Chapter 1

Chapter 1

One month before the wedding, my fiancé decided to have a child with his late best friend's widow.

I didn't lose my cool. I just calmly sent him a message:

"She has plenty of ways to have a baby. Why does it have to be with you?"

The next second, he called me, screaming about how I was being unreasonable.

"My brother entrusted her to me on his deathbed. She doesn't have anyone else here to rely on. What's the big deal if I give her a child?"

"Besides, it's just in vitro fertilization. Nothing is going to happen between us. I'm still marrying you, aren't I?"

I laughed and replied:

"Don't bother. I've replaced the groom. I'm more than happy to give you two my spot."

……

The guests cast pitying, gossipy glances my way, their mouths opening and closing as they struggled to find the right words.

I knew what they were wondering. Serenity's belly was growing by the day, but the baby inside wasn't her late husband's.

It belonged to my fiancé. It was, by all accounts, a scandalous story.

And they couldn't fathom why I wasn't throwing a fit.

Finally, my high school desk mate couldn't help but chime in:

"Hey, Naomi, is Julian held up in traffic? Why isn't he here yet?"

I didn't even look up from my plate:

"He has nothing to do with me anymore. We broke up."

The room went silent, then erupted in laughter:

"Stop joking. Everyone knows how close you two are. You're already talking wedding details―how could you possibly break up now?"

Right. We'd survived the hardest times together, so how was it that now, when life was finally stable, he had changed?

Before I could answer, the banquet hall doors swung open.

It was indeed Julian, but following right behind him was the other lead in this gossip drama: Serenity.

Julian didn't even glance at me. He pulled out a chair, helped Serenity sit down, and finally spoke:

"Serenity was having some stomach pains. I was worried about the baby, so we made a detour to the hospital. Sorry we're late."

The smiles on the guests' faces froze. My classmate awkwardly scratched her nose:

"What is this supposed to mean? It's only been a few days, and you're already showing up with someone new?"

Julian, busy cleaning her utensils, replied dismissively:

"Don't talk nonsense. I'm just helping out by looking after Serenity for Liam. There's nothing going on between us."

Even a fool wouldn't buy that line.

My classmate tried to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright, stop kidding around. Naomi's been waiting forever. Come on, sit over there!"

To everyone's shock, he didn't move an inch. Instead, his tone turned disdainful:

"Can she even compare to Serenity? Serenity is pregnant; obviously, she needs extra care."

Then, ignoring the awkwardness, he whispered into her ear:

"Don't be scared. As long as I'm here, nobody will bully you."

The heated atmosphere dropped to freezing. This class reunion was supposed to be a chance to reconnect.

I'd thought Julian wouldn't go *that* far.

But he had openly brought his side piece to our event, showing no regard for my dignity.

The guests looked at me with increasing sympathy.

But I just kept eating my meal, calm as could be, as if they didn't exist.

Julian was clearly annoyed by my reaction. He dropped his chopsticks and snapped:

"When you're done eating, call your own taxi home. I'm taking Serenity home; I don't have time for you."

Serenity bit her lip, putting on a show of being terrified:

"Naomi, he's your future husband after all. I'm just the mother of his... I mean, you should take her home first..."

Listening to that tone, you'd think *I* was the mistress.

I set down my fork and knife, looking slowly at the two of them:

"Don't bother. My boyfriend is already waiting for me downstairs."