8
Early in the morning, Emma, getting ready for kindergarten, was pestering Ethan to braid her hair.
Seeing the man’s clumsy yet attentive efforts, I couldn’t help but smile contentedly.
Although the result wasn’t perfect, Emma seemed very satisfied, swaying excitedly:
“Thank you, Uncle… I mean, thank you, Daddy!”
With that, Emma shyly ran downstairs with her backpack and got into the car.
At that moment, Ethan’s face flushed with excitement.
For all these years, he had been helping me take care of Emma, unconditionally assuming the role of a father.
Attending Emma’s parent–teacher meetings, taking her to carnivals for endless fun, he was even more attentive than I was.
After we dropped the child off at kindergarten, he drove me to try on wedding dresses.
In just a few days, he had already found designers to create several wedding dresses suited for me.
Each one had a different style, with meticulous attention to detail.
“Sophia, you look beautiful in any of them.”
Ethan rose from the sofa, siowly walking behind me and gently embracing me.
We finally decided on an elegant, long pearl wedding dress.
I changed back into my own clothes and walked out of the fitting room to find someone else sitting on the sofa.
The moment Lucas saw me, he immediately stood up and questioned me point–blank:
“Sophia, how long do you intend to keep this up? Are you really going to remarry into the Chi family with my daughter?”
I didn’t look at him directly, busying myself with adjusting my appearance in the mirror.
“We’re already married. Do you think it could be fake?”
“Besides, you’re about to start a new family. You have no right to question me like this.”
In the mirror, I saw Lucas trembling with anger, gritting his teeth in defiance,
“You’re being too much!”
never said I would abandon you and Emma. I even agreed to let you live in my house. Isn’t that enough? What right do you have to take my daughter away?!”
Hearing his condescending tone, I turned to face him, unable to help but laugh.
“Don’t you think you’re the one being unreasonable? Let me tell you, I won’t compromise, and I certainly won’t let Emma suffer with me. Give up that idea!
Seeing my determined attitude, Lucas fell silent for a long while before softening his tone:
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“Then let’s meet halfway. I’ll cut off contact with Rachel, and you divorce Ethan. How about that?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ethan, who had been silent all along, spoke up dissatisfied:
“Are you treating marriage like a game?”
“If you’re done talking, you can leave. We still need to choose rings.”
Lucas’s eyes flickered with panic, and he hurriedly pulled out a ring from his suit pocket.
I was all too familiar with this jade ring.
Five years ago, when Lucas drew me as his arranged marriage partner.
I excitedly extended my hand, but he withdrew the family heirloom jade ring back into his pocket, his face grim.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’ll keep the ring for now.”
In front of everyone, I instantly became a laughingstock.
That hand froze in mid–air, my whole body feeling cold.
He didn’t want to give me the ring then, and now, I don’t want it either.
