I Married Someone Else During Thanksgiving

As a future son-in-law, I spent $30,000 to host a Thanksgiving dinner for my fiancee’s family. I was just raising my glass, about to propose a toast. But my fiancée Tiffany Spencer’s childhood friend, Howard Hall, beat me to it. He stood up and said to my father-in-law, Dan Spencer. “Mr. Spencer, thank you for letting Tiffany give me a son.” I froze. Feeling touched, Dan said to Howard. “You’re a grateful young man. Since you and Tiffany grew up together, it’s only right that she’d have a child with you.” Everyone present nodded in agreement. No one thought there was anything wrong. Tiffany eventually noticed me standing off to the side. She offered an explanation. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Howard has no intention of ever getting married. He’d be lonely in his old age without a child. I just did him a favor. “You already have me. Whether we have children or not, it makes no difference.” Dan shot me a stern look. “This is a Thanksgiving dinner. If anyone dares to cause trouble today, get out.” Howard smiled. “Don’t be so glum, all of you. Brendon has always been generous. He certainly wouldn’t hold a petty little thing like this against anyone.” He walked over to me and raised his glass. “If Tiffany and I were really together, you wouldn’t have stood a chance to marry her. “From now on, you’ll be this child’s godfather. The three of us will raise this child together.” I did not take the glass from Howard’s hand. Then, I glanced at Tiffany again. She motioned for me not to make a scene. A lump formed in my throat. For a moment, I felt utterly resigned. I sent a message to my professor, who wanted me to be his son-in-law. [Prof. Wilson, does your daughter know about my situation?] Alfred Wilson, who was also my academic advisor, replied instantly. [She does. As long as you’re willing, the marriage is a done deal.] I replied, [Prof. Wilson, I’m willing.] Chapter 1 After replying to my professor’s message, I looked up and noticed everyone in the room staring at me. They were all waiting to see how I would react. I knew there was no point in continuing that meal. Still, I needed the truth before it ended. I asked Tiffany, “When did you get pregnant?” Tiffany paused for a moment. She pursed her lips. Then, she shot a quick glance at Howard and said coldly, “September 2023.” My heart skipped a beat. That was three years ago, during fall. Tiffany’s father was having heart problems and needed surgery in the capital. She could not get away, and through tears, she told me that she wished she could split herself into eight pieces. I pulled her into my arms and told her, “I’m here for you. I’ll go with him for the surgery.” That very night, I took on a new online project for the company. It allowed me to work remotely, but I had to put in at least fifteen hours a day. It went on for a full half-year. I spent my days caring for him at the hospital and my nights finishing my online work. I handled everything myself. The doctors even thought I was his biological son. Every time I video chatted with Tiffany. She said she had been busy running the store and did not have time to visit us. I always reassured her, telling her I was right here at the hospital. I finally have learned what was happening. During that time, she had been busy having a child with another man. With a bitter smile, I asked her, “So, while I was accompanying your dad through his surgery, you had a child with another man. Is that right?” The whole table fell silent for a moment. Dan slammed his cutlery down on the table: “Brendon Clark, who do you think you are to question my daughter like that? What kind of attitude is that?! “The fact that you, as a younger person, took care of me during my surgery is a sign of our whole family’s recognition and trust in you. It has absolutely nothing to do with Tiffany having a child with Howard. Don’t mix the two up! “Howard and Tiffany grew up together. Tiffany made this decision because she couldn’t bear to see him grow old alone. “You should feel honored to have such a kind-hearted wife. “You haven’t even met the child. He’s adorable! Having a godson like him is a blessing for you. “I’ve already had someone bring the child over for dinner. All of you will meet him today.” No sooner had he finished speaking, than the living room door opened. Tiffany’s mother, Maryam Spencer, walked in, leading a little boy of about three-years-old. As soon as the child entered, he ran toward Tiffany and Howard. He smiled and called out, “Mom, Dad!” Tiffany bent down and picked him up. Howard stood beside her and gently tickled the tip of the boy’s nose. They truly were a loving family. I clenched my teeth. I was just about to turn around and call my sister, Joy Clark, and leave. The next second, the child in Tiffany’s arms suddenly said to Joy, “Ms. Joy, I finished the gummy candies you bought me last time. When will you take me to buy some more?” Chapter 2 I froze in place. My gaze fixed on Joy. I never would have imagined that my own little sister had known about that all along. She also had been keeping it a secret from me, along with the rest of them! Joy glanced toward me. A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes. But she quickly broke into a smile. She pulled out a piece of candy out of her bag and gave it to the child. Then she said to me, “Brendon, Henry is the most well-behaved child I’ve ever seen. “Howard has better genes than you do. You should be grateful to have a son like Henry.” Grateful? I gave a cold laugh. When I was only fifteen, our parents passed away. I had gritted my teeth and raised my little sister on my own. I thought of her as my only family left. So, I did everything I could to take care of her. I supported her through her upbringing and education. I even arranged a job for her. Yet, she was the one telling me that