Chapter 3
The staff in the city hall was impressively efficient; it took under ten minutes for the two to wrap up their marriage registration.
The only glitch was Matthew’s unyielding frown, which made the staff suspect he was being forced into marriage, prompting them to double–check his willingnessa few times.
This made Valerie wonder, ‘Does this guy ever crack a smile? But her curiosity <b>was </b>short–lived.
As they stepped outside, ominous clouds rolled in. Remembering the maming’s forecast <b>of </b><b>a </b><b>small </b>typhoon hitting Kranson City, panic set in about theundry she had left hanging out, particrly her pricey work clothes. Splurging more this month was not an option.
“Let’s swap <b>WhatsApp </b>info, Sir. I’ve got an emergency to deal with. Can we text <b>if </b>anythinges up? Valerie said in a rush.
Matthew didn’t hesitate, and they quickly exchanged numbers. It hit <b>Valerie </b>that she didn’t even know his name. And just like that, they were legally husband and wife.
“Um.Valerie began<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>bit </b>sheepishly
As if he knew what she was about to ask, Matthew’s piercing blue eyes locked on hers. Tm Mathew Grant, your husband.”
His intense gaze made her heart skip a beat “Alright, Mr. Grant it is,” she replied.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.
Mr. Grant What, ying hard to get Matthew thought,beling her as cunning. He replied curtly, “I’m swamped with work. I can’t drive you”
“That’s fine. <b>I </b>appreciate you making time for this Valerie replied cheerfully, waving him off. “See you, Mr. Grant! She then dashed off to her
<b>scooler</b><b>.</b>
Manhew half–expected her to reveal her true colors now that they were married. Is she after my money or something else! Surely, it couldn’t just be <b>for </b>a marriage license, he wondered. But Valerie just left without looking back.
<b>Watching </b>her scooter away, Matthew felt oddly used.
His brow furrowed in irritation. “What is this, some new kind of seduction tactic
The ring of his phone broke his reverie. It was his secretary reminding him of <b>an </b>important meeting
Business always brought out his serious side. After the call, he tossed his phone back in his pocket and headed back to the office.
As CEO of Grant Group, Matthew had always been the golden boy, groomed to lead and control everything. Yet today, Valerie had thrown him for aloop, and he had gone and married her <b>on </b><b>a </b>whim.
She better not have other schemes<b>, </b><b>or </b><b>I </b>could make her life in Kranson City <b>a </b>living hell he thought darkly.
By the time Valerie got home, a fierce wind nearly whisked away the clothes she had hung outside. She quickly gathered them and decided to clear out the umting delivery boxes on her windowsill, heading to the recycling center before the <b>rain </b>could render them unusable.
Growing up, Valerie never received an allowance from Ruth. In her most strapped times, she could endure <b>a </b>scorching 104 F <b>to </b>hand out flyers, her skin peeling from sunburn, just to scrape together enough cash to buy a few workbooks. Having known the pinch of penniless days, she now valued every hard–earned dor, regardless of the effort it <b>took</b>.
After tidying up, Valerie found over twenty missed calls from Julian on her phone. She could ignore Ruth’s lectures, but not Julian’s worries.
<b>With </b>the forecast giving her a two–hour window before the rain, she grabbed her marriage license and headed to Clutvale Estate.
That morning. Valerie had dropped a bombshell about her pregnancy and marriage, leaving Julian stunned. They shared almost everything, and he knew Valerie wasn’t interested in dating despite having suitors.
‘How the hell did she skip straight to marriage <b>and </b>kids? Julian was bbergasted. But when he saw the <b>marriage </b>license from city hall, legit and unmistakable, his disbelief <b>was </b>momentarily paused.
Valerie, <b>realizing </b>Julian might notice the registration date was today, <b>quickly </b>snatched the license back with augh. “Come on, Julian, you have to believe it now. We’ve been together for a while, and it’s really <b>good</b><b>. </b>He treats me well, don’t worry.”
<b>Julian </b>still couldn’t ept it. He hadn’t met Matthew and felt uneasy about entrusting Valerie to him. “Valerie, marriage is huge. How could you <b>rush </b>into this without even talking it over with me? And he doesn’t seem easy to deal with How old is he? Where’s he from?” Julian’s concern was evident.
Stunned<b>, </b>Valerie flipped open the marriage license again to check Matthew’s birthdate and address. After a quick mental calction, she responded calmly, “He’s 29, born and <b>raised </b>right here in Kranson City”
<b>12:15 </b><b>PM </b>cr
Chapter 3
“What’s his family like! What does he do? Does he own a house? Bought outright or is it mortgaged?” Julian fired off more questions
Now Valerie was overwhelmed, thinking. Jesus, Julian, you’re really drilling down here. I don’t even know all that
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