Chapter 1

Chapter 1 With only a month left until the wedding, Angela Thompson wasn’t sure if she should still proceed with it. The reason? Well, her fiancé, Carl Swain, wanted to have a child with Lucy Hogg, the widow of his deceased friend, Keith Harris. Carl explained, “Keith was my best friend. He left us so suddenly, and Lucy is all alone now. She nearly took her own life several times. She’ll probably be able to move on with her life if she has a child by her side.” Angela still couldn’t quite wrap her head around the situation. She asked, “If Lucy wants a child, she can either adopt one or marry someone else. She can even find a suitable donor from a sperm bank. Why must you be the father of her child?” “Before Keith died, he asked me to take care of Lucy on his behalf,” Carl replied. “In any case, Lucy doesn’t know anyone else in Sherrington. I’m the only one she can rely on.” “Carl, don’t you find this whole thing utterly ridiculous?” “I’ll only be donating my sperm for her IVF procedure. It’s not like I’ll be getting in bed with her. I’m still going to marry you,” Carl declared. After having known Carl for 15 years and dated him for 13 of them, Angela finally got to marry him—only for fate to play this cruel trick on her. “What will the child call you?” Angela asked. “Carl or Dad?” Expression shifting uneasily, Carl snapped, “The child can call me whatever he wants. I don’t mind.” Angela couldn’t possibly agree to this request, and for that reason, Carl had been giving her the cold shoulder for several months now. “Think it over some more,” Carl said. “Lucy hasn’t been doing too well lately. I’m scared she might do something silly, so I need to spend the next few days with her to look out for her. I’ll be back for the wedding.” Just like that, he left with two massive suitcases in tow. He’d taken all of his clothes and daily necessities with him. Angela looked around the empty house, which had been decorated for their wedding. The colorful decorations looked like a mockery to her now. Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from the bridal studio, which she answered. “Good day, Ms. Thompson. Could you please send me the measurements for you and Mr. Swain? I’ll do my best to have the tailors prepare your wedding gown and Mr. Swain’s wedding suit as soon as possible.” Angela knew her measurements, of course, but she didn’t have Carl’s. She called him up, and he answered surprisingly quickly. “Have you thought things through?” he asked. Another voice came through the phone. It was a seductive voice, asking, “Who is it?” Angela recognized that voice. It belonged to Lucy, Keith’s widow. “It’s nobody,” Carl responded to Lucy. “Who’s calling you right when the movie gets to the exciting part? How annoying.” After hearing Lucy’s voice, Angela laughed. “You’re watching a movie with Lucy, huh? Didn’t you say she’s been feeling so depressed that she’s on the verge of taking her own life?” Riled up, Carl retorted, “I brought Lucy out to cheer her up! How is she supposed to move on from Keith’s death if she stays at home all day long?” What a seemingly justifiable explanation that was, but it was just as absurd as his intention of having a child with Lucy. “Fine. Have fun with your movie. I’m ending the call now,” Angela said. “What the hell is wrong with you, Angela? Why did you call me if you had nothing to say? Are you just trying to throw a tantrum?” “Carl, do you still plan on going through with our wedding?” Angela asked. “Regardless of whether we get married, I’m still going to have a child with Lucy. I’m determined to make sure Keith’s family name lives on.” “Alright, then.” “You’re agreeing to it?” “Sure.” “See? That wasn’t so hard. Relax. I’ll show up on time for the wedding—” Angela dropped the call before Carl could finish speaking. Since being married or not had no impact on Carl’s decision to have a child with Lucy, it was only right to make things fair to everyone. Sure Angela was going to get married—but to a different groom. Chapter 2 Angela posted on Instagram. “I’m looking for someone to marry. Kindly introduce me to any responsible bachelors you know.” Soon, the comments were filled with people eager for gossip. Some asked if she had gotten into a fight with Carl. A few told her that it was normal for a guy to flirt with other women and not to kick up a fuss about it. Or else, she would end up losing a good man because of her temper tantrums. Some even questioned if