getting worse. We need to take good care of her during this time.”

I swallowed hard, “But this is our wedding house and it’s really not convenient. How about I book her a hotel...?”

David’s voice suddenly shot up an octave. “Claire’s condition is very serious! A slight mistake could be fatal and you dare to suggest putting her in a hotel? Noria, you’re becoming increasingly selfish. I’ll make the decision: Claire must stay in our home and you can sleep in the guest room.”

I stared at David in shock, but the next moment, he shut the door.

The guest room was cramped and small, with walls painted like a black box.

As someone who was extremely afraid of the dark, just standing inside made my hairs stand on end and my whole body felt cold.

I couldn’t help but think about David calling me selfish. If I were truly a selfish person, how could I have devoted myself to him like a lovesick fool for eight years?

Claire was David’s childhood sweetheart. He had been her knight since they were young.

Later, when Claire’s biological father was imprisoned, she and her mother left, cutting off all contact with David.

But I loved David deeply; otherwise, I wouldn’t have resolutely stayed by his side for eight years, even knowing he had feelings for someone else.

However, ever since the day Claire returned, David had frequently stayed out all night.

Every time I asked him where he had been, he would just make an excuse about meeting with clients.

But no client meeting lasts all night. He was simply using it as an excuse to be with Claire.

I was deceiving myself, pretending not to see the photos Claire posted of herself resting on David's arm.

I had become so accustomed to being a lovesick fool and caring too much for David that my habitual obedience made it hard for me to refuse him.

We had just received our marriage certificate yesterday and with only seven days left until the wedding, I couldn’t afford to create any issues at this time.

That night, I took sleeping pills and finally managed to drift off. Suddenly, David called and asked me to come to the bedroom.

I was filled with joy, thinking he wanted to send Claire back to the guest room.

But as I happily walked in, I found him sitting on the edge of the bed, gently holding Claire and humming a tune.

When he saw me, his tone was filled with command.

“Noria, I have an early shift tomorrow. Come over and sing a lullaby for Claire to help her sleep.”

But it was already one in the morning.

I hesitated, “I have work tomorrow too…”

David furrowed his brows tightly. “What’s the difference? You won’t keep up in that deadend job anyway. You’ll be relying on me to support you in the future! Claire is neurotic and struggles to sleep in a new environment. Hurry up and come sing for her!”

Claire let out a light laugh.

I felt humiliated, my cheeks burning with shame. The sense of disappointment lingered in my heart, but I didn’t dare to resist.

“David, she wouldn’t really want to sing for me, would she? It’s okay. I can sleep by myself.”

“It’s not a bother at all. Noria sings beautifully,” David answered for me without waiting for a reply.

But Claire wouldn’t let me sleep. Every time I started to doze off, she would pinch my arm hard to wake me up.

So, I spent the entire night in that dark room, hoarsely singing in fits and starts. By morning, I hadn’t slept a wink and had to make breakfast while sporting two dark circles under my eyes.

Meanwhile, Claire complained to David, “Noria’s singing is so terrible! Is she just pretending to help me?”

David shot me a glare. “She’s just selfish and indifferent to others. It’s fine, Claire. You can catch up on sleep during the day. If you want anything to eat, just ask her to go buy it.”

With that, he grabbed his briefcase and walked out the door.

Frustration bubbled inside me as I ignored Claire’s taunting gaze and turned to head to the bedroom to hang up some clothes.

But as soon as I pulled open the curtains, I heard Claire scream behind me.

I spun around to find her collapsed on the floor and her phone showed that she was on a call.

Confused, I didn’t understand what was happening until David’s furious voice echoed through the line.

“Noria, are you out of your mind? Claire is afraid of light! Why would you open the curtains in front of her?”

His anger caught me off guard and I felt my heart race, overwhelmed by the sudden chaos.

Before long, David returned home, his face a stormy shade of anger.

I hurried to explain, “I was just trying to hang up some clothes and I only pulled open the curtains on my bedroom balcony. It didn’t even shine on her…”

Claire interjected softly, “It was my fault for accidentally walking behind her and getting caught in the light. David, please don’t blame. I’m just too weak…”

David looked at her with concern. “Claire, you’re just too kindhearted. Only I know how serious your condition is.”

Then he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Noria, you always say that girls should help each other. Can’t you even handle something this simple?”

I felt a wave of frustration as I rushed to explain, “I truly didn’t mean to do it. If I had known she was behind me, I would never have pulled the curtains!”

But David cut me off with a dismissive wave of his hand, his disgust evident.

“Whether it was intentional or not doesn’t matter anymore. You need to learn from this and apologize to Claire right now!”

I turned my face away, refusing to apologize, my eyes beginning to sting with tears. It hurt deeply to realize that after eight years together, he didn’t trust me at all.

But then, in an unexpected turn, Claire suddenly covered her face and began to cry.

"I'm sorry, Noria. I know you don’t want me here. I’ll leave right now…"

She suddenly stood up and ran out, forgetting to put on her black cloak. Without a moment's hesitation, David chased after her and I felt a twinge of panic as I hurried out after them.

