A SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

At the thought, Ines silently ascended the stairs to her bedroom. She walked to the safe next to the desk, typed in the password, and pulled out a sandalwood box.

She hastily opened the box. Inside was a jade pendant. The color and texture of this jade pendant was identical to that of Vincent’s hand.

– Oh my God!

Ines covered her mouth in shock. If this jade pendant did not belong to Vincent, it was very likely that it belonged to the other young masters of the Sanchez family.

The young masters of the Sanchez family were all of the same parentage. Since Vincent was so handsome, the other young masters of the Sanchez family certainly wouldn’t be too ugly.

As she thought, Ines’ eyes shone with special joy. She hastily placed the jade pendant around her neck.

Downstairs.

When the servant brought the tea, Jacob immediately brought Vincent a cup of tea and said with a smile,

– This tea comes from this year’s new harvest. It tastes pretty good. Second young master, try it.

For a long time Vincent did not take Jacob’s cup. Jacob’s hand, which was cradling the teacup, had already turned red from the heat. Still, he didn’t dare put the cup down and could only hope that Vincent would take the cup of tea soon.

Vincent reluctantly moved his right hand from Lyana’s hand and took the teacup. He put it to his nose and sniffed it. It smelled good.

Lyana was thinking about when she could find the time to ask Ines for the jade pendant. Now that Ines was gone, she turned to Olga and asked,

– Mom, where is Ines?

– YOU …

When Olga heard Lyana’s voice, her response instinctively took on an overwhelming tone. As her voice increased in volume, she instantly felt the coldness in the air. She didn’t even have to look at Vincent to know he was looking at her with a gloomy expression.

Olga couldn’t help but shiver. She smiled awkwardly and backed off, saying:

– Lyana, your sister just came upstairs. I’m going to take her …

As soon as Olga’s words fell, footsteps came from afar. She looked up and saw Ines get off.

– Oh, here it is!

Olga gestured to Ines, secretly heaving a sigh of relief.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Ines walked down the stairs step by step with the jade pendant hanging around her neck. There was a smug gleam in his eyes. Whoever owned the jade pendant, she would benefit from it.

Lyana, who was sitting on the sofa, saw the jade pendant around Ines’ neck. His expression instantly cooled.

Her eyes were like ice as she looked at Ines, clenching her fists tightly.

Five years ago, she fell into the diabolical plan concocted by her mother and sister. This stranger had ignored her pleas and tortured her relentlessly for a night. Four years ago, she was even forced to give birth to a dead child…

These horrific scenes, which she couldn’t talk about, began to surface little by little, occupying her whole mind.

Lyana’s breath hitched and she clenched her teeth, hatred filling her entire body. She started shaking.

Observant, Vincent sensed that something was wrong with Lyana’s expression. He followed her gaze and saw Ines coming down the stairs.

At the same time, he saw the jade pendant around Ines’ neck.

If Vincent had remembered correctly, Ines didn’t have a jade pendant on her neck at the moment. Lyana’s reaction to seeing her was normal back then, but now when Lyana saw the jade pendant, her reaction was a bit strange.

She stood up coldly and took her hand out of Vincent. Seeing Ines approaching, she used all her strength to slap Ines!

Lyana was so strong that Ines staggered and fell on the couch.

In shock, Ines could only stare at Lyana. She didn’t expect Lyana to hit her in front of strangers.

– Sister …

Ines said pitifully.

The hatred in Lyana’s heart surged. She quickly approached Ines and grabbed her hair, forcing Ines to look at her.

– You like that jade pendant, don’t you? Since you love it so much, swallow it!

Lyana pulled the jade pendant from Ines’ neck in one quick motion and forced it down her throat!

She knew very well that Ines wore the jade pendant to remind her of how she had been forced to follow her parents’ intentions; how she had been forced to carry the pregnancy to term. Worse still, how she eventually suffered a stillbirth.

– What are you doing!

Olga didn’t want to stoop to Lyana’s level, but seeing Lyana abusing Ines so viciously, she quickly approached to pull Lyana out.

– Go away!

Lyana shook Olga. She looked at Ines and gave her two more slaps. It was only then that she let go of Ines.

Just like that, Ines’ thick and beautiful hair has thinned out considerably. Pieces of her long hair were strewn all over the floor. She fell to the floor and coughed twice, dislodging the jade pendant from her throat and spitting it out.

Lyana had initially thought she would be able to maintain her composure, but the moment those humiliating memories came to the surface, pain flooded her heart again.

She just couldn’t stay a moment longer. She left the room.

Vincent looked at Lyana’s back as he left. He stood up elegantly and walked two long steps towards Ines, asking condescendingly,

– Who owns it?