Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You-Chapter 77: It was Fake

Back then continues...

Matthew

I stand right outside of the bridal suite, my hand frozen on the doorknob. I came to give something to Sarah, a gift my mother asked me to give to my future bride before the ceremony started. But when I arrived here, I heard something that stopped me dead.

"I faked the whole thing. I bought a prosthetic belly and learned how to act pregnant. I made it all up." I hear Sarah say.

The words hit me like a physical blow. Not pregnant. The floor seems to tilt beneath my feet.

I should leave. Or I should burst in. I should do something besides stand here like an idiot, but my body refuses to move.

She lied. She has been lying to me this whole time.

I ended things with Amanda. I fucking proposed to her. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

All for a baby that doesn’t exist. Never existed.

The cold that started in my chest spread through my limbs. My fingers go numb against the doorframe, and I’m now gripping for support.

Two perfect pink lines. I remember staring at that test and thinking I could get used to the idea of being a father. I have always wanted to have children, maybe not with Sarah, but if that’s what life throws at me, I am willing to accept it. Accept her.

But now, I find out how she manipulated me.

There is no baby. There never was.

The numbness in my hands spreads to my face. A strange heat builds in my chest, uncomfortable and growing. It takes me a moment to recognize it—not sadness, not even disbelief anymore.

Rage.

Pure, unfiltered rage pulses through me with each heartbeat. I’ve never been an angry person. Never been the type to yell or throw things. But right now, standing outside this door with the pieces of my shattered future at my feet, I feel something primal and ugly rising inside me.

I burst inside the room.

Sarah stands there in her wedding dress, looking every bit like a bride. For a split second, we just stare at each other. Me, breathing hard with barely contained fury. Her, lips parted in surprise.

Then everything erupts at once. "There’s no baby, is there?" The question comes out as a shout, echoing off the hotel room walls. "It was all a lie. All of it!"

Sarah’s eyes widen, her hand flying to her mouth, and tears stream down her cheeks.

"Matthew, I am so sorry," she says. The color drains from her face. She takes a step back, bumping against the dresser.

"You tricked me into marrying you," I hiss.

Her lips press together, eyes darting around the room like she’s looking for an escape route. "You don’t understand—"

"Oh, I understand perfectly," I cut in, my voice rising again. "I understand that you lied about being pregnant. What did you do? Buy a fake test online? Y-you...you manipulated me, my family, everyone."

"I never meant for it to go this far," she whispers.

"Bullshit!" I roar. "This is exactly what you meant to happen. You wanted a ring on your finger. All because of what? To win against Amanda?"

Sarah chokes out a sob. "That’s not fair. I love you, Matthew."

"Love?" I repeat, the word sour in my mouth. "You don’t even know what that means. Love isn’t lying. Love isn’t manipulation."

Her gaze drops to the carpet, unable to meet mine.

"I trusted you," I continue, my voice cracking slightly. "I believed everything you said. I defended you to my friends when they said we were rushing things. I rejected Amanda for you because I wanted to do the right thing by you!"

Sarah reaches for my hand, but I jerk away like her touch might burn me.

"Don’t," I warn. "Don’t touch me."

Her tears flow faster now. "Matthew, please. We can work this out. I made a mistake—"

"A mistake?" My voice rises again, incredulous.

"Matthew, maybe we should all take a moment and..." Rebecca starts but I glare at her.

The door opens again and Sarah’s father walks in. His eyes take in the scene. His daughter in tears on the bed, me standing with fists clenched, the tension thick enough to choke on. "What the hell is going on here?" he demands, looking between us.

Sarah makes a sound somewhere between a hiccup and a sob, her makeup streaked down her face like melting wax.

"Dad," she manages, stretching out her arms like a child seeking protection.

Her father moves to her side immediately, one arm around her shoulders, his glare fixed on me. "What did you do to her?" he demands.

"I didn’t do anything to her," I say, my voice strained with the effort of maintaining control. "Maybe you should ask your daughter what she did."

"What’s going on, Sarah?" her father asks Sarah.

Sarah pulls back. "I...I made a huge mistake."

"A mistake?" I repeat, taking a step toward them. "You think what you did is a mistake?"

Her father stands, moving slightly in front of Sarah like he’s shielding her from me. "I want to know what’s going on right now," he demands. "This is my daughter’s wedding day, and I’m not having it ruined by whatever this is."

"Tell him," I address Sarah through gritted teeth.

"I was stupid, Daddy," she says, her voice small and trembling. "I was so so dumb. I am so sorry."

Her father frowns, looking between us. "What happened? What did you do?"

Sarah’s eyes meet mine, silently begging. She doesn’t want her father to know. Doesn’t want anyone to know the kind of person she really is.

"Tell him," I say, crossing my arms. "Tell him about the baby."

Her father’s expression shifts to confusion. "The baby? What about the baby? Is something wrong?"

Sarah’s face crumples. "Matthew, please," she whispers.

"Tell him," I repeat, unmoved by her tears. "Or I will."

She shakes her head, more tears spilling over. Her father looks increasingly alarmed.

"What’s wrong with the baby?" he asks, his voice rising. "Sarah, are you having complications? Is that what this is about?"

"There is no baby," I say flatly when it’s clear Sarah won’t. "There never was."

Her father stares at me like I’ve started speaking in tongues. "What are you talking about? Sarah’s pregnant. That’s why you two got married so quickly."

"That’s what she wanted everyone to think," I tell him, each word precise and cutting. "Ask her. Ask your daughter if she’s actually pregnant."

His eyes swing to Sarah, who seems to shrink under his gaze. "Sarah?"

She looks down at her hands, twisted in her lap. "I’m not pregnant," she admits in a whisper.

"I don’t understand," Sarah’s father says. "You told everyone you were pregnant."

Sarah just continues crying, offering no explanation. I feel a twisted satisfaction watching her father grapple with the same bewilderment I experienced earlier.

"She lied," I say. "She bought a fake pregnancy test online. Made the whole thing up so I’d propose."

Her father takes a step back from the bed, as if distancing himself from his daughter’s deception. "Is this true?" he asks her.

Sarah nods miserably, not looking up.

"Why?" he demands. "Why would you do something like that?"

"I...I love him. I thought he...he wouldn’t want me and would choose Amanda if I didn’t go this far," she says.

I feel disgusted just listening to her.

Her father turns to me, genuine regret in his eyes. "Matthew, can I speak to you alone?"