On the wedding day, my childhood sweetheart, Lorene Watts. refused to wear my wedding ring.

In front of everyone, she fled the hotel in her wedding dress and got into the BMW that Raquel Spence had been waiting for a long time.

My mother was so angry that her old illness relapsed on the spot. She was sent to the hospital but died after failed rescue efforts.

In the darkest moment of my life, only my other childhood sweetheart, Meghan Branford, was by my side.

She comforted me, encouraged me and helped me out of the trough of life.

She eventually married me.

After seven years of marriage, we had respected each other and loved each other very much. We were a model couple that everyone envies.

After Meghan became pregnant, I thought I was the happiest person in the world and I was about to become a father.

It was not until the eve of the Christmast that I accidentally saw the chat history between her and her best friend on her mobile phone.

“Meghan, if Lucas knew that the child was Raquel's, he would be so sad. Don't forget that he was hurt once by you and Lorene seven years ago.”

Meghan replied with a nonchalant smile, “Don't worry, he will never know. After I give birth to the baby, I will completely cut off my relationship with Raquel and love Lucas well for the rest of my life, considering it as compensation to him.”

I was shaking all over and tears were streaming down my face.

It turned out that the seven years of love and affection between us was all a lie.

Like Lorene, Meghan did not love me at all, but Raquel.

“Since you don't love me, then I will withdraw alone and help you,” I muttered in silence.

——

When I was putting the phone back in its place, Meghan came out of the bathroom.

I laid in bed and pretended to watch TV.

A fragrant breeze blew in front of me.

Meghan looked at me lovingly and stroked my chest with her smooth little hands.

“Lucas, these days have been hard for you, right?”

The voice was ambiguous and just as her beautiful red lips were pressing against me, I pushed her away.

Meghan's face was filled with confusion before asking me, “Lucas, what's wrong with you?”

This was the first time in all these years of marriage that I rejected her advances, so she was surprised.

I replied calmly, “I just don't want to hurt the baby in your belly.”

Meghan's expression eased a little after hearing my explanation. Then, she tried to calm me down, “Don’t worry, I’ve asked the doctor and he said the fetus is basically stable now, just don't move too violently.”

After saying that she moved closer, her face blushing seductively. There was tenderness in her eyes.

If it were the old me, I would have fallen in love and could not extricate myself.

But at that time, my whole body felt like it was sunk in cold sea water and I could not feel any warmth from my lover.

How could I not?

Meghan was my wife, but she was pregnant with another man's child.

When I thought of this, my heart ached.

In the end, I pushed her away for the second time and said, “Forget it. I'm too tired today and not in the mood.”

Meghan did not continue to force it and nodded, “Okay, since maybe you were too busy at work during the day, so let's rest early.”

She turned off the TV and the lights, then laid down and put her arms around my waist.

This was her favorite position, so she fell asleep in no time.

But my thoughts were all over the place and I could not sleep all night.

Late at night, after Meghan fell into a deep sleep, I quietly got up and went to the study and opened her laptop.

This was the first time in seven years of marriage I did it.

It did not take me long to find the deliberately hidden folder.

When I clicked on it, I saw it was filled with photos, at least thousands of them.

Tokyo, Paris, Turkey, etc.

Under different backgrounds, Raquel and Meghan embraced each other sweetly. Both of them had happy smiles on their faces.

I scrolled down and found the last photo. The date showed that it was three days ago, in an obstetrics and gynecology hospital in City H.

Raquel put his face on Meghan's slightly bulging belly and cried with joy.

The slogan on the wall behind him was very eye-catching. It said, [Congratulations, you're going to be a father soon!]

Looking at the photos, my heart sank into the abyss.

That day, Meghan mentioned she was heading to City H to meet a client. Concerned for her well-being, especially since she was still pregnant, I offered to accompany her.

But she refused with a smile, saying that the client was a woman with a strange personality and did not like dealing with strange men.

‘If I go, the business will probably fail.’ That was what I thought at that time.

So, I believed her reason.

Only then did I realize that she was not going to meet any female client, but had made an appointment with Raquel for a pregnancy test.

I closed my laptop and walked out of the study to smoke all night on the balcony.

As the sky began to turn pale, the decision was finally made.

I did not want this seemingly happy marriage anymore.

‘Meghan, I don’t want it either,’ I muttered in a low voice.

After getting up, Meghan reminded me while she was dressing up, “Lucas, don't forget that today is the Christmast.

“My parents spent a long time preparing for this reunion dinner tonight. So, please don't be late.”

I sat on the sofa, not saying a word. 

Before leaving, she kissed my forehead.

“I'm going back to the company to take care of some things. You can come over in the afternoon and we can go home together.

“Also, I have prepared a surprise for you, remember to check it.”

After Meghan left, I started packing my luggage.

At noon, the surprise she prepared arrived.

A latest Patek Philippe men's watch and a luxurious customized lunch at a five-star hotel.

“My man should be pampered by me.”

