Chapter 1 Substitute Bride

Meagan Allison walked into the house of the Allison family, feeling uneasy.

She was an illegitimate daughter, and she had been living with her mother and brother somewhere else for many years. This was her first time here.

Her father, stepmother, and half-sister, Winona Allison, were sitting on the sofa and waiting for her.

"You're finally here." Disgusted, Meagan's stepmother looked at her, raising her eyebrows. "Take off your dusty overcoat and hang it by the door. Don't get our house dirty."

Meagan's father ignored her and her mother for many years. But two days ago, he suddenly contacted her and asked her to marry someone on behalf of Winona.

The Allison family and the Whitman family had been friends for generations. They had agreed that Winona would marry Zayden Whitman. However, the Whitman family had declined and hidden in a small village. It was said that Zayden was a gangster and had been arrested several times.

Of course, Winona would never agree to marry such a poor man. But the agreement had to be fulfilled, so the Allison family had to ask Meagan to replace Winona in marrying that man. After all, she was only an illegitimate daughter.

Meagan could still remember her father's words when he called her that day. He said coldly, "Meg, think it over. As long as you agree to marry Zayden, I will give you a sum of money you can use to treat your mother's illness."

Meagan didn't sleep the whole night, thinking it over thoroughly. The next day, she agreed.

After all, she had no other choice. She needed the money to treat her mother's illness and send her brother to school.

That was why she came to meet with the Allison family today.

Meagan stood at the door and took a deep breath.

"I want to talk about the marriage."

Her stepmother got very impatient. "What else do you want to talk about? The deal is already good enough for you. You're still being ungrateful?"

This time, Winona chimed in arrogantly, "You're suited to marry that man. Anyway, your mother has slept with many men, and your brother is also a bastard. A woman like you only deserves to marry a rogue."

Winona's words were so harsh that Meagan's face turned pale. Her eyes were slightly red because of anger.

Her father pretended not to hear anything. He waved his hand and said, "As I told you, I will give you a large amount of money if you agree to marry Zayden. That's all. There's nothing else you need to know, so there's no need to talk about it more."

Meagan was still worried, but she had to suppress it. She was powerless against her father.

She had no choice but to prepare for the wedding alone.

On the day before the wedding, a typhoon struck the city. Billboards and trees were blown down and could be seen everywhere on the streets. Despite this mess, Meagan's wedding was pushed through.

There was no luxurious bridal car to pick her up. She walked a long way before she got in an unremarkable van. It took a long time to reach the village. Her shoes and wedding dress got muddy as she walked.

Elderly people had a belief that someone who got married in such weather would not have a happy married life.

But Meagan didn't care about her happiness long ago.

Her husband's house was in the village. The house was dilapidated, and rain leaked in from some holes.

Actually, there was no ceremony for this so-called wedding. It seemed that her husband was also unwilling to marry her.

Meagan was so nervous that her body tensed up. She kept her head down, not daring to look at her husband.

After she entered the room, her husband went to the bathroom to take a shower. She was left sitting at the edge of the bed. She kept this posture for so long that her back stiffened. And she was still wearing her wedding dress.

"It's late. Go to bed now."

His deep and charming voice suddenly brought Meagan back to her senses. She looked up and met his deep-set eyes filled with unpredictable emotions.

Meagan held the hemline of her wedding dress nervously, and her heartbeat went abnormally fast.

When she saw his wet hair from taking a shower, she realized that she would spend their wedding night with him tonight.