Chapter 1 Part 1

Becoming a Replacement bride was not an easy task for Alice. Besides having to let go of Gilbert, her beloved boyfriend, she also had to deal with the cold and untouchable attitude of Alden Sebastian, her current lawful husband and her own adopted sister Chloe's future husband.

"It's not just you who lost Chloe, Alden I did too. It's not just you who doesn't want this marriage. I don't either. But why am I blamed for this marriage? I don't want to be a Replacement bride, taking my sister's place to become your wife. Why? Because I have another man whom I love, and he loves me," Alice said.

She poured out her heart, which she had kept hidden for so long. Now, Alice was tired and fed up with Alden's behavior towards her, as if he blamed her for Chloe's death and the subsequent marriage between them. Alice had explained countless times that she had no involvement in their marriage. She also swore that Chloe had asked her to become the Replacement bride, to marry Alden, the night before their wedding.

"I swear, Alden... I don't want this marriage. If you're tired and truly don't want to see me around, then divorce me," Alice whispered, wiping her tears away.

"I don't care about that," Alden replied before leaving without giving any response to Alice's plea. It was always like this. He claimed not to want the marriage, but until now, he had never been willing to divorce her.

"Not wanting to divorce me, yet always refusing our marriage. You even treat me like I don't exist," Alice pursed her lips. She didn't know how else to soften Alden's heart to open up to her or at least divorce her.

A few years ago.

Chloe parked her car as she saw a crowd of people blocking her way. She grumbled a bit because today was the day she would say goodbye to her boyfriend. Alden Wesley was leaving for Australia to pursue his studies, and if she were late, she wouldn't be able to see him for five years.

"What's happening here?" Chloe asked one middle-aged woman.

"A multiple-car accident, ma'am. It's tragic. The only survivor is that girl!" a local resident replied, pointing to a girl crying and hugging a shawl. Her eyes looked empty, and she appeared to be around fifteen years old.

Chloe was taken aback as the girl continued to cry inconsolably. Her cries sounded heart-wrenching, saying she had no one left in the world as all her family members died at the scene. Feeling sorry for her, Chloe approached the teenager and hugged her, comforting her.

"It's okay! Don't cry anymore. I'm here. I'll take care of you," Chloe said, trying to soothe the girl.

"What's your name, dear?" Chloe asked again, wiping the girl's tears away.

"M-my name is Alice, Miss," she replied tearfully, still looking towards the police who were evacuating her family's bodies.

"Okay, from now on, Alice will stay with me!" Chloe guided the girl to stand up. Before leaving the scene, Chloe handed her phone number to a police officer on duty there. She also told Alice to be with her, and if any family members came looking for them, they could contact her on that number.

Once finished, Chloe immediately took Alice with her. She didn't want to be late for the airport.

Half an hour later, Chloe finally arrived at the airport, fortunately, she arrived on time. Without waiting long, holding Alice's hand, she took the girl with her to see Alden off.

"Chloe, I thought you wouldn't come!" Luna, Alden's mother, greeted Chloe with a hug.

"Of course, Auntie. How could I not?" Chloe replied, returning the hug and kissing the cheeks of the middle-aged woman.

"And who is this, dear?" Alden interrupted when he saw Alice standing behind Chloe. The teenage girl didn't look well; she had bruises on her cheeks and lips, and her clothes had blood stains, covered by a shawl.

Actually, Alice refused to come with Chloe, but Chloe insisted on introducing Alice to Alden and his family.

"Oh, this is Alice. Alden, Auntie! And Alice, this is Aunt Luna, Alden's mother. Alden, this is my boyfriend," Chloe introduced them to each other.

"Alice, Alden, Auntie!" Alice greeted them, shaking hands with both the mother and son, then curtsying.

"I met Alice on the road. She had an accident!" Chloe quickly interjected before Alden could ask more questions.

"All her family members died at the accident site. So, I brought Alice with me because I know how it feels not to have parents. But I'm lucky to still have my grandmother taking care of me!" Chloe patted Alice's shoulder gently as the girl looked down at the airport floor as if it were the most interesting thing right now.

"So, Alice will stay with you?" Luna followed up.

"Yes, Auntie. Unless someone comes to pick her up. If her family comes for her, I'll naturally return Alice to them."

"You're so kind, dear." Without hesitation, Alden embraced Alice in his arms.

"Oh, don't hug her yet. It's not the right time!" Luna pinched Alden's ear.

"Ouch, Mom, that hurts..." Alden rubbed his ear, blushing due to his mother's antics.

The mother and son's interaction brought small chuckles from Chloe. Her cheeks also turned rosy due to her boyfriend's antics.

Half an hour later, Alden's plane finally took off, leaving Chloe feeling sad about his departure.

"Forgive me, dear! I didn't mean to keep you away from Alden. But I wanted to fulfill Alden's late father's request for him to continue his education in his father's hometown. His grandparents have been eagerly waiting for him there. We all hope that when he returns from there, he can take his father's place," Luna explained while patting Chloe's back. She felt very guilty toward her friend, who was also her son's girlfriend.

"It's alright, Aunt. Chloe will support whatever is best for Alden," Chloe said sincerely as she hugged Luna, whom she considered her own birth mother and a close friend of her mom, Dera.

"In that case, let's go, Chloe! I'll take Auntie home!"

"No need dear. Aunt came with a driver. You better take Alice to the hospital, to take care of her family's bodies. At the same time to treat her wounds. If you need help, you can call Aunt!"

Chloe nodded. "Auntie is right. Chloe has to take care of everything. Then Alice and I say goodbye first, Aunt!" the twenty year old girl hugged Luna, before she left with Alice.

Finished from the airport, Chloe drove Alice to the hospital to see her parents and family. Alice seemed to have calmed down somewhat. He was still crying. However, not as hysterical as before.

Before Chloe headed to the hospital, she contacted her grandmother first. To help her take care of the remains of Alice's family. The victims weren't just Alice's parents. However, his extended family was also a victim. Because they all just came from a tourist spot. Luckily for Alice, she jumped out of the car. So that you can survive the accident.

"Are you ok?" Chloe rubbed Alice's hand.

"It's okay, Sis!" he replied quickly.

"You must be sincere. So that your parents will be at peace in nature. You must pray for all of them so that their graves will be widened. You must also grow to be a strong person!" Chloe patted Alice's shoulder. "You have to promise me. You have to grow up to be a strong woman. Don't want to give up on anything. Believe me, every storm you are facing, there will be a very bright day waiting for you out there!"

Alice nodded resolutely. "Thank you, Sis!" she said, hugging Chloe tightly.

Alice felt incredibly lucky. She believed that God sent Chloe to rescue her. Without Chloe, she wondered where she would be now. Growing up as an only child had made her quite spoiled. Not only in terms of having her needs taken care of but also in sleeping; Alice couldn't fall asleep without her mother's embrace.

From that day on, Alice lived with Chloe and her grandmother. No one would have guessed that Alice was just an adopted sister, as Chloe treated her as if she were her own blood sister. All of Alice's needs were well taken care of – from education, finances, to attention. Every weekend, the two of them would go shopping like twin sisters. Whatever Chloe had, Alice would have it too.

During the time apart from Alden, they managed to maintain their bond through phone calls and video calls. Despite the distance, both Alden and Chloe remained faithful and deeply in love with each other.