The Substitute Bride

Despite feeling embarrassed, Sheryl repeated her words. Upon seeing her flustered face, Anthony quickly grabbed and held her in his arms. "Sher, your words make me see how much you value this relationship," Anthony said in a loving tone. "And it truly makes me happy to know that we can spend our lives together in the future," he further added.

"You are truly a naughty man!" Sheryl replied at the sight of the happy, innocent-looking man. Anthony smiled earnestly and held Sheryl closer after hearing her reply.

After some time, Anthony pulled Sheryl from his arms and stared at her with serious eyes and said,"Sheryl, as a physician, I am confident that I can support you and Shirley financially and share the burden with you. At the very least, you can trust me with this."

"Anthony, I have no doubts in your capabilities. I know you have a stable job and you're well-off. But please try to understand, I am a single mother and was an independent woman before I met you," Sheryl said. A gleam of confidence and sincerity was seen in her eyes. Sighing, she continued,"Do you have any idea why our relationship has been filled with doubts and distress from the very beginning?"

Stunned by her question, Anthony couldn't find the right words to say. Seeing her so eager to hear his reply, Anthony finally said,"I can promise my lifelong commitment to you, regardless of what the world says." His words sounded upset, but determined.

Upon hearing him say these words, Sheryl was moved by the sincerity of his promise. But her feelings of doubt and fear made her say in reply,"My past, including whether I was married or not, is nothing to me." "But the reality that I am a single mother is something I couldn't hide or try to change," Sheryl added in conclusion to the doubts she was feeling.

After finishing her words, she took a deep sigh and made a woeful glance at her daughter's room. "Anthony, you are a well-off bachelor. You deserve someone who is richer and more beautiful to justify your family's name. What I am trying to say is that a single mother like me is not a good match for you," Sheryl said.

All this time, Anthony's parents were against their son's relationship with Sheryl. They became more furious upon learning their possible marriage.

If only Craig were alive, then their possible marriage would easily become a reality.

However, not even Craig knew the existence of Sheryl.

Sheryl's real

es from you with a proposal," he replied with excitement. Despite all that they had went through, he knew that there was no other woman for him but Sheryl. Not being able to contain his excitement at the thought of their possible marriage, Anthony grasped her hands. He felt like he was the luckiest man on earth at that time.

After saying her words, Sheryl tried so hard to bury her embarrassment and simply smiled at Anthony for her reply. She then added with her lips curling to a sweet smile,"Well, you can try if you want to."

He was truly overjoyed by the idea of having a family with his beloved woman. Sheryl, on the other hand, tried to shift the subject and talked about her upcoming fashion show.

"Anthony, would you please support me as a model for that fashion show? I badly want to be a part of it," she asked. Sheryl paused and continued,"This offer is a huge deal with great benefit in all aspects. There is no way I would let this slip!"

Hesitant by the thought of it, Anthony said while wavering,"Sheryl, I know how badly you want it, but…"

"I know what you are about to say", Sheryl replied, cutting Anthony's words. Pausing for a moment, Sheryl continued saying,"Even before we started dating, I had been living in Y City for so many years. I also know how much you don't like the place for carrying my weals and woes. Also..."

Sheryl paused, took a deep breath and continued,"Also, I know how uneasy you are while thinking that Shirley's father might live there. Am I right of all these, Anthony?" Sheryl ended while staring at her boyfriend's worried eyes that had a slight pain in it..