Chapter 1: Chapter 1: My Boyfriend Is Getting Married, but the Bride Is Not Me

"Mr. Shaw, I agree to marry you."

Yvonne Sutton had downed half a bottle of liquor—hard liquor—before making the call.

The other end of the line was silent for a long moment before a low, raspy male voice answered, clearly woken from sleep and tinged with undisguised irritation.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Yvonne honestly hadn’t noticed. She quickly glanced at her phone—it was already past two in the morning.

"Sorry, I’ll call you back tomorrow."

"That works."

"Huh?"

"But I’m leaving for a business trip abroad tomorrow. I’ll be back in about a month. We’ll get our marriage license when I return."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Yvonne was still in a bit of a daze.

Half a month ago, her aunt from the countryside had called to set her up with someone. Her aunt said the man was the grandson of their neighbor, Rhodes. He had been a good student since he was a child, got into a university in Norport, and found a job with excellent benefits after graduation—full social insurance and housing funds, and even got perks on holidays.

At the time, she had agreed verbally but secretly planned to just brush it off. To her surprise, the man called her that very night. He said he didn’t actually have time for blind dates, much less for dating. If she was agreeable, he wanted to skip all that and get married immediately.

’Is he crazy?’

That was the only thought in her mind at the time.

But he didn’t give her a chance to refuse, only saying she could think it over before hanging up.

The truth was, she hadn’t considered it at all for the past two weeks. But tonight, she had agreed.

She opened up the trending topics list; it was still buzzing with activity.

The famous actress Wendy Winters was rumored to be pregnant, with the father being a married, award-winning actor. Shortly after Wendy started trending for being branded a ’homewrecker,’ Mr. Reed of the Reed Group stepped forward to clarify. He announced he was Wendy’s official boyfriend, the baby was his, and they were getting married soon.

Facing widespread doubt from netizens, he even released a video. It showed him getting down on one knee to propose to Wendy Winters at her recent birthday party.

Public opinion immediately reversed, and both fans and netizens began congratulating Wendy Winters.

The top trending topic was still: "Wendy Winters to Marry Mr. Reed of the Reed Group."

Yvonne Sutton found the headline deeply ironic.

’If Wendy Winters is Vincent Reed’s girlfriend, then what does that make me?’

’What were the eight years they spent together?’

’Guess I was just a fool. Time to cut my losses.’

She had decided to marry Wyatt Shaw because of something he had said: "I want to live with my wife like most ordinary couples in this world—supporting each other, respecting each other, and growing old together."

The words were simple, but they described the exact life she wanted—a life Vincent Reed refused to give her.

After composing herself, she began to pack her things.

This villa belonged to Vincent Reed; she had to move out as soon as possible.

Because she had an early shift, Yvonne Sutton only got a little over two hours of sleep before she had to get up.

When she went downstairs, she saw Vincent Reed lying on the sofa. His hair was a mess, and his brow was tightly furrowed. He must have drunk too much last night and was still feeling unwell.

She ignored him and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Just as she was cooking the noodles, Vincent Reed came up behind her, reeking of alcohol, and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Ugh, my head hurts. Make me a bowl of hangover soup."

Yvonne’s brow twitched. "Go wait over there."

He closed his eyes and mumbled, "I want to hold you for a bit."

"You stink."

"Do I?" He sniffed himself. "Alright, I’ll go take a shower first."

Yvonne returned to the kitchen and took a box from the top shelf of the cupboard. Inside were the prepared ingredients for the hangover soup. He often had to drink at social engagements and always overdid it, which was hard on his liver and spleen over the years. She had specifically consulted doctors for this recipe, tailoring it to his physical condition.

The brewing process was complex and time-consuming, requiring someone to watch over it constantly in the kitchen.

As she stirred with a spoon, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. She had been making this for eight years. It could warm his stomach, but it could never warm his heart.

’Oh well. Let this one last act of care be the final period on the sentence of their eight-year relationship.’

When Vincent Reed came downstairs after his shower, Yvonne had already ladled the hangover soup into a bowl and placed it before him. He stirred the hot soup while rubbing his forehead, apparently having no intention of explaining what happened last night.

"Congratulations," Yvonne said, breaking the silence.

Vincent Reed looked up, his handsome face tinged with confusion. "Congratulations for what?"

"Congratulations on persistently proposing to Wendy Winters on her birthday for all these years. This time, she finally said yes," Yvonne said flatly.

She had always known that Vincent Reed loved Wendy Winters. It had been fifteen years, ever since junior high. He proposed to Wendy every year on her birthday, never stopping, not even during the eight years he was dating Yvonne.

’Did she not care?’

’Of course she did!’

’But she loved Vincent Reed—loved him to the point of debasing herself.’

Vincent Reed frowned. "You saw the news?"

Yvonne stared at him without a word.

Vincent Reed nodded and said casually, "Wendy and I are just getting fake married. We’ll get a divorce once this whole media storm blows over."

"Fake married?" Yvonne let out a humorless laugh. "So, will you get a marriage license? Will you have a wedding?"

"Of course. Otherwise, our families wouldn’t agree."

"So, how is that a fake marriage?"

"A fake marriage is a fake marriage. You don’t need to know the details." Vincent Reed took a few sips of the soup and stood up to go upstairs.

"I don’t want to get involved in your business, but we need to get things straight between us."

Vincent Reed turned to look at her. "Get what straight?"

Yvonne took a deep breath. "Let’s break up."

"Did you fucking not hear what I said? Wendy and I are getting fake married! Fake! We’ll get divorced after a while. Why are you making a scene? This has nothing to do with you from start to finish. You could’ve just pretended you didn’t know. Do you have to make this about you?"

’Make this about me?’

’As if I even existed to him?’

Yvonne lowered her gaze. "I don’t care if your marriage to Wendy Winters is real or fake. I’m breaking up with you."

"Yvonne Sutton!"

"I’m tired." Yvonne closed her eyes. "Loving you for eight years has drained all my energy. Let’s just end it here."

"Fine! Break up, then! Don’t you regret this!"

Instead of going upstairs, Vincent Reed grabbed his jacket and stormed out.

And just like that, it was over. Yvonne suddenly felt a great weight lift from her shoulders.

She was a doctor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Riverdale General Hospital. Arriving at the office early, she listened to a nurse, Mina Adler, gossip as she started seeing patients.

"So whose baby is it in Wendy Winters’ belly, anyway? One minute they say it’s Best Actor Lynch’s, the next they say it’s Mr. Reed’s. Tsk, tsk. If it were me, I’d pick Mr. Reed. Not only is he rich, he’s also drop-dead gorgeous."

"I heard this Mr. Reed is also super devoted. He’s been openly in love with Wendy Winters for fifteen years. Fifteen years! Even the heavens must be moved by his dedication."

Yvonne really didn’t want to hear any of this, so she sent Mina Adler upstairs with a pregnant patient for an examination.

But the peace lasted only a moment before Vincent Reed called again.

"Get ready. Wendy is coming to your hospital for a prenatal checkup tomorrow."