President's Substitute Wife

“Yes.” I replied without hesitation.

It was a little sudden for me, but now that I had agreed, I had to do it.

And I had convinced myself thousands of times.

Now no matter who asked me, I would answer “yes” without hesitation.

Daisy put the chopsticks in her mouth and frowned. She looked at me and said, “but I don’t think you’re happy when you mention it. You lived with Sean that year, but...”

“Stop talking.” I interrupted Daisy decisively, “it’s all over. He married Cindy. Don’t talk about him.”

“But...”

“I’ve got good news.” To stop Daisy, I said to her, “Inez and Marlin are not my biological parents, so my biological parents are others.”

“Really?” Daisy was shocked.

I told her what had happened recently.

Daisy was surprised. “You had an accident but you didn’t tell me! Have you treated me as a friend?”

“I’m fine. Ming has been taking care of me.”

Ming had been taking care of me for two weeks.

He was meticulous and thoughtful.

Sacred Heart Hospital belonged to him and he gave orders. So even if he wasn’t there, the nurse came to see me three times an hour and was afraid that something might happen to me.

When I mentioned Ming, Daisy pouted, “is Ming so good? I think his smile is just his mask.”

“Why?”

When I said that, I felt guilty.

In fact, I didn’t think I really knew Ming. He never really opened up to me.

What he let me see is what he wanted me to see.

But he was really nice to me.

Daisy continued to eat and said nothing.

to wash the dishes. When I was cleaning up the garbage, Daisy said, “June, think about it. You

have made

I replied decisively.

I had convinced myself.

Daisy heard my answer and turned to

“Really, really! I really want

I agreed and booked a wedding party.

me.

at last. She took off her gloves and

marriage?” I pretended to glance at her and

a lifetime than to marry someone you don’t love.” Daisy took me. “Who said women must get married? Now you have the ability to make money and buy houses, cars and clothes. Why do you have to get married?”

don’t just

A lifetime is too long. If you live with someone you don’t love, you

shaken the faith I had already instilled in

looked at her and my mood was complicated. I couldn’t even

time I

“But what? You have to marry someone you love. If you

the shoulder. Her words shocked me.

my head. “How could he be pitiful? He will be happy. I...”

pick you up later, won’t he? I’ll tell him for you that you don’t like him and don’t marry him!”

Daisy seemed to have made

she put on her gloves and continued to wash the

I looked at her and

She said it with ease.

But I couldn’t do that.

stared at Daisy and hesitated.

I didn’t even say a word.

bedroom and said, “there are things you left in my house before.

I didn’t know what she meant.

book lying on

knew what was

It was a painting I drew for Sean

I didn’t even

the bottom of my heart so that the wound would not bleed or hurt.

But it was only a few months after I came back that the wound festered