Next Man Better Plan novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

“Stephanie, I know you just went through a breakup and you’re upset, but you don’t have to be this desperate!”

Cecilia clutched her phone, struggling to process what she’d just heard.

Stephanie had asked if she knew any single men looking to get married quickly and offered to introduce them. The news almost made Cecilia drop her phone.

Stephanie said, “Cecilia, I’m not kidding. I really need to get married, preferably a quick marriage and an even quicker divorce. I’m willing to pay for it.”

Stephanie explained the situation to her best friend.

After hearing the whole story, Cecilia grumbled “Why would Mr. Jackson insist you get married before you can control the company shares?”

“I have no idea.”

“But if you sell the company after getting married, what if the guy tries to get his hands on the money?”

That was a good point.

Stephanie got out of her car and started walking slowly up the mountain path. “That’s why this man, my temporary husband, has to be someone trustworthy.”

“Now that you mention it, I do know someone, Cecilia said, her eyes lighting up. “My cousin. He’s thirty–two, divorced, no kids, not at fault for the split. He also just lost his job. Since you’re planning to pay anyway, might as well give the money to him, right? I can even get my cousin to give you a twenty–percent discount…”

After a moment of silence, Stephanie said, “Alright. Then have your cousin meet me at the city hall tomorrow morning. We’ll get a divorce as soon as the Meridian Consortium share transfer is complete.”

Cecilia was surprised by how quickly she agreed. She asked cautiously, “Stephanie, are you really going to… just get married like this?”

No one knew better than her how much Stephanie yearned for a family. The person who once held marriage so sacred was now treating it so casually…

Damn that Quennel! He had hurt Stephanie so deeply.

“It’s just a formality,” Stephanie said, her voice soft. “I’ve already found a buyer for the villa. Once the company is sold, I’ll be completely done with Quennel.”

It seemed she was truly determined to start over. As her friend, Cecilia had to respect her

1/2

15.01

Chapter 27

decision.

She said, “Why don’t you and my cousin have dinner tonight? Just to meet? What if you mistake someone else for him at city hall tomorrow morning?”

Stephanie thought about it and agreed. “Okay, that’s a good idea.”

“Where are you? Why do I hear bells in the background?”

“At the abbey.”

“Huh? What are you doing at an abbey?”

Stephanie felt like she’d been having a string of bad luck, from Quennel’s cheating to ending up in the hospital with gastritis from eating sashimi.

With time on her hands, she had been wandering around and heard people saying this particular abbey was known for answering prayers, so she decided to check it out.

A man at the entrance saw her and smiled. “Young lady, are you here to pray for a good marriage or for a child?”

Stephanie was taken aback. Her marriage had just ended, and a child was out of the question.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify