Gabriel

It's been a month since I started my business along with my trusted friends. We started a small company for research and development where AI can be used in the medical field, especially by pharmaceutical companies.

We used all our savings. My grandma and I invested at least seven million dollars, and my four friends invested two million each. As of this moment, I was in charge of finding investors to fund us.

Starting this business was a big risk, but I know that we will make it through. Later in the afternoon, the five of us were leaving the commercial building where we rent a small office when luxurious cars parked in front of us.

There are men that come out and surround us. "What the hell is happening here?" Gio mutters.

An old man approaches me. "Gabriel Evans, you need to come with us. If you're worried about your safety, you can bring your friends with you," he says.

We all look at each other. "Did we have a choice...?" Shawn halts. Their expression was enough to answer his query.

"Then, we should go in peace," Wilson stated. "For what reason?" I calmly ask. Patrick covers my lips.

"We will go. Stop talking, or we'll all die!" he whispered in my ears.

We get inside the car, and the five of us have no idea where we're heading. One thing is for sure, the cars that they're using are worth millions. After an hour, the car enters a luxurious villa in an outskirt area of the city. They didn't blindfold us, which means we're not being kidnapped.

We are being escorted, and in their living room, I was stunned when I saw my grandmother. "Grandma! What is this?!" I ask the old man who seems to be the leader of those bodyguards.

"Just wait here. I'll inform my bosses that everyone has arrived," he says.

We take our seats and stare at the guards that are standing behind us. After a few minutes, I heard the sound of heels walking down the stairs. I raised my head, and my eyes dilated when I saw a familiar face.

She's the woman that I slept with two months ago! The owner of that jade hairpin! When I asked an appraiser, he told me that the jade hairpin was worth millions! We stood up.

"No need. You may all take your seats. Butler Bai, bring us some snacks to eat," she says.

I think she is Sabrina's grandmother. "May I ask what my grandson did to offend you, madam?" Grandma asks.

She looks at Sabrina and smiles. "From now on, the two of you will live with us. The building where your business is, it's already bought by the Paige family, that will be one of your dowries," she says. She looks at me meaningfully. My friends gasp.

"Da-dowry?" Shawn mumbled. I look at Sabrina. She stood up and sat next to me. She handed me a folder.

I opened it, and my eyes dilated. "As you can see, the date of conceiving the twins is..."

She paused. I gulp. September 15-18... We had a one-night stand on the 17th, which was two months ago! I still remember how she groaned in pain. I never thought she was a virgin! I'm her first! The date will never lie!

"I never had any—" I grab her shoulder.

"Forgive me, but I can't even give you any dowry! I just started a business with my best friends, and I don't have anything from me. I..."

I didn't continue and started to get frustrated. "We can sell our house and use the money as your dowry, grandson. We can't let your children be born illegitimately," Grandma says. I look at her.

"I know, Grandma. I don't have any plans to abandon them either. But that house..." I whispered.

Sabrina's grandma coughs. "I made a background check about you, young lad. My granddaughter already knew about it. The two of you will discuss that privately."

She looks at her granddaughter. "Paige family didn't mind the status of whoever its descendants marry. Our rules are simple. Marry a kind, family-oriented, good provider, honest, trustworthy, and virtuous man or woman."

I look at Sabrina. She smiled. "We both know that you passed all those qualifications. All you need to do is to marry me, and let's build a family together," she says. "YES! I mean, he is definitely going to say YES!" Patrick stated.

She laughs because of how my friends stare at me. They're trying to convince me to say yes! "The office will close in an hour. Go and register. We will have a feast for dinner tonight. Troy, be with them and make sure they won't create any trouble," her grandma says.

My grandma gives me our household register. Sabrina grabs my hand. "Let's go. Defying my grandma will only bring trouble for us. You don't want me to get stressed for nothing, right?" she says. She placed my hand on her tummy. What kind of plot twist is this?

'I vowed to myself that I'll never get married again. That marriage is a scam, but...?! Why did fate joke on me?!'

We arrived at the office, and we were the last ones who took our license. She was staring at the certificates and looked at me. "I'm keeping them both. This time, I won't fail this marriage," she confessed.

I frowned and stopped walking. "Wait, are you a divorcee like me?" I inquired.

She simply nods. "We will discuss that after we go back in the villa. I'm sure my grandmother is waiting for us. Let's go... honey?" She offers her hand. Her smile was so warm and bright, like sunshine. At the same time...

'Honey? Leah had never called me that way...'

I held her hand as we headed to the parking lot. On the road, I keep on staring at her. "What's wrong?" she asks, turns her head, and meets my eyes.

"Why would you bother to find me when your background can suppress rumors even if you bring the twins on your own?" I ask.

She looks at me and laughs. "That was true. But their dad was a good man. They need him. Unless you..." she halts.

