Chapter 3

As his hand approached, my body instinctively recoiled.

Just as a fresh wave of anger began to darken his face and he was about to say something, I forced a smile, linked my arm through his, and spoke first.

"What are you talking about? If I looked down on you for being poor, why would I even be with you? I'm just thinking about the baby!"

Brendan's face lit up with a smile. "I knew you weren't the type of woman to be a gold-digger, Cassie. So, let's go get our license now."

With that, he tried to pull me toward the counter.

I still resisted. When he looked at me, I said, half-jokingly, half-seriously,

"You know my parents have always been against us. They don't even know I came out with you to get our license.

"If they found out I was pregnant and secretly got married, they'd be furious. Forget a wedding fund, they probably wouldn't even let me back in the house.

"But if we tell them I'm pregnant first, they'll worry about me and definitely won't object anymore.

"And when both families formally discuss the wedding, since I'm their only daughter, they'll surely give a generous wedding fund."

I emphasized the "wedding fund."

Brendan seemed to waver.

I added, "You know how proud my dad is. He would never let me be pregnant before marriage."

Brendan fell right into the trap.

After all, in his mind, if I was pregnant, there was no way I wouldn't marry him.

And I had always been so blindly devoted to him; he was confident that this 'naive' girl wouldn't escape his clutches.

"Cassie, you're right. Let's go back to your place now and tell your parents the good news!"

Brendan excitedly gripped my hands, already mentally spending the money he was sure to get.

"Wait, you're just going to show up at my house empty-handed?"

I feigned annoyance, adding a playful whine. "Like this, how will my parents see your sincerity? How will they trust you with me?"

"Oh, right, right! See, I was so excited I forgot! Cassie, let's go buy something to bring to your parents first."

Brendan slapped his forehead, feigning a moment of realization.

"I won't go with you. I need to go home first and give them a heads-up. Just buy the gifts and come straight over. Oh, and my dad loves tea."

Though Brendan grudgingly accepted I wouldn't go with him – meaning no one would cover the cost of the gifts – in his mind, my marrying him was a done deal. So he didn't say much more, turning to leave to buy the presents.

As I watched Brendan's retreating back, the smile instantly vanished from my face, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.