My Flash Marriage Bride Is A Hidden Heiress

Im sorry. My ex came back for me. Were not getting married today.

The call ended.

And I became the joke of the entire city hall marriage office.

The clerk behind the counter couldnt stand it anymore. She pointed at a girl sitting nearby, just as dazed as I was.

Look at her. Her fianc ran off with a rich older woman. You two are both stranded in the same storm. Might as well pair up.

The girl looked at me for ten seconds.

Then she stood, walked over, and asked, Want to get married? I brought all my documents.

I nodded. Yes.

Ten minutes later, I had a wife.

The cold glass doors of city hall reflected my numb face.

The marriage certificate in my hand felt like a piece of burning metal.

The woman beside me was Sophie Whitmore, my new wife.

One hour ago, we had been complete strangers.

The air between us was frozen solid, awkward enough to cut with a knife.

People came and went around us. Their whispers were like tiny needles pricking my skin.

I could feel their stares.

Pitying, mocking, entertained.

The second time.

This was the second time Rachel Quinn had turned me into an utter fool at the door of city hall with one phone call.

Something inside my chest had gone hollow.

I could not even feel pain anymore.

Lets get something to eat, I said.

My voice was dry, like sandpaper scraping wood.

Sophie looked up. Her eyes were very clear, though right now they were covered in the same gray, defeated fog.

She gave a soft okay.

We walked into the nearest restaurant and sat across from each other.

Silence rose between us like a wall.

The servers menu finally broke the dead air.

I ordered two dishes at random.

Im Daniel Hart, I introduced myself again, as if saying it one more time might make this absurd day feel real.

Sophie Whitmore, she said quietly.

The food arrived.

Neither of us moved our forks.

My fianc and I were together five years, Sophie spoke first, her gaze resting on the cup in front of her.

He chose a woman who could save him twenty years of hard work.

Her voice was very calm.

No crying. No hysteria.

She was only stating a fact.

That kind of calm was more suffocating than sobbing.

I understood it.

The greatest grief is when the heart has already died.

My girlfriend, Rachel, I continued, following her lead.

This is the second time she backed out on the day we were supposed to get married. Both times because of her ex.

After saying it, I found it ridiculous myself.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, but I could not smile.

One left for money.

One left for old love.

The two of us were the brightest disasters in city hall that day.

What are you planning to do next? I asked her.

She shook her head. Her eyes were full of confusion. I dont know. The apartment belonged to him. I have nowhere to go.

I have a two-bedroom place.

The words left my mouth before I could think.

As soon as I said it, we both froze.

The air turned strange again.

I mean, I hurried to explain, feeling my face heat up, we could temporarily... share the place.

The word share sounded painfully ironic when paired with the marriage certificate in my hand.

Think of it as a buffer period for both of us, I added. Dont worry. I wont... Ill sleep in the smaller room.

Sophie looked at me.

There seemed to be a faint light in those clear eyes.

She was silent for a long time. Long enough that I thought she would refuse.

Okay, she finally said.

The meal tasted like nothing.

I took her back to my apartment.

The mortgage was not paid off yet, but it was the only root I had in this city.

The place was small, but I kept it clean.

She stood in the living room and looked around. Her tense shoulders seemed to relax a little.

You can take the main bedroom, I said, pushing her suitcase in. It has the balcony and better light.

Thank you, she said softly.

Between us, other than thank you, there seemed to be nothing else to say.

Late that night, I lay on the cold bed in the smaller room, staring at the ceiling.

Everything felt like an absurd dream.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Rachel.

Dont be mad. Once I handle things here, Ill come back to you. Wait for me.

Her tone was so natural.

So entitled.

Like she was granting me some kind of favor.

She did not even think she needed to explain.

What did she think I was?

A recycling station that would always stand in place, waiting for her to summon me or throw me away?

A wave of nausea rolled up from my stomach.

I stared at that line of text, my finger hovering over the screen.

Countless fights and reconciliations flashed through my mind.

All those humble compromises. All those excuses I made to deceive myself.

Now they looked like one slap after another across my face.

I did not reply.

Calmly, one by one, I deleted every way to contact her.

Messaging app, phone number, everything.

When I finished, it felt as if the huge stone pressing on my chest had finally cracked.

The next morning, I was woken by the smell of food.

I walked out of the smaller bedroom and saw Sophie in the kitchen, wearing one of my oversized T-shirts.

