Chapter 5

I was such an idiot in my previous life. So clueless that I treated every warning as someone trying to ruin my love story.

Julian sorted the documents and said in a low voice, "Mrs. Goodwin, the Grant family won't let this slide. Tomorrow, they'll say Miss Goodwin and I were having an affair, and blame her for the whole fake groom mess."

Mom looked at him. "Are you scared?"

Julian shook his head. "Being scared won't help. I'm already in the thick of it."

I asked, "How's your sister?"

He replied immediately, "She's been transferred to the city hospital. The doctors said we got her there in time. Miss Goodwin, I won't forget this favor."

"Don't rush to repay me," I said, gazing out the window. "Tomorrow, Samuel will come to beg me."

Julian didn't buy it. "With his temper, he'll resort to threats."

"He only threatens because he still has leverage," I said, pulling out the collection letter. "By tomorrow morning, he'll realize his biggest bargaining chip is gone."

Mom shot me a look. "What did you do?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I said, "Mom, don't send the last payment to the Grant family."

Mom frowned. "That money was supposed to be transferred after the wedding."

"Cancel it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Julian looked at me like he was seeing a whole new side of me. "Things are about to blow up for the Grant family."

"If they wanted to play games with my wedding, they should have known that games have winners and losers," I replied.

*****

By 8:30 the next morning, the entrance to the County Clerk's Office was already packed.

Word must've gotten out somehow, because reporters were swarming the door with their cameras and microphones.

Henry was standing in the crowd, and the moment I stepped out of the car, he started throwing shade my way. "Claire, you got the guts to show up for your marriage certificate?

"You got busted with a fake groom yesterday, and now you're desperate to make it official. Are you scared Samuel is gonna ditch you?"

Julian opened the car door and stepped in front of me, shielding me from the crowd. "Step aside."

Henry sneered, "Well, the stand-in thinks he's the real groom now? You know Samuel could crush you with one finger, right?"

I shot Henry a look. "If Samuel's so tough, why isn't he here doing it himself?"

"Samuel's definitely coming," Henry said, lifting his chin. "He's here to give you one last chance."

A few cars pulled up by the curb.

When Samuel got out, his face was more grim than it was last night.

Charlotte was there as well, wearing a black dress as if she had come specially to see me off on my final journey.

She walked up to me, her voice soft. "Claire, Samuel didn't sleep at all last night. He knows he messed up. If you don't get your marriage certificate today, we can say yesterday was all a misunderstanding."

I turned to Samuel. "You know you were wrong?"

Samuel forced down his anger. "Claire, I can admit in front of everyone that I screwed up yesterday, and I can make it up to you with a real wedding."

"And what about Charlotte?"

Charlotte's eyes welled up with tears. "I can stay away for a while, so I won't bother you two."

"How long?" I pressed.

She clearly hadn't expected me to push for an answer.

Samuel snapped, "Do you have to be so harsh?"

I nodded. "So this isn't an apology. You're trying to make a deal."

Samuel lowered his voice. "Claire, don't push me. The money from your family to the Grant family has to hit our account today. If you come back with me now, we can still fix this."

"And what if I don't go back with you?"

He stared at me. "The Grant family put money into your mom's nursing home. Do you think your family's position is that secure right now?"

Julian suddenly turned to me, his eyes sharp.

Henry snickered. "Did you hear that, Miss Goodwin? Don't think you can keep living the high life without Samuel. Your mom's life is still in the Grant family's hands."

I turned to Henry. "You sure love sticking up for the Grant family."

"I'm stating the facts."

"Then remember this fact," I said, handing the number slip to Julian. "I'm getting that marriage certificate today, no matter what."

Samuel finally couldn't hold back and reached out to grab my hand.

Julian moved quickly, stepping between us to block him.

The two men stood face-to-face in a tense standoff right at the entrance of the County Clerk's Office, while reporters snapped photos like crazy.

Suddenly, Charlotte clutched her chest and leaned on Samuel. "Samuel, I don't feel well."

Samuel froze for a second, then quickly caught her, steadying her.

Back then, it was always the same old story.

Whenever Samuel and I got into it, she'd instantly turn fragile.

If I gave in, she'd come out on top.

If I stood my ground, suddenly I was the wicked one.