But as I reached the sunlit ground floor, I saw Claire collapsed on the ground, her face pale.

David pushed me aside and quickly lifted her into the car. I intended to follow them inside, but he locked the car doors and slammed down the accelerator. The sudden movement caused me to stumble forward and I fell to the ground, my knee scraping painfully against the pavement.

The sunlight was warm and inviting, something I usually loved, but at that moment, I felt a chilling dread wash over me.

Later that evening, David returned to grab a change of clothes. I covered my injured knee and hurriedly asked, “How is Claire?”

“She’s going to be hospitalized for a day. I’ll have to compensate for that. You need to stay home and reflect on your mistakes!”

David didn’t even spare me a glance as he turned and headed down the stairs.

Confusion welled up inside me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that her condition couldn’t possibly be severe enough to cause her to faint at the mere sight of sunlight. I wanted to go to the hospital to see if her fear of light was really that extreme.

But as soon as I stepped into the elevator, it malfunctioned.

A piercing noise rang out and then the elevator came to a standstill, the internal lights flickering off. I frantically pressed the alarm button, but there was no response. In the tight, enclosed space, my claustrophobia kicked in, making it harder to breathe.

David shouldn't have gone far and he might be able to help me call the property management, so I quickly dialed his number.

“David, help me! I’m stuck in the elevator and it’s really dark in here…”

David was silent for a moment before responding, “What are you trying to pull now? Noria, I’ve had enough of you. There has to be a limit to your jealousy.”

My voice trembled with unshed tears as I tried to explain that I was really stuck in the elevator. But the next moment, I heard the sound of an engine starting.

“Noria, jealousy has its limits. I don’t have time for your nonsense! Claire was so scared that she was crying. I need to get to the hospital right away.”

He hung up the phone without hesitation.

He was just in the underground parking garage, only a few steps away from the elevator, yet he refused to come up. Fear washed over me like a tidal wave as I curled up on the floor, my consciousness slowly fading.

When I woke up again, I found myself in a hospital room. It turned out that the maintenance workers for the elevator had discovered me and promptly taken me to the hospital.

I hung my head, a deep sense of disappointment washing over me.

This time, it wasn’t David who came to my rescue.

He walked in with a furrowed brow and when he saw I was awake, he snorted dismissively. “I told you there was nothing to worry about. Those property guys always overreact...”

I stared at him blankly, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. “Why don’t you believe me? David, I have claustrophobia. I suffered from severe shock when I was trapped in the elevator. I’ve never lied to you. But when I needed you the most, you were with another woman?”

My outpouring of tears seemed to take him by surprise. But in an instant, his expression shifted to anger. “What claustrophobia? That’s just a madeup condition for people with nothing better to do. It’s like those who fear the ocean, do they never go to the beach? It’s all just making a big deal out of nothing. Noria, you have no idea how much Claire envies your ability to be unaffected by light. If she had even half your luck, she wouldn’t be causing trouble like you do every day!”

I couldn’t believe David to be so hypocritical. He dismissed my condition as mere pretentiousness, yet he completely trusted Claire’s claims. I stared at him, feeling a mix of hurt and disbelief.

“David, what if I said Claire is just pretending? Would you believe me?”

He paused for a moment, then let out a disdainful laugh. “She’s not you.”

As soon as a nurse announced that Claire had woken up, David didn’t hesitate for a second to turn and leave.

“She’s not you.” Those words stabbed deep into my heart like a knife.

I dazedly finished my IV drip and took a taxi back to the villa. With only five days left until our wedding, David had started a unilaterally cold war.

During these five days, Claire remained in the hospital. David spent his days at work and his nights keeping vigil at her bedside, while I was left alone at home, lost in my thoughts.

My anxiety grew with each passing day and I was haunted by nightmares, fearing that David would forget about our upcoming wedding. Finally, I decided to call him and this time he actually answered.

“Do you realize your mistake?”

I bit my lip. “We have the wedding tomorrow. I just want to confirm the guest list and make sure we haven’t missed anyone.”

There was a brief silence before David’s voice suddenly took on an angry tone. “Noria, you don’t need to keep reminding me. I haven’t lost my memory and I haven’t forgotten that we’re getting married!”

His tone was a mix of anger and exasperation, as if marrying me was some kind of obligation he was forced to fulfill.

I tried to rationalize the situation in my mind. After all, I was marrying the man I had pursued for eight years. During those five days, I worked hard to eat healthily and take care of my skin, hoping to become the most beautiful bride on our wedding day.

On the wedding day, I woke up early, bustling around to prepare. However, David was late in coming to pick me up. I anxiously called him, but he replied impatiently, “I’ll be there soon. You should just follow the wedding car to the venue.”

The driver started urging me to get in, so I hurried into the wedding car. But soon, I realized that the route had changed. I knew the way to the outdoor wedding venue so well that I could have done it with my eyes closed and this was definitely not the right direction.

