The affluent Albright family had three daughters, one after another, while my mother gave birth to just me, her only son.
The day I was born, Mrs. Albright was incredibly envious. She even declared that she absolutely had to be my future mother-in-law.
When I was seven, my parents tragically passed away, and I was taken in by the Albright family. The three Albright daughters fought fiercely over who would be my bride.
Reluctantly, I agreed to choose one of them as my husband-to-be when I turned twenty-two.
But on my twenty-second birthday, these three women, who had doted on me since childhood, had fallen for the nanny’s son.
They clustered around him daily, shamelessly bullying me.
On my twenty-second birthday, I stood alone at the courthouse entrance.
No one remembered it was supposed to be our wedding day.
Embarrassed and furious, I impulsively found a beautiful stranger on the street and went to the courthouse to marry her.
At the time, I had no idea that this stranger was among the top ten on the Forbes Billionaires list.
And when the three Albright daughters had finally broken my heart completely, and I left, they started to cry, desperately trying to win me back.
**Chapter One**
Walking out of the courthouse, I stared at the red marriage certificate in my hand, momentarily stunned.
Was I really married?
To a complete stranger I’d only just met?
The marriage certificate was still warm. The name on it was “Aurora Vance,” and beyond that, I knew absolutely nothing about her.
“When’s the wedding? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
The coolly elegant woman stood beside me, her gaze fixed intently on me.
I thought for a moment. “In half a month, I guess. Give me some time to prepare.”
Aurora Vance’s lips curved slightly, and a hint of warmth flickered in her deep, dark eyes. “Alright. You don’t need to worry about anything for the wedding. Just be there on time to pick me up on the day.”
I smiled faintly and nodded. “I’m staying at the Albright residence in Grandview Heights. I’ll be waiting to pick you up from there.”
Her red lips parted as if she wanted to say something more, but then a call came in, and a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of us.
“Apologies, I have to leave now.”
After receiving my understanding nod, Aurora Vance got into the car and drove away.
Her car gradually sped off, eventually shrinking to a black dot and disappearing.
Immediately after, three luxury cars, each distinctly different in style, pulled up in front of me.
The doors opened, and the three sisters, different in personality but equally stunning, stepped out.
Eleanor Albright, the eldest, was the first to get out. Her long legs strode towards me as she casually adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses. “Liam had a fever, and I was busy taking care of him. That’s why I didn’t make it to register our marriage as planned.”
Seraphina Albright, the second sister, followed closely behind, tall and graceful in a black trench coat. “You’ve always been indecisive about which of us three to choose, haven’t you? It’s fine that we missed it. We can talk about marriage next year.”
Cassidy Albright, the third sister, was unrestrained and flamboyant. “Forget next year. Let’s postpone it for a few more years. Give him plenty of time to think.”
I merely shook my head, pulling the marriage certificate from my bag with a faint smile.
“I won’t be choosing between you. Because… I’m already married.”
The three of them froze, a flicker of shock in their eyes. Their first reaction was disbelief.
Eleanor’s cool gaze narrowed slightly, her brows furrowed. “Julian, are you trying to scare us because we were busy with Liam and missed our appointment?”
Seraphina’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by a cold expression. “Liam saved our lives in that car accident, that’s why we’re taking extra care of him. You know we only love you. Can’t you, Mr. Knight, just be a little understanding?”
Cassidy tugged at her collar, a hint of ruthlessness flashing across her delicate face. “Everyone in the city knows you’re the man we three sisters love. Besides us, who would dare marry you? Are they asking for trouble? Julian, when did you learn to forge marriage certificates?”
With that, she snatched the marriage certificate from my hand. A few tearing sounds later, the little red booklet was in shreds.
She tossed the fragments into the air, and they drifted down to the ground.
I stared at her, disbelieving, about to speak, but forced myself to hold back my emotions.
Today was supposed to be my wedding day, a happy occasion. I couldn’t lose my temper. Besides, it was just a marriage certificate; I could always get a replacement.
So I simply looked at them, my expression calm. “Even if you tear up the marriage certificate, the marriage still exists. My wedding is in half a month. You’re all welcome to attend.”
The three sisters exchanged glances, clearly seeing the disbelief in each other’s eyes.
They were truly sisters, sharing the same thought: they believed I was doing this deliberately to gain more control over them.
Seraphina stepped forward, her voice icy. “This game isn’t fun when you play it too much.”
“I’m not playing.”
“Alright, fine, you’re not playing, happy now?” Cassidy replied dismissively. “You even lied about being married. I’d like to see how you pull this off in half a month.”
