Chapter 2

Hence, I happily drove her to the city hall again.

This time, we had already reached the registration counter and were about to take out our documents when I heard a commotion behind me.

“What are you doing? This is trespassing!”

Olivia and I turned around and saw Martin showing up with Teddy’s dead body. He was crying when he ran toward us.

“Olivia, is your marriage that important? Why did you leave Teddy alone in the clinic? You weren’t even there for him when he crossed the rainbow bridge!”

Olivia immediately started crying. “I’m sorry, Teddy. Mommy’s sorry.”

Martin glared at me and then softened his tone before he spoke to Olivia, “I’m not blaming you. Did Ethan force you to come here and make you miss your last moments with Teddy?”

I immediately frowned. “I have never forced her to do anything. Please don’t lie.”

“I didn’t lie! It’s all your fault! Teddy was initially at home, and he could’ve lived for a few more days. But you kept calling Olivia. The ringtone scared Teddy off and worsened his heart issues. That’s why he died earlier!”

Even though he was sobbing, I noticed he used the word “home”.

It was then that I realized that a seed of doubt was planted in me. It was hard to suppress my growing suspicions.

I immediately turned around to ask Olivia, “I thought you said you were at the clinic for the past three days. Where were you exactly?”

Olivia sobbed even harder. She even threw punches at my chest.

“Teddy’s dead, and I’m already upset enough. Why are you suspicious of me? Is this how you show your love to me?

“Ethan, I’m very disappointed in you. Martin and I were childhood friends, and you knew that when you first got together with me. If there was anything between him and me, would I have agreed to marry you?”

I was having second thoughts when I heard her pitiful cries. I even felt sorry for her. Maybe I was overthinking it.

Indeed, when they first got together, I knew that they were childhood best friends. I also had a good relationship with Martin. Sometimes, we would hang out and drink together.

I immediately apologized to Olivia. I said, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Please don’t be upset.”

One of the staff members behind us started rushing us. “Are you still going to go through with the registration process? It only takes a few minutes. Can’t you talk after completing it?”

“Yes!”

“No!”

Martin was the one who yelled no.

I stared at him in disbelief.

He said righteously to Olivia, “Are you sure you want to get married happily before Teddy’s dead body? Olivia, when did you become so heartless?”

I was also feeling a mix of emotions.

Then, I said frustratedly to Olivia, “It only takes a few minutes to legalize our marriage. The choice is yours.”

Olivia stared at me with teary eyes. “I’ll come back again after I bury Teddy, alright? Wait for me.”

I swallowed my disappointment and nodded.

I gestured and said, “Just go. We can get our marriage certificate after our wedding ceremony.”

My happy mood was ruined, so even though she agreed to marry me today, I did not want to go through with it anymore. I had lost the desire to do so.

After they left, the staff looked at me with pity.

The staff member who was handling our registration said, “Young man, this isn’t exactly a bad thing.”

After I put my documents away and walked out of the city hall, I did not go home. Instead, I secretly followed them in my car.