Substitute bride
img img Substitute bride img Chapter 1 SB ONE
1
Chapter 6 SB SIX img
Chapter 7 SB SEVEN img
Chapter 8 SB EIGHT img
Chapter 9 SB NINE img
Chapter 10 SB TEN img
Chapter 11 SB ELEVEN img
Chapter 12 SB TWELVE img
Chapter 13 SB THIRTEEN img
Chapter 14 SB FOURTEEN img
Chapter 15 SB FIFTEEN img
Chapter 16 SB SIXTEEN img
Chapter 17 SB SEVENTEEN img
Chapter 18 SB EIGHTEEN img
Chapter 19 SB NINETEEN img
Chapter 20 SB TWENTY img
Chapter 21 SB TWENTY ONE img
Chapter 22 SB TWENTY TWO img
Chapter 23 SB TWENTY THREE img
Chapter 24 SB TWENTY FOUR img
Chapter 25 SB TWENTY FIVE img
Chapter 26 SB TWENTY SIX img
Chapter 27 SB TWENTY SEVEN img
Chapter 28 SB TWENTY EIGHT img
Chapter 29 SB TWENTY NINE img
Chapter 30 SB THIRTY img
Chapter 31 SB THIRTY ONE img
Chapter 32 SB THIRTY TWO img
Chapter 33 SB THIRTY THREE img
Chapter 34 SB THIRTY FOUR img
Chapter 35 SB THIRTY FIVE img
Chapter 36 SB THIRTY SIX img
Chapter 37 SB THIRTY SEVEN img
Chapter 38 SB THIRTY EIGHT img
Chapter 39 SB THIRTY NINE img
Chapter 40 SB FORTY img
Chapter 41 SB FORTY ONE img
Chapter 42 SB FORTY TWO img
Chapter 43 SB FORTY THREE img
Chapter 44 SB FORTY THREE img
Chapter 45 SB FORTY FIVE img
Chapter 46 SB FORTY SIX img
Chapter 47 SB FORTY SEVEN img
Chapter 48 SB FORTY EIGHT img
Chapter 49 SB FORTY NINE img
Chapter 50 SB FIFTY img
Chapter 51 SB FIFTY ONE img
Chapter 52 SB FIFTY TWO img
Chapter 53 SB FIFTY THREE img
Chapter 54 SB FIFTY FOUR img
Chapter 55 SB FIFTY FIVE img
Chapter 56 SB 56 img
Chapter 57 SB 57 img
Chapter 58 SB 58 img
Chapter 59 SB 59 img
Chapter 60 SB 60 img
Chapter 61 SB 61 img
Chapter 62 SB 62 img
Chapter 63 SB 63 img
Chapter 64 SB 64 img
Chapter 65 SB 65 img
Chapter 66 SB 66 img
Chapter 67 SB 67 img
Chapter 68 SB 68 img
Chapter 69 SB 69 img
Chapter 70 SB 70 img
Chapter 71 SB 71 img
Chapter 72 SB 72 img
Chapter 73 SB 73 img
Chapter 74 SB 74 img
Chapter 75 SB 75 img
Chapter 76 SB 76 img
Chapter 77 SB 77 img
Chapter 78 SB 78 img
Chapter 79 SB 79 img
Chapter 80 SB 80 img
Chapter 81 SB 81 img
Chapter 82 SB 82 img
Chapter 83 SB 83 img
Chapter 84 SB 83 img
Chapter 85 SB 84 img
Chapter 86 SB 85 img
Chapter 87 SB 86 img
Chapter 88 SB 87 img
Chapter 89 SB 88 img
Chapter 90 SB 89 img
Chapter 91 SB 90 img
Chapter 92 SB 91 img
Chapter 93 SB 92 img
Chapter 94 SB 93 img
Chapter 95 SB 94 img
Chapter 96 SB 95 img
Chapter 97 SB 96 img
Chapter 98 SB 97 img
Chapter 99 SB 98 img
Chapter 100 SB 99 img
img
  /  2
img
img

Substitute bride

Laurel Shawn
img img

Chapter 1 SB ONE

SELENA'S POV

"Fetch your sister; we have company," Mother commanded loudly. I heaved a sigh, set down my coffee, and strode from my room with a sense of resignation.

Mother's enthusiasm for this marriage, as if she's struck gold, grates on my nerves.

At last, Gabriella will be gone, escaping Mother's outbursts, leaving me to endure them alone.

I entered Gabriella's room unannounced. She stood there, adorned in an elegant white lace dress that accentuated her figure, a veil draped over her hair, perusing a magazine.

"The guests have arrived," I said. Looking up, I noticed tears glistening in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" I inquired, my voice tinged with worry as I took the magazine from her, scanning the wedding news.

Gabriella exhaled deeply, her attention fixed on the scene beyond the window. "I'm not sure I can go through with this," she confessed softly.

