Agreed to a Fake Marriage Instead

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I had agreed to meet my boyfriend Marcus at City Hall to register our marriage, but he never showed up.

I called him---no answer.

I texted him---no response.

Finally, I had no choice but to call his childhood sweetheart Lily. Marcus finally picked up.

Emma, can you stop being so annoying? Lily twisted her ankle, and I need to take care of her today. We'll reschedule getting our marriage certificate.

I bit my lip lightly. "Including this time, you've already rescheduled seven times."

"So what? Lily needs me to massage her foot. I'm hanging up!"

My face remained expressionless, but my heart felt like it was being stabbed.

The staff member asked sympathetically if I still wanted to proceed.

I nodded and pulled out my phone to call my best friend Maya's brother, who was a race car driver.

"That fake marriage you proposed---I agree."

Marcus always explained that he only saw his childhood sweetheart Lily as a little sister.

But just now on the phone, I clearly heard their abnormal rhythmic sounds.

I could even vaguely hear Lily's suppressed moans.

While I was still in a daze, my best friend Maya's brother, Ethan Chase, arrived.

He rode in on a flashy motorcycle.

The moment he took off his helmet and walked in, he immediately attracted quite a bit of attention.

Ethan walked straight up to me and sat in the chair beside me, crossing his legs casually, smiling playfully as he spoke.

"Changed your mind? You agree to fake marry me to deal with family pressure?"

I nodded lightly.

Actually, it wasn't just about dealing with family pressure.

The most important reason for this marriage was to give my grandfather peace of mind before he passed.

Six months ago, my grandfather's health had deteriorated rapidly.

He stayed in the hospital every day, and each time he saw me, he would ask when I was getting married.

He wanted to see me in a wedding dress.

He wanted to see me enter the halls of matrimony.

He said that way, even when he was gone, there would still be someone to love me.

So six months ago, I started urging Marcus to get married.

I'd come to City Hall seven times intermittently, but each time ended in failure for various reasons.

Last time, it was because Lily got her period and was in so much pain that Marcus had to go home and rub her stomach.

The time before that, Lily lost her keys and couldn't get home, so he had to go let her in.

The time before that, Lily was hungry and wanted donuts, so he had to rush to a trendy shop to wait in line.

All seven times, it was because of Lily.

Each time, Marcus abandoned me without a second thought.

The ironic part was, I gave him seven chances.

Yet he wasn't even willing to spare me the time to take one photo.

Actually this time, when Marcus left, I wasn't too devastated.

Perhaps I'd gotten used to it, or perhaps I'd expected it all along.

It's just that my mind suddenly flashed back to what my grandfather told me a while ago.

"Emma, I'm afraid I don't have much time left. I might not see you in your wedding dress, but even if you're alone in the future, you must live bravely. Don't let people bully you."

I promised my grandfather I would be brave.

So this time, I won't keep compromising.

Marcus, I gave you a chance.

Seven chances, in fact.

Registering the marriage with Ethan went smoothly.

Just as Ethan and I were about to take our marriage photo, my phone suddenly buzzed.

Marcus had sent a message.

"Emma, don't be mad. I really couldn't get away this time, but I already made your favorite food at home. Waiting for you to come back~"

Ethan glanced over at me, raised an eyebrow, and asked.

"Still want to continue?"

I took a deep breath and said expressionlessly.

"Continue!"

Hearing this, he smiled, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me closer to him.

"Then get closer. We're taking a photo now. My bride, smile."

Our arms pressed tightly together with almost no gap between them.

His pleasant aftershave scent invaded my senses.

I couldn't help but blush.

After completing the marriage registration, I walked out of City Hall holding our marriage certificate.

Before leaving, I turned to Ethan.

"Are you free tomorrow? There's something I'd like you to come with me to."

Ethan straddled his motorcycle with his long legs.

"Call me if you need anything. In a couple days, I might need you to help me out with my parents too."

With that, he rode off.

I felt like fate was unpredictable.

My seven-year relationship with Marcus, from college until now, ultimately didn't make it to the end.

Yet I married my best friend's brother after meeting him only once.

On the way back, Marcus sent me another message with an attached photo.

The dining table was densely covered with delicious dishes.

"Why aren't you back yet? The food's ready. If you come too late, it'll be gone!"

He truly meant what he said.

The message he just sent said if I came late, the food would be gone.

Sure enough, when I got home, the dining table was already a mess, with every dish completely cleaned out.

Lily beside him put on an innocent expression and said pitifully to me.

"I'm so sorry, I was just too hungry, so I couldn't help eating first."

She sure could eat---she'd rather stuff herself than leave anything for me.

Even I, slow as I was, could tell she was provoking me.

In that instant, I felt my blood boiling, my hands clenched into fists, sharp nails digging deep into my palms.

Lily and Marcus were childhood sweethearts.

So in Marcus's eyes, she was always his top priority.