she thought she was being fair to Carl by doing this. These comments made Angela laugh. She’d been with Carl back when he was a nobody with nothing to his name. She accompanied him through the trials and tribulations as he started his own business. Therefore, she could proudly proclaim with an easy conscience that she had been nothing but fair to him from the start. Carl was the one who made an unreasonable request while disregarding their relationship that had lasted for over a decade. It was time to make a clean break and have a fresh start. When Angela’s phone buzzed again, she assumed it was another one of Carl’s friends messaging her to rebuke her. To her shock, she got a message from her boss, Julian Fuller. She’d saved his contact as “The Cunning Businessman”. The Cunning Businessman: “You’re looking for someone to marry?” The Cunning Businessman: “I’ll do it.” Angela froze. She’d forgotten to keep the post restricted from him. The Cunning Businessman: “When’s the wedding?” Clutching her phone, Angela responded nervously, “In a month’s time.” The Cunning Businessman: “That works for me.” Angela Thompson: “Are you being serious about this, boss?” The Cunning Businessman: “Shall we register our marriage right away? Wait for me. I’ll pick you up at your place in half an hour.” Angela hastily put a stop to that. Angela Thompson: “I still have some things to settle, boss. It can wait a month. That’ll give you time to think about it, too.” The Cunning Businessman: “I don’t need to think about it. Let’s get married in a month.” Angela remained in a daze as she stared at Julian’s message. Just then, she heard the sound of someone unlocking the front door. Carl came in with a rather somber expression. “Angela, let’s cancel the wedding for now. Lucy is in a bad place right now. I don’t want to have the wedding at a time like this. It’ll trigger her.” Nodding calmly, Angela replied, “I see.” Carl was rather startled. “You’re not going to make a fuss about it?” “Why should I?” “I thought you’d be upset about it. After all, we’ve been dating for over ten years now.” Angela snorted inwardly. What a mockery it was, alright. They’d been in a relationship for over a decade now, and yet, he could call off the wedding for the sake of Lucy, a complete outsider and his so-called best friend’s widow. Throughout all these years, Carl seemed to have grown accustomed to being the one who decided everything. As long as he made up his mind, Angela had no choice but to respect his decision and go along with it. She wasn’t allowed to make any objections. All along, she compromised on things that didn’t go against her principles because she didn’t want to argue with him. But this time, she wasn’t going to tolerate it at all. “Is she feeling any better?” “She still needs someone to be with her at all times,” Carl said. “When she’s alone, she keeps having bad thoughts. It’s best… if she has the child as soon as possible.” “Fine. You should spend more time with her, then.” “Looks like this argument of ours worked out for the best. You’ve become a lot more reasonable,” Carl praised with a smile. But he was wrong. Angela didn’t become more reasonable. She simply gained clarity. “I’m feeling lonely. Oh, I wish I’d find a lover that could hold me…” Carl’s phone started ringing, and Angela was taken aback. It was strange to see someone like Carl, who was rather masculine in an old-fashioned kind of way, using a popular love song as his ringtone. And when he answered the call, he spoke with a level of gentleness that Angela had never been on the receiving end of. “Lucy?” That explained everything. The ringtone was specifically set for Lucy. “What? Okay. I’ll bring it over to you now.” Once Carl got off the phone, he grabbed his car keys and began rushing out of the house. He was already at the door before it occurred to him to explain things to Angela. “Lucy left her clothes in my car. I’m taking it over to her now.” “What kind of clothes?” Carl’s expression became a little peculiar as he replied stammeringly, “I-It’s just an ordinary piece of clothing. Anyway, I’m heading off now.” Chapter 3 On Sunday, Sylvia Johnson, Angela’s old homeroom teacher, was celebrating a birthday. Bright and early that morning, Angela got a call from Vincent Boyd, her old class representative. “Make sure you and Carl show up,” Vincent said. When Angela got to the private room where the party was being held, it was already filled with many of her old