Too Late for Regret: The Fake Marriage That Ended True Love

One month after their wedding, Coralie Wright unexpectedly discovered that her marriage certificate was fake.

Her husband not only treated her as a stand-in for his ideal love but also secretly married a second wife abroad.

Upon learning the truth, her heart shattered, and she resolved to end this ridiculous marriage.

Yet, it was only after she left that the arrogant man realized his true feelings.

He regretted his actions, but by then, his beloved had already gone far away.

When he finally found Coralie, it was too late.

......

Coralie was watching her fan's live streaming room when she saw Kellan Griffiths, her husband of one month, hosting a wedding abroad.

"Perla Clarkson, I swear to protect you and our child forever." Kellan said, his eyes tinged with red and his voice trembling slightly, as he gently bent down to kiss the bride.

Coralie stared blankly at her phone. She was very familiar with the groom's features. It was the man she had loved for seven years.

With a chaotic mind, she dialed Kellan's number, only for him to frown at his phone and hang up immediately.

Shortly after, Coralie received a message from Kellan. "Honey, still in a meeting, will reply later. Love you!"

In the livestream, Kellan took the bride's hand and slipped a wedding ring onto her finger. Coralie instantly recognized it as the ring Kellan had hidden in his car a month ago.

She had thought it was meant to surprise her, but it turned out to be prepared for someone else.

"Folks, today I'm attending the wedding of a wealthy heir. They truly make a perfect couple, and I heard they were each other's first love and are getting married because of the baby!"

Hearing the last few words, Coralie felt as if she were falling into an abyss. Just this morning, Kellan had kissed her lips, saying he couldn't bear to leave her and didn't want to go on a business trip. How could he now be marrying someone else who was carrying a child?

With tears in her eyes, Coralie sent a private message to the streamer.

"I'll give you two hundred thousand dollars. End the stream now and follow the groom closely. I need to know his every move."

She had to find out what was really happening.

Within two seconds, the streamer received the transfer and replied, "Happy to help."

Ten minutes later, she received a secretly recorded video.

"Kellan, does Coralie know about you and Perla?"

The speaker was Denton Clayton, Kellan's best friend, who was also at the wedding, confirming to Coralie that she hadn't mistaken the person.

"Of course she doesn't know. With her personality, she'd go crazy if she found out." Kellan replied impatiently, taking a drag on his cigarette.

Denton nodded, knowing Coralie had been pampered by Kellan.

"You should just be honest with her. You accepted her pursuit back then because she resembled Perla, didn't you? Now that your ideal love is your legal wife, why keep a stand-in?"

Coralie finally realized that the bride bore a slight resemblance to her.

Kellan smiled slightly.

"Perla has no plans to return to the country. She's agreed to stay abroad for the pregnancy. As for Coralie, although she's a stand-in, we've been together for seven years. As long as she remains sensible, I won't ignore her."

Denton laughed heartily.

"You're quite the player, using a fake marriage certificate to deceive Coralie domestically while truly marrying Perla abroad. It's quite a rush just thinking about it."

Kellan gazed at Perla outside.

"The one I've truly loved has always been Perla. Of course, I will give her the best of everything."

Denton looked envious.

"If Perla knew you've been infatuated with her for so many years, she'd be overjoyed. After all, your love isn't something just anyone can have."

Kellan smiled and extinguished his cigarette.

"Enough of that. Open the window a bit. Perla doesn't like the smell of smoke."

......

The phone slipped from Coralie's hand as tears streamed down her face.

So Kellan had always seen her as a stand-in? His love over the years was just a facade, and even their marriage was fake?

A dull ache spread through Coralie's heart, like being hit by a hammer, causing her to choke on her sobs.

After a moment, she wiped her tears away with a cold laugh, feeling a strange sense of relief. Perhaps this was her fate.

After all, to her, Kellan was merely a stand-in for another man.

When she was eighteen, her childhood sweetheart Toby Rogers died in a car accident, donating his corneas to the then-ill Kellan.

Coralie begged her father, Lowell Wright, to send her to Kellan, transferring all her love for Toby to him.

