I Became My Sister's Substitute Bride

Seeing me take off the white dress stained with red wine, he frowned.

“I heard from my mother about what Emma did. Don’t take it to heart, she’s just a child, she loves you,”

David said, the explanation unchanged after nine years.

I thought, even when Emma comes of age, she will still be a little child in David's eyes.

I smiled and sarcastically remarked:

“But in that child’s heart, I’m just a murderer.”

David’s face showed displeasure:

“Don’t say that, she could never think that way.”

I took a few steps back, putting more distance between us, and started to zip the back of my dress in front of the mirror.

“I’ll help you,” he said, without waiting, and took the zipper from my hands.

His fingertip warmth touched my back, making me feel a slight itch.

Had this been in the past, I would have blushed, my heart fluttering, even aroused.

But now, it only made me gross.

“Be patient with her,”

he murmured, his breath brushing my neck.

I pushed him away sharply:

“I have something to say to you.”

David furrowed his brow:

“Can’t it wait? The family banquet has already started.”

“No.” I said firmly, “Today marks the ninth year, and I’m leaving.”

“You’re talking nonsense,” David shouted angrily.

I looked at his face, tense with anger, the air freezing for a moment.

But I didn’t back down and repeated:

“It’s been nine years, David, I’m leaving.”

David glared at me:

“Have you had enough of making a scene? Emma is just a child, don’t take it to heart. Today’s an important family event, the elders are here. I’ll talk to her later.”

He grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me out. I forcefully jerked my hand free.

“Wasn’t it you who was persuaded by my father? That’s why you stepped back and gave me these nine years? Now that I want to leave, you’re unhappy?”

I raised my voice, continuing to argue.

Before he could respond, an angry voice came from behind:

“Ashley, can you stop throwing tantrums at the wrong time?”

Without turning around, I knew it was my father.

Back then, Father and David had agreed that once Emma turned nine, I could leave.

But now, why are they stopping me?

“I’m not throwing a tantrum, Father, you said after nine years, I could leave.”

I was tired, but I had no choice but to explain repeatedly.

Father scoffed:

“Did you have to bring this up today, of all days, during the family banquet?”

“Alright, Ashley didn’t mean it.”

David immediately stepped in to smooth things over.

Had this been a few years ago, I might have blushed, my heart racing at his defense.

But now, I clearly understood that this was just his dirty trick to make me stay.

To continue playing the role of Lily’s replacement.

“Let’s go, to the banquet.”

David said to me.

I silently let him pull me into the banquet that had already started.

Emma was playing happily with her cousins.

But when she saw me, her face immediately darkened.

“Look, Emma, your mother is here!”

The younger Smith family members all knew about my position, shamelessly teased.

Emma sneered:

“She’s not my mother!”

I stood right beside her, and David sighed, pulling Emma closer:

“Don’t speak like that, Ashley is your mother, and she’s always taken good care of you.”

Emma’s face turned red with anger:

“No! She’ll never be my mother! Listen, everyone, this woman killed my mother!”

The elders, who were also core members of the family, turned their disdainful eyes toward me:

“She’s not the child’s stepmother?”

“Why doesn’t she like her so much?”

“Looks like she didn’t treat the child well.”

“Apologize to her right now.”

David ordered Emma, but there was no sincerity in his voice.

I stopped him:

“Forget it, no need.”