I Marry for Real, and Now They Regret It

Chapter 4

The guests began murmuring, some even pulling out their phones to snap pictures.

My face burned with embarrassment.

Yeah, I had been chasing him for years. And yeah, he had always taken my kindness, giving me nothing but vague, half-hearted replies in return. Over and over, he stomped all over my feelings without a second thought.

A chill swept through the room, and I felt it deep in my bones.

What hit hardest wasn't Arnold's cruelty—it was the fact that some people in the crowd were actually nodding along, like this was all just a game.

Arnold marched a man up to the stage. He looked like he was in his forties or fifties, older than my father, and wearing that sleazy grin that made my stomach turn.

"What a beauty," he commented, his yellow teeth flashing.

Tyler and Peter shoved me toward him. I couldn't move, disgust weighing me down.

Peter snapped when I didn't play along. "What's the holdup? This is way quicker than hiring an actor. Just marry him already and stop making this worse for everyone."

Esther's voice was dripping with fake sympathy. "Sara, cut the act. We've already picked the best guy for you. What else do you want?"

I glared at them, fists clenched at my sides.

"My wedding isn't your business!"

Then it hit me.

I had just gotten married yesterday.

My marriage certificate was in my purse, right here, right now.

I marched forward, grabbed my bag, and yanked out the certificate. I didn't hesitate. I opened it, slammed it down in front of them.

"This is my marriage certificate. My husband's name is right here. Like I said, he's just not here yet."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Peter froze, his face going from smug to confused before he burst out laughing.

"Sara, you're really out here pulling this drama!" He waved the certificate in the air like it was some kind of joke. "Do you even know who this guy is? You seriously photoshopped him into your husband?"

Arnold grabbed the certificate, scanning it quickly.

The room exploded into laughter.

"Where did you get this fake certificate? You couldn't even make it look legit!" Arnold sneered. "Jerome Emmerson? I literally met with him yesterday about a business deal. You know what he told me? That he just got married and was busy with his wife."

My heart dropped into my stomach.

I remembered how Jerome had spent the entire day with me, picking out wedding dresses. His phone rang non-stop, but when I told him to take the calls, he refused, insisting on staying with me.

Esther looked at me like she pitied me. "Sara, it's not your fault you couldn't have the guy you wanted. But this... this charade? It just makes you look pathetic."

My dad had enough. He grabbed my arm, trying to pull me off the stage.

"That's enough, Sara. Quit embarrassing yourself!"

But Arnold wasn't letting go. He gripped my wrist, stopping me from leaving.

"You said he was almost here, right?" Arnold smirked, looking around. "Where is he? Or are you going to bail before we get to meet your husband?"

Tyler and Peter closed in, making sure I couldn't escape. The chaos made my footing slip, and I almost stumbled down the stairs.

Just when I thought I'd hit the ground and lose whatever dignity I had left, two strong arms caught me, steadying me with a warmth that washed over me.

A familiar scent of pine filled the air.

"Sorry, honey, I'm late," a deep voice whispered, his arms wrapping around me like I was the only thing that mattered.