Morning light spilled through the window and fell over her, giving her an unreal kind of beauty.

On the table were two neat breakfasts.

Millet porridge and fried eggs.

Golden eggs, green scallions, steaming hot.

Youre awake? She turned back and smiled. I didnt know what you liked, so I made something simple.

I had lived on takeout for years. Breakfast was usually a bun grabbed on the way to work.

A breakfast this warm and ordinary felt almost luxurious.

Thank you, I said, sitting down.

The porridge was fragrant and soft.

One mouthful sent warmth spreading from my stomach through my limbs.

The icy feeling from yesterday, that sense that the whole world had abandoned me, seemed to be chased away by this bowl of porridge.

Youre a great cook, I said sincerely.

I used to cook often, she said lightly.

I could imagine that used to had been for someone else.

By silent agreement, neither of us mentioned yesterday again.

After breakfast, I got ready for work.

This is the spare key. I placed a set of keys on the entryway cabinet.

Stay here without worrying. Dont rush about work either. Take your time.

She nodded and took the keys. Okay.

As I changed shoes, she suddenly said, Im... unemployed for now. I might pay rent late.

No need, I interrupted. Think of it as a roommate welcome benefit.

I closed the door, still feeling her gaze on my back.

When I arrived at the office, the atmosphere was strange.

Several coworkers were gathered together. The moment they saw me, they scattered, but the expressions on their faces gave them away.

They wanted to laugh, but didnt dare.

My childhood friend and coworker, Mark Lewis, pulled me aside.

Dan, are you okay? he asked carefully.

Im fine.

Rachel went way too far. This is the second time. How could she do that?

Mark looked furious for me.

Its over.

My calm surprised him.

No way. Youre just letting it go? Everyone at city hall was talking. They said some guy got stood up twice.

My fist tightened quietly at my side.

Yes.

I had become a joke.

A joke everyone knew about.

I got married, I said.

Marks jaw nearly hit the floor. What? To who? Dont tell me you lost your mind.

To a girl who also got stood up.

I did not say more. I turned and went back to my desk.

All day, I felt countless gazes studying my back.

I buried myself in work and pressed every emotion down.

That evening, I dragged my exhausted body home.

The moment I opened the door, I froze.

A warm orange light glowed inside.

The smell of dinner floated through the air.

Sophie walked out of the kitchen in an apron, holding a spatula.

Youre back? Dinners almost ready.

I looked at her.

Then at the home she had made neat, warm, and full of life.

Some hard corner inside me suddenly softened.

Dinner was generous.

With the few ingredients in my fridge, she somehow made three dishes and a soup.

Did you empty my whole fridge? I joked.

She smiled, her eyes curving. Your fridge had almost nothing in it to begin with.

For the first time, we sat together like real family and talked.

Work, movies, little unimportant things.

The atmosphere was easy.

After dinner, I washed the dishes.

She dried them beside me.

I used to be a financial analyst, she said suddenly.

I was surprised.

I saw some trading software on your computer, she pointed toward the study. If you dont mind, I can take a look for you.

I certainly did not mind.

I was even a little expectant.

I brought out my laptop. She sat down and began typing.

The way she focused was completely different from how she looked while cooking.

Calm, professional, with a certain sense of control.

I began to feel that my flash-marriage wife might not be simple at all.

The peace lasted only two days.

At noon on the third day, Rachel called me.

It was an unknown number.

I did not want to answer, but it rang again and again.

Daniel Hart! As soon as the call connected, Rachels sharp voice pierced through.

What do you mean? You blocked me?

Her tone was full of accusation and disbelief.

Weve broken up, I said calmly.

Broken up? Did I agree to that? I told you to wait for me.

She sounded as if she had heard the worlds funniest joke.

How dare you block me?

That righteous selfishness made the whole thing feel absurd.

Rachel, I got married.

I decided to end this cleanly.

The other side fell silent.

A few seconds later came a shriek even sharper than before.

Youre lying. Youre saying that just to make me mad, arent you? Daniel, look at you, growing a spine. Youre making up this kind of lie just to force me back?

Im not lying.

Fine. Very fine. She was furious. You wait.

She hung up hard.

I held the phone, irritated in a way I could not describe.

I had thought deleting her contacts would be the end.

Clearly, for someone like Rachel, nothing was over until she said it was.

I did not tell Sophie.

This was my past. I did not want to drag her into it.

But trouble always arrives uninvited.

