Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, I stood in line with my fiancée, waiting to register our marriage.

Suddenly, a little boy ran over and hugged my fiancée’s leg, calling her “Mommy.”

I thought it was some kind of scam—until I saw the soft, affectionate smile on Veronica's face as she bent down and scooped him into her arms.

“This child... he was an accident,” she said gently. “Five years ago, after I had him, Skyler took him abroad. I’ve never met him before—this is the first time I’ve seen him since they returned.”

“Now that Skyler is back in the country, I can’t let him, a single father, suffer through all the gossip and judgment. I have to give the two of them a proper identity.”

Before I could process what I’d just heard, Skyler walked toward us.

My fiancée reached out and intertwined her fingers with his, her face glowing with affection.

I kept my voice steady. “So?”

Veronica smiled apologetically. “I’m going to marry Skyler. As for the two of us...”

She paused, then added nonchalantly, “Well, since you’re already here, let’s take a photo in front of the bureau. You can post it on social media—make it look like we got married too.”

Skyler raised his phone, pointing it at us with a smug grin. “Say cheese!”

Seeing I wasn't saying anything, my fiancée tried to comfort me. “Don’t worry, you’re still the one I love. I only see him as family. I just want to spend a bit of time with the child, and pretend to be a family for a while.”

“The child is innocent. He’s never had a mother, and I don’t want him growing up with that kind of shadow. Let’s postpone our wedding just for a bit. Once he’s older, I’ll tell him the truth and give you the grand wedding you deserve.”

And just like that, the three of them—hand in hand, hearts full—walked off to collect their marriage certificate.

I took out my phone and dialed Cassidy, the woman who had been chasing me for ten years.

“I’m at the Civil Affairs Bureau,” I said. “Want to come be my marriage partner?”

——

“My dear Marvin, why are you pulling a surprise wedding like this?” Cassidy’s voice came through, half exasperated. “I’m abroad. I just got off a flight—”

I blinked. “Oh. Never mind, then.”

But suddenly, the calm in her voice gave way to urgency. “Wait! Don’t hang up! Hold on for me—I’ll make it back before they close. Whoever backs out first is a little puppy!”

I sighed softly after hanging up, thinking I might as well find somewhere to sit and wait.

That’s when I heard a displeased voice behind me. “Marvin!”

I looked up. It was my ex-fiancée, Veronica. They had already gotten their certificate.

She stood there with the child in one arm and Skyler’s hand in the other, the picture of a blissful family.

She walked over, lowered the boy to the ground, and hissed at me, “Why are you still here?”

I answered honestly, “Waiting. To get married.”

Her expression darkened. “Why are you being so passive-aggressive? I already explained—the kid just came back, and I only just found out. Everyone has a past, don’t they?”

I nodded. “I understand.”

Annoyed, she shoved my shoulder. “Then go home. Don’t make a scene in front of the child.”

I shook off her hand and replied seriously, “I really am waiting to get married.”

Her face hardened. “Marvin, this is the last time I’ll say this. The more you act like this, the more I’ll hate you.”

Just then, Skyler came over, looking awkward but trying to play peacemaker. “Marvin, are you upset because you didn’t get to register?”

He pulled out their marriage certificate and tried to press it into my hand. “Here, why don’t you take a photo with Veronica holding this? The cover is the same. As long as you don’t open it, no one will know whose names are inside.”

I didn’t take it. The certificate slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

Skyler crouched down to pick it up, his voice filled with guilt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought the kid back...”

Veronica shot me a sharp glare and snapped, “Marvin, I can’t believe how petty you are. Since you clearly can’t accept Skyler’s existence, I guess we have no choice but to break up!”

“Alright,” I replied calmly.

My indifferent response caught her off guard.

Skyler nudged the little boy beside him and coaxed, “Come on, call him ‘Uncle.’ Tell him not to be upset.”

But the boy scowled and shouted, “I won’t! He’s a bad man—a homewrecker!”

He shoved me hard. “Don’t you dare take my mommy away!”

People nearby turned to look. Some of them even had disdain in their eyes.

I heard someone mutter, “Wow, look at this guy—what kind of shameless homewrecker comes to the Civil Affairs Bureau to steal someone else’s wife?”

I looked down at the boy and spoke evenly. “Don’t worry. Your mom and I are over.”

“I wish your parents a long, happy life together.”

Veronica nodded, clearly satisfied. “Now that’s the mature attitude I want to see from you. Keep it that way.”

Then she turned and walked off, holding the boy in one arm and Skyler’s hand in the other, a perfect little family unit.

As I watched them leave, I thought to myself, That wasn’t me being mature. I meant every word I said.

I found a nearby café to wait for Cassidy.

While I was sipping my coffee, a sudden headline popped up on my phone:

Breaking News: [Heiress of the Monroe Group abruptly walks out during overseas signing ceremony.]

My heart skipped a beat.

Monroe Group? Heiress? Could it be... Cassidy?

I tapped the link, and a video began to play.

On the screen, a tall, elegant woman turned away from a signing table while speaking urgently on the phone.

It was indeed Cassidy. Who else could it be?

I could even faintly hear her say, “Whoever backs out is a little puppy.”

