Chapter 2
Justin explained at length, "My sister only has one son. He's first in line to be our family's successor.
"Therefore, it is important that he gets a good education. I'm his uncle, and you're his aunt. Surely we should help him out?
"There are many good elementary schools near our place. If he moves in with us, he can attend the best elementary school in town."
Every word he said felt like a blade stabbing into my heart. We should help him? But why?
"Why should we let him move into our new place? Let his parents settle their own problem," I protested in a somewhat loud voice.
"Why are you so selfish?" Justin shot back angrily.
"He's just a small kid, and he's my nephew! He won't take up much space!
"Besides, my family helped pay for our place too!" he insisted.
Indeed, Justin's family did contribute some money.
The down payment was 50 thousand. My side paid 30 thousand, while his family paid the remaining 20 thousand.
But over the last two years, my monthly mortgage payments have totaled more than 20 thousand.
However, Justin had never contributed to the monthly mortgage payments.
I looked at the man before me. Suddenly, he seemed like a complete stranger to me.
The young man who once carried me piggyback to the hospital when I was sick…
The same young man who used to wait for me outside my office whenever I worked late…
This young man no longer existed. In his place stood a selfish, greedy man who took my sacrifices for granted.
Bitter disappointment began welling up in me.
The flame that had burned in my heart for seven years was dying out fast.
"I don't agree," I said firmly and loudly.
"Jacqueline Heselton, don't take my kindness for granted!" Justin snapped at me furiously.
"I'm not here to discuss it with you. I am officially informing you! My nephew's moving in, whether you like it or not!" he roared at me with finality.
His expression had turned downright sinister. I suddenly gave a bitter laugh.
I laughed at myself for being blind for seven years.
I laughed at myself for wasting my love on a heartless scumbag.
"What if I still refuse?" I retorted icily.
Justin's eyes blazed with fury. He stared me down and gave me his ultimatum. "If you still refuse, then you can forget about our marriage certificate!"
His words crushed the last shred of hope I still had like a sledgehammer.
So, in his view, our relationship was just a tool for him to threaten me with.
The future I had been eagerly looking forward to was not as important as his nephew getting into a good school.
Good. Very good. If he refused to give me the marriage certificate, then I would get it from elsewhere!
I took out my phone in front of him and searched through my contacts for a long time until I found "Mr. Zoeller."
This guy was the blind date my mom made me add to my phone contacts a few days ago.
I was planning to delete his number right after Justin and I got our marriage certificate.
But now, it looked like he might actually come in handy.
Justin was completely baffled by my actions. "What are you doing?"
I ignored him. After confirming that this was the right number, I dialed the number.
The call connected almost instantly. A deep, polite male voice answered on the other end. "Hello, Zoeller speaking."
I took a deep breath and spoke into the phone in the calmest voice I could muster. "Hello, Mr. Zoeller.
"Shall we get married? I'll be waiting at the entrance to the county clerk's office. Yes, today. Now."
After getting his reply, I ended the call briskly.
After that, under Justin's incredulous look, I alighted without looking at him.
My lovely dress flared out dramatically as I exited with a flourish from the car.
Bang! I concluded my final act of defiance by slamming the car door as loudly as I could.
And that slam also shut out Justin's shocked, furious, and incredulous face out of my life forever.
As I marched down the sidewalk, the scorching sun beat down on me.
Beneath my exquisite makeup, I was oblivious to the sun's heat.
All I felt was a chilling clarity in my mind, and the sinking realization that Justin didn't come after me.
I only heard him pressing the car horn madly inside the car like a rampaging wild beast that was trapped.
I didn't look back. Before long, I managed to flag down a taxi.
"The county clerk's office, please," I said without emotion.
The driver looked at me in the rearview mirror and saw my lovely dress.
Thus, he said with a grin, "Off to tie the knot, are you? Congratulations!"
"Yeah…" I smiled weakly at him. There was no doubt I was still getting married, except that the groom was a complete stranger this time.
Soon, the taxi pulled up in front of the county clerk's office.
The entrance was full of people. They were all couples, and all of them were smiling with happiness.
All of them were holding their partners' hands. And all of them were embracing their partners affectionately.
As I watched them, I felt the earlier bitterness overcoming me again.
Half an hour ago, I was just like them, believing that I was the luckiest girl alive.
But now, I was standing here all alone and feeling very out of place.