Chapter 3

Since I was leaving anyway, I figured I should wrap things up.

Before I even set foot inside the Cooke residence, I saw Charlotte through the window, shielding Bradley behind her.

"Mom, Dad, Alan was busy, so I brought Bradley over to visit," she said angrily. "There's no need to throw the gifts on the floor!"

Charlotte's father, Jordan Cooke, pointed at her, his voice booming with fury. "You brat! Listen carefully! Alan is the only son-in-law I'll ever accept! Get this boy toy out of my house! Now!"

Sharon Gibson, my mother-in-law, clutched her chest, her face pale with frustration. "Your father is right. Take him away right now! Charlotte, how do you think this will make Alan feel?"

Watching them stand up for me brought a faint warmth to my chest.

Years ago, Jordan and Sharon were dead set against me marrying Charlotte. Only after she spent three days and three nights on her knees did they finally cave.

To win them over, I regularly visited to cook for them and look after their health.

Over time, they came to treat me like their own son.

"Alan and I already talked about this! He doesn't mind me bringing Bradley home! I'm not asking you to accept him. I just brought him over for a quick visit. Do you really have to be this cold? Bradley, let's go!"

Charlotte's face flushed with anger as she grabbed Bradley's hand to leave.

It was a mirror image of how she used to fight for me back then. Except now, the guy by her side had changed.

I left the checkup results at the front door and turned to leave.

Just as Charlotte opened the door, her eyes locked onto mine, and her expression instantly froze. "Alan?"

Our eyes met for a brief second.

I caught the flash of panic and unease in her eyes, but in the end, she didn't run after me.

It wasn't until I walked out of the neighborhood that my phone buzzed with a message from her.

"Alan, I only brought Bradley to see my parents. There's nothing else to it. You're their only son-in-law and my only husband.

"Once these few days are over, I promise I'll break things off with him completely and make it up to you, okay?"

She sent several messages in a row, terrified that I'd misunderstand.

I typed back a simple reply. "It's fine. I just came by to drop off their checkup results. They're getting up there in age. I'll send you the details of their health conditions. You can review them when you have time. From now on, you or Bradley will have to handle these things."

Charlotte replied almost immediately, "Alan, you're still mad, aren't you? You're jealous of Bradley."

Then came a transfer of five thousand dollars.

"Take the money. Go hang out with some friends and unwind for a couple of days. Have fun. We're getting remarried in a few days anyway, so don't overthink it. You're the one I love most."

She followed it up with a kissing emoji.

I transferred the money back to her and just replied, "Okay."

Only then did she finally stop messaging.

After leaving the Cooke residence, I felt completely aimless, unsure of where to go.

Without realizing it, I wandered onto the historic street where Charlotte and I used to go on dates.

"Charlotte, put on these bunny ears! You're gonna look so cute. Come on, let's take a photo!" A familiar voice cut through the air.

I looked up and saw Charlotte and Bradley in matching outfits, snapping affectionate photos together by the curb.

Charlotte spotted me almost instantly. Her expression shifted, and she quickly walked over.

Before she could speak, Bradley put on a wounded act. "Alan, why are you following us? Charlotte's only keeping me company for a few days. Do you really have to do this?"

His eyes welled up with tears as his voice cracked. "Do I have to disappear from Charlotte's life forever before you're finally satisfied?"

Hearing him level accusations at me, I didn't even have the energy to defend myself.

Charlotte frowned and cut him off. "Don't talk to Alan like that! Go wait over there."

Bradley tried to act cute, but Charlotte's expression darkened, forcing him to reluctantly shuffle away.

Charlotte turned back to me. After a long silence, she let out a weary sigh. "Alan, you're making this really exhausting."