Chapter 1

To increase the birth rate, the country mandated that anyone unmarried past thirty must accept a system-enforced match.

Dylan and I had been married for almost a year, so when I received the call from City Hall, my first instinct was to question it.

"Are you sure you have the right person?"

The staff member's tone was firm.

"The system shows you're still unmarried."

"This concerns a major life decision. We verify personal information multiple times. There's no mistake."

I hung up, grabbed the marriage certificate from my drawer, and rushed to City Hall.

The staff member saw through it immediately.

"This is a fake certificate. Even the stamp is forged."

Before I left, they stopped me.

"We've already found your matched partner. Two days from now, remember to come on time to complete the marriage registration with him."

The fake marriage certificate was destroyed right before my eyes, reduced to a pile of ashes.

My voice hoarse, I requested to check Dylan's marital status.

The staff member's fingers flew across the keyboard, then turned the screen toward me.

Married.

Spouse: Claire Rivers.

The registration date was eight months ago—exactly the same as the date on my fake certificate.

When I accepted that marriage certificate that day, Dylan must have thought I looked like a complete fool, so easily played by him.

A chill swept through my body. I felt dizzy and disoriented.

When I came to my senses, I was already standing at my front door.

Dylan sat on the sofa, his tone as gentle as always.

"Where were you? Why are you back so late?"

My eyes bloodshot, I walked up and slapped him across the face.

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Why her of all people?"

He froze for a moment, then a mysterious smile curved his lips.

He smoothly caught both my hands, trapping my agitated body in his embrace.

He already knew exactly what I was asking about.

"Actually, Claire isn't as terrible as you say."

All the strength drained from my body in an instant.

Such a light, casual sentence, dismissing all the harm I'd suffered.

But when I collapsed crying at my mother's funeral, when Claire's lackeys cornered me and beat me against a wall, Dylan had held my hand and sworn solemnly.

"Your enemies are my enemies. Renee, I'll always be your solid support."

I had truly believed him.

But now he stood before me, and when he spoke Claire's name, his eyes held a tenderness that broke my heart.

I wanted to grab his collar and demand when it had started, to ask what else he'd lied about.

But all I could do was dig my nails into my palms, forcing myself to calm down.

As long as I could find someone to marry within three days, City Hall would withdraw the forced matching.

Apart from Dylan, I had no one else.

I wiped away my tears, hope flickering in my eyes.

"Could you... could you divorce her?"

He let out a muffled laugh and playfully tapped my nose.

"Now's not the time for you to throw a tantrum."

I opened my mouth to say more, but his finger pressed against my lips.

"Claire is pregnant. I need to give her security."

"Don't worry. As soon as the baby is born, we'll divorce immediately."

"Renee, just wait for me a little longer."

I swayed unsteadily, shaking my head through blurred tears, wanting to say there was no more time.

In three days, I would marry someone I'd never met.

But my throat felt stuffed with cotton. I couldn't get a single word out.

Dylan kept talking.

Now that everything was out in the open, he threw caution to the wind.