Chapter 1

I proposed to Aria eighteen times.

She agreed every time, but after I gave her eighteen dowries, she still used all sorts of reasons to delay the wedding date.

"Caelan is taking his driver's test soon, I don't want to distract him."

"Caelan's cat at home is sick, wouldn't getting married now just add to his troubles?"

"Caelan's been in a good mood lately, let's wait a bit. It's rare for him to be happy!"

Caelan was her childhood sweetheart, and the man who had secretly loved her for eighteen years.

Later, Primrose tearfully begged me, "Honey, what about your nineteenth proposal? As long as you propose to me, we'll have the wedding right away."

I held my new bride's hand and boasted to her, "Who's your husband? I'm already married."

"Oh, and if you don't pay back the dowry from the first eighteen proposals soon, you might be facing a lawsuit."

......

After the eighteenth successful proposal, Primrose looked at me with teary eyes.

"Brent, you're so good to me. Only you would patiently wait for me time and time again! But, could you wait for me a few more months......"

I knelt on one knee, my heart a jumble of emotions.Despite our relationship spanning ten seasons, and even having met each other's parents and discussed the wedding gift, neither Aria nor I can afford to keep dragging this out.

This is the eighteenth time, and it will be the last, I remind myself.

I clear my throat, finding it difficult to speak, "Aria, we really can't delay this any longer. My parents aren't getting any younger, they can't wait forever..."

"I'm sorry, Brent. Caelan's parents won't be coming back for New Year's this year, and I can't let him spend it all alone. Let's wait a bit longer! After New Year's, I promise I'll marry you this time!"

Aria twirls the ring on her finger, interrupting me with furrowed brows before I can even finish.

I take a deep breath, "Aria, if you're willing to marry me, we can have the wedding right away. Then during New Year's, we can host him together as a married couple."

"How could we do that?"

Aria and Mr. and Mrs. Channing exclaim simultaneously.

"Brent, you know Caelan has always had feelings for me. If we host him as a newlywed couple, wouldn't that be rubbing it in his face?"

Mrs.Channing also laughed, holding my hand to defuse the situation. "Brent, don't blame Aria. We've watched Caelan grow up since he was a child, and we've long considered him our own. We just can't bear to see him all alone. But don't worry, Caelan and Aria have been like brother and sister for ages. You really shouldn't overthink it!"

I had never overthought it before, which is why I still firmly wanted to marry Aria even after proposing to her eighteen times.

But it was always this Caelan who disrupted our wedding plans. Somehow, Aria had even started mentioning Caelan in every other sentence. I couldn't help but overthink now.

Mrs. Channing continued to ramble on, "Little Zheng, I completely approve of your marriage, but we'll need to reset the bride price. Fair is fair! Do you have any cash on hand right now? You might as well give it now and save yourself another trip tomorrow..."

"That won't be necessary."

I sighed as I stood up, turning to Aria with a tone of finality.