That evening, I had just reached the entrance of my building when I saw a familiar figure.

Rachel stood by the door in designer clothes and delicate makeup, looking arrogant and untouchable.

She saw me too and immediately strode over in her heels.

Daniel. You really dare lie to me? Where is that woman?

She crossed her arms like a victorious rooster.

Thats my business. It has nothing to do with you. I frowned and tried to walk around her.

She grabbed my arm, her nails nearly digging into my skin.

Nothing to do with me? Let me tell you, as long as I havent agreed, you dont get to get rid of me in this lifetime.

Youre my dog, Daniel. You come when I call and leave when Im done with you.

Her words were vicious and cruel.

Neighbors had already started peeking out to watch.

My expression darkened completely.

Just as I was about to force her hand away, the building door opened.

Sophie came out holding a bag of trash.

She wore simple white loungewear, her hair casually tied up, no makeup on her face.

Yet she looked a hundred times more comfortable to the eye than Rachel in full glam.

When Sophie saw us, she paused.

Rachels gaze scanned her from head to toe like an X-ray.

Her eyes were full of disdain and contempt.

Oh, so this is the replacement you found?

Rachels voice dripped with mockery.

Daniel, when did your standards get this low? Youll take this kind of woman too?

Her words splashed toward Sophie like dirty water.

Anger surged inside me, and I was about to speak.

But Sophie moved first.

She tossed the trash into the nearby bin, then slowly walked over.

She looked at Rachel with eyes as calm as a deep pool.

Not the slightest ripple.

A replacement, she said, her voice not loud but every word clear, who is already the legal Mrs. Hart.

She paused.

And you, Miss Ex-Girlfriend. How may I help you?

The arrogance on Rachels face froze instantly.

She clearly had not expected this quiet-looking woman to speak with such precision.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Her heavily made-up face turned an ugly red.

I stood beside Sophie and looked at her slender but straight back.

For the first time, someone had stood in front of me like this.

Shielding me from all the ugliness.

My heart slammed hard in my chest.

You... Rachel finally found her voice. She shook with rage.

What do you think you are? Do you know how much Daniel loves me? Do you know how many times he proposed to me? Youre just a tool hes using to make me jealous.

She began saying anything she could, trying to use the past to hurt us.

Sophie did not even look at her.

Instead, she turned her gaze to me, as if asking a question.

At that moment, I made my choice.

I stepped forward and stood firmly in front of Sophie, shielding her completely behind me.

I looked straight at Rachels twisted face.

We have nothing to do with each other anymore, I said clearly, word by word.

Please do not disturb my wife again.

My wife.

When those two words left my mouth, even I felt dazed.

Behind me, Sophie seemed to move slightly.

At some point, my hand had closed tightly around her wrist.

Her hand was cold, but soft.

Daniel! Rachel completely broke down. She lunged at me like a madwoman, pounding my chest.

You liar. You bastard. Didnt you say youd only love me in this lifetime? Were all your words lies?

Her tantrum only looked ugly and ridiculous now.

I did not waste more words.

I caught her wrists and pushed her out of the building entrance.

Security, I called toward the guard booth.

Rachels curses were cut off by the closing door.

The world finally went quiet.

I turned and looked at Sophie.

Im sorry, I said lowly. I dragged you into this too.

Sophie shook her head.

She looked up at me, and there was actually a smile in her eyes.

You did well just now.

She freed her wrist and turned toward the elevator.

Her warmth remained in my palm.

That night, the atmosphere between us shifted in some subtle way.

We were no longer only roommates.

There was something else now, something neither of us could quite name.

Later that night, Sophie sat at the computer as usual.

You can sell those stocks you bought after the market opens tomorrow, she said without turning.

Why? Arent they doing well? I was confused.

The short-term peak is here. Greed loses money. Her tone allowed no argument.

I was doubtful, but I chose to trust her.

After all, the professional confidence she carried was very convincing.

The next morning, I checked the market during work.

The stocks I had sold briefly climbed after opening, then crashed all the way down.

The red numbers made my heart race.

If I had waited half an hour, I would have been trapped.

Cold sweat broke out on my back.

This could no longer be explained by simply knowing a little financial analysis.

This was precise prediction.

Who exactly was my flash-marriage wife?

That thought took root in my mind like a seed and began growing wildly.

I started to realize that the woman I had casually brought home might not be a gentle white rabbit.

She might be a beast in rabbit skin, one I could not see through at all.