Trouble, Lost and Found

"Who are you talking about? Who's your wife?" I stared in disbelief at the young man in front of me, dressed in tight leather pants on such a hot day.

"Mom, you can't just enjoy yourself and forget that my dad and I are waiting for you at home." Who was this sharp-featured boy?

He looked so ugly.

Suddenly, more and more people started to gather downstairs in the dormitory.

My roommate, Jodi Chavez, tugged at my arm and whispered, "When did you marry my cousin Lorenzo? How come I didn't know?"

So ridiculous! I didn't know either!

"Stop kidding me. I'm just a college student, and suddenly I have a husband and a son? Even the wildest TV dramas wouldn't come up with this."

I chuckled while the dormitory supervisor, Amaris Benton, looked at the father and son with some confusion, as their attire was so strange.

"Why don't you take this outside? Why are you blocking the entrance?" Amaris was annoyed. This was the territory she managed, and all this commotion wasn't good for the college's image.

I looked at Amaris, stunned. If I left with them, wouldn't that confirm that I was indeed related to them?

"I haven't even kissed a guy in college, so how could I have such a big son? Did I get pregnant by magic? Painless childbirth? A child growing three months in a day? The key is, this kid doesn't even look like me." I glanced at the kid, estimating he was about seven years old.

I was only 22 years old.

Could I have a baby at fourteen? That was illegal!

"When you insisted on marrying me, you didn't mind that I had a son. Now, just a month later, you're backing out? Are you just after the money? Now that you've got the money, you turn your back on me, right, Lisette?"

I was shocked. How did he know my name?

"Is it true, Lisette? No wonder you've been able to afford designer outfits and branded bags recently. Did you buy them with the money he gave you?" Jodi gasped, covering her mouth.

I had a bad feeling about her exaggerated reaction, especially since she just called this man her cousin.

There was something fishy going on between them.

The onlookers started whispering, their eyes scanning me up and down.

I was a celebrity at school, known for my straightforward personality and being a senior in the Department of Broadcasting. I had even been invited to appear on TV.

I was one of the faces of the school, but my fame was working against me now.

When I was famous, jealousy followed.

"What did you buy? That's how you spent all your money. Even if you don't consider me, you should at least consider the kid, right? I chose you to be my son's mother because of your reputation for being kind and loyal."

The man looked at me relentlessly and even reached out to pull me.

I stepped back, nearly bumping into Amaris, whose face was quite displeased.

I thought the situation was bad and Amaris wasn't easy to deal with.

Normally, I would give Amaris some small gifts, and she would be more polite to me, but if it affected her job and caused unnecessary trouble, she would not stand on my side.

"Lorenzo, how much money did you give her? Why didn't you tell us you were getting married?"

Jodi asked curiously, sneaking glances at me.

"I gave her 200, 000 dollars, not counting the money I used to buy her gold."

What?

"The gold necklace she's wearing cost me thirteen thousand! I have the receipt to prove it." Brennen pointed at the gold four-leaf clover pendant around my neck.

I touched my necklace. I bought this myself, and it did cost thirteen thousand, but it was a birthday gift from my dad. My dad let me choose it myself. "Ridiculous! I don't even know your name, and you claim to be my husband? How is it possible for a couple not to know each other's names?"

I truly didn't know his and today was the first time I'd seen him. "You said my name was too old-fashioned. What's wrong with being called Brennen?"

What?

Brennen?

"Your name doesn't match your appearance." I retorted sarcastically.

"Stop being sarcastic. I just want to ask you one question, will you leave with me today? If you don't come with me, return my money and gold."

Nonsense!

I had always been virtuous, with high standards for boyfriends. How could I be interested in a strange man like him?

His hairstyle was so stiff, it looked like it could poke my eye out, with who knew how much hair gel applied.

"I think you mentioned the necklace cost thirteen thousand, which matches... Lisette, did you..." Jodi trailed off, leaving her sentence unfinished.

I felt like strangling Jodi. Was she out of her mind?

We weren't even that close, and she was butting in at this moment? Did she have something going on with this idiot in front of me?

