Chapter 2: The Marriage Certificate Commotion
1217 Words
City Hall!
Getting married and obtaining a certificate also requires waiting in line, and there are two couples ahead of Isabelle and Antoine.
With a ding, Isabelle received a text message on her phone: "Must arrive by 10:30, this business deal is extremely important!" It was a WeChat message from her senior sister, reminding her not to be late.
Isabelle frowned and approached the registration counter, timidly asking, "Excuse me, how long does it take to process a certificate?"
The staff member gave her a strange look and replied, "About ten minutes for one certificate."
Isabelle's anxious expression immediately attracted odd stares from everyone. Although men and women are equal, and marriage is a personal choice, when it comes to registering for a marriage certificate, as a woman, one should be more reserved and not so eager.
Isabelle immediately felt her face flush, but time was really tight. If they waited for their turn, it would take at least half an hour!
It was already close to 10 AM, and it would take at least ten more minutes to get there, meaning she wouldn't make it by 10:30.
Biting her lip, Isabelle put on a friendly and charming smile and approached the first couple. "You two are so beautiful, like a goddess and a handsome prince. You really are a perfect match, like a fairytale couple. Congratulations!"
The couple listened to Isabelle's endless compliments, exchanged a sweet look, and nodded at Isabelle. "Thank you, we wish you the same..."
Following the same approach, Isabelle flattered the other couple as well.
Isabelle's small, lovely face was naturally sweet and pretty, making people feel tender towards her. When she smiled her cutest smile, it instantly made the two couples feel that Isabelle was adorable and approachable.
They looked at Isabelle and then at Antoine, who stood behind her with an air of nobility, and said with a smile, "You're even more beautiful and lovely, and your husband is even more handsome and charming..."
These two couples clearly understood that this pair was the true "match made in heaven."
"Thank you for the compliments. Um, two sisters, two brothers, can we discuss something? Would it be possible for us to get our certificate first? We're in a bit of a hurry..." Isabelle's face turned red as she finished speaking.
"Of course, of course, it’s just a matter of ten minutes or so!"
"We understand your feelings. We hope you seize the time, work hard, and have a healthy baby next year!"
The two couples smiled knowingly at Isabelle, stepped back, and allowed her to go ahead.
Antoine watched Isabelle's performance coldly from beginning to end, his gaze growing sharper and more disdainful.
Is this the Isabelle his grandfather had been praising—this pure and kind-hearted girl?
Clearly, this woman was scheming, targeting Antoine and the title of lady of the house, and had been planning for months!
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that his grandfather, while strolling on the street, suddenly fell ill and was helped by her, who immediately called an ambulance and saved his life?
This woman had clearly figured out that to win Antoine, she first needed to win over his grandfather!
"Schemer, does she really think I, Antoine, can be fooled so easily?"
"I’ll just have to wait and see what she does next."
"The position of lady of the house at Groupe Antoine Leclerc is not something a woman like her can just take."
Antoine did not speak throughout but the cold aura he exuded grew stronger. Even the two couples unconsciously distanced themselves from him.
"Thank you, everyone!" Soon, the marriage certificate was in hand, and Isabelle thanked the four people before hurriedly leaving the city hall without looking back, as if she had completely forgotten about Antoine!
Was this just a feigned retreat?
A petty trick!
Antoine watched as Isabelle hurriedly walked away, a sneer forming in his heart, and followed her outside.
He saw Isabelle head straight for her small electric scooter, and only when she reached it did she seem to snap back to reality. She turned to look at the cold Antoine, "Uh, Mr. Antoine, I'm sorry, I almost forgot about you!"
Antoine inwardly scoffed at her childish trickery, but said indifferently, "What do we do next?" Clearly, Isabelle had more tricks up her sleeve!
"What do we do next?"
"No, Mr. Antoine, we won’t do anything next. I have other things to take care of, let’s catch up later!" Isabelle, thinking Antoine had an ulterior motive based on the words and expressions of the two couples, flushed red and hurriedly waved her hand.
There were still eighteen minutes left, and she had to be at Changqing Trading Company on time!
Changqing Trading Company had received its first German business, with representatives from the German company coming to discuss, and she was needed as a temporary translator. The success of the deal depended heavily on the translation!
In college, her major was art and design, but she also studied two languages—Italian and German—in addition to achieving an IELTS score of 7.5 in English. She had been working as a temporary translator for various jobs even before graduating. After starting work, she didn't slow down, as one of her senior sisters opened a translation studio where she frequently took assignments.
Time was pressing, and earning money was important. Before she could finish speaking, Isabelle was already on her small electric scooter, speeding off eastward.
"She really left like this? Left me, her new husband, here?"
"Or is she still playing hard to get?"
Antoine watched as Isabelle's figure disappeared into the distance, his face filled with mixed emotions.
Suddenly, a car stopped in front of him. The door opened, and an elderly man with gray hair leaned out and shouted at him, "I'm so angry! What did you do to drive my granddaughter-in-law away? My chest hurts so much!" He clutched his chest with both hands.
Antoine was startled and rushed to the car, helping the elderly man and patting his back. "Grandpa, don’t get excited! I’ve done what you asked and got the certificate with her!" The elderly man was Antoine's grandfather, Bernard, who had a weak heart.
"Did you really not lie to me? Did you get the certificate?" Bernard’s exaggerated expression stopped immediately.
"Of course we did, look!" Antoine knew his grandfather was pretending but didn’t dare provoke him further and quickly took out the marriage certificate.
Bernard snatched it and looked at the photo of Antoine and Isabelle on the marriage certificate with the city hall's seal, grinning from ear to ear. "It’s really a marriage certificate! Good, good! Look, my granddaughter-in-law is so beautiful, just like a princess. Only you, my boy, could match her! You two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven! I’m really impressed with my old self for recognizing such a good match!"
Antoine rolled his eyes: "I’m your real grandson, right?" Grandpa is really charmed by that woman. I have to be more careful from now on—keep Isabelle and Grandpa from spending too much time together and absolutely cannot let Groupe Antoine Leclerc fall into that woman’s hands!
The happier Bernard was, the more wary Antoine became of Isabelle.
- Writer
