The Widow’s Baby, New Groom

1.

My wedding was only a month away.

But I was starting to wonder if I should even walk down the aisle.

The reason was the same as alwaysDmy fianc wanted to have a child with his best friend's widow.

Caleb Sterling looked me in the eye and said, Jeremy was my brother. He's gone now, and he left Serena all alone. She's tried to end her life several times.

"If she had a child to focus on, maybe she could finally move past this grief," he added.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. I looked at Caleb and asked, "If she wants a baby, she can adopt. She can remarry. She can go to a clinic and pick a donor. Why does it have to be you?"

Caleb sighed as if I was the one being difficult. "Jeremy entrusted her to me on his deathbed. Serena doesn't know anyone else in the city. She only trusts me."

"Caleb, don't you realize how insane this sounds?"

He shrugged it off. "It's just IVF, Ivy. It's not like anything physical will happen between us. I'm still marrying you."

I had known Caleb for fifteen years. We had been dating for thirteen. I had waited a lifetime for the day I could finally call him my husband.

I never expected the universe to play such a cruel joke on me right at the finish line.

"And what will the child call you?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Uncle? Or... Daddy?"

A flicker of discomfort crossed Caleb's face, replaced quickly by irritation. "The kid can call me whatever they want. I don't care."

I couldn't agree to this. Not in a million years.

Because of this, Caleb had been giving me the cold shoulder for months.

"Just think about it," Caleb said, grabbing his keys. "Serena hasn't been doing well lately. I'm afraid she might do something drastic. I'm going to stay with her for a few days to keep an eye on her. I'll be back for the wedding."

And then he walked out.

He took two massive suitcases with him.

He packed his clothes, his toiletries, and everything he used daily.

I stood alone in our empty house. The red decorations for our wedding were already up on the windows. Now, they just looked like a mockery.

My phone buzzed. It was the bridal shop.

"Hello, Ms. Vance? Could you send over your and Mr. Sterling's measurements? We need to finalize the custom tailoring for the gown and the suit as soon as possible."

I had my own measurements, but I realized I didn't know Caleb's exact size.

I called him. To my surprise, he picked up quickly. "Changed your mind?" he asked.

In the background, I heard a woman's voice. It was soft, almost feline. "Who is it, honey?"

I recognized that voice instantly.

It was Serena Delancy, the widow of his so-called brother.

"Nobody," Caleb replied to her.

"The movie was just getting to the good part," Serena pouted loud enough for me to hear. "Calling at a time like this... what a buzzkill."

I let out a cold laugh. "You're watching a movie with her? I thought she was so depressed she was on the verge of suicide."

Caleb's tone turned sharp and angry. "I just brought her out to change her mood. How is she supposed to move on from Jeremy's death if she's trapped in that house all day?"

It was such a noble excuse.

Just as absurd as the idea of him fathering her child.

"Fine. Enjoy your movie. I'm hanging up," I said.

"Ivy, what is wrong with you? You call me just to give me an attitude?"

I took a deep breath. "Caleb, do you even intend to go through with this wedding?"

"Whether we get married or not doesn't change the fact that I'm helping Serena. I have to ensure Jeremy's legacy continues."

"Fine," I said.

"You're agreeing to it?" Caleb sounded relieved.

"Yeah. Whatever."

"That's my girl. Don't worry, I'll be there for the ceremony on time..."

I hung up before he could finish.

If getting married didn't stop him from having a baby with Serena, then I decided to be fair.

The wedding would go on. I just needed a new groom.

2.

I opened my social media and posted a single status.

"Looking for a wedding partner. Please introduce any reliable, single guys."

The comment section exploded within minutes.

Some people asked if Caleb and I had a fight. They told me men having "hobbies" outside was normal and warned me not to be a drama queen, or I'd lose a good man.

Others questioned my integrity. They asked how I could do this to Caleb after all these years.

I looked at those comments and laughed.

I had been with Caleb when he had nothing. I helped him build his business. I stayed through every struggle.

