Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress

Chapter 1863: Extra: III

[Extra 5: Hugo and Kiara II]

Relationships often started with a date or courtship, with the man expressing his interest in the woman. But Kiara and Hugo’s relationship was something she would call strange.

He didn’t confess; he didn’t even tell her he liked her.

All he did was show up every single day, helping her, learning her world, and just being there for her. When she realized she had fallen in love with him, it was too late. She was too deep—too deep in trouble.

So, the day Hugo finally confessed, it was something she should’ve expected.

Standing in front of the civil marriage bureau, Kiara slowly turned her head to her side. There, standing next to him, was Hugo, donning a formal polo shirt and slacks.

"This... this is the party we’re going to attend?" she asked in disbelief, scoffing.

He blinked innocently. "No."

"Huh?"

"The party is somewhere else, but before we go there, we need to register our marriage first," he said in a knowing tone. "Then, we go to the venue. Everyone’s already in there."

"..." Kiara opened and closed her mouth, rendered speechless.

All she knew was that they would be attending a dinner party. Thinking that the venue was far, they left earlier to avoid being late.

"Let’s go," Hugo tipped his head, holding her hand to take her inside. "I already talked to someone inside, and they’ll let us register our marriage last minute."

"Wa—wait!" Before getting dragged inside, Kiara instinctively snatched her arm away from him.

Hugo paused and looked back at her. "What’s wrong?"

"What’s wrong?" Kiara scoffed. "Hugo, you can’t just keep doing this!"

"???"

"Goodness." She pinched the bridge of her nose, then dropped her hand and faced him. "We’re just getting married because you said so. I mean, you didn’t even ask me if I want to get married yet! This is marriage! We can’t just take it lightly."

He tilted his head to the side. "I’m not taking it lightly, and I asked you."

"What?"

"I asked you if you’re going to marry," he reminded her of their casual conversations, which they’d spoken of in passing. "You said, yes."

"What?" Kiara had to review her memory before she remembered that time they watched a movie together. "No, I said I might!"

"Your words are exactly: I might if the person for me comes into my life."

"Hah!" she scoffed. "I didn’t mean now."

Hugo smacked his lips and took a step closer, reaching to hold both her hands. Looking her in the eye, a subtle smile turned up on his face.

"Am I not the right person?" he asked sincerely. "For me, you are. And I know if it’s not you, then I’d not get married at all."

In his eyes, there was only one legit woman in his life: Kiara. The rest? They were just... people. His sisters were his sisters—not women, but sisters. Then Allison was... mom.

"If you don’t want to get married, then that’s fine," he continued, understanding. "But for me, why do we need to date for another five years if I’m already sure I’m going to make you my wife?"

"..." Kiara blinked, then blinked some more. She barely registered the words he spoke after he said, "... if it’s not you, then I’d rather not."

"I’m sure of you. Are you not sure of me?" Hugo drew a deep breath and huffed. "Your answer will decide whether we walk in here or walk away. Either way, I’m fine with both, but I’d like it better if we walk in."

They hadn’t even known each other for more than a year. Yet, he already wanted marriage. Naturally, Kiara would decline because of such absurdity. But then again, her parents were together for a decade before they tied the knot.

What kind of marriage did they have?

She swallowed and pressed her lips into a thin line.

No.

That was supposed to be her answer, but what came out of her lips was the opposite. And before she knew it, she was once again walking out of the civil bureau with a marriage certificate in her hands.

Hence, her relationship and even her marriage with Hugo were strange. It was one might consider unconventional.

However, Time would tell if she made one of the best decisions of her life—once they were both wrinkly with white hair, still in love, slow dancing to soft music, while laughing at this whirlwind marriage.

---

[Extra 6: Hugo and Kiara III]

Unconventional as it may be, Kiara and Hugo stayed deeply in love with each other. It may not be as sweet as Zoren’s and Penny’s, as mature as Finn’s and Nina’s, or as romantic as Grace’s and Haines’, but their relationship was special in its own way.

So, why were Kiara and Hugo divorcing? And why did everyone seem to be fine with that?

Well, there was only one explanation for that.

"I’m getting deployed soon," Hugo remarked in the middle of their dinner in their simple home he bought for the two of them. "I still haven’t gotten the date, but they want me to take a medical and physical test soon."

Kiara chewed slowly. "Oh."

Her reaction was a mix of everything. She knew he would be deployed, but she didn’t expect that once it happened, it would strike her differently.

Hugo studied her passive reaction before he smiled. "I already told my commander that I’m only getting deployed once, then I’ll retire."

"Huh?"

"Maybe I can take a position in the police department after that, one closer to our place," he continued casually. "But that’s after my deployment. We can think about that once I come back—haha! I don’t even know if I’ll make it—ack!"

SLAP!

Hugo touched his shoulder and frowned at her. "What?"

"That’s not a good joke, Hugo," she hissed. "Take it back."

"But—"

"Take. It. Back."

"..." Hugo cleared his throat and nodded in defeat. "I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking."

Kiara huffed and shook her head, her heart clenching because that was one of her worries. Being married to a soldier had its downsides, one of which was worrying whether they would even make it back.

As she went quiet, trying to digest his news, Hugo studied her. He sighed, reaching for her hand.

"Hey," he called, his voice soft. He smiled and nodded at her reassuringly. "It’s fine. I’ll be fine. Now that I have more reason to go home to, I will be back."

Kiara pressed her quivering lips, holding back the tears that were just attempting to spill from her eyes.

"You will?" she croaked, and he nodded.

Smiling, he said, "I will. I promise."

She didn’t say anything, studying his face. He may be a lot of things, but whenever he gave his words, it was enough to put her heart at ease.

How she wished that was where it all ended. However, Hugo just had to open his damn mouth and say after a while:

"But even if I don’t—worst-case scenario—I’m good," he smiled wider. "Because I know I’m not leaving my wife with nothing. You’ll be compensated."

He winked proudly. "Good thing we got married."

The softness on her face slowly faded, replaced with coldness.

And thus began the journey of their "divorce."

If compensation were the one that would make him complacent about not coming home to her, then she’d rather not get compensated for as long as he comes back to her, in one piece or not.