Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Get the Marriage Certificate If You’re Satisfied
During the late autumn season, the morning chills are almost as biting as the depths of winter, frost forming clear patterns on the glass.
Nora Northwood indulged herself in the luxury of hailing a ride-share to the civil affairs bureau; today was the day she and her boyfriend, Christian Quinn, were getting their marriage certificate.
The scenery outside the car window raced backward, and Nora’s mind replayed her stepfather Quentin Ford’s angry curses!
"Twenty-two and still young? How long do you expect me to support her? I said it back then, send her to her grandparents, she’s from the Northwood Family, why should the Ford Family support her! You said at the time Nora was a girl, and when she gets married, we could get a dowry to help our family."
"Now my son failed his entrance exams, and after begging and pleading, I found an opportunity, so what’s wrong with letting her marry to get money to send my son to school, damn it, argue with me again and see if I won’t beat you to death!"
Her mother May Lawrence’s sobs seemed to echo right by her ears, twisting her heart tightly.
Nora hadn’t planned to marry so soon, but there was no other path to take now. Fortunately, Christian’s family was well-off, and she decided to pay back the money to the Quinn Family once she gained the means after getting married.
In the midst of her chaotic thoughts, her phone suddenly vibrated.
She hurriedly picked it up to check, it was Christian calling, probably urging her about her arrival time.
As soon as she answered, an impatient and irritated voice came through.
"I’m waiting for you at the park north of the civil affairs bureau, hurry up!"
Nora didn’t think much and got out of the car, running all the way there, her fair face reddened by the wind.
"Christian, why not wait inside the bureau, it’s so cold out here!"
Christian looked at Nora, his gaze a little uneasy.
"Nora, my mom said we can’t offer the 188,000 in dowry!"
Nora’s heart sank, all her hopes turning into a joke at that moment.
Her brother Spencer’s tuition needed 28,000, smoothing relations required 150,000, not to mention the money for hosting guests, Quentin Ford had emphasized that not a penny less could be accepted.
"My mom said, the most we can give is 88,000. If you agree, we’ll get the certificate, if not..."
Before he finished, Nora bitterly tugged at the corner of her mouth, "If I don’t agree, you’ll break up with me, is that it?"
Seeing Nora’s reddened eyes, Christian also felt uneasy, but he thought his family’s reasoning was very valid.
Daring to demand such a big dowry before registration, what would happen at the wedding?
He mustn’t let himself be handled by Nora.
Thinking of this, his attitude suddenly became impatient, "Nora, can you not be so materialistic, I thought you were marrying me because you loved me, but clearly, it’s for the money!"
The pain in Nora’s heart was being pulled repeatedly.
After three years of dating, Christian knew all about her experiences with the Ford Family.
She thought Christian understood her well enough, never imagining that in his eyes, she was so unworthy.
Christian ignored Nora’s expression and continued, "If you truly loved me, you shouldn’t take even the 88,000. Your brother needs money for school, why should our family bear that burden? This matter needs to be settled before marriage, you’re marrying into the Quinn Family as my wife, not to use our family’s money to help your poor relatives!"
Every word struck Nora’s heart like a rolling stone, with her circumstances, was it not something she shouldn’t have hoped for in the first place?
She immediately retrieved the IOU she had personally written the night before from her bag, unfolded it, and presented it to Christian.
"188,000 was the condition for me to leave that family, I never intended for your family to bear it. When you agreed to marry me, I had already written the promissory note, I will repay the 188,000 to you without missing a penny, according to the bank loan interest rate. This is my sincerity, and my respect for the relationship between us, but unfortunately..."
Tears fell uncontrollably, not out of sorrow for this relationship ending unceremoniously, but because she felt somewhat ridiculous in her current state, she immediately tore the paper into pieces.