Pretty Handsome
As the future daughter-in-law, I am making my first formal visit to my fiancé Patrick Underwood's family on Thanksgiving.
At the dinner table, I raise my glass to make a toast when Patrick's childhood sweetheart, Lana Rowe, suddenly stands up and says to my future father-in-law, Alfred Underwood, "Dad, thank you for letting Patrick give me a son."
I freeze on the spot.
Mr. Underwood looks at Lana with emotion and says, "You've always known how to repay kindness, and you and Patrick grew up together. He should consider himself lucky to have you bear his child."
Everyone at the table nods in agreement. Not a single person thinks there is anything wrong with this.
Only then does Patrick finally notice me standing off to the side.
He explains, "Don't get the wrong idea. Lana has no intention of ever getting married. She'd be lonely in her old age if she didn't have a child, so I was just helping her out.
"Agnes, you already have me, so whether we have kids or not doesn't change anything."
Dad shoots me a stern look. "If you dare cause a scene at Thanksgiving dinner, you can get out!"
Lana suddenly laughs. "Come on, don't be so serious, everyone. Agnes has always been so understanding—surely she won't make a fuss over something so trivial."
She then turns to me. "If Patrick and I really had something going on, you wouldn't have had a chance to marry him in the first place. Besides, you can be our son Douglas Underwood's godmother. The three of us can raise him together."
I don't take the glass of wine Lana offers me. Instead, I glance at Patrick again. He gestures for me not to make a scene.
A lump forms in my throat. In that instant, I find the whole situation utterly ridiculous.
I immediately message my professor, Gary Massey, who has been hoping I would become his daughter-in-law.
"Professor Massey, does your son, Bradley Massey, know about my situation?"
Professor Massey replies instantly, "Yes. As long as you're willing, this marriage is as good as settled."
"Okay, I'll marry Bradley."