Chapter 2

Jeremy put on an apron and went to the kitchen to make chicken soup for Sonia.

When Sonia looked at me, she immediately noticed that something was wrong.

"Nina, are you unhappy?"

I didn't want to answer that question, nor could I muster a smile.

Sonia struggled to sit up from under the covers and grabbed my hand to explain.

"I didn't mean it. That beach photo spot is really hard to book and I didn't want to miss out, so I called Jeremy and asked him to go over early. You know how much I love taking pictures.

"If it were before, I would have hired another photographer, but last time, a photographer tried to get handsy with me, so I'm scared of hiring strangers now...

"You and Jeremy have such a great relationship, so you definitely don't mind, right? I can only stop thinking about the past when I'm taking pictures."

She softened her voice to act cute with me even though her eyes were bloodshot from the fever.

I sighed silently.

A pang of compassion rose in my heart.

I met Sonia on the day she caught her husband cheating.

I was leaving the law firm to go home and saw Sonia crouching on the ground at the subway entrance.

She was crying so hard her eyes were completely swollen.

She said her husband cheated on her and she was going to catch him in the act, but she was terrified.

At that moment, a strong sense of compassion stirred within me, so I decided to help her.

We rushed to the hotel together. She rushed forward to fight her ex-husband, while I was responsible for taking pictures for proof.

Sonia decided to get a divorce, but her ex-husband secretly tampered with the divorce papers to leave her penniless.

I felt bad for her again, so I became her lawyer and I helped her win that lawsuit.

From then on, we became best friends.

That was why, when Jeremy's phone rang during the previous eight marriage proposals, I told myself over and over again that Sonia definitely didn't mean any harm.

Yet today, I wasn't so sure anymore.

Seeing my expression soften, she quickly shook my arm.

"Please don't be mad at me, okay? Don't worry, I've already found a new photographer. I definitely won't call Jeremy next time."

Jeremy happened to be carrying the chicken soup out of the kitchen right then. Hearing that, his footsteps halted.

"Oh, so you've found someone new."

There was a playful tone in his voice.

"Fine, fine, I guess I've become unnecessary."

Having taken medicine, Sonia felt a bit better and had the energy to banter with him.

"What, now it's my fault for letting you spend more time with Nina?"

Jeremy clicked his tongue and said nothing more.

On the way home, he kept looking out the car window. Something seemed to be on his mind.

That night, as I lay on my side preparing to fall asleep, Jeremy suddenly wrapped his arms gently around me from behind.

"Nina, tomorrow is your dad's birthday, right? I was thinking of inviting him out to dinner tomorrow. It'll also be a good time to inform him that we're getting married. Let's register our marriage this coming Monday. Once we're legally married, you'll have nothing to worry about."

I didn't speak. A moment later, I closed my eyes, feeling really tired.

"Let's talk about it later."

The next day, Jeremy woke up early.

He picked up the liquor that my dad liked and drove to my parents' house.

"I wonder if Hank will like drinking—"

Following a harsh screech of sudden braking, my body was flung forward by inertia.

When I collected myself, Jeremy had already leaped out of the car and sprinted toward a roadside cafe.

Sonia was struggling with a man holding a camera.

"Let her go!"

Jeremy shoved the man away and pulled a pale-faced, terrified Sonia into his embrace.

"What do you think you're doing?! You're just a photographer, so keep your hands to yourself!"

Sonia hid her face in his arms, sobbing.

"Jeremy, what are you doing here..."

"Why do you have to look for another guy? See what happens when you do?!"

Jeremy roared, though the hand resting on Sonia's waist tightened even more.

The man who was shoved lost his balance. His knees bled, and his temper flared as well.

"Who the heck are you? Mind your own business!"

Jeremy's face turned livid with anger, and he immediately replied, "I'm her boyfriend!"