Chapter 1
When I left Alexander Ford, everyone thought it was such a shame.
After all, I was the one who had been with him the longest, the one everyone believed would become his wife.
I even gave him boy-girl twins.
When I told him I wanted to break up, Alexander was sprawled out on the couch, shaking a rattle to keep the kids entertained.
"If you walk out now, you'll never see these two little ones again. Think it through," Alexander said.
I nodded.
"I'm getting married. He doesn't care that I'm older, not pretty, or that I have a past with you. I want to be his wife," I said.
Alexander paused for a moment, his hand still holding the rattle.
After a while, he smiled nonchalantly.
"Sure, whatever you want," he said.
He really couldn't care less.
Later, he ruined my husband's company, forced me to divorce, and held our children as he begged me to show him affection.
It felt like he was a completely different person to me.
*****
I was the child bride the Ford Family raised for Alexander.
When I was little, I was really cute.
But as I grew up, I became plain and unremarkable.
Among all the gorgeous women Alexander surrounded himself with, I was the awkward, unattractive one.
Alexander didn't like me at all.
But I stuck with him for so many years.
So he allowed me to bear his children.
The twins were raised by Mr. and Mrs. Ford, and they were the most cherished grandchildren in the Ford Family.
I was the one everyone thought would end up marrying Alex.
But in the end, I was the one who chose to walk away.
*****
It was a late autumn evening.
The villa was warm and cozy.
Alexander was lounging on the couch, shaking a rattle to entertain the twins in their crib.
I set a plate of fruit down in front of him.
Then I told him I wanted to leave.
"If you walk out now, you'll never see these two little ones again. Think it through," he said.
"I've made up my mind," I said.
I twisted my fingers and said:
"I'm getting married. He doesn't mind my age, my looks, or what happened between us. I want to be his wife," I said.
Alexander's hand froze mid-shake with the rattle.
After a moment, he gave a careless smile.
"Alright, as long as you're sure. Do whatever you want," he said.
He really couldn't care less.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Men with power always have this crazy possessiveness.
Once they've marked a woman as theirs, even if they don't love her, they'd never let her walk away.
Thankfully, Alexander wasn't one of those guys.
I wiped the water off my fingers with my apron.
Alexander was back to shaking the rattle, playing with the twins.
He chuckled, his tone mocking.
"Looks like your mom doesn't want you anymore," he said.
The twins started bawling their heads off.
I went rigid for a moment.
Then I bolted out of there like I was running for my life.
*****
Once word got out, everyone started trying to talk me out of it.
Mrs. Ford came all the way from Europe, softly begging me not to do this.
Aunt Grace pleaded, "You have two kids with him, and you've been with him since childhood. No one else stands a chance against you.
"Those women around him now are flashy looks, nothing more. When it comes to real feelings, they don't even come close to what you two have.
"You're meant to be Mrs. Ford, Serena. You've waited ten years for this, why walk away now?" she pleaded.
I kept my head down, not saying a word.
I'd heard all this way too many times.
I'd been hearing it from the time I came of age, through having his two children, and even after their first birthday.
Alexander cycled through girlfriends like seasons.
And me, the so-called "future Mrs. Ford," was still waiting for a wedding that never happened.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Grace, I can't wait any longer," I said softly, gently interrupting her.
I met her gaze, my voice gentle but resolute.
I took out a bright red wedding invitation from my bag and said:
I said, "I'm getting married next month, Aunt Grace. I really hope you'll be there.
"I want you there as my mother."
Aunt Grace's lips trembled.
But she sighed and took the invitation anyway.
She brought me home from the orphanage and raised me as her own daughter.
I've always considered her my mother.
Aunt Grace said, "Alright, I'll be there. , please think it over again.
"Alex really does care about you. He never says what he really feels, that's how he is," Aunt Grace said.
Aunt Grace kept praising Alex non-stop, until her throat was dry.
as Aunt Grace was about to take a sip of coffee, Alexander grabbed the invitation from her hand.