I had no choice but to agree. Of course, our
relationship won’t stay hidden for long.”
“How dare you suggest something so
924
>
scandalous!” my mother shrieked. “We’re a
respectable family! This would disgrace us all!”
“Then what do you suggest? Sell some of your
properties to get the money?”
Silence.
My father finally spoke. “We have to pay the
Howards. And we have to protect the family
name.”
“So, disown me?” I asked, my voice laced with
sarcasm.
My sister–in–law muttered, “Good riddance.”
“This is what we’ll do,” my father declared.
“We’ll publicly announce that we’re disowning
you. Just for show, of course. You’ll still be our
daughter.”
I knew it was a ploy. Once the Howards had
く
their money, I’d be out on the street. But they
didn’t know that was exactly what I wanted.
- 13.
The next morning, I got a call from Ethan.
“Ashley, check your messages. The money
should be there.”
I opened my banking app. Five hundred
thousand dollars. “It’s here.”
“I’ll send a driver to take you to settle things
with the Howards—”
“Ethan, could you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Could we keep our marriage quiet for now?”
I didn’t want my family leeching off him.
“You don’t want anyone to know?”
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924
“Not yet. Is that okay?”
“Alright. I’ll arrange for someone else to pick you up.”
Once the money was transferred and my family made their announcement, Ethan could do what he wanted. They wouldn’t be able to touch him.
I transferred the money to Mark and saved the confirmation. Then, tucked away in the
classifieds, I saw it
–
the small notice declaring
that the Millers had disowned their daughter,
Ashley. I read it over and over, then
photographed it and carefully folded the
newspaper.
Mark called. “Ashley, where did you get the
money? Half a million is no small amount. The
Millers don’t have that. Tell me who gave it to
you!”
“It’s none of your business. You have your
<
10:58
924
money. We’re done.” I hung up.
“Ashley,” he called after me. “You think I was doing this for the money?”
“Whatever your reasons, they’re no longer my concern.”
“Ashley, no man in this city will touch you now
that I’ve dumped you,” Mark snarled.
I laughed. “Really? Try me.”
I hung up again and then my phone rang again.
This time it was Ethan.
- 14.
“The Millers disowned you?”
“How did you know?” I was surprised by how
quickly he’d found out.
“Ashley.”
<
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to hold back if you want to
cry.”
I hadn’t wanted to cry, not really. I was used to
it, numb to it.
“I’m fine…” But his concern chipped away at
my defenses. My voice cracked.
“You can cry with me. After all…”
“Starting tomorrow, I’m your husband.”
Tears welled up. “But before being your
husband, I gave you another role to play.”
“What role?”
I whispered my fabricated story.
:
=
>
Ethan was silent for a moment. “So, I’m a sixty-
year–old Filipino businessman, and you’re my
mistress?”
“Are you angry?”
He sighed softly. “Ashley, I’ll see you
tomorrow.”
“You… you still want to marry me?”
“Get some rest. Wear your prettiest dress
tomorrow.”
- 15.
Ethan must have pulled some strings, because getting our marriage license was ridiculously fast. Afterward, he took me to the hospital. He held my hand the whole time, playing the part of the doting husband. His grandfather was frail, but he managed a weak smile, looking relieved. Guilt gnawed at me. I was deceiving a dying man. He clearly adored his grandson and wanted him to be happy. He had no idea I was
<
just a convenient wife.
