Chapter 32:
Seeing his calm demeanor, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Wasn’t this his first marriage?”
When we sat back in the car, I still couldn’t believe that I had just gotten married, and to Herbert, no less.
There was complete silence in the car. Neither of us spoke.
Throughout the ride, we sat in the back seat, avoiding even a glance at each other.
A while later, Connor parked the car in front of my house, but I still hadn’t come to terms with what had just happened.
“I have an appointment. You should go back and rest. I’ll contact you later.”
At those words, I looked up and saw that the car had stopped at the gate of my neighborhood.
I turned to face Herbert, our eyes meeting. I couldn’t read his expression.
“Is he asking me to leave the car?” I wondered.
I couldn’t help thinking, “Bella, oh Bella, what are you thinking? Do you want to go home with him? He just sees you as a means to have children. Do you really think you are his wife?” As I thought about this, my cheeks flushed. I nodded quickly.
“Okay.”
Then I got out of the car.
I watched the car drive away and shook my head hard. This wasn’t a dream. Everything was real. Today, I had become a married woman, and my husband was the president of my company.
My emotions were all over the place. I had married myself off just like that.
There was no wedding, no wedding dress, no ring, not even a ceremony. I just walked into the marriage office and got a certificate. I couldn’t help but reach into my bag where the marriage certificate was.
I took the key and opened the door. My mom had just arrived.
I smiled and called out, “Mom…”
Pa!
My mother slapped me. The force of the slap made my head spin. After a moment, I felt a deep sense of sadness.
“Mom, why did you hit me?” I asked.
Since graduating from college, I had worked hard to support my family and help my sister with her education. I had never done anything wrong.
“Why are you asking?” My mother was clearly upset.
“Although I’m a coward, I’m a devout Christian. Have you forgotten how I raised you?”
Her anger was evident.
“Mom, what did I do?” I asked.
In that moment, a strange feeling swept over me. Could it be… that I was pregnant?
Sure enough, my mother pointed at me and asked, “Are you really pregnant?”
“Yes.” I had never lied to my mother, so I nodded and admitted it.
At hearing this, my mother sat down on the sofa, tears welling in her eyes.
“You’ve gone too far. Have you forgotten the teachings of the Holy Book? You can’t be lewd. You can’t get pregnant before marriage!” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
How did my mother know so quickly?