“We’re having an outdoor wedding at Silverleaf Park. Why are we heading to a hotel?” I asked, my voice trembling with confusion.

The wedding planner replied apologetically, “I’m sorry, but Mr. Weston just instructed us to change the venue at the last minute.”

I received photos on my phone showing that the originally arranged outdoor wedding venue had been moved. When I arrived at the hotel, the entire wedding scene was draped in black fabric. I was covered in cold sweat and immediately called David.

He answered impatiently, "I know what you're going to ask. Claire insisted on attending the wedding today and it's too bright outside, so we had to change the venue at the last minute. The wedding is just a formality; it doesn't matter where it's held. Stop making a fuss over nothing."

At that moment, I felt as if a string in my mind had completely snapped. How could he treat me like this? Just for Claire, for her socalled illness, he was willing to ruin my onceinalifetime wedding?

The guests couldn't help but gossip, wondering whose wedding was so dark and inauspicious. It felt like they were slapping me in the face.

As soon as the door opened, David arrived.

Claire, dressed in a black dress, affectionately linked her arm with his and walked slowly toward me, standing at the end of the red carpet.

David was in a black suit and didn't wear the white dress I had picked out for him.

At a glance, they seemed perfectly matched.

“Noria, congratulations on your wedding! Unfortunately, I’m afraid of light, so I can only give you black flowers. I hope you won’t think it’s oldfashioned or that black flowers are inauspicious!"

Her eyes were filled with a triumphant smirk as she casually handed me a bouquet of black flowers. The meaning was clear.

David gestured with his chin and said, "These were personally picked by Claire. If it weren’t for her fear of light, I would’ve had her be your bridesmaid."

At that moment, I was so furious that I couldn’t stop trembling and I completely lost control of my emotions. I raised my hand and knocked the flowers out of her grasp.

"Photophobia? Just because of this madeup illness, my wedding has been completely ruined. Who does she think she is that I have to accommodate her like this?"

With a sharp slap, David hit me hard across the face. The surroundings fell into instant silence and the onlookers widened their eyes in shock.

"Kneel down and pick up the flowers!" David's commanding voice rang out.

I fought back the humiliation, glaring at him with reddened eyes. "What if I don’t?"

David narrowed his eyes, letting out a cold, disdainful laugh.

"Noria, Claire just wanted to attend our wedding and offer her blessings. Why are you pushing her like this? Today, either you kneel down and pick up the flowers, or we get a divorce!"

At that moment, my heart turned completely cold and it felt as though the blood in my veins was flowing backward.

Watching David protect Claire so fiercely, I couldn’t help but question everything. What exactly did my eight years with him mean?

Suddenly, Claire put on a pitiful, tearful expression.

"David, I know I'm afraid of the light and Noria has never liked me!" she whimpered. "But today, whatever she wants, I'll do my best to overcome it. I’ll take off my clothes right now to make her happy!"

She knelt in front of me, removing her black outer robe.

At that moment, someone unexpectedly turned on all the lights. Instantly, the venue was as bright as daylight. Claire screamed in agony, clutching her head as if she were being burned by the light.

"Claire!" David shouted, immediately stripping off his suit jacket to wrap the frantic Claire in it.

As soon as he stood up, he viciously kicked my abdomen. I collapsed to the ground, feeling excruciating pain and a warm flow slowly seeped from my lower body.

"If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay for it!" he shouted, storming out of the banquet hall with Claire in his arms, right in front of everyone.

"Noria, you're bleeding! Quick, take her to the hospital!"

A buzzing sound filled my ears as my consciousness slowly faded.

When I woke up, I learned that I had miscarried. I hadn't even known I was pregnant.

The relatives who had taken me to the hospital looked at me with a mix of gossip and pity in their eyes.

There was no greater sorrow than a heart that had died. Strangely, I felt a calmness.

After leaving the hospital, I quickly listed our marital home for sale through a real estate agent. Immediately, I bought a ticket to Nimblewood.

Just before boarding the plane, I received a call from David. “I'm at the hospital. Hurry up and come apologize to Claire; she'll forgive you.”

I calmly replied, “David, the wedding is canceled. We're breaking up.”

He was silent for a moment before angrily responding, “What? Canceled? Are you joking?”

“I'm not joking. The house is already listed with the agency. I'll send you the divorce agreement—sign it as soon as possible.”

I sent him the link to the property listing.

Only then did David realize the seriousness of the situation and his tone softened. "Noria, calm down. I know you're jealous, but marriage isn't a joke. Once I finish taking care of Claire, the wedding will go on as planned."

In the past, I would have softened at his attempts to placate me. But now, I looked up and thought, the sunlight outside was really beautiful.

I said, "I've left the divorce agreement on your desk. If you don't agree with the division of assets, I can leave without taking anything."

He raised his voice in disbelief. "Noria, are you crazy? You'd rather walk away with nothing than stay with me?"

I only gave a selfdeprecating smile.

"Mr. Weston, your love is just too cold. I can't bear it anymore. I just want to be close to the warmth of the sun."