The room fell silent for a moment. Mom, Noah, and Jeanette looked uneasy. For once, Jeanette actually seemed flustered. She stepped toward me as if she wanted to explain her side of things.

That was when my phone buzzed.

I pulled out my phone. It was a text from the city clerk's office. It was a reminder to attend the marriage registration appointment tomorrow at 8:00 am.

I froze before realization dawned upon me. Stella Zahn.

We hadn't spoken since the call. I thought she was just teasing. After all, marriage wasn't a trivial matter. Yet, she had scheduled the license for the following morning. That was fast.

Her playful, drawn-out, "Honey" replayed in my mind, and I felt my ears burn.

Jeanette peeked at the screen and let out a sigh of relief. "Nathan, I know you've been upset because I've been neglecting you. Don't worry. I'll be there on time tomorrow."

Her gaze flicked to the bag of medicine in my hand. She softened her tone. "You're actually sick? I thought you were making it up. But since you're here, it can't be that serious. I promise I'll make more time for you."

I didn't respond to her. Taking my silence as agreement, she tugged me toward the study and asked, "Where's that charm I gave you? Hand it over. Noah wants it."

Her words slammed into me. "What did you just say?"

The charm wasn't worth much, but she had once waited hours in line at the store for it back when she was courting me. She had even fallen sick afterward. Because of that, I swore I'd never let her down. I had carried it with me everywhere ever since.

"I'll buy you another one later. Noah has been in a bad place since the accident. As his older brother, you should let him have it," Jeanette scowled.

Let him have it? Hadn't I let him take enough already? He got everything he wanted—even my fiancee.

I pulled the charm from around my neck but didn't hand it over. "Tell me the truth, Jeanette. Did you ever actually love me?"

She snatched it and said, "Don't be difficult. I've already agreed to marry you tomorrow, haven't I? Yet you're whining over a trinket? If you can't part with something like this, what kind of husband will you be?"

She then stormed out.

I stood there with blood dripping from my temple onto the hardwood floor. Whatever feelings I still had for her bled out with it.

The moment I left, I put the apartment up for sale.

There was something I hadn't told them. I had been promoted, but it meant relocating out of state. Before, I couldn't bear to leave Jeanette. Now, I couldn't wait.

I checked into a cheap hotel nearby. Not long after, I received a video.

It showed neon lights and played pounding music. It was a bar.

Jeanette, dressed to tease, perched on Noah's lap. They fed each other mouth-to-mouth as the crowd egged them on.

Someone asked, "Aren't you supposed to be marrying Nathan tomorrow? What happens when he finds out you're with his brother?"

"He already knows I'm pregnant with Noah's baby. What can he do? Throw a tantrum? He's the one rushing to tie the knot." Jeanette curled against Noah, smirking. "Besides, he's Noah's sibling. The kid will still be a Rowley. If Nathan had any generosity, he'd accept it and act like a real man."

The crowd howled in laughter.

"Jenny really knows how to keep a man in line!"

"You've got to keep your man in check!"

The video cut off, followed by a text that read, "You were born to be beneath me, Nathan."

I didn't need to wonder who had sent the video.

Instead of feeling angry, I felt strangely calm. All I could think about was standing at the clerk's office with Stella tomorrow morning.

I wondered if, after all these years, she was still the same.

That night, I slept better than I had in months.

When morning came, I found myself feeling nervous about marrying the girl who used to trail after me everywhere.

I almost showed up late.

The second I stepped into the city clerk's office, I saw a dolled-up Jeanette pushing Noah in his wheelchair.

She eyed my suit and smirked. "Wow, you actually cleaned up to register our marriage today."

She dug in her purse and took out a folded document. "But before we do that, sign this agreement."

I frowned. I was about to tell her that she had the wrong idea when she stuffed the document into my hands.

"This is simply to ensure the happiness of our marriage," she said sweetly. "So don't go crying that I took advantage of you."

Noah piped up from his chair, "That's right, Nathan! Jenny stayed up all night working on that. She even asked Mom for help so that you wouldn't think it was unfair."

I didn't want to argue in public, so I took a quick look at it.

A single glance was enough.

The first clause stated, "After marriage, Nathan must treat the child in Jeanette's womb as his own, assume all parental duties, and provide no less than ten thousand dollars a month in support."

I moved on to the other clauses. "After marriage, Nathan must allow his younger brother, Noah, to move in with them and will not interfere with his interactions with the unborn child.

"After marriage, Jeanette may decide whether or not to have more children. Nathan may not object to her wishes.

"After marriage, all of Nathan's assets must be transferred to Jeanette's unborn child."

I didn't bother reading the rest.

Calling the agreement unfair would be too kind. The conditions didn't even regard me as a human being.

I started laughing.

"What are you waiting for, Nathan? Do you want to get married or not? Sign it already!" Jeanette urged.

I looked at her, crumpled the document, and threw it in their faces. "You really think I'd sign garbage like this?"

Her expression faltered. "You—"

I cut in, "Also, who told you I was here to marry you?"

She froze.

Noah leaned forward. "Come on. Stop throwing a tantrum. Everyone knows that you'd never marry anyone but Jeanette. You finally got this far. Don't screw around.

"Plus, you made the appointment for eight o'clock, right? If you're not marrying her, then who?"

Jeanette snapped out of her daze and crossed her arms. "Exactly. You just want my attention. Well, you've got it. Stop playing games and sign the agreement."

I checked my watch. It was already 8:10 am. Yet, there was still no sign of Stella.

Had something come up? Had she changed her mind?

Either way, one thing was certain—Jeanette and I were done.

Before I could speak my mind, a horn blared outside. A clear, bright voice called out to me. "Sorry for being late, honey."