After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 105: I’ll Be the First to Ship This CP
Adrian Sutton said, "A buddy of mine, and the photographer he found to document our marriage registration."
Claire Mercer was a little speechless at the mention of his buddy.
"Is this really necessary?"
"If we’re going to put on a show, we have to make it convincing," Adrian Sutton began to sweet-talk her.
"Otherwise, how will the Mercer family believe we’re really married?"
"Besides, my grandparents aren’t so easy to fool, right?"
Hearing this, Claire Mercer nodded in agreement. "I suppose that makes sense."
"So we need to act like a lovey-dovey couple the entire time and be cooperative with the photographer," Adrian Sutton continued, reeling her in.
"Don’t let their age fool you. My grandparents are sharp as tacks."
"And the Mercer family aren’t idiots either. We can’t let them see any cracks in our performance."
Convinced by Adrian Sutton, Claire Mercer nodded again.
Then, she turned toward the camera and gave it a sweet smile.
Seeing that the two of them still didn’t know the procedure, Hughes anxiously hurried them along from the side.
"You two should hurry and get your marriage certificate photos taken first."
"Then you can fill out the marriage application. Don’t miss the auspicious time for the registration!"
He was truly worrying himself sick over his boss’s marriage.
He was single, yet he was more flustered about his boss’s marriage than the couple themselves.
He was so dedicated he was starting to move himself.
Afterward, Claire Mercer and Adrian Sutton went to take their marriage certificate photos.
Since the photos taken by the Civil Affairs Bureau staff were mediocre, their official marriage photos were taken by the documentary photographer they brought along.
"Bride, lean a little closer to the groom."
"Closer."
"Tilt your head slightly toward him."
"Ah, yes, that’s the perfect distance."
"Keep a smile on your face. A little more natural..."
"Yes, that’s it! The curve of your smiles is perfect."
"..."
The photographer snapped a long series of shots.
Claire Mercer’s face was starting to get stiff from smiling so much.
In the end, they chose the photo where they had the sweetest and most natural smiles to be their official marriage certificate photo.
Then, they rushed off without a break to fill out the marriage application forms.
The documentary photographer captured every single detail of their registration process.
When the marriage certificate was finally in her hands, Claire Mercer felt a momentary daze.
’I’m... married? Just like that?’
’This was different from last time with Gavin Sinclair.’
’This marriage certificate was real.’
’Even though she and Adrian Sutton had married for ulterior motives—a fake marriage, you could say...’
But looking at the marriage certificate in her hand, she still felt a bit dazed. After Claire Mercer and Adrian Sutton got their marriage certificates, the photographer’s assistant took out a bridal veil, a "Double Happiness" character cutout, and other props he had brought along.
He took many photos of the two of them to commemorate the registration.
Although Claire Mercer felt it was a bit unnecessary, she cooperated the entire time.
Adrian Sutton, on the other hand, was incredibly enthusiastic the entire time; the smile never left his face.
’It’s probably because he can finally answer to his grandparents now,’ she thought, not dwelling on it.
By the time they finished taking all the photos, it was already two in the afternoon.
She and Adrian Sutton returned to their apartment complex, while the photographer went back to edit the photos.
That evening, the two of them were eating dinner.
Hughes sent a batch of finely edited photos to Adrian Sutton’s email.
The more Adrian Sutton looked at them, the more pleased he was. He was itching to make the official announcement immediately.
"Claire, they sent over the photos from the registration today. Do you want to see them?"
"Sure, go ahead and send them to me."
There were so many photos that Claire Mercer’s head was spinning.
But the photographer’s skill was incredible; every captured shot had a very high-quality feel to it.
Plus, both she and Adrian Sutton were very attractive.
Even she couldn’t help but feel a little vain, thinking that every single one of their registration photos was a visual feast.
Adrian Sutton was about to ask her if she wanted to post the photos to make an official announcement.
But he thought better of it and held back.
To his surprise, however, Claire Mercer brought it up herself.
"I’m going to choose a few photos to post on my Moments and social media accounts to make it official."
"Are you okay with that?"
’Even though this marriage was just to escape the Mercer family forcing her into one...’
’...it was just as Adrian Sutton had said: if you’re going to put on a show, you have to make it convincing.’
’Besides, there were definite benefits to announcing the marriage publicly.’
’If the Mercer family still tried to force her to marry someone else, they would be drowned in public criticism.’
’When they tried to force her to marry Mr. Bower, she was unmarried.’
’But now, she was already married.’
’If they still tried to force her to marry someone else, it would be a huge scandal.’
’Before, they could force her hand under the guise of doing what was ’for her own good.’ Now that she was married, what excuse could they possibly have to compel her?’
Still, she had to ask for Adrian Sutton’s opinion on the matter of a public announcement.
After all, he was the other person on the marriage certificate.
And their marriage was hardly a conventional one.
As for Adrian Sutton, he hadn’t expected her to be the one to suggest posting the photos and making the announcement.
"Of course, I have no objections."
’This was exactly what he had been hoping for.’
’If Claire made the announcement, his status as her husband would be solidified.’
’Plus, that Ian Peyton would definitely see the news about her marriage.’
’That way, Ian Peyton would know he was completely out of the running and would naturally give up for good.’
’He wouldn’t keep pestering Claire anymore.’
At this thought, Adrian Sutton was inwardly ecstatic.
In fact, his mood from that afternoon until now had been better than ever.
"Then I’ll make an announcement, too. You don’t mind, do you?"
"I don’t," Claire Mercer said.
’He didn’t have any problem with her making an announcement.’
’So how could she possibly have a problem with him doing the same?’
’Besides, it would make everything seem more real, which was beneficial for both of them.’
"Then let’s announce it together."
The two of them reached an agreement on the matter of the announcement.
After selecting a few photos together, they posted them simultaneously to their Moments and social media.
Not long after they posted, their phones started ringing off the hook. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Calls came in one after another, all asking what was going on.
Because Claire Mercer’s social media posts had recently exposed the Sinclair and Mercer families, she’d stirred up a nationwide discussion.
Her follower count had now surpassed 100,000, making her a minor internet celebrity.
The moment she posted the announcement photos, the likes and comments were instantly flooded by her fans.
"The way the groom looks at Miss Mercer is filled with such love. Congratulations to Miss Mercer on finding true love!"
"Oh my god, my goddess actually got married! My heart is shattered."
"Holy crap, are these two gods? Their visuals are unreal!"
"I have to say, this couple’s visuals are absolutely top-tier. The best I’ve ever seen."
"They look so perfect together! I’m officially shipping this CP."
"With looks like that, are you sure you don’t want to try your luck in the entertainment industry?"
"Forget the entertainment industry, that place is a cesspool. Don’t let it taint my godly couple."
"The groom’s gaze is so intense, it’s practically drawing threads. He must be so in love, hahahaha..."
"For real, the groom could tone it down a little."
"..."
Seeing these comments, Claire Mercer didn’t know how to explain anything.
’Anyway, as long as everyone knew she was now officially married, that was all that mattered.’
She was scrolling through the comments, occasionally replying to the messages under her Moments post.
Adrian Sutton’s phone rang.
His grandparents were elderly, but they were pros at using WeChat and binge-watching short-form dramas.
Seeing that he had announced his marriage on his Moments, they were beyond excited.
They called him the very first chance they got.
Seeing the number flashing on his screen, Adrian Sutton felt a headache coming on.
’His grandparents would have a million questions.’
’They would definitely grill him about why he’d gotten married so secretly.’
’Oh well, what’s coming is coming. Might as well get it over with.’
He gritted his teeth and swiped to answer the call.