"You must," I insisted, holding her hands for reassurance. "That's easy for you to say; you're not in my shoes," she replied sharply.

"Gabriella, it'll all work out. Mother wouldn't have agreed if they weren't decent folks," I reassured her quietly.

"Come on! You know Mother would do anything for money," Gabriella countered, rising from the bed, hands defiantly on her hips.

"Do you think money is her motive?" I questioned, skepticism creasing my brow.

"What other reason could there be? I don't buy the story about settling Father's debts after his death," she argued.

"We both know Father left a substantial debt to the Evans family," I said, pausing to catch my breath, "and Mother would not have pursued this if they weren't insistent on repayment."

"I just can't do this," Gabriella exclaimed, her frustration echoing as she slammed her hands on the desk.

"Gabby, our entire future lies on this. If you reject this marriage, we'll be ruined. Is that what you want?" I pressed.

"If you're so concerned, why don't you marry him?" She challenged me. My frustration mounted.

"I would if I weren't committed to Derrick," I replied, turning away to hide my turmoil.

"You can't even face me because you know you wouldn't dare," she said softly, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

"Gabby, you didn't hesitate to sign the deal with the Evans family. What's changed now?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out, stopping me mid-sentence.

"Pregnant? How? With whom?" I bombarded her with questions, her eyes downcast.

"I can't marry him; I'm pregnant with another man's child," she affirmed, cradling her belly.

"Who's the father?" I demanded, still reeling from the shock. She retreated, silent, as I approached.

"Say it," I urged. "Nate," she finally admitted.

"Nate Williams?" I sought confirmation. "Yes, who else?" she replied, sinking onto the bed.

"I can't believe you disregarded Mother's warnings about him," I said, disbelief evident in my tone.

"I love him, Selena. I can't marry that ruthless man that I don't know, especially carrying Nate's child," she declared.

"Nate is no saint either," I countered.

"But at least I love him. I need to leave, to protect my child from this sham of a marriage," she reasoned.

"Seriously, Gabby? How do you plan to pull that off?" I questioned, unable to hide my skepticism at her naive statement.

"As long as you're here, it'll be easier," Gabriella said, her gaze averted.

"I'm lost," I admitted, trying to grasp what Gabriella was implying.

"Just let Mom know I'll be down shortly," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Really?" I said, brightening up at her assurance.

"Yes, now go before I reconsider," she urged, and I enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"You're amazing. I'll be waiting for you," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving her room.

I spotted Mom downstairs with a couple of men, likely guests. "She'll be down soon," I murmured to her before stepping out of the living room.

*****

"Selena, where on earth is your sister?" Mom demanded as she entered the kitchen.

"I don't know, Mom. She's not downstairs?"

"You know she's not. If she were, I wouldn't be asking. Didn't you say she was coming? So where is she?"

"Mom, please, take a deep breath," I pleaded, hopping off the kitchen counter.

"Don't tell me to relax. The guests and the priests are waiting. Find your sister now; the whispers are starting, and you know how I hate that," she ordered, gesturing towards the door.

"You need to learn some patience," I muttered under my breath.

But Mom was already on her way out. "Gabby!" I called out, entering her room. "Gabby, where are you?"

I looked around, but she was nowhere to be found. I dreaded the worst. My heart pounded as I checked the bathroom, only to be met with emptiness.

"This can't be happening. Gabby!" I cried out, rushing to the window, but she was gone.

I approached her wardrobe, and my breath caught at the sight of her wedding dress still hanging there. "No, Gabby, you can't have..." I trailed off, disbelief washing over me as I clutched the dress.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, only to hear her phone ring from the desk. She left her phone behind. I realized, spotting it on the desk. Then my eyes caught sight of a note.

"I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Take care of Mom and yourself. Love, Gabriella."

I felt tears sting in my eyes as I read her words. "This can't be happening-" "What's all this?" Mom barged in, and I turned to face her with the note in hand.

"She left," I said softly.

"Gabriella?" Mom took the note from me, her voice tinged with frustration. "How could she do this? We had a deal with the Evans. She can't just leave us like this."

"It's clear Gabriella never wanted any part of this," I pointed out.

"Nobody does, but it was necessary to protect us," Mom snapped back. "Now that she's gone, we have no choice. You will marry Aiden Evans in place of your sister," she commanded.

"Never! It's not possible," I protested.

"Nothing is impossible. Either you marry Aiden Evans to save our family's reputation, or you let it be tarnished even further," she said sternly.

"I just can't," I responded, feeling a surge of panic.

"You must," she insisted, looking me straight in the eye.

The thought of betraying Derrick was unbearable. He has my heart. I understand the importance of family, but how can I possibly explain this to Derrick?

            
            

COPYRIGHT(©) 2022