My Enigmatic Bride

"Kaylee, you must consider yourself fortunate to marry into the Stephens family. Don't be so ungrateful and mess it up!"

Kaylee Hadley stood in the dressing room, surrounded by servants who were assisting her in donning her wedding dress. The room was filled with a palpable silence, until it was abruptly shattered by a sharp voice.

In walked Josie Hadley, Kaylee's adoptive mother, her gaze piercing as she scrutinized her daughter from head to toe. Her animosity toward Kaylee was no secret, and she made sure it was evident in her sharp eyes.

Upon hearing her adoptive mother's words, Kaylee couldn't help but chuckle, maintaining her composure. With calmness in her voice, she replied, "Indeed, this is such a splendid marriage. It's truly too good for someone like me. How about I remove the wedding dress and let Gemma wear it instead?"

Gemma Hadley, the biological daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, enjoyed a privileged position in the family, whereas Kaylee was only an adopted daughter who had been cast out nine years ago.

The engagement between the Hadley and Stephens families had been settled long ago. Gemma was supposed to marry Elijah Stephens, the second son of the affluent Stephens family.

However, Elijah had gained notoriety as a notorious playboy in town. He was known for his worthlessness and his incessant philandering with countless women.

It was for this reason that Gemma vehemently refused to marry him, despite her parents' relentless pressure.

The Hadley family, though hesitant, couldn't bring themselves to cancel the engagement with the influential Stephens family. Eventually, they were left with no choice but to retrieve their adopted daughter, Kaylee, and compel her into marrying Elijah.

Josie couldn't believe the audacity in Kaylee's words and retorted, "How dare you threaten me?"

With disdain evident on her face, Josie glanced at Kaylee's partially disfigured countenance and said with even more venom, "If we hadn't taken you back, do you honestly think that an ugly woman like yourself could find a husband? You ungrateful thing!"

Meanwhile, Kaylee had yet to zip up her wedding dress. From the back, she appeared incredibly graceful. There was a birthmark adorning her flawless and exquisite skin, resembling a single red rose in full blossom.

Her back was undeniably beautiful, leaving one longing to see the breathtaking face that surely accompanied it.

Unfortunately, a dreadful scar marred half of her delicate face.

Upon hearing Josie's spiteful words, Kaylee remained composed. She gently touched the ferocious scar on her face and feigned sadness. Lowering her gaze, she offered an apology to Josie, saying, "Mrs. Hadley, I'm truly sorry. I shouldn't have spoken so carelessly earlier."

In reality, the scar was a mere fabrication, and Kaylee was far from disfigured. Her exceptional appearance had caused her numerous troubles in the past. Thus, she chose to masquerade as disfigured in order to avoid unnecessary complications.

Kaylee's apology seemed to temper Josie's anger to some extent. Snorting, she replied, "Humph, it's good that you haven't forgotten your place."

With her back turned to Josie, a trace of mockery danced in Kaylee's eyes.

She had agreed to marry into the Stephens family not because she was under the control of the Hadley family, but because she wanted to uncover the truth about Diana's poisoning.

Mr. and Mrs. Hadley had always shown extreme favoritism towards their own daughter, Gemma. It was nine years ago when Kaylee was driven out of the family, thanks to Gemma's relentless sowing of dissension. Fortunately, a compassionate old cleaner named Diana Byrd had taken Kaylee in. Diana was the only person in the world who truly cared about her.

Diana had fallen victim to a peculiar poison, an ailment with no known cure. Kaylee discovered that the source of the poison might be connected to the Stephens family.

Furthermore, one of her saviors happened to be a member of that very family. It was her intention to visit him after she married into the Stephens family.

Now, the time had come for the wedding ceremony.

The venue was lavishly decorated, and the bride, adorned in a white dress, stood upon the stage. However, the groom was nowhere to be found.

As the minutes ticked by, the guests below the stage began to whisper amongst themselves. Rumors and speculations swirled in the air.

