As Jerome Hudson’s arranged marriage partner, what I wanted was never the title of “Mrs. Hudson.”
On my wedding day, I happened to overhear a conversation between my father and Jerome outside the dressing room.
“Jerome, are you really willing to marry Lacey Gilmore just for Anna Gilmore?”
After letting out a heavy sigh, Jerome said, "It’s the only way I can tie Lacey down and make her give up the fight for the inheritance. I’m doing all this for Anna.”
I silently curved my lips into a smile.
Father, oh father, you really are muddle-headed. Did you think that by marrying me off, you could, without any scruples, openly let your illegitimate children acknowledge their ancestry and inherit the Gilmore family’s hundreds of billions in assets?
And Jerome really overestimated himself. The reason I spared him more than a glance and agreed to this marriage was simply because he was the man Anna couldn’t stop thinking about.
Is there anything sweeter than stealing your enemy’s beloved, using him to the fullest and then discarding him?
After all, my mother taught me since I was young that whatever belongs to you, you must take back, by any means necessary.
——
Father patted Jerome’s shoulder, spoke earnestly, “It’s rare that you have such feelings for Anna. After the wedding, I’ll give you five percent of Gilmore Group’s shares as compensation.”
But Jerome directly refused, “I don’t want compensation. When Anna returns from her vacation, I just want to explain to her in person and coax her.”
Anna truly deserved to be their precious darling … they babied her all the time. Just to avoid her being depressed, my father had specially sent her abroad before the wedding.
I curled my lips in disdain and turned to leave.
I told the makeup artist to fetch the wedding ring I had forgotten. After all … If it were not mine, I would not care about it. If it were mine, you could forget about taking it away.
I pulled my hand back and pinched my thigh hard. The pain brought two streams of tears to my eyes before I choked up and threw myself into my father’s arms.
I pulled my hand back and pinched my thigh hard. The pain brought two streams of tears to my eyes before I choked up and threw myself into my father’s arms. Then I cast a glance at Jerome, pouted and asked, “Daddy, what if Jerome … isn’t good to me in the future?”
Jerome’s body stiffened. His brows slightly furrowed. “Lacey, I will treat you well for the rest of my life.”
I let out a soft, mocking laugh. Such clumsy acting.
I withdrew my gaze, not looking at him again and didn’t respond. Instead, I clung to my father’s hand, swaying it like a spoiled child. “Dad, do you remember when I was eight and threw a tantrum at you, saying I wanted a younger brother to protect me?”
“You carried me on your back, spinning in circles and told me I was your one and only precious jewel and that you’d protect me for a lifetime.”
It seemed that my father had realized something, as there was a slight change in his expression, but he still managed to let out a smile, though it was strained.
I ignored it and continued in an innocent tone. “Later, I learned that when Mom gave birth to me, she was left with health issues and couldn’t have more children. “But you didn’t care about those rumors saying ‘a son is the family pillar.’ You always took good care of me and Mom.”
“Even after Mom passed away five years ago, you never remarried or had more children. Dad, thank you. Thank you for giving all your love to me and Mom.”
If anyone else had said this, it would’ve melted their father into a puddle. But my father… he kept a mistress hidden away and even had two illegitimate children with her. He had always thought I was a naive, sweet fool, unaware of his affair and the existence of those two children born in the shadows.
