The One And Only

"So you already know," Asher said mockingly. He waved around some of the photos Regina had given him. "You're investigating me?"

Regina just shrugged. "It doesn't matter how I know. After all, a corpse will always smell bad, no matter how well you hide it."

"Tsk," Asher snickered. "Regina, you won't get anything from me, you know that, right? It's stipulated in the prenuptial agreement. In fact, you won't be able to sue me for anything with all that rubbish."

Regina stared at Asher, who was now making no effort to hide the mockery on his face.

"I know, and I don't need anything from you either," Regina said calmly. "Just sign this paper and you'll be free from me. Leika wants you to get married before her belly shows, right? Either she still has some morals or she's just afraid her wedding dress will look ugly."

Asher's eyes narrowed. He couldn't understand why seeing Regina so calm and collected made his feelings so uneasy.

And the fact that Regina had gotten him ahead of her by asking for a divorce made him furious. Furthermore, it turned out Regina had known everything he was hiding all along, and she hadn't done anything extreme to confront him. It was very strange. It shouldn't have been like this.

"So that's why," Asher said sarcastically. "At least you're aware of your shortcomings now."

Regina's eyebrows raised. "What do you mean my shortcomings?"

"You can't give me children," Asher said mockingly. "It's been five years and you still haven't gotten pregnant. Meanwhile, with Leika..."

Asher deliberately left the sentence hanging. He knew that the topic of children was a sensitive one for women, especially since Regina knew that he did want children.

However, Regina only smiled faintly. "Did you know that a husband who doesn't last long in bed can also make it difficult for his wife to conceive?"

Regina's words confused Asher for a moment, then his face slowly turned red as he realized what Regina meant.

"What? You mean I don't—"

Regina stood up.  "Just for introspection. My lawyer will contact you soon. Happy fifth wedding anniversary, Asher Jeremy!"

Before Asher could say anything, Regina walked briskly toward the door.

However, she stopped before she turned the doorknob and turned back. The smile remained on her face.

"By the way, Asher. Are you sure that's your child?"

=====

Three months later

"Baby, this dress makes me look fat," Leika complained, tugging at her dress. "I don't feel confident wearing it."

Asher's brow furrowed. "But you chose the dress, baby. Besides, it's just your opinion, because you still look stunning."

"Really?" Leika asked, rubbing her stomach. "We shouldn't have delayed the wedding so much. My belly is already sticking out."

Asher felt a slight headache now.  Last night, he stayed up late because his father-in-law demanded he complete a proposal to submit to the world's third-largest real estate company as a partnership offer.

Asher couldn't refuse, as he was determined to impress his father-in-law and immediately hand over the company's transfer letter to him.

But it wasn't the lack of sleep that was giving him a headache, but rather Leika's crankiness and whining lately, even now, three hours before they were to walk down the aisle for their wedding.

At that moment, Magie entered the dressing room. She approached Leika, her face beaming.

"Wow, honey, you look amazing!" Magie said in praise. "You've always been beautiful and sexy, even now that you're pregnant. You're radiant. My son is so lucky that you love him."

"Oh, I'm lucky too that he's still faithful to me," Leika said in a spoiled tone. She glanced at Asher seductively. "He even chose me over his ugly ex-wife."

"Tsk! Regina is nothing compared to you, honey," Magie said with a sneer. "She's just a barren woman who thinks she's great, even though she's really just a poor orphan."

Leika's face looked pleased.  Then she got busy with her makeup artist again, adjusting this and that about her makeup and hair.

Asher breathed a sigh of relief outside the room. "Thank goodness you came, Mom. My head has been throbbing since I first walked in."

Magie laughed, rubbing Asher's back. "Be patient. Pregnant women are usually that fussy. Plus, Leika's a model, so she's definitely stressed out by her changing body."

"I'm not used to dealing with overly noisy women," Asher muttered. "Regina never complains or fusses much."

"That's because she has no right to, Asher!" Magie snapped. "She's just an ordinary woman who's lucky you married her. She should be grateful by being nice to us. But instead, she challenges you and acts so great!"

Asher nodded, remembering Regina's earlier remarks, arrogantly claiming she didn't need anything from him and insisting on a divorce.

"And where is she now?" Magie said grumpily.  "Shouldn't she be here to take care of your wedding? Isn't she the hotel's designated event supervisor?"

"Maybe she couldn't stand seeing Leika and me getting married, Mom, so she skipped it on purpose," Asher said scornfully. "Anyway, I'm sure she still loves me and is hurt knowing she has no place in my heart anymore."

