A SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

Julie’s face was flushed with embarrassment. She stood there, awkwardly, watching the lustful gleams in the eyes of the men below the stage. One by one, tears rolled down her face.

Now she looked pitiful and utterly helpless.

Seeing Julie in this state, Matriarch Sanchez’s face grew even paler. She looked at Julie with a pang in her heart, her body shaking involuntarily.

Lyana, who had supported Matriarch Sanchez, naturally noticed that she was shaking. His gaze darkened.

If Matriarch Sanchez wasn’t here, she wouldn’t even care about Julie.

However, Julie was raised by Matriarch Sanchez, and she still loved Julie after all. Coupled with the fact that Julie was now labeled with the Sanchez family name…

Now the Sanchez family and Julie were on the same boat. If dishonor was brought to one of the parties, the other would also be humiliated.

Lyana worried that Matriarch Sanchez’s illness was getting worse because of her anxiety. Her gaze fell on the red cloth on the table beside her. She walked over and pulled him off the table, knocking the posters to the floor.

She approached Julie and draped the red fabric over her body.

Julie’s trembling body suddenly froze. She looked at Lyana in disbelief.

She looked extremely elegant in her black dress, but what about her? Her dress had burst, and she could only tighten the red tablecloth around her.

Julie could clearly sense the coldness emanating from Lyana. Even after considering all the possible outcomes, she would never have expected her to be the one to protect her at this critical moment.

In fact, Julie wasn’t the only one shocked. The others were also amazed.

– Am I blind? Julie stole Professor Smith’s dress, but Professor Smith helped her anyway?

– Professor Dubois is really amazing!

– Professor Dubois is really a person who sees the big picture. She must be an exceptional person. Exceptional people are always so exceptional, no matter when.

Seeing that Julie was still standing there without moving, Lyana frowned a little and said coldly:

“Do you intend to continue your… speech?”

Julie came to her senses.

– Hurry up and get changed. If Grandma has another heart attack because of you, I’ll never leave you alone.

Frowning, Lyana said coldly.

When Julie heard Lyana’s words, she slowly turned to look at Matriarch Sanchez, bit by bit. His gaze finally landed on the Matriarch’s face. She saw Grandmother looking at her anxiously.

“Grandmother… Grandmother”, Julie called silently.

Previously, she thought that Grandma insisted that she take off the dress because it belonged to Lyana. Now it seems she misinterpreted Grandma’s intentions. Grandma was just afraid that the dress would tear and ruin her image.

Julie lowered her head in shame and awkwardly headed for the locker room, not daring to take another look at the audience.

When she got to the locker room, she locked the door with shaking hands. All the strength in his body seemed to have been exhausted. Leaning against the door, she slipped, falling to the floor.

After an indefinite time, she came to her senses. She got up and walked over to the dressing room mirror.

All her life, she held her head high. She was the idol of many worldlings, and the goddess admired by many young masters. But it had all been ruined.

How could this have happened?

Why was fate so cruel to her?

She had waited so many years just to stand on that podium and give a speech.

She had prepared so much, but she hadn’t expected it to end so dramatically.

What she expected even less is that Lyana would come forward and save her at this precise moment.

Even though she knew very well that Lyana had only saved her thanks to Grandma, the fact remained that she had saved her. Without Lyana, she could have been in an even worse state.

She even provoked Lyana on purpose today and ripped off her dress. She had gone too far.

When Julie thought of Grandma’s disappointed expression just now, her heart ached. Grandma must have been very disappointed with her.

For those present, Julie’s incident was only a small interlude. The host quickly stood up and invited the third speaker on stage to deliver his speech.

Thinking about Julie’s condition right now, Matriarch Sanchez became extremely worried. She started walking towards the locker room.

Lyana had stayed by the Matriarch’s side. Since she was not in good health, she was worried that something would happen to her. She said softly,

– Grandma, I’m going with you!

The Matriarch’s heart leaped. His gaze landed on Lyana’s face, and her heart seemed to be squeezed by an invisible hand.

This child must have suffered a lot in the past!

In silence, she endured the injustice of everything, but outwardly she pretended that everything was fine. Matriarch Sanchez held Lyana’s hand. Her eyes were rimmed with red as she said softly:

– Lyana, you don’t have to accept someone you don’t like for me. You just have to follow your heart.

Lyana was slightly stunned. She could feel her grandmother’s love for her.

– Grandmother.

For the first time, she didn’t know what to say.

– You must flourish with your own unique light. You don’t have to live in anyone’s shadow. As long as you live freely according to your whims and follow your heart, that will do, Matriarch Sanchez said softly.

Hearing the Matriarch’s words, Lyana’s heart skipped a beat. She felt intensely touched. Pursing her lips, she nodded with a smile.

Matriarch Sanchez pursed her lips and gently patted Lyana’s hand, then headed for the locker room.

She had only taken a few steps when she saw Julie come out.

– Grandmother.

Julie wore the purple dress. After straightening out a bit, her disheveled appearance disappeared, leaving behind a soft aura.

No one expected Julie to regain her composure and go out in public once again after making a fool of herself like this. It seems that she is a very willful person.

Matriarch Sanchez had initially wanted to scold Julie, but when she remembered Julie’s pity on stage, she hesitated.

However, she also didn’t want to forgive Julie so quickly, as she feared she would become more and more disobedient in the future. So she said coldly:

– Why didn’t you get lost?

Julie’s eyes were red. She pursed her lips. She had to regain all the dignity she had lost today. She approached Lyana and made a respectful perpendicular curtsey. – Sister Lyana, I caused all this. I let you down. Not only did I ruin your dress, but I also ruined Grandma’s good intentions. I am really sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I will fix the dress as soon as possible.

When onlookers heard Julie’s words, they were all amazed.

– Senior Julie stooped down to apologize. Looks like she really knows she’s wrong.

– She was so humiliated just now. She has been punished enough. After all, it was just a misunderstanding from the start.

– Actually, there’s nothing wrong with Senior Julie mistaking the dress for her own. After all, Matriarch Sanchez used to make dresses for her in the past. Most people would certainly think that the dress Grandma made was meant for them.

– Yes Yes Yes. It’s human nature.

– Professor Dubois, why don’t you forgive Senior Julie?

– Yes yes. It was just a misunderstanding at the time. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up and Senior Julie has apologized, please forgive her.

Lyana’s eyes were as cool as water. She stood there in silence, staring at Julie without a word.

Not only did Matriarch Sanchez, who was standing to the side, not breathe a sigh of relief, but his frown grew deeper and deeper. His eyes were filled with complicated emotions.

“Just because you apologized, does that mean she has to accept your apology?”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Suddenly, a magnetic male voice sounded from the side, filled with sarcasm.

Everyone turned around. They didn’t expect the speaker to be Vincent Sanchez!

Vincent had a hand in his pocket. He exuded a cold aura that unconsciously made people take several steps back.