Chasing a Marriage That Never Existed

I looked at my boyfriend, Shane Yardley, in disbelief.

I was still frozen in shock when Shane seized my wrist and dragged me to a blind spot away from the hallway cameras.

He stood with his back to the light, his face terrifyingly grim. "What are you doing here? Who told you to come here, Jasmine?"

Shane seemed like a complete stranger to me. He had never spoken so harshly to me before this.

I stared at his furious face, feeling a lump in my throat. I choked out a sob as I demanded, "Is it because of that woman? You've been cheating on me. How long has this been going on, Shane?"

Shane ignored my question and just looked over his shoulder at the pregnant woman waiting in the hotel lobby, looking in our direction with a puzzled expression.

He immediately turned back and warned me in a hushed voice, "It isn't what you think, so head home first. I'll explain everything to you once I return tonight, Jasmine."

He didn't even dare look at me again after saying that, as if he were worried that the pregnant woman would catch on. He hurriedly motioned to his chauffeur, signaling him to take me away.

I looked in the rearview mirror just as the car pulled away from the hotel and saw Shane standing beside the pregnant woman again. He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he leaned in to say something in her ear. She was beaming while he held her hand tenderly.

I lowered my head, staring at the bruises left on my wrist from Shane's tight grip earlier.

I instantly understood everything. I understood why, after five years together, Shane always said he was against marriage and why he refused to hold a wedding for me. I realized now why he had never seemed bothered by the fact that I couldn't have children.

It turned out that he had someone else in his heart the entire time. I slumped against the back seat, shaking uncontrollably as I cried.

It wasn't until the car pulled up outside the house that I got out, still unsteady on my feet. I wiped my tears away and immediately began packing my things.

I ran into Shane returning home just as I was carrying my suitcase downstairs late that night. He took one look at my puffy eyes and let out a weary sigh.

He reached over to take my suitcase and explained, "Emma Youngblood is the heiress of Youngblood Group, so me being with her is a strategic move for my company, Jasmine.

"You can't even have children, and now that I'm getting up there in years, I want a child of my own too. Why can't you just turn a blind eye? We can keep living the way we always have, can't we, Jasmine?"

I recoiled from Shane's touch. "Those aren't valid reasons to cheat on me. We should just break up, Shane."

Everything fell silent for a moment.

Shane let out a couple of dry, scornful laughs before turning his gaze on me. "You want to break up with me? What makes you think you can break up with me? Do you think anyone else would treasure an infertile older woman the way I do? You're not that young anymore, so stop being so naive, Jasmine.

"I can give you everything—money, houses, and cars—except for a marriage certificate. Isn't it better to just turn a blind eye and stay by my side, Jasmine?"

I looked up at Shane, my heart aching terribly. I felt like I was truly seeing him for who he was for the very first time. I noticed the contempt in his eyes and realized that the man I loved had been looking down on me all along.

…

I lay in the hotel bed as memories from the past five years raced through my mind.

I couldn't even get a wink of sleep, so I got up and instinctively looked at myself in the mirror.

I was already 32 years old. I was no longer as slim as I used to be, and fine wrinkles had started appearing at the corners of my eyes. I had an average education level, my abilities were ordinary, and on top of that, I couldn't have children.

I really wasn't young anymore, and perhaps I didn't deserve to be treated well. I lowered my hand helplessly, my resolve wavering. I even thought I should return to Shane's side. I could pretend I knew nothing, keep living the life of a kept woman, and spend the rest of my life playing dumb.

It sounded much better that way, but I couldn't bring myself to live like that.

I tossed and turned, staying awake the entire night.

I had just gotten downstairs the following morning when the front desk receptionist approached me and said, "Mr. Yardley stopped by not long after you came in last night, Ms. Quinton.

"He mentioned that he was your husband and was concerned you might not be comfortable with your stay, so he upgraded your room to the presidential suite and extended your stay by a month.

"Please enjoy your stay and let us know if you need anything. Mr. Yardley has also asked us to pass this note to you, Ms. Quinton."

"I'll be waiting for you at home. I love you, Jasmine." I stared at the familiar handwriting on the note, my heart filling with an unbearable ache.

I was on the verge of giving in, of talking myself into going back to Shane, when a woman's voice sounded behind me, "You're Jasmine Quinton, right? I'm Emma Youngblood."