Actually, in the beginning, the journey of getting to know, falling in love with, and loving Marcus had all gone smoothly.

We didn't argue much.

Even when we did, Marcus was always the first to apologize and comfort me.

Regardless of whose fault it was, he would immediately take all the responsibility.

Even Maya envied me more than once for finding a man like Marcus who doted on me so much.

But that envy ended half a year ago.

Ever since Lily appeared, his affection shifted to another person.

"Emma, why are you only getting back now? Didn't I remind you early on?"

Marcus walked out of the kitchen.

When he saw me, he frowned.

In his memory, as soon as I received his messages, I would rush home desperately.

"Something came up on the road. I got back late."

"What was so important that you missed dinner?"

His tone was flat, but carried a hint of interrogation.

I wasn't planning to tell him anything about the marriage.

Since I'd already decided to leave, from now on Marcus was just a stranger to me.

I came back this time mainly for my belongings.

"Nothing much. The company asked me to go on a business trip. I came back to pack."

Without waiting for Marcus's reaction, I walked straight toward the bedroom.

But the moment I opened the bedroom door, I was shocked by what I saw.

The bed I'd neatly made before leaving was now messy, with dried white stains and water marks on it.

The closet had also been rummaged through.

Since I was leaving anyway, I could actually not care about all this.

But on the nightstand, the handmade high-rise building toy my grandfather had given me was broken in half.

Scattered fragments covered the floor.

I couldn't hold back anymore and called out Marcus's name directly.

"Who came into this bedroom? Who knocked over my things!"

Marcus walked in, first frowning, then quickly relaxing.

He spoke in a completely indifferent tone.

"It's just a handmade item. I'll have someone put it back together for you later."

I froze for a moment.

That indifferent tone made it clear I didn't matter to him at all.

And because of that sentence, I knew it was definitely Lily who broke it.

Only she deserved Marcus's desperate protection.

"It was Lily who broke it, wasn't it?"

My plain statement was like igniting Marcus's powder keg.

He immediately glared at me, then questioned me.

"Do you have proof it was Lily? Maybe it just wasn't installed properly and fell down by itself!"

"Emma, don't just open your mouth and falsely accuse people. Before you say it was Lily, at least show some evidence, or I'll sue you for defamation!"

The soft flesh in my mouth was nearly bitten through.

A strong taste of blood filled my entire mouth.

He really could protect her.

Just one sentence from me, and I was charged with defamation.

But Marcus from six months ago wasn't like this.

The day I truly fell in love with him was on a rainy night.

I'd been in a car accident.

He ran all the way to the accident site without even carrying an umbrella.

That day, this man who was always polite and proper shed all his restraints for me, shouting on the roadside and getting into a fistfight with the driver who hit me.

So why has this person changed now?

I didn't continue arguing.

Just as Marcus said, I had absolutely no evidence to prove Lily broke it.

I could only carefully squat down to collect the fragments, also picking up the two halves of the fallen building.

Outside the door, Lily's pitiful voice rang out.

She limped in.

"Marcus, don't fight with Emma anymore!"

"Even though I didn't break it, if Emma wants to blame me, then blame me. No one's liked me since I was little. It's normal that Emma doesn't like me either."

As she spoke, she deliberately walked a few steps and squatted in front of me.

She stepped on one of the fragments and deliberately twisted hard.

At the same time, she whispered in a very low voice.

"I did break it. So what!"

Rage instantly rushed to my head.

I pushed Lily away directly.

But before I even touched her, she conveniently fell to the ground.

That foot wrapped in white gauze even precisely hit the nightstand.

The next second, Lily's tearful voice came out.

"Emma, I just wanted to help you."

Before I could react, Marcus grabbed my hair.

I'd never seen him like this before.

His face was twisted with rage, his eyes sharp, as if he wanted to kill me.

"Even if you don't like Lily, you don't need to hurt her like this. Besides, she's injured!"

With Marcus pulling my hair, I had no choice but to tilt my head back and look at them.

A bitter taste spread from the tip of my tongue.

My heart was riddled with wounds.

"I didn't even touch her!"

Marcus's slap landed directly on my face.

A red handprint instantly appeared on my cheek.

"You're still lying? Emma, do you think I'm blind? I was right behind you. I saw it with my own eyes!"

"First you falsely accused Lily, now you pushed her down. I never knew you were such a ruthless woman. You're absolutely vicious!"

My breath caught.

I couldn't even say anything in my defense.

In this situation, no matter what I said, Marcus wouldn't believe me anyway.

He let go of me and looked down at me coldly.

"Can't find an excuse, can you? Emma, you're a truly poisonous woman!"

Marcus looked at me with disappointment.

But I felt relieved.

If before I still held the last thread of hope for him, now everything had finally returned to calm.

I no longer defended myself, no longer struggled to explain.

Lily, being carried by Marcus, looked at me smugly and mouthed some words.