Everyone knew that Kellan was a rich heir, aloof and proud, with many admirers. Yet, he only treated the transfer student, Coralie, differently.

While he ignored countless confessions from other girls, Coralie only had to express her affection once to become his girlfriend.

Even though he had breakfast at home every day, he would still finish the sandwich Coralie brought him.

Throughout their three years in high school, he never allowed anyone else to sit beside him, except for Coralie.

As a top student, he found it annoying when others approached him under the guise of asking questions, yet he willingly copied notes for Coralie and explained problems countless times without complaint.

To everyone else, he seemed deeply in love with Coralie, and even Coralie herself felt fortunate that Kellan loved her so dearly.

So much so that she couldn't distinguish whether her love was for Toby or Kellan.

They endured their senior year together, attended the same university, and after seven years of love, they finally got married.

Coralie felt that Kellan was fate's way of making amends, taking Toby out of her life but giving her an almost perfect Kellan in return.

But who would have thought it was all a dream?

Her phone vibrated. It was a call from Kellan.

"Hello? Honey, I'm sorry, I've been a bit busy. What should I do? I've only been gone a day and I already miss you." The man on the other end expressed his longing for Coralie without hesitation, as usual. "Things at the company are a bit tricky, it will take at least three more days before I can return home. I really wish I could fly back to you right now."

Coralie smiled coldly, almost blurting out her accusatory thoughts. "It's okay, business is important."

Her voice, hoarse from crying, would have been noticed by Kellan in the past. But today, perhaps he was too happy to notice the change in her voice, let alone the detachment in her tone.

"But I want to be by your side all the time. Honey, I love you. I wish I could hold you in my arms right now!"

Coralie opened the next video sent by the streamer. She watched as Kellan spoke the most moving words to her while sending a kiss to the bride in the distance, and she suddenly felt pathetic.

"I'm tired. You should get back to work." Coralie said, holding back the bitterness in her heart before hanging up.

She thought to herself, "Kellan, if you told the truth, I would let you go."

When she first came to him, she was satisfied just by seeing his eyes daily. It was her greed that led her to steal a love that didn't belong to her.

In the video, after Kellan hung up, he scooped Perla into the lounge, locked the door, and eagerly removed her wedding dress.

"Perla, I finally married you. Do you know I've waited for this day for fifteen years?"

The woman smiled and leaned into him, watching Kellan lose himself in her embrace with a smug look in her eyes.

"Kellan... Be gentle, don't hurt the baby..."

Coralie had already bitten her lip hard, but she couldn't stop the tears.

So, eight years before she met Kellan, someone else already occupied his heart. What she thought was luck was merely her taking advantage of an opportunity.

She forced herself to stop watching the video and called a friend who worked at the court.

"Can you check if Kellan and I registered on the seventh of last month?"

The reply came soon after.

"I didn't find any registration information for you and Kellan, but I did find that he registered with someone named Perla that day."

In a daze, Coralie recalled that on the day of the registration, just as they were about to get their marriage certificate, Kellan asked her to go to the car to get the wedding gift he had prepared, saying he had forgotten it.

When she returned, Kellan handed her a marriage certificate.

It turned out he had deliberately sent her away that day to forge a fake marriage certificate.

Looking at the fake certificate with her beaming face, she thought the girl in the picture was truly pitiful.

Coralie opened her laptop and sent an email, accepting an invitation from a photography studio in Ostium.

As a photography whiz, Coralie had received offers from several foreign universities at the age of 18, but she turned them all down for Kellan.

Fortunately, she had remained active in the photography world over the years, or she would truly have had nothing left.

Since their relationship began with hidden intentions and she was never loved by Kellan, she would not cling anymore.

Half an hour later, she received a reply.

"Miss Wright, we warmly welcome you. We look forward to your joining us in a week."

Coralie shut down her computer. In a week, she would leave this place.

Kellan, you didn't have to weave any more intricate lies.

Coralie arrived at the advertising company where she worked early in the morning to hand in her resignation letter.

"Coralie, why are you resigning? Oh, I get it. Mr. Griffiths spoils you so much, he must not want you to work after the wedding, right?" Jamison Anderson, the boss, teased while Coralie forced a bitter smile.

