The 99th True Heart Test of My
Fiancé
The day before my wedding, Sarah, my
fiancée, decided to test my love.
She invited both our families onto a cruise.
Out on the choppy water, she pushed my
mom overboard.
Then, she jumped in herself.
I was torn, panicked.
My mom, already swallowing water, weakly
pushed me away.
“Save Sarah first! She’s your fiancée!”
I dragged Sarah back onto the deck.
When I turned to look for my mom, she was
gone.
Sarah watched me cry, a cold look in her
eyes.
“Stop pretending, your mom was a
competitive swimmer, she can’t drown.‘
وو
“You didn’t save me first, Alex was right, you don’t love me enough.”
“We’re postponing the wedding. When you’ve
thought about this and apologized, along with
your mom, we’ll talk.”
She left, arm in arm with her childhood friend,
Alex.
She didn’t know that years ago, an illness had
L
left my mom unable to swim.
This push had killed her.
When they pulled my mom’s body from the
water, she was cold and lifeless.
I held her, shaking, trying to wake her, but she
didn’t move.
Sarah walked over impatiently and nudged my
mom’s hand with her foot.
“Stop the act! Everyone knows your mom’s a
pro swimmer, a few waves can’t kill her.”
“Even if you try to guilt me, I won’t let this go
easily.”
“I can’t stand liars. The man I marry has to
<
love me completely, put me first. You’ve
disappointed me.”
My mom didn’t react to the kick.
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Sarah’s face.
She started to bend down, but Alex stepped
in front of her.
He looked at my mom’s pale face and
scoffed.
“She looks fine to me, not like she’s dying at
all.”
He patted Sarah’s shoulder, acting like he
knew everything.
“I’ve heard these swimmers can hold their
<
breath for ages, like two or three minutes,
easy.‘
“I bet they’re both in on it, trying to intimidate
you. So you’ll be under their thumb after the
wedding.”
Sarah hesitated, her hands clenched.
She slowly turned to me.
“Michael, is this true?”
She cut me off before I could answer.
“Don’t bother explaining, I can’t trust
anything you say right now.”
“As punishment, we’re postponing the
wedding for six months. When you learn how
L
to love me properly, I’ll reconsider.”
She turned and left with Alex, not looking
back.
Then, I felt my mom’s finger twitch in my
arms.
I felt a surge of hope, like grabbing a lifeline.
I scrambled after Sarah.
“Mom’s alive! We can still save her!”
“There’s no hospital here on the island,
please, call your private doctor, just let them
take a look!”
She didn’t react, so I pleaded again.
く
“Remember how good she was to you? She
treated you like her own daughter, brought
you food during the flu outbreak, even with
the lockdown! She wouldn’t hurt you! She
wouldn’t try to control you!”
Sarah seemed to waver, her steps faltering.
She studied me for a long moment, then
finally agreed.
“Fine. I’ll call the doctor.‘
99
Alex tried to stop her.
“Sarah, you don’t have to…‘
Sarah cut him off.
“This is my last chance for you, Michael. If
the doctor says your mom’s fine, you’ll both
pay for this.”
I nodded frantically. A doctor was coming,
that was all that mattered.
But as the doctor hurried over, medical bag in
hand, my mom coughed, spitting up seawater.
My mom opened her eyes, and everyone
gasped.
I froze, but there was no joy in my heart.
I knew this could be a final surge before
death.
I grabbed the doctor’s arm.
“She’s dying! Please, help her…”
<
Sarah cut me off, her face hardening.
“Enough! Your mom is perfectly fine.”
“Alex, let’s go.”
She turned and walked away, without a
backward glance.
I started to follow, but my mom’s weak hand
tugged at mine.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Michael…don’t…blame Sarah… I’m…
useless… couldn’t even swim…a few
yards…”
“Explain…to her…don’t hurt her… I’ll be…
fine…I want…to see you…married…”
く
Her eyes glazed over, her hand went limp.
No matter how I screamed her name, she
didn’t wake up.
My heart died. I gently closed her eyes.
Three years with Sarah, and I couldn’t
understand how we’d ended up here.
