Chapter 1: The Substitute Bride

Licheng, Davis family residence.

"Bella, being able to marry Charles is the blessing you earned in your previous life. Even though he won't live long, you will definitely get a generous share of his inheritance when he passes away." An old lady sat upright on the main seat, holding a cane tightly in her hand. She stared at the girl in front of her with eyes full of traces of time, and her disdain was evident in her words.

Bella was carrying a black shoulder bag and wearing a pure black sweatshirt. She lowered her eyes, half-closed her pupils, put her hands in her pockets, looked nonchalant, and nodded slightly.

"I warn you, you'd better be obedient, try your best to please Charles , put the interests of the Davis family first, and strive for project investment for the Davis family . When Charles dies, I will give you freedom." The old lady's words revealed unquestionable majesty.

Bella raised her eyes and a wicked smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, "What if I don't obey?"

The old lady's face suddenly changed, a fierce look flashed in her eyes, and her face was twisted and ferocious. "If you don't obey, I will send you to the brothel in the capital, let you suffer the sufferings of the world, and never be able to turn over in your life!"

Hearing this, Bella's eyebrows slightly raised, and the smile on her lips became deeper. A den of brothel? It is just a paradise for men and a purgatory for women.

"I have placed your grandmother in a VIP ward in the city center. If you want to save her, you should know what to do." The old lady's words carried an irresistible threat.

"Yeah." Bella still lowered her eyes, her voice low and weak.

At this moment, Bella 's cell phone rang, and the ringtone of a text message broke the silence in the room.

She slowly took out her cell phone and replied to the message leisurely. Seeing this, Eleanor was furious. How dare she look down on her like this!

The old lady slammed the table and shouted angrily: "I'm talking to you, and you dare to play with your phone? Do you have any manners?"

"What kind of education can a wild country girl, who has no one to discipline her since childhood and is only raised by her half-dead grandmother, have?" The speaker was Vivian, the second daughter of Eleanor's eldest son Ethan, and her words were full of sarcasm.

Bella raised her eyebrows slightly, a cold light reflected in her pupils. She put her hands in her pockets, her thin figure seemed to fall in the wind, but she exuded an aura that should not be underestimated.

Vivian was frightened by this look and lowered her head subconsciously.

" I'm sorry, I'm from the countryside and don't know what politeness is." Bella retracted her gaze, her face was cold and calm, and her tone was calm and indifferent.

The Davis family was completely enraged. Some people couldn't help but curse, "Humph! You look so poor and shabby, and you are not presentable!"

"Don't say that. She is going to marry Lord Charles. What if she causes trouble to us in the future?" someone said sarcastically.

"Ha, just her? She'll be scared to death by Charles!" Laughter came from all around.

Bella raised her eyes and glanced at everyone calmly, finally settling on the woman next to Eleanor . That woman was her biological mother, Sophia !

Sophia lowered her head and looked obediently beside Eleanor , but glared at Bella , her eyes full of warnings, telling her to behave herself. The funny thing was that her biological daughter was being ridiculed and insulted in public, but she turned a deaf ear to it.

Bella raised the corner of her mouth, put away her phone, and looked directly at the old lady, "Anything else? If not, I'll leave first!"

"You!" Eleanor was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she could only suppress her anger. After all, Bella still needed to marry Cindy.

"Forget it, Sophia , take her back to wash up and teach her some manners. If you mess up the engagement party in a few days, don't blame me for being rude!" The old lady waved her hand, motioning Sophia to take Bella away.

She felt upset when she looked at Bella for one more second. This country girl was really not presentable.

"Yes, Mom." Sophia responded, then forcibly dragged Bella away.

Sophia remained silent all the way until the car stopped in front of Minghuayuan Villa.

This is the home of Sophia and her second husband Ethan. As soon as they entered the door, Sophia rudely pushed Bella into the door and said angrily: "I warn you! This is the Davis family, not your grandmother's house. You'd better change those bad habits for me. If you embarrass me in front of the Davis family again, I will never let you off easily!"

Bella put her hands in her pockets, raised her eyebrows, and looked at her with a ruffian look. More than a decade ago, after her father disappeared, Sophia , regardless of the relationship between husband and wife, resolutely threw her, who was only one year old, to her grandmother, and went to Licheng alone to marry the wealthy Ethan . He ignored her for more than a decade, and now he took her back for profit, but he still had this indifferent face.

Sophia had been married into the Davis family for more than a decade, and had lived a life of luxury, with every move she made showing the demeanor of a lady. Now, seeing Bella's street thug-like appearance, she was even more furious.

"This marriage with Wilson Smith is a great opportunity for you. If you marry Master Charles , you will have to work less for decades." Sophia tried to persuade her.

Hearing this, Bella raised her head, stared at the man in front of her who was trying to persuade her, and suddenly smiled. The smile was a little cold, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Such a good thing, why don't you let your second daughter go?"

"How can you compare with Cindy? I have carefully cultivated her, and she will have a better future in the future. How can she marry Wilson Smith..." Sophia hesitated to speak. Everyone knew that Charles had a serious illness half a year ago. Not only did his temperament change drastically, his appearance was ruined, and there were rumors that he would not live for more than two years. She would never let Cindy become a widow at such a young age and fall into the pit of fire.

" Mom! You are back?" At this time, a delicate voice came. Seeing this, Sophia 's angry face instantly turned into tenderness, " Cindy , didn't you go to practice the piano? Why are you back so early?"

"I..." Cindy lowered her eyes, looking weak and lovely, "I'm worried that you haven't reached an agreement, Mom. I really don't want to marry Charles..."

"Don't worry, Mom has arranged everything and will never let you marry him!" Sophia comforted softly.

Cindy breathed a sigh of relief and her eyes fell on Bella , "Is this my sister?" She walked forward, stretched out her white and slender hand, and smiled sweetly, "Hello, sister, I'm Cindy ." Bella glanced at her outstretched hand, and moved her eyes upwards, staring at Cindy's face. There were indeed some similarities between their eyebrows. She glanced at Cindy lightly, and walked straight past her and went upstairs.

"Bella!" Seeing her attitude, Sophia was furious. "What's your attitude? Your sister is talking to you, but you ignore her? If you continue to be so arrogant, I will stop your grandma's medicine immediately!"

Bella paused and looked back at her, her eyes as cold as ice. Then, she turned around and walked into the room without saying a word.

" You!" Sophia was so angry that her face turned blue and she could hardly breathe.

Cindy hurried forward to comfort her, "Mom, don't be angry, my sister may be introverted. I will get along well with her in the future and try to make her accept us."

"Cindy, you are still sensible." Sophia looked at her well-behaved daughter and felt a little relieved.

"Mom, what if my sister changes her mind?" Cindy was still a little worried. Bella didn't seem like someone who would easily compromise.

"I have plenty of ways to make her behave." Sophia said harshly. She had plenty of ways to deal with a country girl.

Cindy smiled, her eyes unconsciously looking towards the closed door upstairs, a barely perceptible light flashed in her eyes.