classmates, but there was no sign of Carl. Vincent glanced behind Angela before asking, “Where’s your husband? Is he parking the car?” “He’s not my husband,” Angela corrected. Chortling, Vincent replied, “He’s not your husband yet, but he will be in a month, won’t he? You guys have been dating for so long now. It’s hard for relationships to survive this long. You’re only a step away from marriage now, so stop fighting. Work things out with each other.” Sylvia was still the same caring teacher that Angela remembered, though she had a few gray hairs in the passing years. Smiling, she also chimed in, “That’s right, Angela. I’ve also witnessed the journey you two have taken as a couple. Are you two in a fight because of Lucy? I’m sure you must’ve misunderstood things. “Carl and Keith were always the best of friends. Since Keith has passed away, Carl is just helping Lucy out for the sake of his old friend. You should have faith in your relationship. After all, you’ve been together for over ten years now.” Sylvia was their language teacher. She had always been kind and approachable. Angela adored her very much, but she was no longer a student. While Sylvia could teach lessons in school, she couldn’t teach Angela lessons on marriage. “I know what’s best for me, Ms. Johnson,” Angela replied. Thinking that Angela was taking her advice, Sylvia became rather pleased. “You have always been a smart one. I’m sure you get it.” Just then, Carl came in, saying, “Happy birthday, Ms. Johnson!” With a beaming smile, Sylvia replied, “Thank you! You and Angela are about to get married as well. I’ll be sure to celebrate the wedding with you guys.” However, at the very next moment, her smile froze. Lucy came in right behind Carl. She was wearing his jacket and holding his arm as well. Smiling, she passed Sylvia the gift she brought and said, “Hi, Ms. Johnson. I’m Lucy. I’m so sorry. We would’ve arrived sooner, but it’s all my fault. My period came all of a sudden, so Carl had to buy my pads for me. That ended up taking a bit of time.” The intimate tone she had when she mentioned Carl’s name made everything clear. Even Vincent was startled. Patting Carl on the shoulder, he reminded Carl, “Angela’s here, too. Why did you… bring her along with you?” “Lucy has been feeling rather depressed lately. I don’t feel good about leaving her alone,” Carl said. “What about Angela, then?” Carl glanced at Angela before saying indifferently, “It’s fine. There’s no need to worry about her.” After thoughtfully guiding Lucy over to a spot on the couch, he even proceeded to set some snacks and fruits in front of her, saying, “Don’t worry. These are all my friends. Everyone will take good care of you.” Leaning in close to Carl, Lucy said, “Of course. I only feel safe with you around.” All of the attendees here at Sylvia’s birthday party were Carl and Angela’s classmates. They all knew the two were a couple. But after seeing this situation, no one knew how they were supposed to react, especially Vincent. He’d probably intended to try and help patch things up between Carl and Angela. Angela knew Vincent was a warm, kindhearted person who meant well. However, judging from what was happening now, she knew he wouldn’t be able to do the good deed he had been planning to do. Sylvia’s birthday party proceeded awkwardly. By the time it ended, everyone felt a sense of relief—apart from Carl and Lucy, of course. Carl was holding Lucy by the hand, and when he walked past Angela, he said coolly, “I need to give Lucy a ride home. I’m not sure if I’ll be back tonight. You can take a cab home.” However, Lucy tapped him and complained coquettishly, “How can you say that? Angie is your fiancée! How can you ask her to take a cab home just because of me? “Don’t listen to him, Angie. Get in the car with us. I’ll make sure he gives you a ride home.” It sounded as if she were Carl’s fiancée instead, while Angela was the outsider. Brushing Lucy’s hand off hers, Angela said curtly, “It’s fine. My ride is here.” A honk rang out, and a black Maybach came to a stop in front of Angela. Chapter 4 Angela got into the Maybach with Carl and Lucy watching. A group of their classmates who had exited together began teasing, “Oh, so Maybach drivers are doing Uber now? Since when?” Carl’s expression was rather unpleasant. He drove a Ford, which was still a decent car in its own right. Alas, it looked small and dated next to a Maybach. Soon after Angela got home, Carl returned