A month before the wedding, my fiancé, Declan, wanted to have a child with his deceased brother’s wife, Briar. He said it was to carry on his brother’s line.
I didn’t scream or break down. I simply sent a calm text, asking:
Briar has many ways to have a child, why does it have to be with you?
But the next second, he FaceTimed me, furious, accusing me of being unreasonable:
“My brother entrusted her to me on his deathbed, and she knows no one here. She only has me to rely on. What’s wrong with me having a child with her?”
“Besides, it’s just IVF, Sera. It’s not like anything else will happen. We’re still getting married.”
I smiled as I replied:
“No need. My groom has changed. I’m happy to step aside for both of you.”
…
The room buzzed with nosy stares, openly scrutinizing me.
Several people tried to speak, but the words seemed to catch in their throats.
I knew what they wanted to ask: Briar’s belly was growing bigger, but the child inside wasn’t her deceased husband Brandon’s. It belonged to my fiancé. That was already explosive news.
And the fact that I hadn’t made a scene, not a single protest, made it even crazier.
Finally, an old classmate from high school couldn’t hold back and broke the silence:
“Sera, did Declan get delayed on the way? Why isn’t he here yet?”
I didn’t even lift my head.
“He and I are no longer together. We broke up.”
Everyone froze for a second, then burst into laughter.
“You’ve got to be kidding! Everyone knows how perfect you two were. You were practically at the altar, how can you just break up like that?”
Yeah, right? We’d been through so many tough times together. How could he change now, just when our lives were finally settling down?
Before I could reply, the door suddenly swung open.
It was Declan who walked in this time, but right behind him was the other star of the gossip, Briar Davies.
Declan didn’t even glance at me. He pulled out a chair, helped Briar sit down, and then spoke:
“Briar’s had some stomach pain, so I took her to the hospital to make sure the baby was okay. We’re a bit late.”
The smiles on everyone’s faces instantly froze. Our classmate awkwardly scratched his nose.
“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already parading a new woman around?”
Declan, as he cleared a fork for her, replied nonchalantly:
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just helping Brandon look after Briar. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Even an idiot wouldn’t believe that.
Our classmate quickly tried to smooth things over:
“Alright, alright, enough joking around. Sera’s been waiting for you for ages, go sit next to her!”
But he didn’t budge, completely unfazed, and his voice took on a hint of disdain:
“Can she even compare to Briar? Briar’s pregnant, of course, she needs special care.”
Then, ignoring everyone’s uncomfortable expressions, he whispered in her ear:
“Don’t worry. I’m here. No one will dare bully you.”
The once lively atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. This reunion was supposed to be for us to catch up. I thought Declan wouldn’t go too far. Who knew he’d have the audacity to bring his mistress, completely disrespecting me?
Their gazes turned from curiosity to unconcealed pity.
Yet, I sat there, quietly eating, as if I hadn’t noticed them at all.
Declan was clearly displeased with my behavior. He put down his fork and said sharply:
“After dinner, you can take a taxi home yourself. I’m taking Briar home. I don’t have time for you.”
Briar immediately bit her lip, looking terrified.
“Sera is your future wife, after all, and I’m just the mother of your child… You should take her home first…”
From her tone, you’d think I was the mistress.
I put down my fork and slowly looked at both of them.
“Don’t bother. My boyfriend is already waiting for me downstairs.”
### Chapter 2
Declan wouldn’t believe it. He thought I loved him so deeply, willing to give him everything, that I’d never fall for someone else.
But when he followed me downstairs and saw the conspicuous Rolls-Royce, he couldn’t help but exclaim:
“Th-this… How is this possible?”
I rolled my eyes.
“So clueless.”
Under everyone’s astonished gazes, I got into the passenger seat and drove off.
Declan’s face was so grim, it looked like it could drip water.
Briar sighed.
“Sera is really something. Even if she wanted to make you jealous, she shouldn’t spend so much money hiring someone to put on a show! Besides, how much would it cost to rent such a nice car? She doesn’t appreciate how hard you work to earn money, Declan…”
Declan found an excuse to save face. He nodded, shaking his head helplessly.
