C176 A Secret Marriage

Chris followed closely behind Sarah toward the Rolls-Royce parked outside the Chambers residence. As he approached, he instinctively glanced around, wondering who was driving. He knew very well that Sarah usually drove her own Mercedes-Benz. To his surprise, Sarah didn't walk toward the driver's seat. Instead, she opened the rear passenger door and slipped inside. Chris froze. "Wait... this isn't Sarah's car."

From inside the car, Sarah looked at him with a smile. "What are you waiting for?" "Get in. We're already late." Still confused, Chris climbed into the back seat. The moment he settled down, he finally saw the driver. "Samantha?" Samantha glanced at him through the rearview mirror before smiling gently. "Good morning, Chris."

Only then did she start the engine. Chris looked from Samantha to Sarah before asking, "You two came all the way to pick me up?" Sarah nodded proudly. "Of course." "I told my sister that today was your biggest day." "Mike and Alicia have already left Wood IT Company. If we left you to come alone, you would feel lonely." She squeezed his hand gently. "I wasn't going to let that happen."

Chris couldn't help smiling. "So that's why..." Sarah grinned. "See? I told you I'd be right." The Rolls-Royce pulled smoothly onto the road. A few minutes later, Chris frowned. He looked out of the window before turning toward Sarah. "Wait..." "You said we were late." "So why are we driving in the opposite direction from the company?" Sarah simply smiled. Instead of answering, she continued playing with his fingers as if nothing was unusual. Chris became even more suspicious.

Nearly twenty minutes later, the car slowly stopped outside a large government building. Samantha switched off the engine. "We're here." She didn't get out. Instead, she turned toward them with a warm smile. "You two go ahead." Sarah nodded. "Thank you, Sister." Chris stepped out of the car before looking up at the sign above the entrance. His eyes widened. Marriage Registration Office.

He slowly turned toward Sarah. "...Sarah." She smiled innocently. "Yes?" He pointed at the building. "We're here..." "...to register our marriage?" Sarah nodded naturally. "Yes." Chris stood there speechless for several seconds. Then a huge smile spread across his face. "So..." "We're really getting married today?" Sarah laughed. "We're simply making it official."

Chris suddenly grabbed both of her hands excitedly. "Does that mean..." "I can finally hold your hand openly?" "I have to tell Mike!" Sarah burst into laughter. "You're competing with him again?" Chris scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "What can I say?" "He's my brother." "I can't lose every competition." Still laughing, Sarah gently pulled him toward the entrance. "Come on." "Let's finish this first."

The registration process was surprisingly simple. They completed several forms, submitted their identification documents, signed the necessary paperwork, and exchanged fingerprints. A few minutes later... The officer smiled warmly before sliding a certificate across the desk. "Congratulations." "You are now legally husband and wife."

Chris stared at the document in disbelief. Across the top, elegant golden letters read: Marriage Certificate Christopher Chambers & Sarah Chambers. His heart skipped a beat. He carefully picked it up, unable to stop smiling. "We're really married..." Sarah looked at him quietly before clearing her throat. "Chris..." "There are a few things I need to explain."

Seeing her serious expression, Chris immediately listened. "My parents suggested we register our marriage before Ben is released." "They're worried he'll see your promotion as you replacing him." She paused. "If he knows you're my husband, he'll think twice before targeting you." Chris nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."

Sarah continued. "There's another reason." She gently placed a hand over her stomach. "My pregnancy." "In a few months, people will begin asking questions." "They'll want to know who the baby's father is." "If I already have a marriage certificate..." "I can simply tell them I'm married." "No one will suspect anything." Chris smiled softly. "Our daughter is already protecting us."

Sarah laughed. "There is one more thing." She looked directly into his eyes. "For now..." "I won't change my surname at work." "I'll continue using Sarah Wood." Chris blinked. "You won't become Sarah Chambers?" She shook her head. "Not yet." "I'm still the Director of Wood IT Company." "You'll also be the new Vice Director." "If people suddenly discover we're husband and wife, you'll become the center of attention." "I know how much you dislike that." "So..." "I'll remain the mysterious wife nobody knows." "When the time is right..." "We'll tell everyone."

Chris smiled warmly. "I actually like that idea." "My colleagues already know I have a mysterious, beautiful girlfriend." "So letting them keep guessing won't hurt." Sarah laughed. "You really enjoy confusing people." Chris leaned slightly closer before lowering his voice. "Wife..." Sarah immediately became suspicious. "What?" He smiled mischievously. "We're officially married now." "So..." "We can sleep together tonight... right?"

Sarah's cheeks instantly turned crimson. She lightly pinched his arm. "Pervert!" "We're already late." "Hurry." "Let's find a taxi." Chris laughed loudly while rubbing his arm. "You're becoming more violent now that we're married." Sarah rolled her eyes. "And you'll deserve every pinch if you keep talking like that." Laughing together, the newly married couple left the building and hailed a taxi toward Wood IT Company.

Meanwhile... At the prison. Natalie had come once again to visit Ben. Over the past few days, prison life had unexpectedly changed him. Although he had lost some weight, regular exercise had left him looking healthier and stronger than before. Natalie smiled warmly the moment she picked up the telephone. "I've missed you." "The office feels so empty without you." "I even left work for good."

She lowered her eyes shyly. "Sometimes..." "I even think about that night at the hotel." Ben smiled calmly. "Natalie." She looked up. "You once told me..." "...that even if I went to prison, you'd still marry me." Natalie nodded without hesitation. "Yes." "I meant every word." "I like you, Ben." "I believe marrying you would be one of the greatest blessings of my life." "We'll leave everything behind." "Start our own business." "Build our own family." Ben's eyes softened. "Then be ready." "I'll be coming out soon."

Natalie smiled brightly before blowing him a playful kiss through the glass. "I'll be waiting." At almost the exact same moment... Another visitor walked inside. Samantha. She had witnessed Natalie's farewell from a distance. Her footsteps slowly came to a stop. "Wasn't that..." "Ben's secretary?" She frowned before walking closer.

The moment Ben saw her... His heartbeat quickened. For days, he had waited. Every morning... Every afternoon... Every visiting hour... He had hoped Samantha would come. But she never did. Today... She finally appeared. Natalie also noticed Samantha. She immediately stood up respectfully. "Vice Director Wood." Samantha forced a polite smile. She looked from Natalie to Ben before asking quietly, "So..." "You're not just his secretary?"

Natalie lowered her head. She didn't know how to answer. Before she could speak, Ben calmly interrupted. "Natalie has visited me every single day since I was arrested." He looked directly into Samantha's eyes. "But you..." "My wife..." "Did it ever occur to you to visit me?" Samantha's heart tightened. She slowly looked toward Natalie. "So..." "You've really been coming every day?" Natalie remained silent. She quietly excused herself and walked away, leaving the husband and wife alone.

Ben smiled bitterly. "When I get out..." "A lot of things are going to change." Without waiting for a response, he handed the telephone back to the guard and walked away. Samantha remained standing there, completely stunned. She had come to tell him the good news.. that his bail had finally been approved. Instead... She never got the chance.

Watching Ben disappear beyond the prison doors, she felt an unfamiliar heaviness settle over her heart. For the first time... She realized there was another woman who had stood beside her husband when she hadn't.