as well. Startled, she asked, “Didn’t you say you won’t be coming back tonight?” “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Carl snarled, his expression stormy. “What’s your problem?” Angela mused. “Who’s the guy who came to pick you up today? What’s his deal?” “Him? He’s my husband.” “Hah! I knew it!” Carl snorted. Angela didn’t get what Carl supposedly knew. Taking a seat on the couch, he said with a smug smile, “You did it on purpose, right? You’re just trying to antagonize me and get me jealous so that I’d care about you. It must’ve cost you a bomb to rent that Maybach, huh? “That explains why you seem to have become an entirely different person lately. I’ve been wondering why you haven’t made a fuss at all. Turns out you had this all planned out to bait me.” Feeling rather speechless, Angela replied, “If that’s what you think, I can’t do anything about it.” “Don’t ever play these tricks again,” Carl demanded disdainfully. “It’s childish and pathetic.” “Think whatever you want.” “Angela, I know you’re upset that the wedding was called off on such abrupt notice. You’ve always wanted me to marry you. I know that. “But you need to accept that some things need to be prioritized more. Lucy is still grieving over Keith’s passing. Her needs should be prioritized right now,” Carl declared. Angela couldn’t resist asking, “Does that mean if Lucy never overcomes her grief, you’ll never get married?” “How can you be such a vicious person, Angela? Don’t you want things to work out for Lucy? She’s never done anything to offend you. Must you think so ill of her?” Angela was fully aware of how protective Carl was over Lucy, but it was still the first time he called her vicious. To think that this was the man she’d spent over ten years loving and making sacrifices for. He almost became her husband, too. This only made Angela even more disillusioned. “I need your car keys for a moment.” “What for?” Carl asked warily. “I’m retrieving something I left in your car.” Angela once made a crocheted horseshoe herself and hung it up in Carl’s car as a good luck charm to keep him safe. Well, the current Carl no longer deserved the care and affection she showered on him. “Lucy’s things are in my car. You’d better not mess them up. I’ll come with you,” Carl said. “Whatever.” Angela went down to the basement parking lot, and once Carl unlocked the car, she opened the front door to undo the crocheted horseshoe. Alas, when she hung it up, she’d made sure to tie it securely out of fear that it might fall off. Hardening herself, she yanked on the yarn to undo the horseshoe instead. As a result, it transformed back into a long piece of yarn. “Why did you pull it apart?” Carl asked. “It doesn’t matter if it’s unraveled. It won’t be of any use anymore.” Angela was backing out of the car when, from the corner of her eye, she spotted something black tucked beside the front passenger seat. She picked it up, only to realize it was a pair of black stockings—the kind worn by women. It was obvious who it belonged to. This was probably the “ordinary piece of clothing” Lucy left in Carl’s car. “Are you done yet?” Carl hurried Angela along. “Don’t make a mess of the things in my car.” With a wooden expression, Angela stuffed the pair of black stockings back where she found them and said, “All done.” As soon as she got out of the car, Carl immediately shut the door and locked the car. Angela didn’t care. She tossed the ball of yarn she was holding into the trash. Her phone started ringing, so she answered it. “Hello?” “When will you be free? We can have the wedding in a month, but we should get our marriage registered first.” It was Julian. “About that… There’s no rush, right?” Angela replied. “It’s very easy to get a marriage license these days. We can even get it done a few days before our wedding day.” At the mention of a marriage license, Carl grew alert. “Marriage license? What do you mean?” Chapter 5 “Is that your ex-boyfriend?” Julian asked over the phone. He’d taken the initiative of referring to Carl as Angela’s ex. “Yeah,” Angela replied. “You should move out as soon as possible.” “I will.” “As for our marriage registration, just go ahead and check your schedule. Once you decide on a time, let me know, and I’ll be there,” Julian said. Once the call was over, Carl eyed Angela suspiciously and questioned, “Who called you at this hour of the night?” “Someone who wants to marry me and is asking me to register our marriage,” Angela