跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 5
Shaun stood frozen, his silence hanging in the air. The cameraman, who had been observing the scene, felt a twinge of sympathy. It was a shame that such a handsome man was burdened with facial paralysis.
Once the photos were taken, Shaun and Catherine made their way to the first floor to officially register their marriage. Catherine felt a strange sense of detachment as she followed him. It was only when Shaun pulled out his citizenship certificate that she learned his real name—Shaun Hill.
But something didn’t sit right with her. Ethan’s mother’s surname was Lyons, so by extension, she had assumed his family’s surname would be the same. With a hint of confusion, she asked, “Why is your surname Hill?”
Shaun, focused on signing the paperwork, barely looked up. “I adopted my mom’s surname,” he answered casually.
Catherine blinked, her heart easing. She had been worried that she had made a mistake, but now she understood. The man she had flirted with, the one who was Ethan’s uncle, was still the person she thought he was. But something about the situation still felt… off.
After what felt like an eternity of bureaucratic formalities, the marriage certificates were handed over. Catherine felt a mix of disbelief and sadness. She had always imagined herself marrying Ethan, not this man she had met only once. The reality was sinking in as she held the certificate in her hand.
Shaun handed her a scrap of paper with his contact number scribbled on it. “I have something to attend to. I’ll be leaving first,” he said, already turning away.
Catherine snapped back to reality. “Wait a minute…” she called, her voice hesitant. “Now that we’re married, shouldn’t we live together?”
Shaun’s expression remained flat, his tone indifferent. “I don’t like living with others.”
Catherine’s brows furrowed as she stepped closer, determined. “I’m your legal wife, not ‘someone else.’ Even if we plan to divorce in three years, we should still live together.”
She waved the marriage certificate in the air, her voice taking on a pleading edge. “I’m really miserable. Ever since my long-lost sister came back, my parents have been treating me horribly. Now, I’ve been kicked out of the house, and I have nowhere else to go.”
Shaun glanced at her disinterestedly. “You can rent a place.”
His indifference only made Catherine’s frustration bubble over. She grabbed his arm, her voice rising dramatically. “Don’t leave me, hubby! I have nothing left but you right now!”
Her loud declaration drew curious stares from the other people in the registry office. Catherine could feel the weight of their gazes on her, but she was past caring. Shaun, on the other hand, looked more annoyed than ever.
“Fine,” he snapped, clearly frustrated. “I live in Jadeite Bay. Go there if you want.”
He turned on his heel, but not before adding, “You’ll be sleeping in the guest room. Don’t even think about stepping into my room.”
A flicker of triumph ran through Catherine. She was determined to make him regret these boundaries, certain that in time, he’d be the one begging her to enter his room.
“One more thing,” Shaun added without looking back. “Don’t disturb Fudge.”
Catherine blinked, confused. “Fudge?” she repeated. “You already have a son?”
Shaun’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Take care of him,” he said before walking away without another word.
Catherine stood still for a moment, completely caught off guard. She had mentally prepared herself to marry a man she didn’t love, but the idea of becoming a stepmother was something she hadn’t anticipated at all. The reality of her situation felt like a punch to the gut.
She stood by the roadside for half an hour, struggling to imagine what her new life would look like—juggling the roles of stepmother and aunt. After a while, she shook herself out of her daze and dashed into a nearby mall. Fudge, whoever he was, had to be a boy. She quickly selected toy cars, Lego sets, and a few other things, hoping they would make the transition easier.
With a deep breath, she drove to Jadeite Bay, the weight of her new responsibilities settling heavily on her shoulders. When she arrived at the door, she punched in the code and the door clicked open.
A friendly smile spread across her face as she stepped inside, calling out, “Hi, Fudge—”
A loud “Meow!” interrupted her. Catherine froze as a plump white cat with light yellow ears stretched lazily on the couch. It made its way toward her, sniffing the toys in her hands, but then, uninterested, it returned to the couch, settling into a position of complete arrogance.
Catherine blinked in disbelief. “Fudge?”
The cat meowed again, its tail flicking with disdain as it laid back down.
Catherine stood there, her smile faltering, utterly dumbfounded. So this was Fudge. Not a child, but a cat.