Eleanor frowned, about to speak, when her phone rang urgently.
When she answered, Liam’s weak, tearful voice reached their ears.
“Eleanor, Seraphina, Cassidy, where did you all go? I feel so awful…”
Hearing this, the three sisters’ expressions instantly changed, their faces showing obvious panic.
Eleanor’s voice softened immediately. “Liam, I just went out to buy your favorite porridge. I’ll be right back to be with you.”
“Liam, don’t be scared, I’m coming right back.”
“Liam, wait for me.”
As soon as the call ended, the three of them rushed into their cars and drove off towards home, one after another.
Not a single one remembered to take me with them.
I was left standing there, utterly abandoned.
The cold wind swept my hair across my forehead, blurring my vision.
Watching the three cars speed away, I curved my lips, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss.
Even now, I couldn’t understand how the three sisters and I had come to this point.
When I was seven, my parents died in an accident, and I was taken in by the Albright family, old friends with whom I had an arranged marriage.
That day, dressed in a perfectly tailored little suit, looking every bit the elegant young gentleman, I made my first appearance at the Albright house and immediately captured the attention of all three sisters.
The sisters argued ceaselessly over me, fighting from the very first moment about who would be my wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Albright initially thought it was just childish whims, but the three sisters continued to fight over me from childhood into adulthood.
They cherished me, holding me gently for fear I’d break, keeping me close for fear I’d melt away. If any other girl dared to approach me or give me a love letter, all three of them would fiercely confront her.
As they grew older, Eleanor became the family heir, Seraphina became a globally renowned movie star, and Cassidy became a gaming sensation adored by millions. Our personalities were all distinct, yet their fierce love for me was unwavering, none of them willing to give up.
The elders, helpless, eventually made an agreement: on my twenty-second birthday, I would choose one of them to marry.
Today was my twenty-second birthday.
I was there, but the three sisters who once swore they couldn’t live without me, all broke their promise.
All because of that man named Liam Jenkins.
He was the son of the Albright family’s new nanny. From the moment he moved into the Albright house, his intentions were impure. He spent his days devising various ways to engineer “chance” encounters and curry favor with the three Albright sisters.
Things like baking them cookies, reminding them to eat on time, or rushing to bring them stomach medicine on a rainy day.
However, the three sisters, having seen too many such tricks, were not impressed. Just like they had rejected other boys before, they coldly called him insincere and manipulative, avoiding him at all costs.
Until that sudden car accident. Liam Jenkins, without hesitation, shielded all three of them. They emerged unharmed, but he was struck by the car, nearly losing his life.
From then on, the sisters’ attitudes underwent a drastic change.
Their hearts gradually turned towards Liam Jenkins, and for his sake, they began to hurt me repeatedly.
When Liam twisted his ankle, they rushed off, leaving me alone on a mountain swarming with snakes and rodents.
When Liam casually mentioned wanting to go to an amusement park, they cruelly abandoned me, burning with a 104-degree fever, to fulfill his wish first.
When Liam and I both fell into the water, all three of them chose to save Liam.
Countless incidents like these occurred.
Even today, the day we were supposed to register our marriage, they all stood me up.
The three who once swore they would only marry me, who would die without me, not one of them showed up.
For years, the three Albright sisters had openly expressed their love for me; everyone in our elite circle knew.
Now, having been abandoned by them, if word got out, it would bring immense shame to the Knight family.
To save face, I impulsively married a stranger.
Now that our engagement is broken, I will have no further connection with these three sisters!
**Chapter Two**
I picked up the shredded marriage certificate from the ground and hailed a cab back to the Albright house.
As soon as I stepped inside, I saw Eleanor, Seraphina, and Cassidy all gathered around Liam Jenkins’ room.
The three tall, elegant women stood by the bed, instantly making the spacious room feel cramped.
I watched them, faces etched with tension and worry, as they attended to Liam, and I forced a bitter smile.
This room, once mine, was the best and closest to theirs.
They had put so much effort into making it incredibly cozy.
Anything delicious or fun they found, they’d pile it all into my room.
Back then, they’d say, full of love, “Julian is our most beloved little prince; he naturally deserves the very best of everything.”
I believed them. But ever since Liam Jenkins shielded them in that car accident, they used his poor health and need for recovery as an excuse to move me into a guest room.
From that moment, I knew I was no longer the most important prince in their hearts.
I managed a strained smile and retreated to the guest room to rest.
Early the next morning, a continuous burst of celebratory fireworks erupted downstairs, shaking the house.
Woken by the noise, I went downstairs to find the entire living room overflowing with beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Liam Jenkins was surrounded by the three women, his face beaming with smiles.
Eleanor’s eyes were soft as she presented a sports car key. “Liam, congratulations on recovering from your cold. This is that car you said looked nice; I bought it for you.”
Seraphina pulled out a good luck charm. “I specifically went to St. Anne’s Monastery for this. It was really crowded that day, and I ran into a lot of fans, but I still got it. They say it’s very effective.”
Cassidy, with a confident grin, held up a trophy. “See? I won the competition and came straight here to give it to you. Liam, if luck and safety could be transferred, I’d give you all of mine. May your life be filled with peace and joy.”
The three of them piled the gifts into Liam Jenkins’ arms; he could barely hold them all, tears of excitement welling in his eyes.
“Why are you all giving me gifts for such small things? You care about me too much; I don’t know what to do!”
His smile was unstoppable. Then he suddenly noticed me coming down the stairs and, feigning innocence, asked, “Mr. Knight, it was your birthday yesterday, wasn’t it? What gifts did Eleanor and the others give you? I’m so curious; can I see them?”
I instinctively clenched my fists, remaining silent.
It was only then that Eleanor, Seraphina, and Cassidy belatedly remembered that it had been my twenty-second birthday yesterday, and they had prepared nothing.
Eleanor stepped forward and offered a bank card. “Liam had a fever yesterday, that’s why we forgot. I’ll make it up to you next time. You can go pick out whatever you like.”
The other two also offered their cards.
I didn’t reach for them, simply refusing in a calm voice. “No need. A gift that’s missed doesn’t need to be made up for.”
At my words, the three of them looked somewhat surprised.
They had been ready to appease me, but my calm, indifferent demeanor inexplicably left them at a loss.
However, they quickly recalled my lie about getting married yesterday and instantly understood this was just another one of my petty acts.
“If you don’t want it, then we won’t make it up. Don’t regret it.”
They said, scrutinizing my reaction.
I remained perfectly calm, my expression unperturbed. “Don’t worry, I won’t regret it.”
In the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Albright returned from their business trip abroad.
At the family dinner, Liam Jenkins, as the nanny’s son, was initially expected to help his mother in the kitchen.
But Cassidy grabbed his hand and pressed his shoulder, making him sit beside her.
“There are plenty of people in the kitchen. Just relax and eat with us.”
Liam Jenkins, still feeling awkward, tried to stand up, but Eleanor and Seraphina both gently held his hands, gesturing for him to stay seated.
Seeing this, Mr. and Mrs. Albright’s expressions soured slightly, their displeasure evident, but they said nothing.
Mrs. Albright deliberately bypassed her three daughters and looked at me with a warm expression:
“Julian, it was your birthday yesterday. Who did you finally choose to marry? I’ve already scouted wedding venues. This kind of happy event should be celebrated grandly; we mustn’t let you be wronged.”
At her words, the three sisters fell silent.
The dinner table was plunged into a dead quiet.
Then, Eleanor’s deep, magnetic voice broke the silence, reaching everyone’s ears:
“Liam had a fever yesterday, so I didn’t go.”
“I was busy taking care of Liam, so I didn’t go either.” Seraphina’s voice was languid, dismissing the matter.
Cassidy chimed in, “I didn’t have time either. Anyway, Julian hasn’t chosen yet, so we can talk about marriage later!”
Their words, one after another, ignited Mr. and Mrs. Albright’s anger. Just as they were about to explode, I received a photo of a ring from Aurora Vance.
“Is this wedding ring acceptable? If you don’t like it, I’ll take you to pick out others.”
The ring in the photo featured a heart-shaped pink diamond, surrounded by countless tiny diamonds, sparkling brilliantly and exquisitely.
**Chapter Three**
I smiled faintly and handed my phone to Mr. and Mrs. Albright.
“Mr. and Mrs. Albright, I’m already married. The wedding is set for half a month from now. Look, this is the wedding ring my fiancée sent me. I really like it.”
At my words, the entire room’s atmosphere solidified.
For a moment, everyone stared in disbelief.
Mr. and Mrs. Albright were so shocked they couldn’t utter a complete sentence for a long time.
After a while, Mr. Albright stammered, “Julian, is this… real or fake?”
I was about to blurt out “real,” but Eleanor, her face grim, coldly cut me off. “Enough! It’s one thing for you to mess around with us, but are you going to joke like this in front of Mom and Dad now?”
Seraphina’s usual smile also vanished instantly. “Julian, making the same joke over and over again gets boring.”
