The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 40

40 CES

I frowned without speaking.

After the car accident, his mother Margaret had been unconscious, and the events of that day

remained unclear.

He continued, “Don’t worry! I’ll take leave to stay with you during your pregnancy and take good care of you and the baby!”

Just then, Ryan’s phone buzzed twice.

He released me and quickly walked to the balcony, where the security footage showed Ryan coaxing in a low voice. “Jessica, I promised I’d make your wish come true. Let’s not post those

photos.”

The woman’s sweet voice came through the phone. “No way, Ryan. You promised to make me the only Outstanding Young Educator. Besides, if these photos get out, your wife can quit and focus on you and the baby. It would improve your relationship and let me vent my anger. Isn’t that

perfect?”

After a long pause, Ryan indulgently agreed. “Fine.”

Two minutes later, my phone rang like a death knell.

I jumped, and both my phone and heart crashed to the floor.

I was receiving numerous messages continuously on my phone.

Ms. Brooks: [@Ms. Carter What is this about? How could you take such indecent photos?]

Mr. Lee: [Disgusting! How can someone like this teach our children!]

Mrs. Sterling: [I’m going to the school tomorrow to complain! We must get this morally corrupt teacher out of school!]

My teaching career and reputation were completely destroyed in minutes.

When Ryan returned to the living room, he glanced at the group chat and sighed. “Emily, I believe you. Tomorrow happens to be Jessica’s award ceremony. I’ll go with you to explain, okay?”

No matter how much I explained, more and more people cursed me.

Exhaustion consumed my entire body.

I refused, “I don’t want to go.”

Ryan didn’t expect me to refuse and looked at me in disbelief.

But then his eyes moved to the wedding ring I’d removed on the coffee table, and he smiled

knowingly. “You don’t need to worry about the wedding. The invitations are sent–it’s happening the day after tomorrow as planned. You’re the principal’s wife. If you don’t go, people will misunderstand and think Jessica is being criticized. What then?”

The next day, Ryan forcibly dragged me to Jessica’s award ceremony.

As soon as I stepped into the venue, I heard piercing whispers.

“That’s her–shameless!”

Ryan’s friends cast lewd glances at my waist and hips.

My face flushed red as I turned to flee.

“Emily, pregnancy makes women more… hungry. Ryan’s been too busy to play with us, so you must be satisfied!”

“Emily, those photos were so creative! You’re wasted teaching Spanish–you should teach performance art!”

Ryan acted as if he heard nothing, remaining silent throughout.

Jessica intimately linked arms with Ryan, deliberately raising her voice. “It’s so wonderful that Ms. Carter could come! I was worried that after those photos were exposed, you’d be too ashamed

to show your face.”