Doctor Schneider

Busted!

Inside the car, there was tension in the air. Heavy tension.

Cecil started to think; what was it about the man that made her listen to him the way she was doing? He was from the wealthy family of Bagel, yes, but that did not mean that he could trample on her rights.

Cecil felt that there was something more about Doctor Schneider that made her yield.

The truth was that Cecil had nowhere to run to. That man could do anything to her and get away with it, and nobody nor a thing would budge in the universe.

Think about it. Her parents were dead, and they died when she was so small that nobody paid any attention to her.

To be honest, her uncle would even help Bagel by making her do what Bagel wanted. Who didn't want to be directly on the good side of the Bagel family in that city? Her uncle would just sell her out.

As for Daniel, her ex-boyfriend/fiancé?

Nobody was saying anything inside the Bentley, as nobody had anything to say and the air was just too tight to contain three of them; Sean, Cecil, and Doctor Schneider.

In the next twenty minutes, they arrived at the Marriage Registry, and Sean pulled the car into the parking lot.

Doctor Schneider was a gentleman indeed as he helped Celia out of the car, to her surprise.

''If we are here to get married, then we had better act like that.'' Doctor Schneider noticed that Cecil was shocked at his gesture, so he explained the reason behind it.

Walking daintily into the Marriage Registry, Cecil could not come to terms with what was going on at that moment. It was just last week she got promoted at work, and now she had stepped into the arms of a multi-billionaire.

Thinking about that, Cecil was wondering where the sudden fortune came from until she remembered that she was pregnant and was being forced to give birth to a baby that she did not want.

Oh, now that balances it. The so-called fortune only showed up because of the great misfortune of an unwanted pregnancy.

There was barely anyone in the registry that day, so Celia and Doctor Schneider were easily the first couple that were attended to.

''I. D. cards please.'' The clerk in attendance stretched her hand forward to receive Celia and Doctor Schneider's I.D. cards for registration, but they only came from Doctor Schneider.

The clerk and the doctor looked at Cecil, wondering why she stood frozen to the ground.

''Silvia...'' Doctor Schneider nudged her.

Silvia? You see, that was the problem. Celia's I.D. card bore her real name and surname, Cecil Thompson, and not Silvia Jerkins or whatever.

Cecil did not even remember the name she had told Doctor Schneider earlier until he called her by that name.

Doctor Schneider would freak out if she brought out her I.D. card, and he saw a different name there.

''Ma'am. Please, I know there's no work here for me to do today as you two are the only couple, but I can steal some time to achieve other things.'' The clerk had become impatient.

There was nothing else she could do, so Celia took out her I.D card from the fancy purse that she carried.

Everything happened so fast that Celia did not even have the time to think about the fact that she lied about her name and would need to prove it later. I.D.

Celia took out the I.D. card and put it on top of the desk of the clerk, and made sure not to look any of them in the eyes.

Well, the clerk did not understand what the fuss was about, but Doctor Schneider soon cleared his throat after he saw the name that the clerk penned down in her register manually.

''Celia Thompson.''

When Doctor Schneider read the name out loud, the clerk took a peek at him.

Was he so crazy about her as to repeat her name out loud?

Little did she know that Doctor Schneider had recited the name to show how surprised he was that he was getting married to Celia Thompson and not Silvia Jerkins.

Celia was shaking as she waited for the outburst that would come out of Doctor Schneider, but the man kept silent.

Well, it was just for the time being. Did Celia expect him to make a scene in front of the clerk?

Shortly after, the process was done, and the registration was complete. Celia had gotten married to Doctor Schneider via contract.

The duo walked back into the car, and that was when and where the drama started.

''Celia Thompson?'' Doctor Schneider said.

Celia was quiet.

''You lied to me...'' he added.

Celia was going to be afraid at first, but again, she wondered what she owed this stranger.

''I was never under any obligation to tell you my name. I didn't ask you to get married to me under twenty-four hours after meeting me. Fine, at least you know the truth now, I am Celia Thompson, and not Silvia Jerkins or whatever.'' Celia did not show any iota of regret as she spoke.

Doctor Schneider stared at Celia for a long time before he said the most shocking thing ever to Celia.

''Where have you been all these years?''

Celia corked her head to the side, trying to understand what the doctor meant.

Why was he asking her where she had been all these years.? Did he know her at any point in time? What was his question trying to suggest?

''I beg your pardon?'' Celia replied.

''Don't you know me? Have you forgotten that the Bagel family made a pact with the Thompson family for their children to get married so that the families could continue in business and my Bagel family would pay off your family's debt?'' Doctor Schneider spoke those words slowly, making sure that every single word he said, eased into Celia's mind invertedly, and that she would understand that there was more to their relationship than just a contract marriage.