Cassidy impatiently put down her forks. “You’ve said you’re married twice now, but how is that possible? There’s still a love letter in your drawer! It’s for…”
Hearing this, Eleanor and Seraphina’s expressions instantly changed, losing their composure as they anxiously grabbed Cassidy. “What love letter? Who is it for?”
Cassidy struggled free, averted her gaze, and said somewhat awkwardly, “I haven’t opened it or even dared to look. How would I know?”
I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I had indeed written a love letter before.
And among those three, there had indeed been someone I liked.
Even before going to register the marriage yesterday, I had already made my choice.
But now, there was no need to say it.
I forced a smile, about to speak, when Liam Jenkins, who had been silent at the table, suddenly gasped.
“Mr. Knight, that ring… you just found the picture online, didn’t you?”
“I saw that diamond ring in a magazine. It’s the only one of its kind in the world, priceless. Who did you marry to get something like that?”
I was also stunned, my mind a little blank. I hadn’t realized this diamond ring was so expensive.
As for Aurora Vance’s identity, I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t know how to explain.
Just as I was about to speak, Mrs. Jenkins suddenly brought out a pot of hot soup. After exchanging a subtle glance with Liam, she imperceptibly nodded.
Then, she feigned a clumsy slip, and the entire pot of hot soup spilled out.
“Watch out!”
Eleanor, Seraphina, and Cassidy all immediately shielded Liam Jenkins, terrified that even a drop of hot soup might scald him.
Not a single one protected me.
“Ah—”
The scalding chicken soup drenched me completely. I gasped sharply, my skin turning fiery red and stinging so badly that tears welled up in my eyes.
Seeing the triumph in Mrs. Jenkins’ eyes, I instantly realized what had happened and, trembling, asked:
“You did that on purpose?”
Mrs. Jenkins froze for a moment, then tears streamed down her face. “Mr. Knight, what are you saying? How could I do that on purpose? I know it’s my fault that you got scalded, but you can’t accuse me like that.”
Seeing his mother humiliated, Liam Jenkins quickly emerged from the sisters’ protective circle, bravely shielding Mrs. Jenkins, tears shimmering in his eyes. “Mr. Knight, my mother and I may be poor, but we have our dignity and integrity. You cannot insult us like this!”
“If that’s what you think, then we’ll just leave!”
He turned, took his mother’s hand, and the mother and son walked out together.
Watching them leave, Eleanor’s eyes were filled with displeasure as she angrily chastised me. “Julian Knight, Mrs. Jenkins works tirelessly, and she just accidentally spilled some soup, and you’re saying she did it on purpose! Can’t you stop being so unreasonable?”
Seraphina’s brows were tightly furrowed, and she looked at me with disappointment. “Liam is so kind, and Mrs. Jenkins is just like him. How could she do such a thing?”
“Exactly! Besides, even if Mrs. Jenkins did it on purpose, what then? It was just a bit of hot soup. Do you have to make everyone so upset that they leave before you’re satisfied?”
Cassidy roared, her disapproval evident.
Hearing these words, a torrent of emotions overwhelmed me, and tears instantly flooded my eyes.
The three sisters, however, paid no attention to my emotions. They simply gave me a cold glance, then rushed out the door, chasing after Liam Jenkins.
It wasn’t until they had left that I belatedly felt the pain on my body. A large area of my skin burned. I tried to stand up but was too weak from the pain and collapsed to the floor.
“Julian!”
Mr. and Mrs. Albright quickly helped me up and immediately called a driver to take me to the hospital.
When I awoke, the first thing I saw was Mr. and Mrs. Albright by my bedside.
Seeing me awake, Mrs. Albright wiped away tears of relief, gripping my hand tightly and quickly apologizing.
“Julian, we watched the security footage. Mrs. Jenkins truly did it on purpose. We knew that mother and son were sly, but we never expected them to be so cunning.”
“Don’t worry, I will make sure our three girls give you an explanation, and that they see Liam Jenkins’ true colors!”
“Good boy, don’t say you’re married just to make us angry.”
I just shook my head. “Mrs. Albright, those aren’t angry words. I really am married.”
Then, I took a bank card and an emerald necklace from my bag and placed them in Mrs. Albright’s hand.
“Mrs. Albright, this is the money I’ve saved over the years. Consider it repayment for all my expenses while living in the Albright house.”
“And this is the Albright family heirloom you gave me before, saying it was only for a future daughter-in-law. But now, it doesn’t belong to me. You should take it back.”
Seeing these things, Mr. and Mrs. Albright realized I was serious.
Mr. Albright repeatedly asked, “Julian, are you really married? Don’t lie to us.”
Each time, I nodded firmly.
“Yes, I really am married!”
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