Chapter 1
584 Words
Arthur Blake's expression revealed nothing. "Ivy Bennett, have you thought this through?"
I met his gaze directly, then smiled.
"Of course. I was raised to believe that no matter what it is, you should always choose the best option."
Something dark flickered in Arthur's eyes.
I held my breath, waiting for his answer.
The man standing before me was still in the prime of his life. No one would guess he had a son nine years younger than himself.
If Jace Blake's parents had not died young, he never would have been adopted into Arthur's branch of the family.
Arthur might not have been old, but he already held real power within the Blake family.
A thin layer of sweat dampened my palms. This was the first truly outrageous thing I had ever done in my life. The thought of becoming my ex-fiancé's stepmother still felt unreal.
"Once you marry me," Arthur said evenly, "there's no turning back."
He took out his ID, tilted his chin slightly, and motioned for me to lead the way.
When I looked down at the freshly issued marriage certificate, I finally let out the breath I had been holding.
The moment we stepped out of the clerk's office, Arthur handed me a black card. "The PIN is 170813. Leave the wedding arrangements to a planning company. Just choose whatever you like."
I accepted the card and nodded obediently.
After a brief pause, he added, "Things have been busy at the company lately. As for the wedding ring and the dress, if you want me to go with you…"
"It's okay," I interrupted with a genuine smile. "I can handle it myself."
Arthur looked like he wanted to say something else, but before either of us could speak again, my phone suddenly rang. It was Jace.
"Ivy, don't tell me you're still at the clerk's office."
I gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
A second later, Mia Vance's laughter drifted through the phone. "So Ivy, you really got stood up today? You and Jace may have been childhood sweethearts, but these past few years, I'm the one who's always been by his side. You still don't understand him well enough. A good girl like you was never his type."
My fingers tightened around the phone. Maybe she was right. I had never been the kind of woman Jace liked.
Jace was reckless and impossible to control. He skipped classes, spent his nights in clubs, and was obsessed with racing.
Meanwhile, I had always been the model student, the good girl every adult praised.
If not for the childhood engagement arranged between our families, our lives probably never would have crossed paths at all.
I had always known Jace resisted the marriage, but because of our history together, some part of me had still held onto hope.
I never imagined he would despise me enough to publicly call off the engagement just to humiliate me.
When I stayed silent for too long, Jace's lazy, teasing voice came through the receiver again.
"Ivy, I know I shouldn't have left you there today. But you've already waited for me this long. Waiting a little longer shouldn't hurt, right?"
I bit down on my lip. Countless words crowded my throat as I tried to speak.
Before I could say anything, Arthur reached over and took the phone from my hand.
"Jace," he said coldly, "no one is obligated to wait for you forever. As for today's matter, come home and accept your punishment."
- Writer
