Chapter 1

I dated my boyfriend for five years, but because I couldn't have children, he turned around and married someone else.

On his wedding day, he posted a nine-grid photo album on his social media with the caption: "Finally found the one."

I liked his post and then blocked him.

A month later, Dexter Miller, the director, came to me with a secretive smile and said, "My son can't have kids either. Why don't you two settle down together? That way, neither of you has to feel embarrassed."

I thought about it. Since nobody else was interested in me anyway, I figured, why not, so I said yes.

Three months after we got married, I went to the hospital to get my stomach pain checked out.

The doctor looked at the ultrasound report with a strange expression. "Congratulations! You're having triplets. You need to take extra good care of yourself."

I was stunned on the spot, my hands shaking as I held the report.

The day Scott Cassidy got married, the weather was perfect.

I scrolled through my social media feed and saw a nine-grid photo album of their wedding photos.

The bride was smiling sweetly, nestled up against him, as she belonged right there with him.

His caption read: "After five years of ups and downs, I finally found the right one."

I stared at those words for a long time.

It felt like someone had stuffed a block of ice into my stomach, cold and hard. It was so painful to even breathe.

We'd been together for five years.

From college all the way to our jobs, everyone thought we'd end up married.

But then, six months ago, that infertility diagnosis felt like a death sentence hanging over me.

Scott's mom came to me, her words polite but cutting.

She said, "Our family has had only one son for three generations. We can't let the family line stop with Scott.

"Naoimi, you're a good girl, but... I guess our family isn't lucky enough."

I didn't cry or cause a fuss. I just ended things quietly.

Scott didn't even say a word to keep me.

He just stayed silent, then finally said, "I'm sorry."

Now, he'd found the right one.

Someone who could bear his children and keep the family legacy alive.

I opened the comments section, and it was flooded with well-wishes.

[A match made in heaven.]

[Congrats, Scott! Wishing you a happy marriage and lots of babies.]

[Finally, you tied the knot. Hope you find true happiness.]

I forced a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

My finger hovered over the screen, and in the end, I hit like.

Then I blocked all his contact information.

I tossed my phone aside and buried myself in the blankets.

In the darkness, I could almost hear the sounds of the wedding.

Or maybe I was just imagining it.

The next day at the office, my eyes were still swollen.

My colleagues glanced at me with a mix of pity and caution, like they were afraid to say the wrong thing.

Word travels fast around here.

Everyone in the department knew the guy I'd been with for five years had tied the knot with someone else yesterday.

I clocked in, fired up my computer, and started sorting through paperwork, like any other day.

I went on as if nothing had happened.

I ignored all those pitying glances from my colleagues.

I buried myself in work all day.

Just as I was about to clock out, Dexter Miller, the department head, tapped on my desk.

"Naoimi, come to my office for a minute," he said.

Dexter was in his fifties, always serious, and had an air of authority.

My heart tightened. I had no idea what I'd done wrong.

Feeling uneasy, I walked into his office.

Dexter poured me a glass of water, his face twisted into a strange mix of awkwardness and hesitation, like he wasn't sure what to say.

He sat there in silence for what felt like ages before finally speaking.

"Naoimi, I heard about what happened to you."

I lowered my head, cradling the glass in my hands, my fingers tightening around it.

"Don't be upset. It's all in the past now," Dexter said, trying to comfort me. Then he shifted gears.

"I called you in today because I want to talk to you about something," he said.

His voice got low, almost conspiratorial.

"Think of it as an opportunity, depends on how you see it," he added.

I looked up at Dexter, not sure what he was getting at.

He met my gaze, speaking slowly, as if weighing every word.

"I've got a son, you know. He's thirty, hasn't married yet," Dexter said.

I froze, caught off guard.

"He... has some fertility issues, too," Dexter said.

He let out a heavy sigh, his eyes filled with mixed feelings.

"Just like you, the doctors say it's unlikely he'll ever have children of his own," he added.

My mind was buzzing.

I'd only met Steven Millerhim, Dexter's son, once at the company's annual party.

He was tall and skinny, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and looked gentle and bookish.

But he barely said a word, just sat quietly in the corner the whole time.

I never would have guessed...

"He's our only child, and we've tried every possible way, but nothing helped," Dexter said.

Dexter sounded utterly defeated.

"We thought maybe that's how life would go, but with him all by himself, we can't stop worrying," he added.

I was starting to get what he was hinting at, and my heart was racing.

"Naoimi, I know you're a good kid, honest and dependable," Dexter said.

He finally laid his cards on the table.

"See, you both have your own challenges. If you two get together, it's a perfect match. Neither of you has to feel awkward or embarrassed," he continued.

"If you two get married, from now on you'll be part of our family. My wife and I will treat you like our own daughter, no question about it.

"We've got a house and a car set up for you, so you'll never have to worry about being mistreated or lacking anything."

I was floored.

Was he trying to match me with his son?

No, this felt more like some kind of deal.

Just two broken people, trying to make something work out of what life handed us.

I couldn't have kids, and neither could his son.

We'd get together and form a family. That way, we could shut everyone up and put our parents' minds at ease.

It sounded ridiculous, but also brutally real.

"Mr. Miller, it... it's just too sudden," I said softly.

"Not really," Dexter waved his hand. "I've been thinking about this for a long time.

"I've seen how things were between you and Scott. Scott never had any backbone. Breaking up with him was the best thing you could've done.

"Steven's a good man. Sure, he's a bit quiet, but his character is rock solid.

"If you two get married, it's really just partnering up for life, looking out for each other. When we're old, you'll have someone to lean on."

I sat there, silent.

My head was spinning.

Should I turn him down?

Could I ever find someone better?

In this town, a woman who can't have kids was seen as damaged goods.