"No, it's just that I want to take a break for a while."

Jerold laughed, thinking he understood the situation. "So you're planning to have a child, then. That makes sense, since Mr. Griffiths's parents have been eager for grandchildren. You should hurry up."

Coralie felt a pang in her heart. Kellan was indeed about to have a child, but unfortunately, it wouldn't be hers.

Although Jamison was friends with Kellan and was reluctant to lose such a talent as Coralie, he reluctantly signed the approval.

As Coralie stepped out of the company, she received a call from Kellan's sister, Dana Griffiths.

"Hey, Coralie, you didn't forget that today is my birthday, did you? I've booked a room for tonight. You have to come!"

A smile appeared on Coralie's face. Dana, a carefree college junior, was her favorite person in the Griffiths family, aside from Kellan himself.

"I wouldn't forget your birthday. I'll be there tonight."

What Coralie didn't expect was that Kellan would also be there.

"Surprise! I just couldn't wait to see you." Kellan said with a smile, pulling Coralie into his arms and leaning in to kiss her.

Coralie subtly pulled away. "Weren't you supposed to come back the day after tomorrow?"

Her tone was normal, but her heart ached. He had married abroad yesterday and returned today to appease her. It must have been exhausting.

"What's going on? Aren't you happy I came back early?"

Kellan's mood soured. Coralie's refusal was unfamiliar to him. Just then, the door opened, and Perla entered with a smile.

"Perla? When did you return to the country? Coralie, let me introduce you. This is Perla Clarkson, my brother's childhood friend. She went abroad in high school and hasn't been back for years. I've been thinking you looked familiar since I first saw you. Recently, I realized you look just like Perla." Dana said, oblivious to the awkward tension between Kellan and Coralie.

Coralie glanced at Kellan, who looked a bit flustered. Clearly, he didn't know Perla had returned either, but she noticed the joy in his eyes.

"Let's play a game, and whoever loses has to take a sip."

In the first round, Perla lost. She smiled and touched her belly, her eyes on Kellan.

"Kellan, I can't drink. Can Coralie drink for me?" She asked, shooting Coralie a challenging look.

Kellan cleared his throat, knowing Coralie was allergic to alcohol, yet he didn't refuse.

"Honey, this drink is practically non-alcoholic. Just drink for Perla."

Coralie stared coldly at Kellan. He used to protect her, never letting her touch a drop of alcohol because he had seen her allergic reactions.

Now, he was pushing her into danger for Perla's sake.

"Sorry, I'm allergic to alcohol." She said coldly, pushing the glass away.

"You're always spoiling the fun! Who knows if you're really allergic or just faking it?"

"Yeah, Kellan, you spoil her too much. She doesn't even respect Perla."

"Coralie, can't you just fit in? Stop acting so high and mighty."

Others joined in, fueling the fire.

Kellan's expression darkened as he handed the glass to Coralie.

"Honey, don't put me in an awkward position." He said, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

She had just opened her mouth to refuse when Kellan poured a large mouthful of wine into her, making her choke and tear up.

The crowd cheered, and Perla smiled triumphantly.

Kellan didn't look at Coralie's distress, instead laughing along with everyone.

Coralie felt a burning pain in her throat, her breathing unsteady, and her skin began to itch and redden.

"Kellan... I feel terrible. Please take me to the hospital." She pleaded, reaching for him, but Perla suddenly cried out.

"Kellan, my stomach really hurts. Please take me to the hospital."

Kellan stood up, and Coralie barely managed to touch his sleeve as he scooped Perla up and rushed out.

Dana, seeing Coralie's distress, urgently called after her brother. "Kellan, Coralie is really having an allergic reaction. You should take her to the hospital first!"

Kellan paused, glanced back at Coralie, and said, "Honey, you just had a sip. Take some antihistamines, and you'll be fine. Be good, wait for me at home."

He left with Perla without looking back. Coralie forced a pained smile. Love and indifference were suddenly so clear.

Not wanting to ruin Dana's birthday party, she stumbled out alone. Passing the restroom, she heard familiar voices inside.