"Did Mr. Stephens run away from his own wedding ceremony because Miss Hadley is too unattractive?" one voice questioned.

"Oh, my God! If I were Miss Hadley, I would have hidden away in a tiny box, escaping this humiliating situation!" another voice exclaimed.

Kaylee, standing calmly on the stage, paid no attention to the discussions circulating through the crowd.

After waiting alone on the stage for what seemed like an eternity, Kaylee watched as a waiter, breathless and flustered, hurried into the banquet hall. He caught his breath and shouted, "Mr. Stephens asked me to tell you that he- He-"

The waiter's face flushed with embarrassment, as if the words he was about to utter were too uncomfortable to voice. "He is currently engaged with a beautiful woman, and therefore, he has no time to come here."

The audience erupted into chaos upon hearing these words. Laughter and mockery filled the air, while some guests gazed at Kaylee with sympathetic eyes.

Josie felt deeply humiliated. Through clenched teeth, she muttered, "If the bride were Gemma, I refuse to believe Elijah would abandon her like this! It's all Kaylee's fault! She's too plain and unappealing!"

The guests were well aware of Elijah's debauched reputation. He had truly earned his notoriety.

This was meant to be his wedding ceremony, uniting him with the daughter of another affluent and influential family. Yet, he had chosen to stand the bride up, indulging in his vices with another woman instead. Such dissolute behavior was a rare find indeed.

Kaylee lifted the weighty hemline of her gown with both hands, taking a few steps forward. She approached the waiter with poise and inquired politely, "Which hotel is Elijah staying at?"

The waiter stood dumbfounded for a moment, before stammering, "Right here."

Unfazed by the situation, Kaylee maintained her composed demeanor and continued her inquiry, as if she were not the one about to catch them in the act of adultery. "Which room? Could you please show me the way?"

Kaylee lifted her veil with a careless gesture, revealing the hideous scar that marred her face. Gasps of shock escaped from the onlookers, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"I never anticipated her to be so repulsive!" murmured one of the guests.

"No wonder Mr. Stephens wants to run away from the wedding. If he sleeps on the same bed as her, he must have a nightmare every night!"

"I would rather marry a good-looking beggar than a monstrous rich lady like her!"

Kaylee appeared unperturbed, her countenance serene as if shielded from the harsh words. With graceful poise, she followed the waiter, who led her to the door of a hotel room.

The spectators anticipated a scene of fury, expecting her to pound on the door in hysterics, but their hopes for drama were in vain.

Kaylee merely stood before the door for a moment, surveying her surroundings with an air of detachment. Her eyes caught sight of a cleaning cart nearby, and she strolled over, retrieving a fresh bed sheet from its contents.

Then, in a casual tone, she inquired, "Excuse me, do you happen to have a lighter?"

Perplexed, the waiter retrieved his lighter and offered it to her. "Yes, here you go."

Kaylee accepted the lighter with a smile. The previously impassive expression on her face vanished, replaced by a radiance in her eyes.

In that instant, it was as though a stagnant pool had suddenly burst to life-she exuded an inexplicable allure.

Pressing the lighter's trigger, Kaylee ignited the pristine white bed sheet. As the waiter let out a muffled cry of alarm, she flung the flaming sheet towards the hotel room's door.

Thick smoke billowed forth, triggering the smoke alarm, which in turn set off the piercing wail of the fire alarm.

Simultaneously, the room's sprinkler system activated, dousing everything within. A scream and a hoarse curse emerged from behind the now-opened door.

Elijah stood before them, his damp hair clinging to his forehead, revealing the urgency with which he had emerged from the room.

Seeing the man still dressed in impeccable attire, Kaylee couldn't help but feel a tinge of surprise. Two questions lingered in her mind. Had he not commenced yet? Or had he already finished it?

If he had indeed finished... that was really quick. Perhaps he just couldn't last long?

