Lies Like Foam, Love in the DeepChapter 2

After dinner, I bought a plane ticket for seven days later, heading out of the country, and booked the soonest possible abortion appointment.

Seven days. That was enough time to say goodbye to this marriage.

While Harrison showered, I found our marriage certificate.

Looking at the vivid red cover, the official seal of the registrar’s office inside.

Anyone would think it was real.

My eyes grew moist. Just as I was about to put it away, Harrison’s questioning voice sounded behind me:

“Ariel, what are you doing with the marriage certificate?”

I calmly put it down, smiling. “It was a bit dusty. I just took it out to wipe it.”

Harrison saw my reddened eyes, and his own flashed with concern.

He came over, took the certificate, placed it in the cabinet, and hugged me. “You should let the housekeeper handle things like this.”

I said nothing.

Harrison was about to linger a bit longer when his phone rang suddenly.

“Wife, I have to deal with something at the office. You go to bed after you’re done showering.”

With that, he took his phone and went to his study.

After I had showered, I was drying my hair when I passed the study door.

I heard Harrison’s soft, cooing voice:

“Serena, you’ll be in Capital City tomorrow. Your husband has a big surprise for you.”

Serena replied sweetly, her voice soft, “Really? Thank you, hubby. But what about Ariel?”

I felt Harrison’s mood instantly darken. He said in a cold voice:

“You are my wife. Ariel is just your surrogate.”

A chill settled deep in my heart.

On the phone, Serena laughed twice, then chided him playfully, “Don’t say that about Ariel.”

Harrison’s voice was so soft it could drip with sweetness:

“Serena, you’re too kind.”

I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Suppressing the bitterness, I returned to my room.

When Harrison came back, he saw I was already in bed.

He didn’t disturb me, climbing in and gently holding me as he lay down.

But I barely slept a wink that night.

Early the next morning, Harrison held me tightly, reluctantly saying, “Wife, the company is very busy today. I won’t be back tonight to be with you.”

“Your husband will make it up to you later.”

I smiled. “It’s fine.”

He had truly planned it well, all to keep me from finding out about Serena.

But this five-year deception, I wasn't going to let it continue.

Especially since Harrison intended for me to die in childbirth.

After he left, I grabbed the marriage certificate and went out.

Arriving at the civil affairs office, I handed the marriage certificate to the clerk:

“Could you help me check if there’s anything wrong with this marriage certificate?”

The clerk frowned, her expression complicated as she looked at me. “Miss, this official seal is fake, so your marriage certificate has no legal validity.”

Even though I already knew the outcome, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

But at least this saved me the trouble of divorce.

I then went to the immigration office, applied for emigration, and canceled my identification documents.

“Ms. Davies, this means you won’t be traceable anymore.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine.”

After I finished everything, I suddenly remembered that Harrison was throwing a welcome party for Serena today.

I followed the address I’d seen yesterday and found the rose field.

As soon as I arrived, I saw Harrison, surrounded by an adoring crowd, kissing Serena.

Among those gathered were not only his friends but also company employees.

“So this is Mrs. Blackwood! She’s truly beautiful, and so elegant. No wonder Mr. Blackwood is so utterly smitten!”

“Did you see the necklace on her neck? It’s one of a kind in the world. I personally saw Mr. Blackwood pick it out.”

“I heard Mr. Blackwood and his wife were childhood sweethearts. Such love is truly enviable.”

Someone else questioned,

“But I’ve seen Mrs. Blackwood before, and she didn’t look like this?”

“Heh, I heard it through the grapevine a while ago. That’s the wife’s older sister, and rumor has it she’s been desperately clinging to Mr. Blackwood.”

I just found it laughable.

Five years of marriage, yet in everyone’s eyes, no one knew I was Harrison Blackwood’s wife.

Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly heard Ethan’s voice:

“Ariel, you’re finally back. I missed you so much. You have no idea how disgusting it was facing Ariel Summers every day…”

Suddenly, an inexplicable bitterness welled up in my nose.

Five years ago, I fought with Serena and my former fiancé to get him justice, becoming the laughingstock of the entire capital city.

But in the end, he treated me like a stranger.

In the rose field, Ethan was whining to Serena.

I walked closer, making my way to the front amidst everyone’s astonished gazes, and suppressing my hurt, asked:

“Ethan, why are you here?”