Chapter 1
Outside the city hall, I stood in line with my fiancé Orion Sterling, waiting to get our marriage certificate.
Suddenly, a little boy darted over and latched onto his leg, calling out sweetly, “Daddy!”
I thought it was some kind of scam. But to my shock, my fiancé smiled tenderly and scooped the child into his arms.
“I just found out myself,” he said gently, as if afraid I’d misunderstand. “Five years ago, when Seraphina and I broke up… she was already pregnant.”
“She’s back now. Raising a child alone in this country, people love to gossip. I need to give her and the boy a name–some stability.”
Before I could even respond, Seraphina Lane walked over.
My fiancé reached for her hand without hesitation, lacing their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world. They
stood there, side by side, like a perfect little family.
I asked, my voice unnervingly calm, “So what now?”
“I have to marry Seraphina,” he said. “As for us…”
He hesitated for a beat, then offered a smile I once thought was charming. Now it just felt ridiculous
“You’re already here. Why don’t we take a picture together? You can post it–pretend we went through with it. Something to show off.”
Seraphina raised her phone and aimed it at us, smugly saying, “Say cheese!”
I barely blinked. He still had the nerve to comfort me. “You’re the one I love. Really. I just think of her like….. family.”
“I want to be there for the lid for a while. Just pretend to be a couple with her, give the boy some normalcy.”
“He’s innocent in all this. He’s never had a dad. I don’t want to scar him for life”
“We can delay the wedding a little. Once the boy is older, I’ll tell him the truth–and give you a proper ceremony. A big one.“”
And with that, the three of them walked into the city hall together, hand in hand. A happy, picture–perfect family.
I pulled out my phone and called Lucian Grant–the man who’d chased me for ten years without once backing down.
“I’m at the city hall,” I said. “Wanna be my plus–one to get hitched?”
“Delphine Shaw,” Lucian’s voice came through the line, tinged with exasperated amusement. “Since when do you ambush people with weddings? 1 just landed–I’m still at the airport.”
I paused, disappointed. “Alright. Never mind then.”
But he suddenly panicked. “Walt–don’t hang up! I’ll be there before the city hall closes. Whoever backs out is a coward!”
I smiled faintly and hung up, then looked for a place to sit and rest. Just as I found a bench, a sharp voice called out behind me.
“Delphine!”
I looked up to see Orion Sterling walking toward me. He held the boy in one arm, Seraphina’s hand in the other–just like earlier. The picture of domestic bliss.
He stopped in front of me and lowered the child to the ground, his expression clouded with irritation. “What are you still doing here?”
“I’m waiting to register a marriage,” I replied honestly.
Orion’s face darkened. “Why are you being so passive–aggressive? I told you–I just found out about the kid. Everyone has a past, Delphine.”
Chapter 1
I nodded. “I understand.”
“Then stop making a scene. Let’s go home. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of a child.” He reached for my arm, but I pulled away.
“I told you,” I said coolly, “I’m waiting to get married.”
His expression hardened. “Delphine Shaw, this is your last warning. Keep acting like this, and I’ll only grow to dislike you more.”
Just then, Seraphina walked over, looking meek and thoughtful. “Are you upset because you didn’t get a marriage certificate?”
She pulled out her bright red license and tried to hand it to me. “Here–why don’t you take a photo with this? You and Orion can pretend it’s yours. The covers are the same. As long as no one opens it, who’ll know whose name is inside?”
I didn’t take it. The license fell to the ground.
Seraphina crouched down to pick it up, her eyes red as she whispered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back with the child…”
Orion shot me a sharp look. “Delphine, I didn’t know you were this petty. If you really can’t accept Seraphina, then this relationship is
over.”
“Fine,” I said, voice calm.
He looked startled by my indifference.
Seraphina gave the boy a nudge. “Sweetheart, say something to Auntie. Tell her not to be angry anymore.”
But the boy scowled and shouted, “No! She’s a homewrecker!”
He shoved me hard. “Don’t steal my daddy!”
People around us began to stare. Their expressions shifted–confused, then judgmental.
Someone muttered, loud enough to hear, “Wow, mistresses these days are getting bold. Trying to snatch someone else’s husband at the city hall?”
I looked at the boy and said softly, “Don’t worry. Your dad and I already broke up.
“I hope your parents have a long and happy life together.”
Chapter 1
