The Absurdity of It All

While doing my girlfriend Bianca White's laundry, I found an envelope with a certified marriage certificate and a wedding photo between her clothes.

In the wedding photo against the white background, the young man beside her smiled with bright, reckless confidence.

I shook all over and slammed the document down in front of her.

Bianca gave it one calm glance, then tapped the young man's face in the photo with her fingertip.

"Mason Rivers. You know him. He failed to get into grad school and tried to kill himself last year and I saved him, so we exchanged numbers. He wouldn't have come to me unless he was desperate.

"His parents are very controlling. Back home, they were trying to force him into a marriage and give up on his education. As an educator, I couldn't just stand by and watch him die, so I helped him."

Bianca said it so casually, as if she had only done him a small favor.

However, the marriage certificate and wedding photo would not go away.

I stared at it, then suddenly laughed until I almost cried. I had waited eight whole years for that certificate, yet I had never once gotten Bianca to say "Let's get married" even now.

I never expected Mason to get it with one sentence.

"I'll move out tonight," I said.

I felt my chest tightened as I turned around, losing all hope.

Bianca, who had always been composed, lost her calm and suddenly hugged me tightly from behind. She had always had a cold personality and devoted much of herself to research, so moments like this were rare between us.

My back tingled. I could even feel her warm breath.

"It's my fault for not explaining clearly, making you misunderstand. I only registered the marriage with Mason to help him. There's nothing between us. He has never even touched my hand."

I was already going to tell Bianca that we should break up, but when I met her serious eyes, I forced them back down.

Eight years together, and I couldn't bear to let it end like this.

After one last struggle, I decided to give Bianca one more chance.

"Fine. I believe you. Now that this is over and the matter is settled, hurry up and divorce Mason."

Bianca frowned and quietly let go of me.

"We can't divorce yet. If we divorce now, Mason's parents will drag him back home. My plan is that once he gets into grad school, graduates, finds a job, and can break free from his family, we can divorce. That will guarantee his safety."

Mason had not even gotten into grad school yet. If we waited until he graduated, it would take at least four years.

Bianca wanted to stay married to Mason for four years?

Then what was I supposed to be?

My throat tightened, and I felt so sick I almost threw up.

"What about me, then? Do you want me to be your secret lover?"

Bianca looked