When My Fake Marriage Fell Apart

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."

When I woke up the next day, Lucas had already left.

He always left for work earlier than me. There was breakfast on the table, still warm.

As I drank my porridge, I suddenly felt dazed.

He was always this considerate and thoughtful, which was why I mistakenly thought he loved me too.

Halfway through eating, my phone rang.

Peyton had created a reunion group chat.

"Everyone, I miss you all! Tonight's gathering---no one's allowed to skip!"

I didn't want to go, but when I scrolled down, I saw Lucas had already replied: "I'll be there on time."

Maybe I just couldn't let go. I also replied "I'll be there on time."

That day I had to work late, so I was delayed.

When I pushed open the private room door, my old classmates were already seated.

Peyton sat in the main seat, Lucas beside her, smiling beautifully.

That kind of smile---he rarely showed it to me.

Peyton was the first to stand up, her voice sweet and bright. "Leah, you're late! You have to take a penalty drink!"

I forced a smile, scanned the room, and finally found an empty seat in the corner.

I secretly glanced at Lucas, but he only looked at Peyton the whole time, pouring her drinks and serving her food, as if he didn't know me.

As luck would have it, sitting next to me was my high school rival, Felix.

He had a look of enjoying the show, deliberately raising his voice. "Hey? Why aren't you sitting with your husband Lucas?"

At those words, the whole room went silent.

Everyone's eyes swept back and forth between Lucas and me.

Peyton didn't seem that surprised. Instead, she smiled with pursed lips and deliberately asked:

"Lucas, I thought you were against marriage? Turns out you just hadn't met the right person!"

She turned to me with a smile. "Leah, congratulations! Lucas is so much better now than before. You should thank me for rejecting him back then."

I didn't say anything, just quietly looked at Lucas.

Honestly, I was almost grateful she asked, because I really wanted to know how he would answer.

Lucas unconsciously glanced at Peyton, then casually curved his lips:

"Hey, Leah and I---we're just doing this to deal with our families."

The room exploded with chatter.

"When did you two get married? Why didn't you tell us?"

"You've been single all this time---weren't you waiting for Peyton?"

"Leah, are you two real or fake?"

I gripped my glass tightly, not daring to look up.

Perhaps seeing my embarrassment, Lucas added: "We're close, and our parents know each other well. Stop making a fuss."

His vague answer finally forced my tears back.

I smiled and looked up. "That's right, it's fake. He and I have no relationship at all."

As I said this, I kept staring into Lucas's eyes.

He frowned at me, a flash of confusion in his eyes. I almost thought he was going to explain.

But soon, he looked away and stopped looking at me.

The atmosphere gradually became lively again.

Felix suddenly spoke up. "Since it's fake, and Peyton's back, isn't this your chance, Lucas?"

Someone nearby joined in the teasing:

"Exactly! You chased her for three years back then. Now you're both single---isn't this perfect?"

"Hey, come to think of it, you two are actually a good match now!"

Peyton blushed and laughed, saying "Stop it" with her mouth while her eyes looked brightly at Lucas.

Lucas didn't respond, just smiled, and didn't stop this nonsense.

The teasing voices made my head buzz, and my stomach suddenly cramped.

I rushed to the bathroom and threw up everything.

I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror, forcing my expression back to calm.

When I came out, I realized I'd been worrying for nothing.

The excitement in the private room hadn't stopped at all. Lucas just glanced in my direction, then looked away again, continuing to pour drinks for Peyton.

The gathering ended very late.

Peyton had drunk a lot, clinging to Lucas's arm the whole time, laughing unsteadily.

Lucas supported her. "Let's go drop her off first."

I shook my head. "You go ahead. I'll call a car and go back myself."

He frowned, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

But before he could speak, Peyton in his arms mumbled and leaned closer.

He looked at the person in his arms with the care of treasuring something precious, stopped paying attention to me, and got in the car with her.

