Chapter 1 A Bride Who Answered

Not long after I posted the status, my phone rang.

The name on the screen made my breath catch: Olivia Hart.

I had not seen that name in a long time.

Olivia was my childhood friend, and also the person I had fought with for as long as I could remember. We grew up together, but we were never exactly sweet to each other.

Our relationship had always been loud, messy, and full of sparks.

After I started dating Vanessa Grant, Olivia seemed to disappear from my life overnight.

I answered the call, assuming she had heard about my failed relationship and had called to laugh at me.

Instead, the first thing she said was, "I heard you're looking for a new bride. What do you think of me?"

I froze for a second. "Are you serious?"

But if I really had to replace the bride at the last minute, there was no one more suitable than Olivia.

Our families were well-matched. We knew each other's backgrounds, habits, tempers, and preferences better than anyone else.

There would be no need for lengthy explanations, and no time wasted pretending.

Olivia's voice sounded a little tense. "Yes. I'm flying back today. I'll land tomorrow night and come to your house the morning after. We can talk about the wedding then."

The wedding still had to happen.

I couldn't let my entire family become a joke because of Vanessa.

So I agreed. "Okay."

After I hung up, Vanessa happened to push open the door and walk in. There was a faint nervousness on her face.

"Who were you talking to just now?" she asked.

I looked at her calmly. "The delivery guy."

Vanessa visibly relaxed.

Then she came over and held my hand. "Daniel, I love you. I would never do anything to betray you."

I said nothing.

She continued, "But Logan is in such a terrible situation. His parents pushed him so hard about marriage that he's still lying in the hospital after the accident. Now they've finally agreed to stop pressuring him as long as he has a child. He and I grew up together, and he begged me for help. Daniel, I have to help him. If I don't, something might happen to him again."

I had heard this explanation many times before, but every time she said it, it still hurt, like something sharp pressing into my chest.

I pulled my hand away and asked, "Did I cause his accident? Why am I the one who has to compromise?"

Vanessa's expression stiffened.

I continued, "If you have his child, what am I supposed to tell my parents? And when that child grows up and wants to find his mother, what are you going to say then?"

My voice turned colder. "If I give in today, are you going to expect me to play along while you live between two families?"

"Daniel…" Vanessa sighed, reaching for my hand again. "I know this is unfair to you, but it won't be like that. It's just this once. I'm only giving him a child. There won't be anything more after that."

She looked at me with pleading eyes. "Can you help me keep this from your parents? Logan is my best friend, and he's your friend too. I know you'll understand."

I let out a short laugh. "Why do we need to hide it? Is it because even you know this is shameful?"

Vanessa's expression darkened.

"Why do you always have to make everything sound so ugly?" she asked. "I'm not cheating on you. I just don't think your parents need to know. But if you really want to tell them, then go ahead."

Just then, her phone buzzed several times.

She gazed down at the messages, and almost immediately, she let go of my hand and stood up. "Something came up at work. I need to go out for a bit."

Before leaving, she added, "Rest at home and check the guest list. See if we missed anyone on the invitations. I'll send out the rest later."