A SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

Ines was not completely stupid. Worried that she was betraying herself, she hastily lowered her head.

However, her mind was in disarray. She had to investigate what exactly had happened back then.

– Actually, this pendant does not belong to my sister. I just wanted to test whether my brother-in-law would misunderstand my sister. Brother-in-law, I was really joking…

Ines said, her expression serious.

At this moment, Lyana was looking at William without expression. She tried to suppress the inexplicable affection she felt for William.

Vincent gave Ines a meaningful look. As if he were a stranger, he explained impassively,

– This pendant is very important to him.

– This pendant was from five years ago, during the autumn season…

Ines made up her mind and stepped forward. Smiling at Lyana, she was about to spill everything when she was interrupted by hurried footsteps…

– Second young master!

Olga rushed into the room with concern.

– Who are you…

Frowning, William looked toward the woman.

– Mr. Royer, this is my mother.

Ines thought how glad she was that she called Olga before she arrived. Otherwise, she couldn’t have handled this situation alone.

– Mom, why are you here?

Ines turned to Olga, pretending not to know anything. She looked innocent and harmless.

Seeing how sweet and obedient Ines was, Olga’s eyes could not help but turn red. She began to speak convincingly.

– Ines, we have already hidden this story from everyone for five years. We can’t keep it a secret anymore.

Lyana, who was standing to the side, frowned slightly. She didn’t think Olga would tell the truth about the perverse acts she had committed back then.

But Ines did not understand. She looked at Olga in total shock, disbelief written all over her face.

– Mama!

– I know that you and Florence White are close friends, but how can you beat those big shots yourself?

When Vincent heard the name “Florence White,” a trace of shock flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

– Mama!

Ines didn’t know who White Florence was. She looked at Olga in confusion.

Olga pulled on Ines’ arm and said sternly,

– For some things it is better to tell the truth as it is. Five years ago, Florence was drugged and someone assaulted her, ruining her purity. After that, she died in childbirth. I know you always wanted to find the person who hurt your friend and avenge her, but we have to do what we can!

Lyana stood coldly on the side. She felt that Olga must be really good at making things up. Wasn’t Olga afraid that William would investigate this matter?

Olga pulled Ines behind her, letting out a helpless sigh.

– Mr. Royer, Ines and Florence were good friends. Ines has always wanted to avenge her, so she tends to do stupid things. I’ll definitely stop her from doing anything stupid in the future.

William played with the pendant in his hand and asked seriously,

– So you say that… the girl that night five years ago was White Florence?

– Yes, yes, yes. We also did not know that this pendant was yours. If we had known …

Before Olga could finish her sentence, William interrupted her.

– Did someone say that pendant was mine?

William placed the pendant on the coffee table. His voice was cool and pleasant to the ear.

Lyana looked at William in shock.

– That night I drank too much. Someone took my pendant. I didn’t expect that person to commit such acts and use that pendant as an identifier.

William frowned, his expression disgruntled.

Ines inhaled. Fortunately, she hadn’t let it slip that she herself was the woman from five years ago. Otherwise, in everyone’s eyes, wouldn’t her purity be ruined?

Upon hearing William’s words, Lyana looked down with disappointment. It seemed that it would be really difficult to find this person.

Olga was the first to react. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she congratulated William on finding the pendant. Then she pulled Ines away to leave.

– Wait.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Vincent looked coldly at Ines.

She and Olga both turned to Vincent.

– Are you friends with Florence Blanc?

Vincent looked calmly at Ines.

– Yes.

She nodded, her heart beating wildly.

– How old would she be now if she were alive?

– Nearly twenty-two,

Olga said sadly. Then she sighed, looking as if she felt sorry for Florence.

Vincent didn’t speak, but looked sensibly at Olga and Ines.

Although Ines didn’t understand what Olga had wanted to achieve, or why Vincent was asking more questions, she still put on a heartbroken facade, even managed to shed a few tears.

Olga led Ines out of the room. Just as they reached the door to the living room, they heard Vincent speaking.

-Butler, don’t let any more Tom, Dick or Harry in here!

– Yes, yes, second young master. There won’t be a next time, said Butler, his voice tinged with fear.

Olga stopped in her tracks, cold sweat breaking out on her back. She looked at Ines, who was standing next to her. She was regretting her actions now.

If Ines had married into the Sanchez family as planned, she could visit the Sanchez mansion whenever she wanted. If that happened, Vincent would certainly treat her with the utmost respect and hospitality.

Lyana looked at the two people leaving, then at Vincent and William. She purred her lips. How could these two men so easily believe Olga’s words?

Oh, they did.

Why had she never heard of the name Florence Blanc?

– Lyana.

She came to her senses. She looked up at Vincent. Meeting those dark eyes, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

– Do you think your mother is telling the truth?

Vincent looked closely at Lyana, his voice still deep and pleasant.

She was stunned. She didn’t understand why Vincent was asking her that. She pretended to think carefully, then shook her head.

– You don’t believe her?

Vincent studied Lyana’s face, as if reminding her of every expression.

– I think you don’t believe her yourself. Since you don’t believe her, go and investigate. Lyana smiled.

– If I remember correctly, right after William lost the pendant, you were sent to the mental hospital.

As soon as Vincent finished speaking, Lyana’s heart skipped a beat. Her expression faltered slightly.

Did Vincent suspect her?

She looked down, sighed and nodded.

– Was there a connection between the two events?

He didn’t expose Lyana either. By chance, he asked,

– So, do you know Florence Blanc?

Lyana shook her head and answered impassively,

– No, I don’t.

She didn’t want Vincent to continue questioning her. She continued,

– If there’s nothing else, I’ll go to the pharmacy and prepare your medicine.

He nodded.

When Lyana passed by William, she looked at him. She still found William familiar, but try as she might, she just couldn’t remember where she had seen him.

However, she retracted her gaze very quickly and continued out of the room.

After Lyana left, William sat lazily on the couch and asked,

– You found the pendant. Vincent, what are you going to do with it?

– It’s just a dirty thing. I’ll throw it away.

Vincent thought of Ines’ hypocritical face and felt inexplicably disgusted.

William could understand Vincent’s actions. Someone else was wearing something that had been his for so long. Even if he had gotten it back, he couldn’t be clean now.

– Do you believe what they said?

Vincent snorted and said:

– If it’s not true, they will give themselves away very quickly.

William nodded and stood up.

– I should be going. I have other things to do tomorrow.

– Visiting your sister again, I suppose.

– Yes,

William replied. His eyes were a little red as he purged his lips.

– She’s been gone for almost twenty years now…

Vincent remembered that when the Royer family’s daughter had died, her body could not be found. No matter how hard the Royer family tried, they could not find her body.

In addition, the Royer family’s daughter had been engaged to him.

Vincent placed a hand on William’s shoulder and patted him once.

– She will live forever in everyone’s heart.

Thinking about the photograph of his younger sister, William felt a lump rise in his throat. He nodded and walked out.