Detecting a trace of sympathy in her eyes, Elijah furrowed his brows.

Nonchalantly sweeping aside the damp strands of hair clinging to his forehead, he inquired unhappily, "Was it you who set the fire?"

Unfazed by his anger-laden countenance, Kaylee met his gaze with unwavering honesty and confessed, "Yes. Now that you're dressed impeccably, kindly proceed to the banquet hall on the third floor and complete the wedding ceremony first."

She spoke with a tone as mundane as discussing the day's weather.

Elijah's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He hadn't anticipated such a reaction from his soon-to-be wife upon discovering his dalliance with another woman in the hotel.

"What if I say no?" A smile danced at the corners of Elijah's mouth as he gazed at the disfigured woman before him, his eyes emanating an irresistible charm.

It must be acknowledged that he was undeniably handsome.

With his angular face, striking nose, and brooding eyes, his wet, dark hair nonchalantly swept back exuded a roguish and untamed allure. Armed with such looks, he could captivate any woman he desired.

Kaylee firmly grasped Elijah's arm and propelled him forward, stating, "We must proceed with our wedding today, whether you like it or not."

She then turned to the waiter, wearing a radiant smile, and added, "Oh, by the way, my husband will take care of the bed sheet expenses."

Her smile, vibrant and flamboyant, caused the hideous scar on her face to contort, making her appear even more unsightly than usual. The scene was both comical and embarrassing.

Needless to say, the one experiencing embarrassment was Elijah.

Kaylee was not the forgiving type. If someone wronged her, she wouldn't rest until she found a way to make them suffer. Elijah had stood her up, and now it was her turn to embarrass him.

But as Kaylee spoke, her voice carried a pleasant melody that resonated deep within Elijah's heart. It stirred something within him, an inexplicable restlessness.

However, no matter how enchanting her voice was, Elijah couldn't muster any desire for her when he gazed upon her face.

Almost unconsciously, Elijah wanted to free his hand from her grasp. However, before he could act upon that impulse, his eyes caught a glimpse of a small, dark red birthmark adorning her back.

It bore an eerie resemblance to the rose-shaped birthmark on someone else's back.

In that instant, Elijah's body tensed, and he squinted his eyes, yearning for a closer look. But Kaylee swiftly adjusted her veil, concealing her back from his prying eyes.

Undeterred by Elijah's sudden change in demeanor, Kaylee maintained her hold on his hand and led him forward, while he followed.

They arrived at the grand banquet hall, where Kaylee finally released his hand and said, "Thank you for your cooperation."

It was then that Elijah regained his senses. His typically carefree countenance had vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Elijah began to speak. "You..."

But before he could finish his sentence, Kaylee interrupted him. "Let us conclude the proceedings swiftly," she said, her voice cutting through the air. "Once that's done, you can return to your own pursuits."

Elijah was absent-minded throughout the ceremony. All he could think about was that young girl's smiling face in his memory...

That girl's smile was sweet and innocent. She was his only light during his darkest times.

At that time, he hadn't been taken back in to the Stephens family. He and his mother lived a hard life, which broke his mother's spirit. It wasn't uncommon for her to suddenly have a mental breakdown and throw herself in his arms and sob violently. His peers constantly mocked him for being fatherless and for having a madwoman for a mother.

During the day, he would go to school, and at night, he would work at several part-time jobs. He had to support himself and his mother before he even reached adulthood. Day in and day out, he had to work hard until midnight to finally put his feet up and enjoy his late dinner-a bowl of instant noodles.

People who saw him today would never have thought that Elijah had such a miserable life before.

But one day, when he was trampled underfoot and was about to give in to despair, a girl showed up.

He still remembered her sweet scent when she got close to apply medicine on his wounds. In a soft voice, she had asked him if it hurt.

When her back was turned to him, he had seen a dark red birthmark on her back that was shaped like a beautiful blooming rose.