replied. Upon hearing that, Carl let out a mocking laugh. “Angela, this trick only works once. It gets pathetic if you attempt it multiple times.” Angela breathed in deeply before humming in acknowledgment. “Hey! I’m talking to you. Are you listening to me?” “Relax. I won’t ever bring this up with you again.” That satisfied Carl. “It’s getting late. I need to head back to Lucy.” “Go ahead.” Before leaving, Carl turned back and said to Angela, “Hang in there a little longer. Just wait until Lucy’s condition improves. After all, you’ve been with me for so many years now. I’ll still make you my wife.” This time, Angela said nothing. … The next day, Angela began packing her things. She didn’t have that many clothes. The only possession of hers of any importance was her laptop. She was a programmer, and her years of coding were all stored in it. When Julian came to pick her up, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of her carrying nothing more than a computer bag. “Is that all?” “That’s right,” Angela said with a nod. “I thought women loved collecting pretty clothes and bags.” Well, he wasn’t wrong. Who wouldn’t love having a closet full of pretty clothes and bags? However, all their money went toward Carl’s business, and over time, it became hard for them to make ends meet. Angela pawned off her jewelry, and it had been years since she last bought any new clothing for herself. Therefore, she simply gathered some of her personal belongings and donated everything else to charity. Glancing at her lonesome computer bag, Julian said gently, “I’ll take you shopping this weekend.” “It’s fine.” “Why not?” “I haven’t received this month’s salary yet.” Julian couldn’t stop himself from chuckling. “I’ll give you an advance on it.” Angela chewed her lip. She still felt a little uncertain about the whole thing. “Boss, are you seriously willing to marry me?” “Why do you ask?” Julian queried. “Is your family pestering you to get married?” “They are. Moreover, being a married man makes me seem more trustworthy to the shareholders, so it’s good for the company, too.” “That explains everything. I knew a cunning businessman like you would never do something if you didn’t get anything out of it…” “What did you just call me?” Angela quickly waved her hands, saying, “Oh, it’s nothing.” Smirking, Julian remarked, “You should probably change the nickname you set for me on your phone when you can.” “On it! I’ll do it right this instant!” Angela swiftly deleted the words “The Cunning Businessman” and changed his contact to “The Perfect Gentleman”. Then, she held up her phone in front of Julian and said, “Look. All done.” After glancing at the screen, Julian pulled up by the side of the road. “What’s the matter?” Angela asked. Julian took her phone and tapped on it for a bit before returning it to her. As he began driving once more, Angela checked her phone. Julian was no longer listed as “The Perfect Gentleman” on WhatsApp. Instead, she saw the word “Hubby”. “We’re not married yet, boss. Isn’t this a bit too conspicuous?” Cocking an eyebrow, Julian suggested, “Shall we head over to City Hall now, then?” While speaking, he made it seem like he was going to make a U-turn. “No, thanks. I don’t think we can do it today, boss.” “Tell me, then. What’s your excuse this time?” “Well, he still has my Social Security card.” … Carl was out shopping with Lucy when he got the call from Angela. Lucy had changed into a strapless mini dress and was striking seductive poses in front of the mirror on purpose. When she saw the way Carl’s eyes glazed over as he ogled her, she secretly took a photo of him before taking a selfie. Then, she posted on Instagram. The caption read, “Fate must have made a mistake. Why are you only showing up in my life now?” Lucy had posted two photos—a sexy picture of her and a shot of Carl staring dazedly at her. She adored the feeling of having Carl wrapped around her finger. It stoked her ego to no end. But soon, Carl tore his eyes away from Lucy. Frowning, he took a call. “Angela, didn’t I tell you I’ll be spending the next few days with Lucy? Why are you calling me?” “Where’s my Social Security card?” Angela asked. “Why do you want it?” “I need to register for something.” “Register for what?” Lucy wasn’t going to let Carl take his eyes off her. She purposely raised her voice and called out to him, “Carl, do I look good in this dress?” Once again, Carl’s attention was drawn toward her. When