6. The beginning of suffering

              The reprimand caused the newlyweds to freeze for an instant. Both of them looked at each other with an unknown gaze. Until a few seconds later Keenan extended his right hand to Lily.

"That's it. Don't forget to take it for documentation," said the marriage officer to Keenan's messenger who was holding a camera.

              Meanwhile, Lily pressed her forehead against the back of Keenan's hand. Inevitably, the man brought his lips to her ear.

"I'm willing to be a daddy for your child, but don't ever expect me to treat you like a wife." Words that only Lily could hear because they were so close.

            Her new husband briefly kissed her forehead. Then, he backed away from Lily.

              Her suffering did not end. Instead, it only increased because of her new status. As the wife of a man, she didn't even know at all. Fool. Of course. However, her instincts as a mother overcame her sanity.

              The short marriage ceremony was over. Lily looked up when her uncle called out.

"I don't know what to say in the afterlife, Lily. Your late father must be angry that I couldn't make you happy. You took the wrong step, dear," her uncle said with a sad face. "Your new husband seems very cruel. I'm not sure you can be happy. He-"

"Have you spoken?" cut in Keenan who had appeared out of nowhere. "She is now my wife. From now on, she and the child will live with me. Go away!"

"Hey, watch your language!" snapped the uncle. He shook his head slowly as he couldn't help but think that the man married to his niece now was much worse than the first husband.

Keenan smiled wryly. He pulled Lily's arm to force her to step towards the car. "Wipe your tears."

"You're evil. You have no heart. He's my uncle!" snapped Lily who was still rebelling. Unfortunately, Keenan growled. Pressing her arm until she winced in pain.

"Don't argue so much or you'll suffer even more," Keenan snapped. He didn't care about his wife's tears.

"Don't hurt Lily."

Keenan turned to the middle-aged man. "What I do depends on this niece of yours. So stop interfering from now on!"

            They were now in the car. Lily was still sobbing as she looked at her uncle who was still standing there staring at her. She nodded slowly and forced a smile. Moving her lips as if to say that she would be fine.

"Where are we going?" asked Lily when the car driven by the driver began to drive away from the marriage office building.           

              Keenan didn't answer. He was busy talking to someone on a phone call. It wasn't until five minutes later that he turned to Lily.

"What kind does your son like?" Her hand lowered the phone. It showed an online catalog with various cake shapes and colors. "Hurry up and choose!"

"What for?"

Keenan chuckled in annoyance. "You just need to point. Don't act so much!" Lily sighed softly and picked one of the others. "How old is he?"

"Four years old," Lily replied quietly.

            After that, there was no more conversation between them. Until half an hour later, the car driven by the driver was parked in the hospital area.

"From now I am a daddy in front of your son. I'm his new daddy," Keenan said before getting out of the car. "I'll go first. You hurry up and change."

            Lily nodded silently. She was like a puppet that was easily controlled by Keenan.

"Don't put on a gloomy face if you don't want your son to go crazy," Keenan said as the two were walking towards Farel's treatment room.

Right when the door opened, his son's handsome face was already looking cheerful. "Mom! Dad!"

Keenan smiled slightly and approached the four-year-old boy. One hand now landed on the top of Farel's head. "We're going home now. Are you ready, hmm?"

"Of course," Farel replied quickly. "What do you have in store?"

              Lily's tiny mouth opened halfway. She didn't know what to answer because she was still thinking about her recent wedding.

"It's still a secret. So you can't know yet." Keenan answered while looking at Lily who looked confused. "Your mom doesn't know either. This is my business."

"You?" Lily quickly closed her mouth tightly when she saw Keenan's cold gaze. She immediately looked down because she knew she was at fault.

            Now Farel was already in the car. While Lily and Keenan were still taking care of the administration of the boy's return.

"You've made a mistake." Keenan gripped his right arm tightly. He didn't care if his actions earlier would hurt his wife.

"Sorry," Lily squeaked as she glanced down at her arm.

"What did you have to call me earlier, hmm?"

Lily replied in a hoarse voice. "Sorry."

"You should be punished."