it was okay to be cheated on and asked me to be grateful. My phone vibrated. My professor had just sent a message. [After you’re married, I’ve arranged for you both to work abroad. Please send me a copy of your ID and information. Do you have any other family members?] I replied, [No, I’m an orphan.] After sending the message, I glanced at Joy once more. I did not want her as my sister any longer. I stood up to leave. As I rose, Tiffany stepped in front of me. She looked displeased and whispered, “What are you doing? “It’s just a little thing. Is it really worth you looking so sour? “To think that my dad always thought you sensible and generous. With the way you’re acting like this now, aren’t you just going to break his heart? “He has a weak heart. Don’t cause a scene on Thanksgiving. I looked at Tiffany in surprise. “Me, cause a scene?” She frowned and sighed. “Fine. I handled this poorly. I didn’t tell you in advance. I apologize alright? “I know this might be hard for you to accept. “But we’re getting married in three days. I’ll be entirely yours very soon. Is it really worth getting into an argument with Howard, someone who doesn’t believe in marriage, over a child?” I looked around at everyone present. My fiancee, whom I had doted on for six years; my future in-laws, whom I treated like my own parents; and my younger sister, Joy, whom I had raised with my own two hands. All of them had worked together to keep me in the dark. Since the truth had come out, the looks they gave me were not ones of guilt, but of irritation. Irritation that I had not been able to accept this happily, just like they had. I took a deep breath and looked at that happy, close-knit family. Suddenly, I felt exhausted and had absolutely no desire to be a part of it. I smiled. “Henry really is a good kid. “But he’s not my child. You all go ahead and enjoy your family time. I won’t be joining you.” The moment I turned to leave, Tiffany shouted from behind me. “Brendon Clark, stop right there!” Dan slammed his fist down on the table with a smack. “Let him go! You’re really giving him too much grace. He’s actually making a scene here during our Thanksgiving dinner!” Tiffany ran after me. She grabbed my wrist, but I yanked my hand away. Henry suddenly rushed up from behind. “You bad guy! Don’t touch my mom!” He cried out while pounding my leg with his little fists. I instinctively shifted to the side. Henry lost his balance and plopped right down on the floor. In an instant, the private room erupted in chaos. Tiffany screamed at me, furious. “Brendon, have you no shame? You’re even picking on a three-year-old!” Howard picked Henry up from the floor and shot me a vicious glare. “Take your anger out on me, but don’t you dare lay a finger on my son!” Dan was shaking with rage as he pointed at my nose and shouted, “Get out! Get out right now! I must have been blind to ever agree to marry Tiffany to you!” Even Joy chimed in. “Brendon, your behavior is absolutely beastly!” “I didn’t hit him.” I simply offered a brief defense. Tiffany slapped me across the face. It was a hard slap. The taste of blood filled my mouth. Tiffany cried as she cursed at me, “How could you still have the nerve to make excuses?! “If you hadn’t hit him, do you think the kid would’ve just fallen to the floor on his own?!” Chapter 3 Everyone looked at me as if I were their enemy. Henry was crying uncontrollably in Howard’s arms. He was pointing at me and shouting, “I hate him! Make him leave!” Tiffany pointed toward the door and said, “Get out.” Before I could even react, I was forcibly shoved out by Howard. The door slammed shut. From inside the room behind me, I could hear them cursing at me. It was drizzling outside. I reached into my pants pocket and realized I had left my car keys inside the room. I turned around and pounded on the door several times. Someone inside yelled through the door, “What are you coming back for with that shameless face? Do you want to scare Henry to death?!” “Give me my car keys!” I shouted. Tiffany’s voice came through. “Henry will get stressed out when he sees you. We can’t open the door. Figure out a way to get home on your own.” I dropped my hand. My chest felt tight, and my whole body slowly soaked through with dampness. I stood in the rain for nearly an hour before I finally hailed a cab. As soon as I got in the car, I received a message from a college classmate. [Brendon, are you still going to pick up your father-in-law’s next round of medication?] Ever since his heart surgery, Dan had seemed to be in the pink of health. However, his health was constantly in danger. The doctor prescribed an imported medication that he needed to take over the long-term without interruption. It was hard to find in the country. So, I had asked a classmate to help me secure a reliable source. The medicine was outrageously expensive. It was nearly $4,000 per box, but no one has ever brought up the payment. I have always covered it myself. Since he was no longer my father-in-law, I obviously did not have to continue paying. I replied, [I won’t be paying for it anymore.] He replied quickly. [What’s going on? Isn’t the medicine working?] [We broke up.] My classmate was silent for quite a while, then finally replied. [It’s really surprising that you two broke up. After all, you were genuinely good to her.] [I still remember back in college when you helped Tiffany with her projects and wrote her thesis. You were so exhausted you didn’t even have time to eat. You did that all just so she could graduate on time.] [I never thought that after graduation, the two of you wouldn’t end up together.] I replied, [It’s all in the past.] I closed my eyes and slept the whole way home in the car. When I got home, I added the WhatsApp contact my professor had sent me. Her username was simple. It was just her name, Claire Hope. I hesitated for a moment. Then, I sent