“She’s just too vain. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so unhappy with her. Whatever. As a husband, I should be tolerant of my wife, since we’re getting married soon, right?”
But after he finished speaking, no one fawned over him as they usually would. Instead, everyone found an excuse to leave.
After all, a man who abandons his devoted fiancée and openly brings his mistress to a gathering? No one had any respect for that.
I was packing my things at home when he kicked the door open, reeking of alcohol.
“Seraphina Hayes! What the hell are you doing?!”
The sudden noise startled me. I whipped my head around and glared at him.
“What’s wrong with you?! Why are you suddenly back? Aren’t you supposed to be staying at Briar’s tonight?”
Ever since his brother died, he’d moved in with her under the guise of “looking after his brother’s widow.” Him showing up suddenly today could only mean trouble.
He punched the wall.
“I’m interrupting your date with your little fling, aren’t I?! Tell me! Who was that man who dropped you off today?! Where did you find that actor?!”
I sneered.
“Are you deaf? I already told you that’s my boyfriend. Can’t you understand plain English?”
Declan froze, then his eyes darted around.
“You think I can’t see through your tricks? You’re just mad I’ve been neglecting you lately, trying to embarrass me at the reunion, right?”
“Briar already saw through your little schemes. Stop pretending!”
I laughed, a humorless sound.
“You’re both insane.”
Seeing that I wasn’t going to respond, he, agitated, came closer to me.
“Seraphina, can’t you have some sympathy? Briar has been through so much recently. I’m the only one she can rely on. If even I abandon her, how will she survive?”
I stopped what I was doing and looked at him seriously, retorting:
“So my feelings don’t matter? Have you ever considered how I feel, parading her around in public again and again?”
My question stunned him for a moment. Then he awkwardly turned his face away.
“You’re being unreasonable. It’s not like I’m not going to marry you…”
What was going on in his head?
He was so utterly shameless, yet he still expected me to marry him. I decided not to waste another word on him. I held out my hand to him.
“Give me the house key.”
He frowned.
“Don’t you have your own?”
I slapped the property deed onto the table.
“Open your eyes and look closely. My parents paid for this house. We’re breaking up now, are you still going to cling on?”
Declan lost his temper too. He threw the key on the floor.
“I knew it! Your family never thought I was good enough! I’m telling you, Seraphina, don’t act like this. It won’t be long before you’ll be begging me on your knees to come back!”
I picked up the key and pointed to the door.
“You can leave now, or I’ll call the police.”
He was so red-faced with rage that he slammed the front door, making the whole house shake.
### Chapter 3
Even though we were about to get married, my parents’ teachings meant we always slept in separate rooms. Since he was leaving, I definitely needed to clear out his room.
Halfway through tidying up, a photo suddenly fell out from a hidden layer in the bookshelf.
I picked it up, a little confused, but my eyes widened the moment I saw the image.
The photo showed a young Briar and Declan, smiling brightly at the camera. Declan’s arm was tightly around Briar’s waist; their intimate posture hinted at an unusual relationship. In the background of the photo, there I was, crouching on the ground, busy picking up trash Declan had carelessly thrown away.
So, they had been secretly involved since way back then. I, poor fool, had been completely in the dark, and almost wasted my entire life on him. Thinking about it, I trembled with anger, hating myself for being so blind. I’d actually believed their story of “pure friendship.”
The next moment, Declan’s backup phone started ringing, its sound echoing through the room. Seeing “Briar” on the caller ID, I hesitated for a moment, then answered. Declan was clearly with her; why was she calling me?
But I soon had my answer. Over the phone, I heard the intimate sounds of a man and a woman.
“Declan, you just saw Sera, and now you’re doing this with me… isn’t that bad…?” Briar complained seductively.
Declan’s voice was filled with impatience.
“Don’t even mention that pathetic woman. Not only does she have zero passion, she just pisses me off. If it weren’t for her family’s money, I would have dropped her ages ago!”
“You’re so much better, sweet and smart. I really want to be with you forever.”
Briar sighed.
“Sera would hate me even more if she knew. Ugh, I don’t even know what I did wrong.”
Declan snorted.
“You don’t need to worry about her. She’s been my little lapdog for years, she can’t live without me. Forget me having a child with you; even if I brought the baby home for her to raise, she wouldn’t dare say a word.”
