Chapter 5 - Substitute Bride

“Seems like everything is over,” Amora thought, slumping weakly.

She tried to stifle her sobs by biting her lip hard. The decision just made by the head of the Walden family had left Amora in shock.

All she could do was silently mourn Kelvin Walden's words. Tears streamed down her cheeks once more.

Even though Kelvin had made his decision, Amora’s grandfather still tried to persuade him. Charlie couldn’t accept the decision just like that.

“Mr. Walden, let’s discuss this further. I know you and Mrs. Walden are very angry about this. I’m humiliated as well. However, we have already dispatched the invitations. How can we cancel it just like that?” Charlie Lysander pleaded.

As an elder, it was embarrassing for Charlie to bow his head to someone younger. However, he had no other choice because canceling the wedding would damage the family’s reputation.

Charlie, on the other hand, didn't want to lose a 'gold mine' like the Walden family. He had once thought of expanding his business by establishing kinship with them. Unfortunately, Amora had ruined the plans he had devised long ago.

“Then, what do you propose, Mr. Lysander? You don’t intend to force me to accept your granddaughter, who is no longer a virgin, as my daughter-in-law, do you?”

Kelvin stared directly at the head of the Lysander family. As a younger man, he still tried to respect the elders. However, if Charlie insisted, he would not hesitate to oppose him.

The Walden family would still face shame if they canceled the wedding, but that shame was nothing compared to the disgrace the Lysander family would face because of Amora’s actions.

Charlie fell silent. He had no good solution to cover up and make amends for his youngest granddaughter’s mistake. “I—"

“What if Bianca replaces Amora, Father?”

All eyes immediately turned to a middle-aged woman who had been sitting in the room all this time. She was Julia Brown, the only daughter-in-law of the Lysander family. A calm smile adorned Julia’s face as she saw everyone’s attention on her.

“What did you say, Julia?” asked Mario Lysander, Julia’s husband.

Mario was Charlie’s eldest son. He was shocked to hear his wife’s suggestion.

So was their daughter, Bianca Lysander. “Mom, why—”

Julia immediately pinched her daughter’s arm as a signal for her not to interfere. Julia glanced at Amora, who was staring at her in disbelief. However, Julia pretended not to see her and turned her attention to her father-in-law.

"The wedding will still take place. Only the bride will be changed, and at least, this can reduce the embarrassment compared to canceling the wedding. If Mr. and Mrs. Walden do not mind, I think this is a good decision for both families. Don’t you agree?" Julia said with a tone that sounded wise.

Hearing her aunt’s words, Amora was stunned. She couldn’t believe her uncle’s wife would use this opportunity to elevate her and her daughter’s status in the Walden family’s eyes.

Kelvin Walden seemed to consider the daughter-in-law’s words, then turned to his wife and said, “I think Mrs. Julia’s suggestion isn’t bad either, dear. What do you think?”

Cassandra’s eyes immediately shifted to Bianca. Julia’s daughter looked very confused by her mother’s actions.

Cassandra had heard about Bianca before. Bianca wasn’t as smart or beautiful as Amora. However, what mattered most to Cassandra was that Bianca was more obedient compared to Amora.

Slowly, Cassandra’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. She thought Bianca Lysander was more suitable to stand beside her son, as she fit her ideal daughter-in-law criteria all this time.

Kelvin Walden’s wife then said, “I agree. At least Bianca is much better than a woman who can’t keep her virginity.”

Amora was stunned by the sharp words of Cassandra, who had now turned into her former potential mother-in-law. Her heart felt deeply wounded. Cassandra was rubbing salt into her wounds.

But the pain didn’t compare to the betrayal her aunt had committed. Amora’s brow furrowed as she saw the triumphant smirk on her uncle’s wife’s face.

“Aunt Julia? Could it be that all of this ....”

Amora was startled by the thought that crossed her mind. Reflecting on everything that had happened, Amora was sure of one thing. Everything that had befallen her was part of her aunt’s cunning plan!

Though Julia always acted kind to her, Amora had always felt the hatred masked by her aunt’s fake smiles.

Amora had sensed Julia’s hatred long ago, but she thought she was just being overly worried. Now, Amora saw for herself how her uncle’s wife had destroyed her to the point where she had no right to speak in the family.

Sadly, Amora couldn’t express her suspicions to anyone. She had no solid evidence. If she spoke wrongly, she could be accused of slandering Julia. She also had no standing to speak, as she was now considered a disgraceful woman.

A glimmer of hope seemed to light up Amora’s heart when she heard Chris say, “Mom, I can’t marry Bianca.”