Chapter 1

Three months into my fake marriage with Lucas, we crossed the line.

I got pregnant, but I didn't dare tell him.

After all, he didn't love me. We hadn't even gotten our marriage certificate. I was afraid he wouldn't want this baby.

But on my birthday, he actually got down on one knee, holding out a ring, asking me to go get our marriage license with him.

I was moved to tears.

On the day we were supposed to get the license, I deliberately wore the white dress he liked and asked with a smile, "Do I look good?"

He took a phone call, his tone turning cold. "There's an emergency at the company. Let's do it another day."

Then he walked out the door.

That afternoon, I saw Peyton, the most popular girl in high school, had posted on Instagram.

"Thanks for picking me up from the airport, the flowers are beautiful~"

In the picture, I saw Lucas. He'd deliberately taken off his ring.

I threw away the pregnancy test report too.

The moment I saw Peyton's post, I knew there was no point waiting for Lucas.

If she could make him come back, she wouldn't be Peyton.

I casually ordered takeout. Ever since getting pregnant, I seemed to get hungry faster.

The three of us were high school classmates.

Back then, Lucas had chased Peyton like crazy. The whole class knew.

He'd saved up half a year's allowance to buy her a birthday present, playing the devoted admirer with great fanfare.

I'd even helped him pass notes to Peyton.

I'd secretly read the words written on those cards---they were sickeningly sweet.

And all the while, I'd been silently crushing on him.

At a class reunion after college graduation, several of us were still single, getting hassled by our families.

After a few rounds of drinks, Lucas suddenly turned to look at me. "Why don't we just fake marry each other? Deal with our families."

I thought he was drunk and joking, so I laughed along. "Sure, it's not like I can find anyone suitable anyway."

Later, we actually got a fake marriage certificate, fooling our parents by saying we were doing a travel wedding with no ceremony, when we didn't actually go anywhere.

Besides our families and a few close friends, we never told anyone.

Even after moving in together, I couldn't believe it was real---especially since my feelings were genuine.

At first, we were respectful and polite.

I couldn't cook and always ordered takeout, so he'd quietly put on an apron. "Eating takeout all the time isn't healthy."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Being this nice to me, I might take it seriously."

But he suddenly leaned in, his kiss landing on my lips. "Then take it seriously."

From that day on, we were really together.

A whole year of sweetness.

Until now.

Here I was, eating takeout alone again.

Suddenly, unwillingness surged through me.

I messaged him: "What time are you coming back?"

He replied quickly: "Still working on something, gonna be late."

I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed out loud.

He was with Peyton right now. What exactly was I hoping for?

He'd always refused to marry---wasn't he just waiting for her?

I'd originally planned to tell Lucas the good news about my pregnancy after we got our license.

Now it seemed unnecessary.

I threw the pregnancy report away along with the takeout trash.

Lucas came home very late. When he entered and saw the lights off, he thought I was asleep.

The sound of the shower ran for a long time.

When he came out, his hair wasn't even dry yet.

Like always, he hugged me from behind, chin resting on my shoulder.

I instinctively pulled away.

He followed and held me again, his voice low. "Why aren't you asleep yet? Waiting for me?"

I wanted to ask something, opened my mouth, but couldn't get the words out.

I just pretended I was falling asleep, mumbling a vague "Mm."

He laughed softly, his arm tightening, as if nothing had happened.

"Go to sleep."