Sabrina

I saw how nervous he is. Gabriel has no idea what trouble he gets into. But this marriage? It will be interesting on my part. "Unless you want to win back your ex-wife." I raise my finger.

"I am telling you, you're now my husband," I added. His expression turned sour.

"The Paige family can make your life miserable once you cheat on me. I don't care if you still love your ex-wife. My children need their dad. Their mom needs him as a husband." He looks away.

"My ex-wife is not someone that I would linger for. My feelings, efforts, and love... she's not worthy of them," he says.

I cross my legs and take off my heels. Because of pregnancy, I always have sore feet. He gives me his scarf. "Use it as a pillow. Lean on the car door. Let me massage your feet," he says. I didn't argue. He can tie my hair without malice.

He grabs my legs and places them in his lap. When he massages them, it shows expertise. It feels good, and it soothes the soreness. "Thank you," I mumbled.

He smiled and continued. We arrived in the villa, and everyone was waiting for us. They popped confetti. "Happy wedding!"

My grandma and he walk closer. They opened two boxes. Wedding rings? "This is for you, grandson-in-law," Grandma says.

She was handing him a family heirloom. "Isn't this too much?" Gabriel asks.

I grab the ring and put it on his finger. "Sabrina, this has been passed down to the Evans family for three generations. I hope you will accept it," Grandma Fe says. I give my left hand to my husband and look at the ring.

"At least put them on me, hmm?" I move my hand. He grabs the ring and puts it on me. "Fits perfectly," I stated, smiling.

I raise my palm and look at the wedding ring. "Yours was passed down by five generations, which means mine is worth more millions than yours," I remarked. Grandma laughs.

"Then I should sell it as soon as possible," Gabriel jokes. I laugh. "Why not?" I stated, grinning.

"Stop teasing each other, you two," Grandma says.

I grab Gabriel's hand as we all head into the dining room. His friends were staring at him. He was a little nervous while eating. I keep my attention on him and realize that he doesn't eat cilantro, green peppers, or sesame seeds.

"Nanny Belle," I called.

"Yes, young lady?" she approaches. "Next time, don't add green peppers, cilantro, and sesame seeds on our dishes."

All of them halt from eating. "Understood, my lady," she says.

"Also, change the juice. Mango and orange if we have them," I added.

I grab the glass on Gabriel's side and give it to her. "You can drink it and bring mango or orange juice for Gabriel."

He looks at me. I continue eating and enjoy the meal. "Gabriel, your sister-in-law was very observable," one of them utters, looking at him.

After that dinner, I insisted on sending his friends to their houses using our cars. Our grandma was busy talking in the living room. I didn't expect that they'll get along too easily. I ask my husband to follow me into my office. He is seated and looks at me.

"Did you divorce your wife two months ago?" I ask.

He raises his head and looks at me. "For what reason?" I ask. He looks away and keeps his silence. "Did you know that your wife was my husband's white moonlight?" I continued. He turned his head and met my eyes. "Who are you?" he asks. I laugh.

"Fate throws a big joke on us, doesn't it? I knew that he married me for selfish reasons, but I denied the truth. I thought if I worked hard, he'd realize that I'm better than my spoiled brat third cousin, Leah Ford."

He frowns while trying to read my reaction. "We never get along. She sees me as her competition. I wasn't even invited to her wedding with you two years ago. Don't worry. What happened between us was indeed a one-night stand between strangers," I added.

I waited for his reaction. It took him minutes to speak. "You already knew the truth. Did you force me to take responsibility just to get even with her? I heard that the Ford and Ross families will hold an engagement banquet next week."

I shake my head. "Grandma did some research about you. Have you heard from the Fords that I was disowned by Grandma because I insisted on marrying Harold Ross? My grandma was too sharp when it comes to reading someone's character. You've been tailed by her all day."

He looks surprised because of what I said. "Like I said, character is the most important to the Paige family. It's not how much money you can make. Your wife is worth billions. I need moral support, especially now that I..."

I place my hand on my tummy. "I'm having a hard time because of pregnancy. I heard from our relatives that Leah's husband was genuinely great. He manages their house properly, and he's a good man, which Harold will never be. I wonder if those two will survive a married life together," I mocked.

He didn't say a word and just stared at me. Did he get hurt because of how I speak about his ex-wife that he loves most? "Just be honest with me. What do you really want to achieve in this marriage?" he asks.

I stood up and sat on the couch. I cross my legs and pour water into the cup. "Did you know that Grandma insisted on one thing before she accepted me again? It's obedience—that I let her decide what is good for me. She proved to me that her hunch about Harold was true."

I raise my head and look at him. "I knew I could trust her hunch about you. I didn't agree to get even with them. Why can't you just accept? You are worthy to be my husband. Also, they are cheaters." I look at him and grab his palm.

"Why would I waste my energy for such people? Can you just accept me? Am I not worthy to be Leah's replacement?"