he saw Lucy making an adorable yet sexy pose in front of him, all he could think about was ending the call as quickly as possible. “Your Social Security card is in the third drawer of the living room cabinet. I’m going to be very busy during this time. Don’t call me if you don’t have anything urgent. I’m hanging up now.” Chapter 6 They were almost at Julian’s place when Angela had second thoughts. Considering the time, the staff at City Hall were about to get off work. She figured it was better if they went another day instead. Nevertheless, she was now basically moving in with Julian. In all honesty, she thought it would be better if she rented a place of her own, but he said, “If the reporters find out that we’re living separately despite being married, they’ll spin it into a huge scandal.” In the end, Angela had no choice but to acquiesce to Julian and stay at his place. That being said, she insisted on moving into the guest room, and he didn’t fight her on that. However, while she was busy unpacking her things, Julian stood in the doorway. Arms crossed, he said, “Angela, I take our marriage seriously.” Despite not quite understanding what he meant, Angela nodded and replied, “I know. We’ll definitely make it legal so that paparazzi won’t unearth anything scandalous.” In a slow but steady manner, Julian emphasized, “I meant that I want us to be a real married couple, not just one in the eyes of the law. I want us to live like a married couple, too.” Angela understood now, and her cheeks turned pink. Though she continued to put her things away, her movements became a little stiff. Seeing how flustered she was, Julian smirked faintly. “Don’t be scared. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.” … Three weeks had passed before Carl returned to the house he shared with Angela. In the last three weeks, he accompanied Lucy and did all of her favorite things with her. He took her to an amusement park, went out on a boat to watch the sunrise with her, and brought her to the desert to go stargazing as well. When they returned, Lucy informed him, “Carl, I’m pregnant. The child can’t be without a father. Can you bear the thought of people teasing him because his father abandoned him? “Keith entrusted me to you because he wanted you to take good care of me. Let’s raise the child together. He can still honor Keith as his godfather. That way, everything works out perfectly, right?” She added, “As for Angela, I know you two have been dating for over ten years, but you’re still not married. Since you’re not married, you’re technically single in the eyes of the law. No one can say anything if you don’t end up marrying her. “If she wants to make a fuss about it, so be it. Either way, I’m pregnant with your baby. It’s not like she can force me to get an abortion, right?” The moment Carl heard that, he growled, “Let’s see if she dares! If she hurts our child in any way, I’ll make her life a living hell!” Snuggling in Carl’s embrace, Lucy enthused coyly, “You’re so manly, Carl. It’s no wonder Angela has been hopelessly in love with you for so many years. Any woman would fall madly in love with you. Even I have…” Her sweet nothings greatly satisfied his ego and gave him a great deal of contentment. However, when he got back to the house, he had a bit of mixed feelings about everything. Carl still felt a flicker of guilt toward Angela. He opened the door to find the living room empty and the bedroom door closed. Heading over, he knocked on the door, saying, “Angela? You’re in here, right?” There was no reply. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I have to break my promise again. I can’t marry you. Lucy is pregnant, and I can’t let the child be without a father. I have to take care of Lucy and the child on Keith’s behalf, so… I have no choice but to end things with you,” Carl said. “How’s this? I’ll give you 2,000 dollars to make up for all the years you’ve been with me. If you don’t speak up now, I’ll take it that you’re okay with it, too. I’ve done the calculations. I’ll give you a hundred dollars for every year we’ve been together. “Technically, that’s only a little over a thousand dollars, but since you’ve been so devoted to me all these years, I decided to give a little extra and make it 2,000 dollars instead. “Angela?” Greeted with nothing but silence, Carl finally opened the bedroom door. But the room had been left empty for ages.

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