Chapter 1

With only a month left until the wedding, Angela Thompson wasn't sure if she should still proceed with it.

The reason?

Well, her fiancé, Carl Swain, wanted to have a child with Lucy Hogg, the widow of his deceased friend, Keith Harris.

Carl explained, "Keith was my best friend. He left us so suddenly, and Lucy is all alone now. She nearly took her own life several times. She'll probably be able to move on with her life if she has a child by her side."

Angela still couldn't quite wrap her head around the situation. She asked, "If Lucy wants a child, she can either adopt one or marry someone else. She can even find a suitable donor from a sperm bank. Why must you be the father of her child?"

"Before Keith died, he asked me to take care of Lucy on his behalf," Carl replied. "In any case, Lucy doesn't know anyone else in Sherrington. I'm the only one she can rely on."

"Carl, don't you find this whole thing utterly ridiculous?"

"I'll only be donating my sperm for her IVF procedure. It's not like I'll be getting in bed with her. I'm still going to marry you," Carl declared.

After having known Carl for 15 years and dated him for 13 of them, Angela finally got to marry him—only for fate to play this cruel trick on her.

"What will the child call you?" Angela asked. "Carl or Dad?"

Expression shifting uneasily, Carl snapped, "The child can call me whatever he wants. I don't mind."

Angela couldn't possibly agree to this request, and for that reason, Carl had been giving her the cold shoulder for several months now.

"Think it over some more," Carl said. "Lucy hasn't been doing too well lately. I'm scared she might do something silly, so I need to spend the next few days with her to look out for her. I'll be back for the wedding."

Just like that, he left with two massive suitcases in tow. He'd taken all of his clothes and daily necessities with him.

Angela looked around the empty house, which had been decorated for their wedding. The colorful decorations looked like a mockery to her now.

Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from the bridal studio, which she answered.

"Good day, Ms. Thompson. Could you please send me the measurements for you and Mr. Swain? I'll do my best to have the tailors prepare your wedding gown and Mr. Swain's wedding suit as soon as possible."

Angela knew her measurements, of course, but she didn't have Carl's. She called him up, and he answered surprisingly quickly.

"Have you thought things through?" he asked.

Another voice came through the phone. It was a seductive voice, asking, "Who is it?"

Angela recognized that voice. It belonged to Lucy, Keith's widow.

"It's nobody," Carl responded to Lucy.

"Who's calling you right when the movie gets to the exciting part? How annoying."

After hearing Lucy's voice, Angela laughed. "You're watching a movie with Lucy, huh? Didn't you say she's been feeling so depressed that she's on the verge of taking her own life?"

Riled up, Carl retorted, "I brought Lucy out to cheer her up! How is she supposed to move on from Keith's death if she stays at home all day long?"

What a seemingly justifiable explanation that was, but it was just as absurd as his intention of having a child with Lucy.

"Fine. Have fun with your movie. I'm ending the call now," Angela said.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Angela? Why did you call me if you had nothing to say? Are you just trying to throw a tantrum?"

"Carl, do you still plan on going through with our wedding?" Angela asked.

"Regardless of whether we get married, I'm still going to have a child with Lucy. I'm determined to make sure Keith's family name lives on."

"Alright, then."

"You're agreeing to it?"

"Sure."

"See? That wasn't so hard. Relax. I'll show up on time for the wedding—"

Angela dropped the call before Carl could finish speaking.

Since being married or not had no impact on Carl's decision to have a child with Lucy, it was only right to make things fair to everyone.

Sure Angela was going to get married—but to a different groom.