I could hold my head high and say I owed him absolutely nothing!

He was the one who made a disgusting demand. He was the one who threw away thirteen years of history.

It was time to cut the cord and start over.

My phone vibrated again.

I expected another lecture from Caleb's friends.

Instead, it was a private message from my boss.

The man I had saved in my contacts as "The Evil Capitalist." His name was Dominic Fontaine.

"The Evil Capitalist: You're looking for someone to marry?"

"The Evil Capitalist: How about me?"

I froze. I realized I had forgotten to hide my post from my boss.

"The Evil Capitalist: When is the date?"

My heart raced. I nervously typed back: "In a month?"

"The Evil Capitalist: Deal."

"Ivy (Tech Dept): Sir, are you being serious?"

"The Evil Capitalist: Or we could go to the courthouse right now. Wait there. I'll pick you up in thirty minutes."

I panicked and stopped him.

"Ivy (Tech Dept): Sir, I still have things to handle. Let's stick to the plan. A month from now. You can use this time to reconsider."

"The Evil Capitalist: No need to reconsider. We're getting married in a month."

I stared at Dominic's messages, unable to process what was happening.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a key in the front door.

Caleb walked in, looking miserable.

"Ivy, we need to postpone the wedding. Serena is still in a bad place. I don't want to celebrate while she's suffering. It'll trigger her."

I nodded calmly. "Okay."

Caleb looked surprised. "You're not going to throw a fit?"

"Why would I?"

"I thought you'd be furious. We've been together for over a decade, after all."

I scoffed internally.

Thirteen years of a relationship, and he could cancel the wedding just like that for a woman who wasn't even his relative.

He had spent years getting used to making all the decisions.

As long as he decided something, I was expected to obey. I was the submissive partner who never argued.

I had let so many things slide because I didn't want to fight over petty issues.

But this time, I wasn't backing down.

"Is she doing better?" I asked.

Caleb sighed. "She needs someone around. She overthinks when she's alone. We need to start the... process... for the baby as soon as possible."

"I see. Then you should spend more time with her."

Caleb smiled and actually praised me. "I guess that fight did some good. You've finally matured."

I wasn't maturing.

I was waking up.

Suddenly, a poppy, upbeat song started playing from Caleb's pocket.

I was taken aback. Caleb was the definition of a stoic, "manly" guy. He would never use a cute pop song as his ringtone.

He answered it, his voice becoming more tender than I had ever heard. "Serena?"

Oh. It was a custom ringtone just for her.

"What? Okay, I'll bring it over right now."

Caleb hung up and grabbed his car keys immediately. He was halfway out the door before he remembered to tell me.

"Serena left some clothes in my car. I'm going to drop them off."

"What kind of clothes?" I asked.

Caleb's expression turned strange. He hesitated, stammering, "Just... regular clothes. Don't worry about it. I gotta go."

3.

This weekend was the birthday of my old high school teacher, Mrs. Jenkins.

Early that morning, the class president called me. "Make sure you and Caleb show up together!"

When I arrived at the venue, the lounge was already packed with former classmates. Caleb was nowhere to be seen.

The class president looked behind me. "Where's your husband? Looking for parking?"

"He's not my husband," I said.

He laughed it off. "Not yet, but you will be in a month, right? You guys have been together forever. Don't blow it now over a silly fight. Just be happy."

Mrs. Jenkins walked over, smiling. She had aged over the years, her hair turning a soft silver.

"Ivy, dear," she said warmly. "I've watched you two grow up. Are you two arguing over Serena? You must have misunderstood. Caleb and Jeremy were best friends. He's just being a good guy and looking after her. Have some faith in your relationship."

Mrs. Jenkins had always been my favorite teacher. She was kind and nurturing.

But school was over. She could teach me literature, but she couldn't teach me how to handle a failing marriage.

"I know what I'm doing, Mrs. Jenkins."

She took that as a sign I was listening. "Good girl. You were always the smart one."