"Huh, it's her own fault," Magie hissed. "She knows so many shortcomings, but she's still challenging us."

Asher and Magie went to the hall to meet some relatives who had arrived early. They all admired the grand and luxurious decor of the main hall of The Violet Orchid Hotel.

Asher had deliberately held his wedding with Leika at this hotel, the hotel where Regina worked as a marketing staff.

He wanted to make Regina regret asking for a divorce, even though he had actually intended to divorce her after their anniversary and had even drafted the divorce papers.

He also wanted to get back at Regina because after her remarks about how he couldn't satisfy her in bed and comments about Leika's pregnancy, he couldn't sleep for days.

Regina acted professionally while accepting him and Leika as clients who would book a wedding package.  The most expensive hotel in the hotel.

Regina served all their requests with a fake sales smile and even offered some advice here and there, making Asher feel exasperated. Why was it so hard to provoke Regina? He never knew Regina had such a stubborn side.

By the time Asher stood in front of the altar, Regina was still nowhere to be seen among the hotel staff. She must have skipped work on purpose so she wouldn't have to witness his wedding with Leika.

"By the power given to me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Jeremy, you may kiss your wife."

The priest's words sparked loud cheers as Asher gently grabbed Leika's waist and leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips.

"Careful, you'll ruin my lipstick," Leika murmured.

So Asher simply changed his intention for a kiss to a two-second peck.

"Leika's family is truly amazing," Olivia whispered to Magie. "They're all rich and well-known."

"Of course," Magie whispered back. "Your brother is very clever, letting Regina go and marry Leika. I'm sure our lives will be more secure after this."

"I'll ask Asher to buy us a car after they return from their honeymoon," said Janus, who had apparently been listening to their conversation.

As they were talking, a hotel staff member checking on the catering passed by. Magie sneered at him.

"That arrogant Regina finally gave up," Magie said.  "She's the organizer of this event, but she didn't come. She must have been afraid she'd burst into tears watching Asher and Leika get married."

"Of course," Asher chimed in, suddenly standing between Magie and Janus. "Before, she could act all prim and proper, but now, if she comes, she'll definitely be hysterical when Leika and I say our vows."

"Hey, what's going on?" Janus asked, pointing to the entrance of the hall. "Why all the commotion? Did Leika's father invite the prime minister?"

All eyes were on the entrance, and when a very handsome man with a tall, athletic build walked through the flower arch, Olivia almost screamed.

"Oh, it's Trevor Maverick! Oh my God, Trevor Maverick is here! Oh my God, I must have done something good lately to be able to see Trevor Maverick with my own eyes today!"

Leika approached Asher and took his hand, her face beaming with joy.

"Baby, come on, we have to meet Trevor. He came specifically to congratulate us," Leika said enthusiastically.

Who doesn't know Trevor Maverick? He's a young actor who has won best actor awards at film festivals at home and abroad every year since his debut ten years ago.

He's been dubbed the Midas of the film world, able to turn any film he stars in into a gold mine.

In the past year, he founded his own production company and became a producer, which has once again been successful and grown even bigger, becoming a number one in the entertainment industry.

Trevor extended his hand to Asher. "Congratulations, Mr. Jeremy. You've married a beautiful woman like Ms. Leika Walden; that's truly a blessing."

He then turned to Leika, who was blushing. Trevor took Leika's hand and kissed the back of it with a gentlemanly gesture.

"I guess I was a bit slow compared to your husband, Ms. Walden. But congratulations, you two are a perfect match," Trevor said sweetly.

"Thank you, Mr. Maverick," Asher said proudly. "Did you come alone? I'm sure there are many women in this room willing to accompany you to enjoy the food we've prepared."

"Oh, no, Mr. Jeremy," Trevor said with a laugh. "I brought the woman I love most after my mother here. She was in the bathroom earlier, but, ah, there she is!"

All eyes turned as Trevor made way for a woman who seemed to be having some difficulty navigating through the crowd of admirers.

Magie rubbed her twitching eyes. Olivia's mouth hung open, while Janus held his breath.

Next to them, Asher felt as if his head had suddenly been struck by a sledgehammer, while Leika's grip loosened, and his wife looked as shocked as he was.

"Meet my lovely sister, Regina Lois Maverick," said Trevor.

Regina smiled faintly, lifted her chin, and greeted them gracefully.

"Hello, everyone."