Chapter 1

In my hometown, when a man wants to marry the woman he loves, he must personally craft a rowing boat to serve as the wedding boat.

On the seventh anniversary of our relationship, my boyfriend Julian finally built a beautiful boat.

Just as I was about to step aboard, I overheard his friend asking him in a hushed voice:

"Are you really giving the boat to Ivy? Aren't you afraid Serena will make a scene?"

"Seriously, Serena has quite the temper. Be careful you don't push her too far."

Julian just laughed, sounding completely certain of himself:

"She won't. Serena's the easiest to handle. She loves me to death."

"Besides, in her hometown, if a woman's still unmarried at 28, she's basically an old maid. Besides marrying me, who else would want her?"

"Anyway, I'll give Serena the marriage certificate and Ivy the wedding boat. It's perfectly fair."

An old maid.

So that's all I was to him.

My throat tightened, but I didn't cry.

I just took out my phone and sent a message.

"Mom, I accept the arranged marriage you set up for me."