Just then, the door swung open. Caleb walked in.

"Happy Birthday, Mrs. Jenkins."

The teacher beamed. "Thank you! I heard you and Ivy are getting married soon. I'm so happy for you both!"

But then, the smile froze on her face.

Serena walked in right behind Caleb. She was wearing his jacket over her shoulders, her hand tucked firmly under his arm.

She smiled sweetly and handed a gift to Mrs. Jenkins. "Hello, I'm Serena. I'm so sorry we're late. It's my fault. My cycle started unexpectedly, and Caleb had to run to the store to get me some pads. It took a while."

Caleb.

The way she said his name told the whole story.

The class president stood there, stunned. He pulled Caleb aside and hissed, "Ivy is right here! Why the hell did you bring her?"

Caleb didn't even look guilty. "Serena's been very fragile. I didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone."

"What about Ivy?"

Caleb glanced at me with total indifference. "She's fine. Don't worry about her."

He gently led Serena to the sofa, picking out fruit and snacks for her. "Don't be nervous. These are all my friends. They'll take care of you."

Serena leaned her head on his shoulder like a helpless kitten. "As long as you're here, I feel safe."

Everyone in that room knew Caleb and I were a couple.

They didn't know how to react. The atmosphere turned incredibly awkward.

The class president, who probably wanted to help us make up, looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole.

The party felt like a funeral after that.

When it finally ended, everyone looked relieved to leave. Everyone except Caleb and Serena.

As Caleb walked past me, still holding Serena's hand, he said coldly, "I have to drop Serena off. I might stay over to make sure she's okay. Call an Uber for yourself."

Serena let out a soft gasp and patted Caleb's arm. "Oh, honey, don't be like that. Ivy is your fiance. You can't make her take a cab just because of me. Ivy, don't listen to him. Get in the car. I'll have Caleb drop you off first."

She spoke as if she was the mistress of the house.

And I was just a guest.

I brushed her hand off my arm and said tonelessly, "No thanks. My ride is here."

*Beep beep.*

A sleek, black Maybach pulled up slowly and stopped right in front of me.

4.

I got into the Maybach right in front of Caleb and Serena.

A few classmates walked out and joked, "Since when did Maybachs start doing Uber? That's some high-end service."

Caleb's face turned sour.

He drove a Honda. It was a decent car, but next to a Maybach, it looked like a piece of junk.

I hadn't been home long when Caleb walked through the door.

I was surprised. "I thought you weren't coming back tonight?"

His face was thunderous. "Are you disappointed that I'm here?"

"If you're sick, go see a doctor. Don't take it out on me," I snapped.

"Who was that guy in the car?"

"What guy?"

"My husband."

Caleb burst into a mocking laugh. "Ha! I knew it."

I had no idea what he was "knowing."

He sat on the sofa with an air of smug confidence. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Trying to make me jealous. Renting a Maybach can't be cheap. I was wondering why you've been so quiet lately. You were just waiting to pull this stunt."

I was speechless.

"Believe whatever makes you feel better, Caleb."

He looked at me with disgust. "Stop with these childish games. It's pathetic."

"Think what you want."

"Ivy, I know you're upset about the wedding being postponed. You've been desperate for a ring for years. I get it. But there are priorities. Serena is grieving. She comes first."

I couldn't help but ask, "If Serena never gets over it, are we never getting married?"

"Ivy! How can you be so cruel? Don't you want her to get better? She never did anything to you! Why are you cursing her?"

I had known Caleb for thirteen years. I had given him everything. I was supposed to be his wife.

But this was the first time he had ever called me "cruel" to my face.

My heart finally turned to ice.

"Give me your car keys," I said.

He looked at me suspiciously. "Why?"

"I need to get my stuff out of your car."

I had once hand-braided a lucky charm for him. It hung from his rearview mirror.

I had made it to keep him safe on the road.

But Caleb Sterling didn't deserve my love or protection anymore.

