Chapter 2

2: 2

That was the moment my heart went cold.

I sent Patrick a breakup text.

And I agreed to the match the Gilbert family had arranged.

Clarence Gilbert came from a good family, had an impressive education, and looks that left nothing to complain about.

I'd assumed the meeting would go nowhere, but to my surprise, Clarence went home and said he was more than satisfied with me.

Once the Gilberts had asked whether I was willing, they moved fast to get the two of us registered.

Because old Mr. Gilbert was gravely ill, my wedding with Clarence couldn't be a grand affair, so ours became a secret marriage.

Seeing me stay silent for so long, Patrick assumed I had nothing left to say.

He fished out a jewelry box and opened it. Inside lay a blue-diamond necklace.

"All right, stop sulking at me. Look, didn't I bring you a present?"

"You've spent this whole year and more waiting for me to come back and apologize, haven't you? Well, I've made your wish come true."

"You can't be so stubborn, you know. You have to learn to quit while you're ahead!"

"Come here, let me put it on you myself!"

And with that, he lifted the necklace out to fasten it around my neck.

I shoved him away, pulled off my heel, and smashed it into his face.

"Patrick, have some shame. We broke up a long time ago!"

The bridge of his nose broke, and blood ran down his whole face.

But he cupped his nose and, instead of raging, laughed.

"Feisty little thing!"

"You haven't changed a bit!"

"I love it!"

A wave of revulsion went through me.

Just then a cab came by. I flagged it down, told the driver to hurry, and left that lunatic behind me.

The next day, my sister-in-law, who was pregnant, asked me to go shopping with her.

She wanted to pick up some baby things for the little one due any day now.

But of all places, we ran into Patrick and Tilda at a formula shop.

Tilda was choosing formula and even had Patrick checking where each one was made.

Patrick looked up, saw me, and immediately put a little distance between himself and Tilda.

"What are you doing here?"

His eyes dropped to the can of formula in my hand.

"I did promise you we'd have kids once we married, but aren't you rushing things a little?"

Disgusted, I flung his hand off and walked straight toward my sister-in-law, who was listening to a clerk.

Patrick, thinking himself dashing, planted himself in front of me.

"Celine, did you get the wrong idea just now? I came with Tilda to buy formula for her baby because it isn't easy raising a child alone!"

Beside him, Tilda pushed the stroller forward too.

"Celine, I just got back to the country and haven't bought a car yet, so I had to trouble Patrick to drive me and my son. Don't be angry with him!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Did I say I was angry?"

"Who he keeps company with is his business. What does it have to do with me?"

With that, I moved to leave.

Patrick grabbed me again, gritting his teeth. "Celine, behave yourself!"

"Do you know how much a can of formula costs here? If you don't marry me, will your future kids ever be able to afford it?"

"Besides, you aren't even married, and you show up at a place like this. You followed me here, didn't you?"

"Afraid there's still something going on between me and Tilda?"

"Well, let me tell you right now. Even after we're married, I'll still be taking care of Tilda and her son."

"Because after all, little one carries my blood. I'm his biological father!"