A whirlwind month for singer Brandy is leaving her with thoughts about becoming a nun.

After explaining reports that she and record producer Robert Smith, the father of her 2-year-old daughter, Sy'rai, were never married, Brandy became engaged to pro basketball player Quentin Richardson.

"This time, I want so badly for my marriage to work out. If it doesn't, I don't ever want to date again. I'll be a nun, raise my daughter and make albums," she tells Us Weekly.

Richardson's proposal came at a time when Brandy's relationship with Smith was being talked about in the media. Smith said their supposed marriage was a ruse to protect the image of Brandy, who was then pregnant.

In February 2002, Brandy declared that she and Smith had secretly wed in 2001. She gave birth to their daughter in June 2002. The couple broke up last year.

"The truth is that we didn't have a traditional marriage," Brandy says. "We had an understanding - I dedicated my life to him and he dedicated himself to me. No, we didn't have a minister officiate, but in our hearts, we lived as a married couple.

"After we broke up, we were friends and I thought everything was cool. I learned it wasn't when he filed suit for custody of Sy'rai."