He'll Marry Me, Only Because His Other Woman Said Yes

When my son turned seven, finally, Jonas Moreau said he'd marry me.

But on the night before the wedding, Mitch West had a depressive episode, and just like that, Jonas canceled everything.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Andy, you've let me down."

My son? He glared like he hated me. "Why does someone like you get to be healthy? I wish you weren't my mom!"

They both pointed at me... like I was some criminal.

Their words crushed me, but after that, I called my dad.

"Dad, I'll do it—I'll marry that guy from the Rockefellers."

As it happened, Jonas decided to marry Mitch—on the same day.

On my wedding day, when the wind lifted my veil, Jonas and our son finally realized who I was.

And—this shocked me—they both freaked out.

——

I'd gotten a text from Jonas after I called my dad.

[Come pick up Ashier at the hospital.]

I reached the hospital room, but when I heard what was happening inside, I froze.

His voice—it was so soft that I barely recognized it. He was gently wiping each tear that dropped from Mitch's eyes.

"Why are you crying? Didn't you say it was okay for me to marry her? Now you're saying you don't want me to?"

Mitch shook her head as more tears ran down her face.

Then, Jonas smiled at her and lightly tapped her nose.

"I knew you didn't mean it. That's why I didn't plan a single thing for that wedding."

I had spent 10 years with this guy—10!

Nine of those years, I'd asked him to marry me.

At first, he said, "Boo, I'm too young. I wanna have fun."

Then, after I almost died giving birth to his child, he said, "Boo, with our son just born, it's best to focus on taking care of him right now. We can think about marriage later."

Excuse after excuse, year after year.

Until seven days ago, he finally agreed.

But it turned out it was just because Mitch told him it was okay.

Before that, I was over the moon like an idiot.

I worked day and night to prepare—choosing the dress, designing the invites, barely sleeping, and trying to make everything perfect in just a week.

Now I get it—why did he suddenly agree to marry me after delaying it for years? He never planned to marry me at all.

Mitch wrapped her arms around him, crying, "If you don't marry her, what about your kid?

"You're worried now?" Jonas teased, smiling softly at her. "Weren't you the one who pushed me to her in the first place?"

Before he could say more, my son ran into Mitch's arms, clutching her tightly.

"Momma Mitch, are you leaving me too? I don't want to go back to Maleficent!"

Jonas laughed his ass off.

Then the three of them hugged like some perfect family.

That's when Mitch turned her head and noticed me watching at the door.

She smiled—not a nice smile but a smug, "I win" kind of smile.

At that moment, everything became clear.

She was the one who had sent me that text, using Jonas's phone!

Just to humiliate me!

Strangely enough, though, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.

I just turned around and walked away. On the way out, I texted my dad.

[Set the wedding for next month.]

It was pouring rain, and I walked all the way home in it.

By the time I got there, I was drenched and burning with a fever. I collapsed into bed and didn't wake up until the next morning.

When I opened my eyes, it was Jonas shaking me awake.

He looked at me differently this time—gentler.

"Boo, I made you something to eat. Even if you're sick, you shouldn't just sleep on an empty stomach, okay?"

First time in 10 years he'd ever made something for me.

But I almost puked when I looked at the bowl of pasta in his hands.

Just before he came in, I'd seen Mitch's latest Instagram post.

[Jonas keeps making food for me. I'm so full, but ugh, I hate wasting it.]

[Well, he said someone's dying for his leftovers. Ooh, who's gonna be the garbage this time?]