This was the sentence Meghan has said most often in the seven years of marriage.

Looking at the men's watch lying quietly in the exquisite box, my heart began to feel sore and swollen.

I looked up at the huge wedding photo on the wall.

In the photo, Meghan was nestled in my arms, her face full of happiness.

But deep in her eyes, there was always a lingering melancholy.

In the past, I mistakenly thought that this was the feeling of being a married woman.

I only then realize if it was actually the sadness of not being able to marry the man she loved the most.

I tried to calm down and called a lawyer friend to ask him to prepare a divorce agreement.

I originally booked a flight to a foreign country that day, but ended up changing it to tomorrow.

Because I promised Meghan that I would accompany her back to her parents' home tonight to celebrate the Christmast.

My mother taught me that one should never go back on one's word.

When I thought of my mother, my heart felt like it was being twisted by an invisible hand and it ached dully.

My father died in a car accident when I was still a child. But my mother did not abandon me and raised me alone.

No matter how hard and tiring her life was, she never thought of remarrying.

Because she promised that she would only love my father in this life and would never change her mind.

In the afternoon, I came to Bradford Group.

As soon as I entered the door, I heard familiar whispers around me, “Mr. Mcknight is here to visit President Bradford again.”

“They are really in love.”

“Of course. The media once voted Mr. Mcknight and President Bradford as one of the ten most enviable couples in Harlette.”

“Mr. Mcknight and President Bradford have been childhood sweethearts, so they have been in a good relationship for seven years after their marriage.”

“President Bradford is pregnant. Mr. Mcknight must be worried about his wife and children. He will definitely visit her countless times in the future.”

“They are a perfect match and their baby will surely be very beautiful.”

“Then the family of three will have a truly happy life.”

“Alas, we are all men, why don't we have such a good life as President Bradford?”

“Look at the watch on his hand. It's the latest Patek Philippe, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“It must be President Bradford's work. I heard that she gives her husband a watch every year.”

“Mr. Mcknight must have saved the Milky Way in his previous life, so he was able to marry such an outstanding woman like President Bradford.”

“In fact, Mr. Mcknight's family background is also very good. His mother was a famous strong woman in Harlette when she was alive.”

“It's a pity that she died young. I heard that she was angered to death. Otherwise, the richest woman in Harlette would definitely have to be replaced.”

***

I stopped outside the president's office.

Meghan's dissatisfied voice came from inside, “I clearly ordered two watches, one regular edition and one limited edition.

“The regular edition has already been delivered, but you told me I have to wait for the limited edition?

“Do you guys do business like this?”

“No need to explain too much. If the watch is not delivered within an hour, I will file a complaint to your President!”

It turned out that Meghan bought two watches.

After standing outside the door for a few minutes, I pushed it open and walked in.

When she saw me, Meghan, who had been frowning, immediately smiled. “Lucas, you are here!”

“Wait a moment, I'll be there soon as I finish processing these documents,” she said it was still early and there was no rush.

Then I sat on the sofa, looked at my phone and waited silently.

Meghan was very serious and beautiful at work.

In a trance, I felt that she had some similarities with my mother.

In fact, it was not surprising at all, because both of them are strong women who were influential in the business world.

After half an hour, my phone suddenly received a reminder message.

I clicked on it and saw that it was Raquel who updated his Instagram.

Four photos, all close-ups of him wearing a watch.

“This is the best birthday present I’ve ever received. People say the new year is better than the old year, I say you are better than everything!”

Many comments quickly popped up below.

“Isn't this the new Patek Philippe?”

“Oh my god, this is a limited edition worth over 37 million!”

“I’m so envious.”

“No need to guess, I know who sent it.”

“I won't say anything more. I just wish lovers will finally get married.”

I kept scrolling down but could not find Meghan's comment.

Looking up, she was still focused on her work, with her phone quietly placed aside.

I realized that when Raquel posted this message on Instagram, he had most likely blocked her.

I looked bitter.

As far as I could remember, that day was the first time I saw Meghan so angry.

Just for a watch.

Finally, Meghan finished her work and drove back to her parents' home with me.

On the way, I closed my eyes and took a nap.

Meghan's cell phone suddenly rang.

She turned her head and looked at me, thinking that I was asleep and then she pressed the answer button with confidence.

“Meghan, thank you for giving me such a valuable watch.”

The sound coming from the Bluetooth headset was very low, but I was close enough to hear it clearly.

Meghan's lips curled up.

“It's only about 30 million, not that expensive. As long as you like it, I can buy you anything.”

Raquel was very touched and said, “Over the years, you have given me so many gifts. And each time it's more valuable than the last.

“I feel very uneasy. If Lucas knew about this, he would definitely be unhappy. I don't want you and your husband to have conflicts because of me.”

Meghan smiled calmly, “Don't worry, he won't know. And I bought him a watch, too, though not as valuable as yours.”

Raquel suddenly lowered his voice, “Meghan, can you spend the night with me?”