"Serena has stuff in there too," Caleb warned. "Don't touch her things. I'll come with you."

"Fine."

We went down to the garage.

He unlocked the car. I reached in to untie the charm.

I had tied it with a double knot years ago, afraid it would fall off.

I didn't have the patience to untie it. I just yanked it. The red silk cord snapped, leaving a long, useless string in my hand.

"Why did you break it?" Caleb asked.

"It was already broken. It's useless now."

As I backed out of the car, I saw something dark tucked into the crevice of the passenger seat.

I pinched it with two fingers and pulled.

It was a pair of black silk stockings.

I didn't have to guess who they belonged to.

This must have been the "regular clothes" Serena had left in his car.

"Are you done yet?" Caleb hurried me. "Stop snooping."

I stared at the stockings for a second before stuffing them back where I found them.

"I'm done."

The moment I stepped away, Caleb slammed the door and locked it tight.

I didn't care. I walked over to the trash can and tossed the ruined red silk cord inside.

My phone rang.

I answered it. "Hello?"

"When are you free? The ceremony can wait a month, but we should get the legal papers done first."

It was Dominic Fontaine.

"There's no rush, right?" I said. "Getting a license is easy. We can do it the day of the wedding."

Caleb suddenly caught the keywords. "License? What license?"

5.

On the other end of the line, Dominic asked, "Is that your ex?"

He had already added the word "ex" to Caleb's title.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Move out as soon as possible."

"Okay."

"Check your schedule for the courthouse. Tell me whenever you're ready. I'll make it work."

I hung up. Caleb was staring at me with a suspicious glare. "Who was that? It's late."

"Someone wants to take me to get married," I said plainly.

Caleb let out a mocking snort. "Ivy, playing this game once was enough. It's getting old."

I took a deep breath. "Okay."

"I'm talking to you! Did you hear me?"

"Don't worry. I won't mention it to you ever again."

Caleb looked satisfied. "Good. It's late. I'm going back to Serena's."

"Go ahead."

As he reached the door, he paused and looked back. "Just wait a little longer. Once Serena is stable, I'll give you the status you want. You've been with me a long time. I'll take care of you."

I said nothing.

The next day, I started packing.

I didn't have much. My most important possession was my laptop.

As a coder, my entire life's work was on that machine.

When Dominic came to pick me up, he saw me carrying nothing but a laptop bag. He arched an eyebrow. "Is that it?"

I nodded. "That's it."

"I thought girls liked buying tons of clothes and handbags."

I did. I used to.

But Caleb's startup had struggled for years. We were broke for a long time.

I had sold my jewelry. I hadn't bought new clothes in years.

I packed a few essentials and donated everything else to charity.

Dominic looked at my thin bag and said softly, "I'll take you shopping this weekend."

"No, it's fine."

"Why?"

"...I haven't gotten my paycheck for this month yet."

Dominic couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I'll give you an advance."

I bit my lip, still feeling a bit shy.

"Sir... are you really sure you want to marry me?"

"Why do you keep asking that?"

"Is your family pressuring you that hard?"

"They are. And being a married man helps with the board of directors. It makes me look more stable. It's good for business."

"I knew it. You're such a capitalist. You'd never do a deal that wasn't profitable."

"What did you call me?"

I waved my hands frantically. "Nothing! Nothing!"

Dominic smirked. "You should probably change my name in your contacts."

"Changing it right now! Immediate effect!"

I quickly changed "The Evil Capitalist" to "The Most Generous Human Being."

I showed him the screen. "See? Changed."

Dominic glanced at it, then slowly pulled the car over to the curb.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He took the phone from my hand, typed for a few seconds, and handed it back.

As we merged back into traffic, I looked at the screen.

"The Most Generous Human Being" was gone.

It now said: "Husband."

"Sir, we aren't even married yet. Isn't this a bit much?"

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "We can head to the courthouse right now if you want."

He actually started to pull a U-turn.