The video cut to a foreign reporter interviewing the other party involved in the contract.

“Miss Monroe left midway through the signing. Do you consider that disrespectful to your company?”

The older white man simply shrugged with a warm smile. “All I can say is—love comes first. I don’t feel disrespected at all. In fact, I admire her. It aligns with our values, too.”

“We’ll wait for her to return and finish the signing. It won’t affect our cooperation in the slightest.”

I set my phone down, my emotions in turmoil.

Cassidy had chased after me for ten years, always putting me first, loving me with everything she had.

And yet, I had been blind—completely focused on Veronica, never giving Cassidy the chance she deserved.

Now, finally disillusioned with Veronica, I was starting to wake up.

Only now could I truly compare the two and understand the difference between real love and mere obligation.

I opened my inbox and found all the old emails Cassidy had sent me.

Each one burned with affection, each word sincere and heartfelt.

I used to find her letters irritating, but now… I can feel the affection hidden between every line.

These weren’t just messages—they were love letters, plain and clear.

And for the first time, my heart ached for her.

How had she held on all these years?

I read every message carefully, one by one. Without realizing it, dusk had fallen.

Suddenly, a bouquet of flowers appeared before me.

I looked up—and there she was. Cassidy, beaming from behind the bouquet.

“Honey, sorry to keep you waiting,” she said cheerfully.

That word honey startled me. I wasn’t used to it.

Sensing my silence, Cassidy grew anxious. “Don’t tell me, you’ve changed your mind?”

I gave her a smile. “Relax. I’m not about to become a little puppy.”

We walked into the Civil Affairs Bureau side by side and registered our marriage.

I knew there were still people across the ocean waiting for her to return and complete that important deal—so I urged her to hurry back.

Cassidy wrapped her arms tightly around me. “Wait for me to come back, and we’ll have our wedding. Also, remember—whoever changes their mind is a little puppy.”

As I watched her figure fade into the distance, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

The mighty Cassidy, feared and respected in the business world... was she really this insecure?

The sky had already darkened by the time I headed home with the bouquet in my arms.

But the moment I opened the door, I was met with a scene I never expected.

Skyler and his son were inside.

Skyler was lounging on my couch, dressed in my pajamas, watching TV like he owned the place. And his son—still wearing his shoes—was jumping up and down on the custom-made sofa I’d carefully picked out. The one that cost over a hundred thousand dollars, now covered in dirty little footprints.

Rage instantly surged through me.

But before I could say a word, Veronica walked out of the kitchen and frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

My breath caught in my throat from anger, and it took me a moment to reply coldly, “This is my house, remember?”

The boy suddenly threw his toy at me and shouted, “This is my mommy’s house! This is our home! You get out!”

Skyler gave me a lazy, dismissive smile. “Don’t take it personally, Marvin. He’s just a kid—he doesn’t know any better.”

Then, without asking, he walked over and took the bouquet from my hands.

“Are these flowers for me and Veronica? That’s thoughtful of you—thanks for the blessing.”

I reached to take them back, but the little boy grabbed the bouquet and yanked it away.

He threw the flowers on the floor, stomped on them twice, and sneered, “Stop trying to please my mom. We don’t want your stupid flowers!”

My head pounded with fury. “You’d better pay for that bouquet!”

Veronica’s voice rose in irritation. “Marvin! He’s just a child. How can you be so petty and argue with him?”

“Go cook dinner already. Stop causing drama in front of the kid.”

She even handed me an apron.

I let out a sharp laugh. “Veronica, do you think I’m your housekeeper now? Why the hell should I cook for the three of you?”

She frowned deeply. “Can’t you just be a little more understanding? Ever since the Civil Affairs Bureau, you’ve been acting out like some drama queen. Things were peaceful until you started stirring everything up.”

“I’m giving you a way out—making dinner is your way to apologize to Skyler and the kid.”

I locked eyes with her. “Veronica, look me in the eye and tell me—do you really believe we don’t have a problem? Do you truly think I should be the one apologizing?”

Her gaze wavered.

But she quickly sighed and said, “Look, the kid is innocent, okay? Marvin, you’re an adult. So what if you suffer a little for now? I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.”

My heart turned cold. “Why should I be the one to suffer? Am I not innocent too?”

Just then, the boy came out of nowhere holding a dinner fork—and drove it hard into my thigh.

“Get out! Get out of my house!”

I shoved him away and said icily, “I bought this house. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you.”

The boy burst into tears and ran into Skyler’s arms.

This house really was mine—meant to be our marital home.

But now it was clear Veronica had completely forgotten that, already planning to play house with another man and his child under my roof.

Skyler’s eyes turned red. Holding the crying boy, he choked out, “This is our fault... we shouldn’t have come. We’ll leave right now.”

But Veronica quickly stopped him, clearly distressed.

She turned to me, clearly annoyed.

“It’s already dark. Skyler has a child with him—where are they supposed to go at this hour? Marvin, could you please be a little more generous?”

I nodded slowly. “Fine. They can stay tonight. But by tomorrow morning, they must leave—or I’m calling the police.”

Veronica scowled. “If you insist on kicking them out, then I’ll leave too.”