He was fifteen years old back then. It was his first time having a crush on someone, and those feelings never changed over the years.

But later, the girl had fallen into the sea and drowned.

Thinking of this, Elijah clenched his fists and winced as though he was in great pain.

The girl's body had been pulled out of the sea, her face ruined by the brutal seawater. However, he recognized the cotton white dress she was wearing.

Every time he remembered this scene, his heart would ache terribly.

Elijah fixed his eyes on Kaylee, trying to find similarities with the girl.

But he got nothing.

His intent gaze was a little disconcerting. Kaylee frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable.

All of a sudden, Elijah came to his senses and smiled bitterly. He had seen that girl's dead body with his own eyes. How could this woman be that girl?

After exchanging wedding rings with Kaylee, the wedding was over. Since it was impossible for the two to kiss, they went straight to the banquet.

Amidst the audience, Elijah's elder sister, Haisley Stephens, glared at Kaylee from afar.

Just now, she had heard the guests' rude comments.

Her brother married such an ugly woman, which made her feel second-hand humiliation.

Kaylee was walking in her direction. Seeing that the bride was getting closer and closer to her, Haisley got angrier. Without thinking, she took a glass of red wine from the table and was about to pour it on Kaylee.

"If it weren't for you, my family wouldn't have been so humiliated!"

Elijah frowned. Just as he was about to reach out to stop Haisley, he noticed that Kaylee, who was standing next to him, had dodged the spilled wine at an astonishing speed.

The red wine ended up being poured directly on Gemma, who was sitting nearby, completely ruining her delicate makeup.

"Ah!!"

Gemma's scream resounded through the hall.

Eyes bloodshot, Gemma trembled with anger. She had worn her most expensive dress today, hoping to hook up with a rich man at the banquet.

Now she made a fool of herself in front of so many dignitaries, including those from the Reynolds family.

Seeing the embarrassed look on Gemma's face, Kaylee couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The next second, she feigned a concerned expression and pretended to care about her. "Oh, my God! Gemma, why are you so unlucky? You look like a drowned rat!"

All the people at the banquet burst into laughter upon hearing that.

Gemma had never felt so embarrassed in her life. Just as she opened her mouth to curse Kaylee, Josie stepped in and dragged her out of the venue.

When the two arrived at the lounge, Gemma screamed in frustration. She couldn't stop thinking about Elijah's handsome face, which made her feel a sense of regret and jealousy. "I didn't know that Elijah was so handsome. I shouldn't have let Kaylee replace me!"

What pissed Gemma off the most was that Kaylee had lived a better life than her when they were little. Now that she saw that Elijah was so handsome, she hated Kaylee even more, which only fueled her determination to marry into the Reynolds family.

The Reynolds family and the Stephens family were both affluent families in Atheton. But the Reynolds family was a tad bit better than the Stephens family in every aspect.

"Gemma, you shouldn't have come. What if someone finds out that we made Kaylee substitute for you? The reputation of our family will be ruined!" Josie reminded her daughter in a low voice, her expression grim.

Gemma didn't give a damn about her family's reputation; she only cared about how to defeat Kaylee. "Mom, I came here today specifically to meet the son of the Reynolds family. As long as I marry into their family, you'll become the mother-in-law of a Reynolds. All the rich ladies in Atheton will definitely bow to you!"

Josie was a vain woman, so what Gemma said was indeed very enticing.

She then decisively bought another expensive dress for Gemma and smiled in satisfaction. "You look beautiful. You'll definitely marry into a family that's better than the Stephens family!"

Lunch was almost coming to an end by the time Gemma finished changing her clothes and fixing her make-up. Keegan Reynolds, stood up to make a toast onstage.

Keegan was a well-respected elder, so he was the last one to make a toast to the newly-weds.

But as soon as Keegan said a few opening remarks, he suddenly gasped and clutched at his chest, collapsing to the ground.