Chapter 5

The atmosphere at Twilight Villa was especially lively tonight. The villa was aglow with light flooding out of every visible window. This was in stark contrast to the dull and lifeless atmosphere a few days ago during the wedding, where people might have mistaken it for a funeral instead. Micah was seen sitting in the lounge area, surrounded by a few of his good friends. Sitting with his legs crossed, Tyler Lawrence asked, "Bro, where's your dowdy wife? Let us have a look." Micah had always been seen as a noble and dignified person. Coupled with his outstanding achievements, it was no doubt that others felt condescended by him, especially those who were born rich. Knowing that Micah had married a dowdy woman, they purposely came to see him make a fool of himself. How could a perfectionist like him marry a country bumpkin? They were sure that this would stain his reputation forever. "Dowdy?" Micah asked, a deep furrow running across his eyebrows. He found it extremely difficult to describe Tiffany as a dowdy person after seeing her appearance the other day. Tyler scooted over to him and said, "Don't tell me that you haven't even seen your wife?" Carter Blake took out his phone and showed Micah a picture of Tiffany. "That's her. She smelled of pig manure the other day, and her hair looked like it hadn't been washed for days. I vomited on the spot after seeing her. I nearly fainted too." Looking at the dirty and dowdy woman in the photo, Micah fell silent. Tyler's interest in Tiffany grew further upon seeing her photo. He kept asking Micah to let him meet the woman. From the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Tiffany coming down the stairs and was soon staring at her dumbfoundedly. She was wearing a strapless dress with a purple gradient that gradually turned darker toward the end. The dress was layered, and it glittered in the dim light, giving her an overall mysterious look. Her facial features were soft and delicate. She had a pair of alluring doe eyes. She gave off an innocent and docile vibe, making the people around her struggle to resist the urge to wrap her in their arms. 'Whose daughter is this? Why haven't I seen her around before?' Distracted by the woman’s beauty, Tyler took a glass of wine and started walking toward her with a charming smile. "Hi, beautiful. Care to have a drink with me?" Tiffany started walking toward Micah as she replied, "I don't think so." Tyler quickly stopped her and said, "You’re choosing him instead? I won't recommend it. He's married, whereas I'm single." Being a playboy, Tyler had hit on many different types of girls before, but docile and delicate girls like Tiffany were his favorite. He could already imagine his hands on her slim and slender waist. His interest in Tiffany was plain in his eyes. "I'm Tyler from the Lawrence family. And you are?" "I'm Tiffany Young." Tyler thought the name sounded familiar, and soon he was pointing at Micah as he said in surprise, "You have the exact same name as Micah's wife, but you're so much more elegant and prettier. "His wife is a typical country bumpkin who’s dowdy and inelegant. You'll get to meet her soon." Tiffany held her chin and said with a sigh, "Oh my, how unlucky I am to share the same name with such a dowdy woman. Honey, don't you think so?" "She's nothing compared to you. You're as beauti—wait... Did you just call him honey?" Tyler pointed at Micah and was finding it difficult to believe his ears. Meanwhile, Tiffany was already beside Micah and flirting with him. Micah was cold and distant, whereas Tiffany was warm and welcoming. At a glance, they looked like polar opposites, but at the same time, they also looked like a perfect couple. Tyler and Carter stood dumbstruck and stared at them, unable to speak. Seeing the two of them together, they recalled the photo of Tiffany that they saw before and thought to themselves, 'How can they be the same person?' Meanwhile, Grannie Blake and Quinlan arrived at the party. Grannie Blake led both of them upstage and placed Tiffany's hand in Micah's. Feeling Micah's broad and cold hand in hers, the sudden intimacy made Tiffany feel uneasy and strange. It gave her the urge to pull her hand back. On the contrary, Tiffany's hand was delicate and soft against Micah's skin, causing Micah to grip it stronger by reflex. Surprised, Tiffany looked up at him and tried to make eye contact, but Micah stared straight ahead without even glancing at her. Grannie Blake joyfully announced that their wedding ceremony was to be held on the eighth of next month. A commotion broke out in the crowd when they heard the announcement. They all thought Grannie Blake must be out of her mind to find such a wife for Micah. As soon as Grannie Blake was done with the announcement, Micah flung off Tiffany's hand with a hint of disdain and walked away. Quinlan walked toward Tiffany and said sullenly, "Don't think that you’ve now secured your place in the Blake family. Micah has someone that he loves, and he won't open up to you that easily." After being repeatedly attacked by Quinlan, it was obvious that Tiffany did not like her at all. Tiffany then crossed her arms and said, "Mrs. Blake, I wonder what Micah will think of you if I tell him that his own mother nearly killed him by giving him sleeping pills when he was in a vegetative state?" Tiffany noticed that Micah's relationship with his mother was not great. The only person Micah respected in the Blake family was Grannie Blake. She had never expected Quinlan to come up with the idea of drugging her own son with sleeping pills just to make her leave the Blake family. If Tiffany had not noticed her plan, it would be a funeral that was held today instead of a party. Quinlan stared at her, face white with fear. She then grabbed Tiffany's arm so tightly that blood started seeping under her fingernails. She said shakily, "Don't you dare tell anyone about this, or I'll never forgive you." Tiffany shook herself free from her grip and said coolly, "Well, that depends on you, Mrs. Blake. I expect to be treated with respect in the days to come." Quinlan stomped angrily upon hearing her words. … "Micah, are you really marrying that woman? She’s an illegitimate child." Micah's deep voice echoed as he replied, "Yeah." "What about me? What do I do now?" the woman asked, unable to keep the hurt out of her voice. "You know how much I love you. How can you marry someone else instead? "For our marriage, I had knelt in front of Twilight Villa for three days and three nights. I had also put aside my pride and dignity. Now you're telling me that you're marrying a country bumpkin? That's ridiculous." Looking at the woman who was crying uncontrollably, Micah rubbed his eyebrows and said with a hint of frustration, "We're not destined to be together." Dressed in a red dress, Jocelyn Gardner could not help but laugh bitterly upon hearing his words. She then said with teary eyes, "Are you lying to me, or are you lying to yourself? We’re childhood friends, and I've been by your side for more than a decade. We’re a perfect match, and both our parents have agreed to our marriage as well. Now you're telling me that we're not destined? "Micah, Tiffany Young isn't worthy of you. I'm the only one who's worthy of you. Don't marry her, okay? "Please, I'm begging you. I can't live without you." Micah sighed helplessly as he said, "You're an outstanding woman, Jocelyn. I'm sure you'll meet someone better in the future." "But I only want you." Jocelyn shook her head determinedly. She had been in love with Micah for a decade. She was not interested in anyone else. Throwing herself into his arms, Joceyln cried as she told Micah about her feelings. A hint of irritation flashed across Micah's eyes as he pushed her away. From the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of someone standing nearby. He then strode over and pulled the person into the light. Realizing who it was, the two of them stood in stunned silence. Tiffany did not expect to be caught eavesdropping on her husband and his old lover. Just as she was about to make an excuse to leave, a pair of broad and large arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into an intimate hug. Tiffany could hear her own heart beating faster and faster. Thump, thump, thump. "I'm a married man, Jocelyn. Please, save yourself some respect." Shocked, Jocelyn's face crumpled as she ran away in tears. As soon as she was gone, Micah shoved Tiffany away and patted his clothes with a hint of disdain. "I promised Grannie that I won't divorce you for the time being. After a year, you and I will be on different paths that will never cross again." "Don't be so sure. Who knows? You may fall for me." "Only if I'm blind."