The deep, affectionate voice of a man, one Coralie knew all too well.

"Perla, why did you come back?"

"Because I missed you! Kellan, I don't want to be away from you for even a moment. Don't send me away, okay?"

"Alright, I'll agree to whatever you say."

"So, when will you tell Coralie about us?"

"Soon. She's been with me for seven years. Give me some time. But from now on, don't use the kids as an excuse to scare me anymore, or I'll punish you even harder than today."

The sounds of their movements pierced Coralie's ears. She leaned against the wall, sliding down as tears flowed freely.

Coralie thought to herself, "Kellan, it was truly over between us."

Coralie had fallen into a coma due to an allergic reaction to alcohol, and when she awoke, it was already the following evening.

Dana stood by her bedside, her eyes red and puffy. She had found Coralie unconscious outside the restroom the previous day and had rushed her to the hospital just in time, uncertain of what might have happened otherwise.

"How are you feeling now, Coralie? It's all my brother's fault. He knew you were allergic to alcohol and still pressured you to drink, and now he's nowhere to be found. I haven't been able to reach him at all." Dana said, gritting her teeth in anger.

Coralie offered her a comforting smile. She knew that Dana was the only one who truly cared about her now.

"It's alright, he's probably busy."

Just as she finished speaking, Kellan appeared at the door of the hospital room.

"Honey, I'm sorry I'm late. I had no idea you were hospitalized." Kellan said, his eyes full of guilt as he took Coralie's hand.

She mustered all her strength to pull her hand away, as even the slightest touch from him made her feel nauseated.

"Kellan, I'm so disappointed in you."

Tears rolled down her cheeks despite her resolve not to cry over him anymore.

Kellan glanced at his hand, puzzled. Coralie had never rejected his touch before.

Yesterday, she refused his kiss, and today she wouldn't hold his hand. Had she discovered something?

"Honey, I truly know I was wrong. I shouldn't have pressured you to drink, but at least the doctor said you're alright."

Coralie thought cynically to herself. Whether it was really for his reputation or for Perla, only Kellan knew.

Just then, Kellan received a message on his phone, and his expression turned serious after reading it.

"Honey, Jamison said you've resigned from your job? Why?"

She had always loved photography, and he had tried so hard to convince her to be a full-time housewife, but she had refused every time. Why would she suddenly quit on her own?

"It's nothing, I just felt it was time to stop working."

Kellan affectionately ruffled her hair. "If you don't want to work, then don't. I'll take care of you."

It was the kind of sweet talk most women longed to hear, but Coralie felt no warmth from it.

Dana had to leave for class, so she instructed Kellan to accompany Coralie for her check-up.

Before Coralie entered the examination room, she heard Kellan's phone ring again, and he answered with a smile.

She didn't need to guess-it was surely Perla.

"Kellan, I'm hungry, but I don't know how to order food delivery here, and besides, that food isn't good for the baby. Can you come and cook for me?"

Kellan agreed with a smile, glancing at Coralie.

"Honey, go on with your check-up. I'll bring dinner over in a bit."

Without waiting for her response, he hurried off. Watching his retreating figure, Coralie lowered her head and chuckled bitterly. She realized she could only rely on herself now.

The test results showed no major issues, and the doctor informed her she could be discharged the next day.

As the night deepened, Coralie still hadn't received the dinner Kellan promised, but she did get a friend request from a stranger-it was Perla.

"Coralie, I'm straightforward. I won't beat around the bush. Kellan is the father of my child. I think it's best if you let go sooner rather than later."

She sent a video of Kellan in the baby section of a store, carefully selecting items and frequently consulting Perla. They appeared every bit the picture of a loving couple.

There was also a photo of Kellan with his face pressed against Perla's belly. Coralie's eyes stung, but no tears fell.

"You must have realized by now that you're just a stand-in. Kellan never loved you. If you leave on your own, maybe you can still retain some dignity."

Coralie laughed bitterly to herself. Was there any dignity left in this relationship?

"Don't worry, I will leave, but not for your sake."

It was for her own sake.

After sending the message, she blocked Perla.

She didn't want to hear anything more about Kellan from her. It would only deepen her pain.