Even though I had prepared myself mentally, hearing the man I’d loved for years speak about me with such disdain still made my heart ache uncontrollably.
That youthful period of my life? I’ll just consider it completely wasted.
After a long session of intimacy, Declan finally got up reluctantly to shower. Briar seized the opportunity to grab the phone and gloat at me:
“You heard it all, didn’t you? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll just leave.”
I smiled faintly.
“If he truly loved you that much, why didn’t he get together with you sooner?”
“But then again, you two pathetic, cheating dogs are a match made in hell. Of course, I’m going to step aside for you. Just looking at Declan makes me sick!”
Briar’s voice turned into a shriek.
“You!”
I cleanly hung up the phone.
I packed up all his belongings and threw them out. I couldn’t stand to have his things in my house for another second.
My phone suddenly lit up. It was a message from him.
【Tomorrow’s a good day. Shall we get our marriage license?】
I was a little surprised.
【Isn’t that too fast?】
He replied instantly.
【I just want to marry you quickly, afraid my princess will change her mind. Then I’d have nowhere to cry.】
I couldn’t help but shake my head with a smile.
This man, honestly.
### Chapter 4
By the time Declan finally remembered he had a fiancée, I had already moved into a new home and was preparing for all our wedding arrangements.
Without my “interference,” he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom. Not only did he accompany Briar on many adventures they’d dreamed of in their youth but couldn’t pursue due to their “status,” he also posted various travel photos on Ins:
【As long as you’re by my side, even doing nothing feels like bliss.】
I had begged him countless times to go with me to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights, but he always refused, claiming he was too busy with work.
Now, a photo of him kissing Briar under the Northern Lights had become his Ins profile background.
As Briar’s belly grew, she became less satisfied with just having what was in front of her.
“Declan, can you really bear for our child to be called illegitimate for life? Don’t you want to hear him call you ‘Dad’?”
“Think about what Brandon said to you on his deathbed – to take care of me for life! If I raise this child alone, how will I manage? You’d be letting Brandon down!”
Declan could resist once or twice, but under her constant barrage of “sweetness and logic,” he gradually wavered.
“But what about Sera? Our families have already sent out the invitations. Are you asking me to break off the engagement?”
Briar leaned into his chest, tracing circles.
“Sera is so understanding, she’ll surely understand your difficulties. Besides, if she’s willing, the three of us could live together! And she’s so rich, with her help, we could give our child a much better life.”
Declan was completely convinced. He hugged her tightly.
“You’re right! She loves me so much, she’ll never want to leave me. We’ll use this to pressure her; she’ll agree to whatever I ask.”
Briar, her plan successful, giggled endlessly.
“I knew you cared about me the most. When we get married, I’ll definitely repay you properly.”
“I’m so lucky to have met you. Otherwise, after Brandon died, I don’t know how I would have survived.”
Men are such suckers for flattery. Just a few sweet words, and he was floating on air, thinking he was the greatest man in the world.
But that feeling didn’t last long. He stood at the door, saw the changed lock, and completely panicked.
“Seraphina Hayes! I know you’re home! Get out here! You’ve got some nerve changing the locks!”
“I’m telling you, our wedding has to be canceled. Briar’s child can’t be without a father, and you only have yourself to blame for being a barren hen!”
Still no answer.
The house was eerily silent.
He grew increasingly impatient.
“I’m talking to you, did you hear me? Don’t think you can escape by pretending not to hear. But if you’re really that heartbroken to leave me, Briar and I have discussed it. The three of us can live together.”
“You can transfer twenty thousand a month to us for living expenses, and publicly, I can still call you my wife. How about it?”
Still no response.
He touched his nose.
“Is she really not home?”
He pulled out his phone and dialed my number.
After a few rings, it finally connected.
Excited, he repeated everything he’d just said.
The other end was silent for a few seconds, then a lazy, drawling voice replied:
“My wife’s in the shower. Talk to her tomorrow if it’s important.”
### Chapter 5
When I came out of the bathroom, I saw Asher lounging on the couch, casually spinning my phone in his hand.
“Guess who just called you,” he said.
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 283790 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
