He Ditched His Bride for Her Pregnant Sister

Adalee's lips twisted into a wry line. "…Dad, it's me."

Hearing his daughter's voice only made Palmer Morgan's blood boil. "You—you stubborn child! Do you have any idea how ridiculous you made us look today at that wedding? Not only did you turn your sister Miranda into a laughingstock across the whole city, but you embarrassed the Nichols family too. They're furious, and they're demanding answers from us. You caused this disaster, so you can explain it to them. Your mother and I are staying out of it."

Adalee frowned. "Dad, Miranda was the one who tried to take my place and marry Cruz Nichols. Why aren't you calling her out on that?"

Palmer snapped back, "Miranda told me everything. It was just a misunderstanding with Cruz—she had nothing to do with it. Besides, if you'd told us from the start that the baby you're carrying is Cruz's, none of this would've happened. This mess is yours to fix, and you will fix it. Once that's settled, come back and apologize to your sister. Miranda has a good heart—she'll forgive you, I'm sure."

Adalee felt the words land like a slap. The injustice of being told to apologize to Miranda settled deep in her chest, heavy and bitter. She wanted to confront her sister right then and there. But she knew her parents were completely under Miranda's spell—and it would take time to peel back the mask and show them who their precious daughter really was.

She touched her belly gently, her voice calm but firm. "Dad, I'll give you a satisfactory explanation."

She couldn't tell them yet that the child was Cruz's—she'd only learned that truth at the end of her previous life. But when the time was right, she'd expose Miranda's lies.

Palmer thought she was finally listening, and his tone softened a notch. "Tonight's your wedding night, and I don't want to argue with you. Try to get along with Cruz, and stop acting so reckless. Remember you're a married woman now. Understand?"

Despite everything, warmth flickered inside her. "I understand, Dad."

He hung up, and Adalee took a deep breath, the sting of unshed tears burning behind her eyes. Even though her father was wrapped around Miranda's finger, deep down she believed he truly did care.

In her previous life, her parents had left everything to her in their will before their tragic deaths—Miranda got nothing but an empty shell of a company. Maybe, in the end, they'd finally seen her sister's true colors. Or maybe they'd suspected their deaths weren't just accidents…

Adalee lowered her lashes, her gaze cooling into something sharp and determined. No matter what, she'd already changed the course of her past life. She would protect her parents with everything she had—and make sure they never walked that path again.

Meanwhile, back at the Nichols estate, Cruz Nichols had barely stepped through the door when his mother, Madeleine Nichols, summoned him into the study for a lecture.

"What were you thinking, marrying like that on a whim? How could you choose to bind yourself to such an unworthy woman?" Madeleine, still elegant in her Victorian-style wedding dress, looked barely a day over forty at fifty—outshining women half her age.

She tossed a file onto the desk in front of him. Cruz picked it up and flipped through it—rumors about Adalee, scandals, claims that she was uneducated, quick to fight, tied to the wrong crowd.

Cruz set the file down, unshaken. "Mom, these are just rumors. There's no real evidence tying her to any of it. They could easily be false."

Madeleine let out a cold laugh. "Rumors don't just appear out of thin air. Who knows what she's actually been up to? I'm telling you now—make sure you get a paternity test. If that girl has deceived us, I'll deal with her myself."

Cruz's brow tightened. His voice dropped. "I understand. I'll handle it."

Madeleine pressed on. "Even if the child is ours, given all her baggage, we can't keep her in this family. Wait until she gives birth, then find a way to divorce her. Offer her compensation for the child, if we must."

Cruz said nothing, turning to walk out.

"Did you hear me, Cruz?" she called after him.

But her son's cool, commanding silhouette had already disappeared through the study door.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

Elsewhere, Adalee had barely woken up when her stomach let out a low growl.

A warm smile curved her lips. Her baby was hungry, demanding to be fed. Memories from her past life crept back—locked away by Miranda, starving and desperate, yet she'd held on for her child's sake. She'd survived on pure willpower, managed to give birth… only for Miranda to snatch her baby away.

Adalee's fists clenched. She swallowed the ache of that memory. This time, she would feed her child well, raise it strong and healthy, and protect its birth with everything she had.

She turned to Avery and Gia. "Is the meal ready?"

Avery answered cheerfully, "Yes, ma'am. We had dinner prepared for you."

Adalee nodded and got out of bed.

A pair of pink cotton slippers sat waiting for her—shaped like bunnies, complete with fluffy little tails and ears. Cute. Girlish. So soft they almost made her heart melt.

The sight cracked through the armor Adalee had built around her heart, and her eyes lit up with a rare, genuine sparkle.

Noticing her pleasure, Gia smiled and explained, "Mr. Nichols arranged everything for you—the clothes, the food, the maternity gear. He even had the housekeeper put together a whole shopping list."

"Oh." Adalee nodded coolly, sliding her bare feet into the cozy slippers.

They were plush and warm. She couldn't help but like them.

Maybe she'd been too harsh on Cruz.

Adalee followed the maids down to the dining room on the ground floor. The moment she stepped inside, dozens of eyes landed on her.

Freshly rested, her flawless skin had a healthy glow—like a flower blooming, impossibly sweet. There was no denying it: she was stunning.

More than a few servants couldn't help but wonder about her beauty.

But even with that face, the rumors about her past—running with different men, causing trouble—cast a long shadow. They said she'd sullied Cruz Nichols' name. And now, for the sake of her child, this powerful man had to put up with it all, sheltering her, providing for her, while whispers followed him everywhere.

Avery broke the silence. "What are you standing around for? Serve the lady her meal!"

Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the room. "And she's supposed to be our lady of the house?"