The Stranger Who Claimed Me Husband Chapter 2

I barely slept that night, the memories of my past life replaying in my mind like a horror film. I was in a daze when I heard my mother’s furious voice from outside my door.

“Ella, you get up right now! So that’s why you suddenly didn't want to marry Richard! You’ve been cheating on him, having kids with some other man!”

The door handle rattled.

Oh no, I thought. I rushed to the window. A crowd of neighbors had gathered outside, their faces eager with gossip.

My heart sank. We lived in a townhouse. My room was on the second floor. There was no way to escape without being seen.

While I was desperately trying to think of a plan, my dad kicked open my bedroom door. His face was a thundercloud. “Get downstairs. Now.”

My heart pounding, I followed him down.

The living room was filled with a gawking crowd. And there, in the middle of it all, was the same man from my past life, with his two children.

I thought if I just stayed home, I could avoid him. But he had found me.

The two children saw me and rushed forward, clinging to my legs. “Mommy! Mommy!”

I frowned, looking down at the two small faces that bore a striking resemblance to my own. No wonder my parents had believed him so easily. Looking at them, a part of me almost believed it too.

“I always thought the Miller girl was a good kid,” someone whispered. “Who knew she was so… loose.”

“No morals at all! Having kids with one man and then trying to trap another.”

“That guy looks old enough to be her father.”

“Who cares? Maybe she’s into that.”

“In that case, maybe she’d consider me! I’ve never been with a woman, hahaha!”

“Me too! Let’s see if I’m her type!”

The air was thick with their malicious whispers. I seethed with anger, but my parents just sat on the sofa, their faces impassive, as if they couldn’t hear a thing.

“I’m not your mother,” I said, pushing the children away. “Stop calling me that!”

They stumbled and fell, their cries adding to the cacophony. The crowd, enjoying the drama, grew louder.

“Hey, that’s no way to treat your kids!” the man said, his voice laced with indignation. “You carried them for nine months. You gave birth to them. You’re the one who begged me to have them, and then you just abandoned us.”

One of the children looked about eight, the other four. Eight years ago, I was still in high school. It was impossible. Four years ago, I was swamped with grad school applications. I had no time to have a baby. My best friend could vouch for me.

In my past life, when Richard was late, I’d asked my best friend, Sarah, to go find him. She’d missed the whole scene with the stranger and the kids. But last night, I had told her I was calling off the wedding. She’d been completely supportive. And when she found out why, she’d vowed to give Richard a piece of her mind today.

I pulled out my phone, but the man snatched it from my hand and smashed it on the floor. “Bitch! I heard you were getting married today. Not on my watch!”

The screen shattered. My anger flared. “Are you insane?! Look at me! I’m not the person you’re looking for!”

He stared at me intently. “Don’t you have a red birthmark on your back? And a black mole on your ass? And another one on your lower back?”

He was right. But I didn’t know him. I’d never even seen him before.

“If you want to prove I’m wrong, just take off your clothes and show everyone!”

Without another word, he lunged at me, tearing at my clothes. I fought back, but he was too strong. The back of my shirt ripped open, exposing the birthmark and the mole to the gawking crowd.

A wave of shame washed over me. My face was pale, my lips trembling. “It’s a coincidence,” I stammered, tears streaming down my face. “It’s all a coincidence. I don’t know him…”

I looked at my parents, my voice pleading. “Mom, Dad, make him leave…”

But they were gone.

Seeing that my parents were no longer there, the man grew bolder. He pushed me to the floor. “Let’s see if you’re my woman or not.”

His hands were all over me, pulling at my pants.