Peyton enjoyed the feeling of everyone's adoration.

Lucas was her devoted follower---even if she didn't like him, she wouldn't allow anyone else to take him away.

I stood there and suddenly laughed.

I planned to have things out with Lucas.

It wasn't until the middle of the night that he came home.

As soon as he walked in, there was a faint scent of perfume on him.

My nose had become too sensitive after pregnancy. I rushed straight to the bathroom and threw up.

He quickly followed, patting my back. "Did you eat something bad?"

I braced myself against the sink and caught my breath. "Didn't eat anything bad. It's the perfume that's choking."

He paused for a moment, then leaned against the doorframe, his brow deeply furrowed:

"Isn't that a bit much? Just dropping off an old classmate, and you're disgusted by me?"

"Plus, I was planning to take you along to drop her off, but you insisted on leaving first."

This impatient tone---he'd never used it before.

My nose stung, and tears fell despite myself.

His expression softened a little. He came over to wipe my tears, but his tone was still dismissive:

"Get some rest early. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Then he turned to leave.

I called out to him. "You went to pick up Peyton yesterday, didn't you?"

His back stiffened. He frowned and turned around. "Who's been talking nonsense? I just had company business."

I laughed coldly inside.

Sure enough, that post Peyton made was visible only to me.

I didn't dwell on that topic and asked directly: "At the reunion, why didn't you dare make our relationship public?"

His temper flared too, his tone sharp. "Didn't you say it has nothing to do with me?"

This reversal left me speechless.

He immediately added: "Weren't we fake married to begin with?"

My heart went cold. I bit my lip. "What about our feelings? Were those fake too?"

His Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head without answering.

Tears fell uncontrollably again. I was almost crying as I shouted:

"If it was fake, why did you get serious with me? You still have feelings for Peyton? Why did you propose to me?"

He walked over and hugged me, his hand gently patting my back, but he said nothing.

I went quiet for a moment.

I already knew the answer.

But I still couldn't let go. My voice hoarse, I asked:

"When are we going to get our license?"

His body clearly stiffened. After a long while, he finally spoke:

"Aren't things... pretty good the way they are now?"

I went completely silent.

I was just his second choice all along. What was I even doing here, humiliating myself?

That night, I moved straight to the guest room to sleep.

He grabbed my wrist. "Does it have to be like this?"

I shook off his hand.

He didn't insist anymore. He sighed, went back to the bedroom, and closed the door heavily.

That door slam cut off my last hope.

I cried under the covers, swallowing the sounds back into my stomach.

This past year had been like a beautiful dream.

We hadn't even had a single fight.

I thought that was sweetness. Now I understood---I'd just been accommodating him all along, never daring to really make a fuss.

There was no such thing as peaceful years---it just hadn't been time to turn on each other yet.

The moment she came back, I lost.

Lost completely and thoroughly, without even room to struggle.

Before I cried myself to sleep last night, I'd already requested time off.

Today I went to the hospital for a checkup.

The doctor didn't look up, typing on the keyboard while asking: "Married or unmarried?"

My heart stung. I opened my mouth: "Unmarried..."

The doctor continued mechanically: "Let me examine you."

After the ultrasound, the doctor's expression turned serious. "Your hormone levels are very unstable. You need to rest and avoid stress."

I nodded, but that night, I was woken by a sharp cramp in my lower abdomen.

When I turned on the light, I saw blood.

Panic flooded me. I called an ambulance.

In the emergency room, the doctor told me I had miscarried.

I lay on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, tears silently soaking the pillow.

The baby was gone. I didn't even have to make a choice.

The next day, the hospital said I needed a minor procedure to complete the miscarriage. A family member had to accompany me.

I didn't want to tell anyone, so I found a temporary job online.

The person was waiting downstairs at the agreed time.

The moment I stepped out the building door, I was stunned.

Felix was leaning against the car door, holding a little "Escort Service" sign, grinning at me.

"Good morning, client."