Love Story3–Chapter 1
My best friend got pregnant out of wedlock, and her boyfriend ran off. Then she had the audacity to ask me to lend her my husband for a marriage.
She promised that it was just for the sake of getting a marriage certificate, giving her child a complete family, and that she would return my husband to me immediately afterward.
When I refused, she flew into a rage.
“It’s just borrowing your husband! What’s the big deal?”
The next day, I found a marriage certificate in my husband’s briefcase. The registered names? My husband and my best friend.
“Nora, can I borrow your husband to marry him?”
Camilla’s casual remark almost made me spit out my coffee.
“What did you just say?”
I stared at her in disbelief, my gaze shifting to her eight–month pregnant belly.
Camilla Hill ran her hand over her stomach, throwing me a sidelong glance.
“Don’t overreact. I just want to borrow your husband to get a marriage certificate, so my baby can have a proper family. Once I have that, I’ll return your husband right away,” she said, completely self–assured.
Her nerve left me momentarily stunned, my eyelid twitching in disbelief.
“Absolutely not. There are plenty of single moms nowadays. Since you decided to keep the baby, you should have thought about the consequences,” I replied coldly.
Camilla’s expression darkened at my refusal.
“You know how hard it is for single moms to survive in society. Besides, you and Wesley haven’t even registered your marriage yet. What’s the harm in lending him to me for a
while?”
L
12:29
Shattered Promises.
Love Story 3–Chapter 1
Her reasoning was so ridiculous that I almost laughed out loud in anger.
Eight months ago, Camilla had disappeared for a while, only to show up again with the shocking news that she was pregnant and that her boyfriend had run away,
I had advised her, “Having a baby out of wedlock is hard enough for a woman, and being a
single mom is even harder.”
But she had been adamant. “I’m not afraid. I’ve already prepared myself for the judgment
and criticism if I’ve decided to keep this baby.”
And now, here she was, asking to borrow my husband. The absurdity of it left me
speechless.
Wesley Campbell and I got married a year ago, but we had only held the wedding ceremony. Due to a last–minute business trip, I had missed our anniversary, so Wesley suggested we delay registering our marriage until our next anniversary–next month,
Only Camilla knew about this arrangement, and now it seemed that knowledge had planted
this crazy idea in her head.
“No way. Even if I agreed, Wesley wouldn’t. Once he registers a marriage with you and then
divorces, he’ll be considered a divorcé,” I firmly rejected her.
Camilla’s face immediately darkened, and she yanked her hand away from mine.
“Nora Phillips, I thought you were my best friend, but I guess I was wrong. You didn’t even ask Wesley–how do you know he wouldn’t agree? You just want me to be a single mom so my son will suffer judgment his whole life,” she said venomously, glaring at me.
For a brief moment, I thought I caught a flash of smugness in her eyes when she mentioned Wesley, but I brushed it off.
That evening, when I returned home, Wesley had just finished cooking. He greeted me with
a gentle smile as soon as he saw me.
“Nora, dinner’s ready.”
Looking at the table full of steaming dishes, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
12:29
Shattered Promises
Love Story’s Chapter 1
D
During dinner, I mentioned what Camilla had asked me earlier.
With a loud clang, Wesley’s fork slipped from his hand and clattered onto the table. His
unease was plain as day.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, puzzled.
Wesley quickly picked up the fork and speared a piece of pork for me,
Nothing, I just can’t believe someone would come up with such a ridiculous idea,” he said, forcing a smile.
But as I stared at the pork in my bowl, unease crept over me,
Because I never eat pork.
The next day, after work, I came home and collapsed on the sofa, ready to relax–until 1
spotted Wesley’s briefcase sitting there.
I picked it up, intending to tidy it for him, and felt a notebook in the side pocket.
Curious, I pulled it out.
What greeted me was a red marriage certificate.
My breath caught in my throat, and with trembling hands, I opened it.
There, in black and white, were the names: Wesley Campbell and Camilla Hill.