her a message. [I’m going to be very candid with you. I just went through a breakup, and it didn’t end very well.] She replied quickly. [I know. You had a fiancee before, right?] I was about to send another message. I realized it might be hard to explain clearly over text, so I just called her instead. In one go, I told her the whole story about Tiffany and myself. She said, “I only need the right person to marry. What happened to you wasn’t your fault. Since you’ve decided to part ways, I don’t see any problems. “Let’s go get our marriage certificate in three days.” I was slightly taken aback. It was the day Tiffany and I had planned to get our marriage license. She had a child with someone else. I was about to marry someone else too. “Okay.” After ending the call, I was just about to send Tiffany a message to officially break up with her. I was halfway through typing it when the door opened. As soon as Tiffany walked in, she pointed her finger at me and accused me. “Brendon, you were deliberately being rude and caused trouble today. You gave my dad a heart attack! “You single-handedly ruined what was supposed to be a happy family dinner! “You scared Henry so much that he still feels insecure and hasn’t stopped crying. “To make it up to Henry and help him feel more secure, you don’t need to go to the marriage registration in three days. Howard and I will go instead. “That way, no one will ever call Henry an illegitimate child again. He’ll be able to grow up healthy and confident too. “Henry’s crippling anxiety is all your fault, so Howard and I are going to register our marriage as an atonement for you. You can’t object to that.” I thought about how I was supposed to go register our marriage in three days as well. I nodded. “Works for me.” Chapter 4 Tiffany seemed a little surprised. She asked me, “You really don’t mind? Are you really not upset?” “I’m not upset,” I said. “No one wants their child to be called an illegitimate child.” She let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “You’re right to take it in stride. “I’ll leave the wedding arrangements up to you. In the eyes of others, we’re a married couple. It doesn’t matter whose name is on the marriage certificate.” I nodded wordlessly. She continued, “There’s just one more thing. Giving birth to Henry took a heavy toll on my body, so let’s not have any more children after we’re married. “You’ll raise Henry as your own son. He’s very smart. He’s a promising young man worth nurturing. We’ll leave all our assets to him. He’ll definitely take care of you in your old age.” I nodded without hesitation. “Okay.” She paused for a moment. Her brow furrowed slightly as a hint of unease flashed in her eyes. “Why are you being so understanding today?” I smiled. “We’re about to get married. Why dwell on such things?” She visibly let out a sigh of relief. “I thought you were just sulking. “I’m glad you’ve come to terms with it. After all, you’re about to have me. You really should be content. “Honey, I truly love you. Seeing you so understanding makes my heart ache for you. “I promise that from now on, we’ll live a peaceful life. Even though I had a child with him, I won’t let him or his son disrupt our lives.” No sooner had she finished speaking than her cell phone rang. She answered it. On the other end, a child was crying and faintly calling out, “Mommy.” After hanging up, she glanced at me with a look of hesitation. “Henry misses me. I have to go see him. He’s so young. This is exactly when he needs his mom the most. You don’t mind, do you?” I said, “Go ahead.” She left. After the door closed, I sat on the couch and received two messages from Howard. [You’re a piece of trash who couldn’t even get a marriage certificate or a child. Do you really think she’s going to marry you? She’s just using you to support me and my son! But that’s fine. I know you’ll be on your knees, desperately taking good care of us!] [You’ve been a most loyal dog. Work hard, so you can support us when we have a second child.] I did not delete them, nor did I reply. I just took screenshots of the messages. Tiffany did not come back for three days. I had not contacted her during those three days either, because I had been busy meeting with Claire. Claire was even prettier in person than in her photos. Her smile was refreshingly genuine. On the morning of the third day, Claire and I went to get our marriage certificate. After leaving the County Clerk’s office, Claire went to a nearby print shop to make copies of the documents. I stood at the entrance waiting for her. The marriage certificate we had just received was tucked in my bag. Just then, a black sedan pulled up to the curb. Tiffany and Howard got out of the car. Tiffany spotted me at once. Her expression immediately changed. “Brendon, you promised me you wouldn’t make a scene. Why did you still follow me all the way here?!” Howard also stepped forward and stood right in front of me. Then, he spoke loudly on purpose. “Dear god, have you no shame? We’re about to get married, and you’re still trying to meddle. Is this supposed to be a joke?” There were quite a few people around waiting to get their marriage certificates. Upon hearing that, they all turned to look in our direction. Feeling embarrassed, I explained. “I’m not here to see you two.” “What are you playing at?” Howard’s voice rose even higher. “You chased us all the way to the door of the County Clerk’s office, and you’re still trying to play it cool?! “I’m warning you. If you dare harass my wife one more time, I’ll beat you to a pulp! “Get out of here. Don’t ruin this happy occasion for us.” Tiffany’s expression turned cold as well. “Brendon, you’re really making a spectacle of yourself today. Just leave already. I don’t want you to embarrass yourself any further.” Just then, a clear, bright voice rang out from behind us. “How is my husband embarrassing himself?”