"Wait! Not today, sir!"

"And what's the excuse today?"

"My legal papers... are still at Caleb's house."

When Caleb picked up my call, he was out shopping with Serena.

She was trying on a tiny, strapless dress, posing in front of the mirror. She was trying so hard to be sexy.

Caleb was staring at her, mesmerized. Serena saw his expression and snapped a secret photo of him.

Then she took a selfie and posted it on social media.

The caption read: "I guess the Cupid's arrow hit the wrong person before. I'm glad you finally found your way to me."

Two photos. One of her looking sultry, and one of Caleb looking at her like a lost puppy.

She loved having him wrapped around her finger. It fed her ego.

But Caleb's attention was broken by his ringing phone. He frowned when he saw my name.

"Ivy, I told you I'm with Serena. Why are you calling me again?"

"Where are my legal documents?"

"What do you need them for?"

"I need to handle some paperwork."

"What paperwork?"

Serena didn't like the attention being off her. She called out in a sugary voice, "CalebDdoes this dress look good on me?"

Caleb's focus shifted back to her immediately.

Watching Serena pose, he just wanted to end the call.

"The documents are in the third drawer of the cabinet in the living room. I'm busy. Don't call me for trivial stuff. Bye."

6.

We were almost at Dominic's house. I realized the government offices were about to close anyway.

I'd go another day.

But I was officially moving into Dominic's place.

I had thought about renting my own apartment.

But Dominic argued, "If we're married but living apart, the press will have a field day."

So, to "cooperate" with my boss's work, I moved in.

However, I insisted on the guest room.

Dominic didn't push me.

But as I was putting my clothes into the closet, he leaned against the doorframe, watching me.

"Ivy, when I said we're getting married, I meant for real."

I didn't quite catch his meaning. I nodded. "I know. The legal part has to be legitimate so the reporters don't find anything."

Dominic clarified slowly, "I mean a real marriage. Not just on paper. I mean a real life together. As a couple."

I finally understood.

My face flushed red. My hands became clumsy with the hangers.

Seeing my nervousness, Dominic smirked. "Don't worry. I'm not going to eat you."

...

Caleb didn't come home for three weeks.

During those three weeks, he did everything Serena wanted.

He took her to Disneyland. He took her to see the sunrise on the coast. He took her to the desert to watch the stars.

When they came back, Serena gave him the news. "Caleb, I'm pregnant."

"The baby can't grow up without a father. Do you really want our child to be called a bastard?"

"Jeremy wanted you to take care of me. We can raise this child together. We'll tell everyone Jeremy is the godfather. It's the perfect solution."

"Ivy? You've been together a long time, but you aren't married. As long as there's no ring, you're both single. People break up all the time. No one will blame you."

"If she makes a scene, let her. I'm carrying your child. She can't force me to stop the pregnancy."

Hearing that, Caleb roared with protective anger. "She wouldn't dare! If she touches a hair on our child's head, I'll make her life a living hell!"

Serena leaned into his chest, cooing. "Caleb, you're so manly. No wonder Ivy was obsessed with you for years. Any woman would fall for you. Even me..."

Caleb spent the whole car ride being showered with sweet talk. His ego was through the roof.

But when he finally stepped into our house, he felt a small pang of guilt.

He felt a little bad for me.

He opened the door. The living room was dark.

The bedroom door was shut.

He walked over and knocked. "Ivy? I know you're in there."

There was no answer.

"I'm sorry, but I have to break my promise again. I can't marry you."

"Serena is pregnant. I can't let the baby grow up fatherless."

"I have to look after them for Jeremy's sake. So... you'll just have to deal with it."

"Look, I'll give you two thousand dollars. Consider it compensation for all these years."

"Since you're not saying anything, I'll take that as a yes. I figured a hundred bucks for every year we were together was fair, but since you were so devoted, I'll round it up to two thousand."

"Ivy?"

Still nothing. Caleb turned the handle and pushed the door open.

The room was completely empty.