But I understood them.

"You think you're worthy of competing with me for Marcus!"

Since you like him, I'll give him to you.

Because Lily's injured ankle had just been bumped, Marcus nervously carried her to the hospital.

I swayed as I stood up.

In the mirror before me, my burning red cheek was reflected.

The handprint was still clearly visible.

You could imagine how angry Marcus was at the time, how much force he used.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly, reaching up to wipe away the blood slowly seeping from the corner of my mouth.

This slap also shattered all my former illusions.

Taking this opportunity, I gathered all my clothes from the house and packed them in my suitcase.

I took everything I could carry and threw what I couldn't into the trash.

Before leaving, I found a real estate agent and listed the house online.

This house was mine.

My grandfather bought it for me with his money.

It was originally meant to be my wedding house.

Now it seems there's no need to keep it.

Dirty things disgust me.

I wheeled my suitcase to a hotel and stayed for the night.

For the time being, I planned to spend all my remaining time with my grandfather through his final days.

Early in the morning, I called Ethan.

He seemed to still be asleep, his voice hazy and muffled.

Only after I urged him several times and called Maya to have her keep an eye on him did this man finally get up.

When going to the hospital, Ethan and I prepared our story in advance to handle my grandfather.

Because I'd previously brought Marcus to meet my grandfather, my grandfather knew Marcus was my intended husband.

To keep my grandfather from worrying, I planned to have Ethan help me get through this without revealing his real identity.

But I didn't expect him and my grandfather to hit it off so well.

They talked about everything from the poverty of their generation to today's artificial intelligence.

Even when we were about to leave, my grandfather was still somewhat reluctant.

He held my hand and patted the back of it gently.

"Emma, this one's good. Much more reliable than that Marcus fellow."

I felt a bit embarrassed.

I didn't want my grandfather to know I'd randomly pulled someone to marry.

So I could only say stiffly.

"Grandpa, did you remember wrong? He is Marcus."

"I'm not senile yet. I still know if it's the same person or not. I just don't know if I can hold on until your wedding day..."

I quickly took out our marriage certificate from my bag and handed it to my grandfather.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. We're already married. The wedding is being prepared. You'll definitely make it."

Unexpectedly, my grandfather opened the marriage certificate and examined it carefully with his magnifying glass.

Only then did he nod with satisfaction.

"I knew it! Not that Marcus boy. This one's called Ethan Chase, right? Good name!"

I glared at my grandfather in exasperation before finally leaving the hospital room.

Ethan was waiting for me in the corridor.

It looked like he'd gotten into an argument with someone.

When I got closer, I discovered the people arguing with him were Marcus and Lily.

I didn't know what started it.

But one sentence from Marcus made my throat tighten, leaving me breathless for a long time.

"Whatever my girlfriend did wrong, I apologize on her behalf. But you're a grown man---bullying a woman like this, have you no shame?"

In his heart, Lily was his girlfriend.

So what was I?

A substitute?

"When you do something wrong, you should admit it. If everyone was like you, what would we need laws for? Being a woman means you can do whatever you want?"

Marcus and Lily were left speechless.

Just then, Marcus saw me appear.

A flash of panic and unease suddenly appeared in his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed it, pretending nothing was wrong as he rushed up to grab me, speaking first.

"Emma, perfect timing. Lily accidentally spilled coffee on him just now, and he's saying this outfit is worth tens of thousands. Isn't that extortion?"

"Don't you have a best friend who's a lawyer? Let's sue him for extortion!"

Lily nodded matter-of-factly, showing no sign of remorse.

"Exactly! Sue him for extortion, and make him pay us emotional damages!"

Ethan looked at me with a smiling expression.

I couldn't help but blush.

"Your friends?"

I immediately shook my head.

"Not anymore."

Before Marcus could react, I continued.

"This outfit really is worth tens of thousands. And the lawyer you mentioned is his sister."

With that, I quickly left the hospital.

I didn't want any more interaction with Marcus.

As for how they negotiated, it had nothing to do with me.

In the following days, Ethan kept arranging our wedding.

I originally wanted to just casually wear a wedding dress and let my grandfather see it, then be done with it.

But Ethan said that wouldn't match his status and insisted on making it bigger.

Besides being a famous race car driver, Ethan was also a wealthy heir.

These kinds of families had many requirements for weddings.

Since I couldn't persuade him, I could only compromise.

Meanwhile, Marcus asked me every day when I'd return from my business trip.

I don't know if he noticed that I'd been contacting him less and less these days.

For the first time, he said he'd set a date to register our marriage.

Too bad I didn't need it anymore.

Each time I made an excuse about being busy on the business trip and hung up.

The wedding day came quickly.

I appeared at the venue in my wedding dress.

A familiar voice came from behind me, very surprised, with a hint of panic.

"Emma, aren't you on a business trip? Why are you here in a wedding dress?"