Chapter 1

Alex entered the house, which felt so quiet. For the past three days, their home atmosphere had always been like this. Ever since Sophie began attending fashion shows out of town more frequently, the house that used to feel warm now felt cold and empty. Alex knew his wife was purposely avoiding the conversation brought up by his parents last week.

Sophie kept being pressured by Alex's family to have a child soon. They had been married for two years, yet there were still no signs of pregnancy. Meanwhile, Alex's family desperately wanted an heir who could eventually take over the family business.

Dina, Alex's mother, asked them to follow a pregnancy program almost every time they met. However, Sophie only responded with indifference, as if the issue wasn't something worth thinking about.

Alex had tried talking about it with his wife countless times, but Sophie always avoided it. Whenever he started bringing up the topic, Sophie would quickly walk away. Lately, she would even come home late at night after Alex had already fallen asleep. Today, Alex was determined to take the time to talk things through with her properly.

After freshening up, Alex stepped out of the bathroom. He picked up the phone he had left on the bedside table. Several messages from his parents filled the screen. They were asking him to come over to their house as soon as possible.

Twenty minutes later, just as he was about to lie down on the bed, Alex heard the sound of a car entering the garage. He glanced at the wall clock. It was almost midnight.

Most of the house lights were intentionally turned off. Alex stepped out of the bedroom and waited in the living room.

Shortly after, the front door opened.

Sophie walked in while casting her gaze across the dark room.

"Is Alex already asleep?" she muttered softly, glancing toward the second floor.

She walked slowly toward the stairs so as not to wake her husband. However, after just a few steps, the living room lights suddenly flashed on.

Sophie was startled.

In front of the television, Alex stood with his arms crossed and a cold, inscrutable gaze.

"Where have you been? How long are you going to keep avoiding me?" he asked flatly.

Sophie let out a long sigh.

"I'm very tired, Alex. I just want to go straight to rest."

"Not being home when your husband returns. What kind of wife are you, Sophie?" Alex's voice rose. "You know you have a husband. Where is your responsibility as a wife? You should be welcoming me home, not coming home this late."

Sophie closed her eyes for a moment.

"Alex, I don't feel like arguing."

"I don't feel like arguing either. Especially after working all day. But if I keep staying silent, eventually you'll forget that you're married."

Sophie sighed again. She turned around, intending to leave Alex behind.

Before she could take many steps, Alex's voice stopped her.

"Sophie! I'm not done talking yet!"

Sophie clenched her fists tightly before turning back.

"What else do you want to talk about?"

"About my mother constantly pressuring you to get pregnant? Or about her wanting you to get your reproductive health checked?"

Those words made Sophie's breath catch. Her eyes turned red, and tears slowly streamed down her cheeks.

Seeing that, a wave of guilt instantly struck Alex's heart.

He hurried over to Sophie and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Alex kissed the top of his wife's head, hoping to comfort the woman he loved.

"I'm tired, Alex," Sophie whispered softly. "Please... don't talk about that anymore."

Alex nodded slowly while rubbing Sophie's back.

He cursed himself. Once again, he had failed to control his emotions and made his wife cry.

"Fine. Let's get some rest."

Alex held Sophie's hand and led her back to the bedroom.

## Chapter 2

That morning, Lea woke up in a strange-feeling bedroom.

Her head was throbbing badly from the hangover the night before.

"You're awake?"

Lea turned her head.

A beautiful woman walked in carrying a bowl of warm chicken soup and a glass of water.

"Oh... it's you, Kiran."

Kiran placed the tray on the nightstand, then sat on the edge of the bed.

"Eat first. It'll help your hangover fade faster."

Lea recalled what happened last night.

She had caught the boyfriend she deeply loved making love to his own ex-girlfriend.

A bitter smile graced her face.

"Am I really bad luck? Why do my boyfriends always cheat on me?"

Kiran shook her head.

"You're not unlucky. They're just bastards. I've told you countless times that guy wasn't any good, but you always defended him."

Lea gave a faint smile.

"You're right. I was too foolish to see his true colors."

Kiran looked at her best friend with pity.

Lea trusted men too easily. As a result, she was always the one getting hurt.

"Come on, hurry home. Your parents must be looking for you. I'll call a taxi for you."

"Thank you, Kiran."

After finishing her soup, Lea showered and got ready to leave.

Upon arriving home, she sneaked inside so she wouldn't get caught.

She even took off her high heels so they wouldn't make any noise.

Just as she almost reached her room, a voice made her freeze.

"Coming home in the morning again?"

Lea turned around.

Her father, Adi, stood in the bedroom doorway with his arms crossed.

"Where have you been last night? Why are you just getting back now?"

Lea scratched the back of her neck with an awkward smile.

"Go downstairs. Your father and mother want to talk."

Without waiting for an answer, Adi walked away first.

Lea let out a long sigh before following her father.

In the family room, all the family members had gathered.

There was Dona, her mother, along with Naila and Ken, her older siblings.

"Sit down."

Dona's voice sounded firm.

"Why didn't you come home last night?"

"Drunk again, Mom," Naila chimed in. "Definitely cheated on again."

"Or dumped because her boyfriend already found a prettier and sexier girl," Ken added.

Lea let out a breath.

"He did cheat. I caught him sleeping with his ex-girlfriend."

Dona massaged her temples.

"If that's the case, your father and I have made a decision. We are going to arrange your marriage."

Lea's eyes widened in shock.

"What?"

"We are going to set you up."

"No! Lea doesn't want to! Lea is still young. Besides, Naila and Ken aren't married yet either. Marry them off first!"

Adi stared sharply at his daughter.

"Father told you long ago. If you keep choosing the wrong partners, Father will find a husband for you yourself."

"But Lea isn't ready to get married!"

"That's enough."

Lea gritted her teeth.

Without saying another word, her feet carried her running toward her room.

Silence enveloped the family room.

Ken broke the quietness.

"Father... Mother... aren't you going too far? Do you want to arrange Lea's marriage with a married man?"

"What will happen to Lea later?" Naila added. "How could you have the heart to make her a second wife?"

Dona took a deep breath.

"We have no other choice. The prospective groom's family desperately wants Lea to become their daughter-in-law."

"Or more precisely... they want Lea's womb to bear the family's heir?" Naila sneered.

Ken shook his head in disappointment.

"I really can't wrap my head around Father and Mother's decision."

Without waiting for a reply, Ken and Naila left the family room feeling deeply disappointed.

Meanwhile, behind her bedroom door, Lea sat slumped on the floor. Her tears fell once more.

She never imagined that after being betrayed by her boyfr

iend, her own family would try to force her to become the second wife of a man she had never even met.