Was she eager to drag me down with her?

"It's my first time..."

"I know it was your first time. We did have sex, and I don't deny that. You're still a virgin." Brennen nodded in agreement.

The crowd around us suddenly gasped in shock...

"What evidence do you have to prove that I am your wife?" I gritted my teeth and stared at him.

"Would a marriage certificate suffice? I knew you'd bring that up. If that's not enough, I can recite your ID number. Would I know that if we weren't close? If that's not convincing, let's show everyone the photos. I've kept all our memories safe."

Brennen shouted as he pulled out a marriage certificate and opened his phone, randomly showing a schoolmate.

The schoolmate, a burly guy, glanced at the marriage certificate and then at Brennen's phone. His expression towards me changed. "Well, Lisette, if you're married, there's no need to... well... hide it. Others got married in college. It's not something shameful."

He glanced nervously at Brennen. Sure, some people got married in college, but definitely not me.

I promised myself I'd stay single rather than settle for someone who wasn't right for me.

And someone like Brennen? No way would I consider being in a relationship with him.

His style was just not my type, not to mention he was barely my height when standing. What was the appeal?

"Mom, don't be mad at my dad. He buys you whatever you want. When you come back, I'll be good and do chores, okay? I won't go out to play."

This brat!

Wow!

At such a young age, he was already so manipulative?

"Enough, enough! Stop arguing! If you've been married, just go with him. Why dress up and live off a man's money to flaunt at school? A child this young wouldn't make up such a story, right? Don't let your issues make the child suffer. Don't always let the kid do housework." Amaris no longer believed me.

I should have thrown the gifts I gave her in the past into the trash can. I should have fed them to the dog instead of giving them to her.

"Alright, let's disperse. What a mess! I thought she was a good student." Amaris glared at me.

"Ridiculous! Without even knowing the full story, you believe this guy's words, look at a booklet, and some photos, and convict me? I'm calling the police. Then everyone will see who's right." I was furious. Anyone would be if falsely accused out of nowhere.

Plus, this severely damaged my image and reputation.

"Fine, call the police. Let them handle it."

I didn't expect Brennen to remain completely unfazed.

Amaris' expression changed. If I called the police, their coming to school would affect the college's image. "Then don't call the police at school. Go somewhere else to report it."

I immediately objected.

I would be crazy to follow those two men out alone.

"Amaris, aren't you afraid that they are human traffickers who took me away, and then in a few days, there will be news about a beauty from Arcada University who went missing, and her body was found? Wouldn't that be more troublesome for the school?"

I couldn't leave the school. This mysterious father and son knew exactly where to find me, had my photos and ID information, and even prepared a fake marriage certificate.

With such thorough preparation, if I went with them, I'd never come back. I'd end up being the man's wife.

"You don't want anything! Why are you so troublesome? If you hadn't caused trouble, would they have come looking for you?"

Guilt-tripping?

"Amaris, are you saying it takes two to tango? What if I slap you in the face?"

Reasoning seemed unable to overcome Amaris's bias against me.

I took out my phone and immediately called the police.

The situation escalated, alarming the counselors and school leaders.

They arrived almost simultaneously with the police. Two officers in uniform asked who reported the incident.

I raised my hand.

"You said someone provided false information to falsely accuse you and tried to abduct you from school?"

I nodded repeatedly.

"Today, they suddenly came to school, the man claimed I'm his wife, and that boy said I was his stepmother. But I've never dated anyone since starting college, let alone marrying a divorced man." I pointed at Brennen, explaining. "He even showed a marriage certificate claiming we registered. I don't even know when I went to the marriage registry."

The police approached Brennen, requesting the marriage certificate. After examining it carefully, they frowned.

I smiled. I wanted to see how they could cheat people again.

The officer took a photo of the marriage certificate and made a call.

In less than five minutes, the officer received a call back.

He approached me with the marriage certificate, his gaze serious. "Lisette, right? I had my colleagues verify this marriage certificate..."

"It's fake, isn't it? It even has my photo and name. The forgery is..."

"The marriage certificate is real. You indeed registered with Brennen a month ago."