Her Substitute Groom

Janice POV

One week after the incident and still counting. I was expecting Mr. Connor to send the cops after me, but I guess I was lucky since there hasn’t been anything like that.

The sound of my ringing phone echoed in the room, and I couldn’t help the smile that laced up my lips when I saw the caller. It was the woman I saved from getting hit by a truck one week ago. After the incident that day, she gave me her card and asked me to call her, which I did, and guess what? She invited me to her house and she is super wealthy. Her house looked like another planet on its own, and trust me, the image was still living rent-free in my head even after five days of being there. I wished to be there even if it was only once.

“Hey, Janice,” Her gentle voice sounded through the phone, and I smiled as I sat up on the bed.

“Hi, ma’am. How have you been? Are your bruises gone now?” I asked her with concern. Well, I may be a bad person, but I’m still nice, and I knew that.

“I’m fine, dear. They are gone now. Are you free to have lunch with us today? The thing is, my husband came back yesterday, and he wants to meet the person that saved me from getting hit by a truck. It’ll be an honor if you can come over to have lunch with us,” She asked politely, and damn! I wouldn’t miss this opportunity for anything in the whole world. Who knows, maybe this would be my way of finally getting out of poverty and getting rid of this messed up life I was living.

“I can send my driver to come pick you up. All you have to do is tell me yes,” She was sounding convincing when I was already convinced from the moment she asked me that, because why not?

“Alright, ma’am. I will send you my address,” I replied to her, and she thanked me before she ended the call.

“Don’t be too excited, Janice. It’s just a lunch,” My subconscious mind reminded me, but I couldn’t still help the excitement that filled my heart from within, knowing I was going to be eating with wealthy people. At least, that would be enough to last me for a lifetime.

How time flies? It was finally time for me to go there, and the driver was sent to pick me up. I have never imagined I would ever step foot into a private car since I have never done it all my life, let alone the latest SUV car.

The drive to the mansion took about an hour, and I was led into the house when I arrived. I only got to see the woman the last time I was here, and she mentioned that none of her children was around, not even her husband.

The house was still the same way it was the last time I was here. Large living room, big chandelier light hanging on the ceiling, expensive looking red couches, the walls were painted white color, the curtains looked expensive, and the center table was translucent and looked expensive. The house itself looks like those I’ve seen in the movies that were usually owned by billionaires. As much as I wanted to admire the house, I tried to compose myself.

Soon, the woman came to join me along with her husband.

“Honey, she is the young lady that saved me,” She introduced me to the man in his late fifties.

“It’s nice to meet you, and I’m grateful for saving my wife,” He extended his hand for a handshake, which I quickly took, feeling elated. His hands were so soft like that of a newborn baby. His skin screamed nothing, but wealth, and I couldn’t help but imagine how much the cream he uses would cost. Five million dollars? Ten million dollars? I asked myself, but quickly dismissed the thoughts.

“Thank you, Sir. It’s nice to meet you too,” I replied to him as I smiled nervously.

“Mommy, is she here yet?” I heard a masculine voice as thick footsteps descended the staircase, and my mouth dropped open in shock at the sight that welcomed me. When I saw Connor days back, I thought he was the most handsome man on earth, but seeing this young man that was perfectly built, I was starting to have second thoughts about what I said back there.

“Oh, hi! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Carl,” He finally stood in front of me, and his smile was even perfect and contagious as he revealed his set of perfect dentitions. Now that I got to finally see what he looked like, he had a pair of charming brown eyes just like his mom, a pointed nose, smooth skin, thick eyebrows, sexy lips, and finally brown shady hair that was curled on his head with some strands on his forehead. He was literally the definition of perfection.

“Oh, hi! I’m Janice,” I finally managed to pull out of my dreamland, taking his hand that was extended for a handshake.

“Oh, she’s here?” Came another voice, and I snapped my head in the direction to see the young man that just walked in. He looked like he was the same age as me, and trust me, I was starting to hyperventilate because of how good-looking they all were. Does this run in their family?

“Hi, I’m Chase,” He introduced himself to me once he was standing in front of me, and I slowly nodded my head as I took his hand that he extended for a handshake.

“You are pretty, I must confess,” He winked at me as he smiled creepily, making me more nervous.

“Thank you,” I nodded my head as I watched him walk over to the dining room.

“Wow! Nobody called me that Miss Janice is here,” A girl of about eighteen years old said as she walked into the living room. With the striking resemblance between him and this woman, I didn’t need to be told that she would be her daughter. She also looked extremely beautiful with her brown eyes, smooth and light skin, long brown hair that has some strands on her forehead, pointed nose, sharp jawline, small pink lips, thick eyebrows, and finally long natural eyelashes. They were making me feel insecure about my look, I was suddenly starting to feel like I’m an ugly bitch.

“Stay calm, Janice. You are being crazy right now,” I said to myself as I tried to stay calm, and I couldn’t be happier that it worked.

“So, tell me about yourself,” The Carl guy broke the awkward silence as we ate in the dining room minutes later, and I almost choked on my food, but I was able to control it.

“Huh?” I blinked my eyes rapidly as I raised my gaze to look at him, and he was staring at me. I looked around, and they were all looking at me weirdly, probably waiting for me to spill the beans, and for some seconds, I was starting to regret coming here in the first place.

“Me? Well, nothing to know about me. I’m just a random girl,” I know my answer was a little bit dumb, but there was really nothing interesting to know about me. What would I possibly tell him? I’m someone from a poor family struggling to make ends meet and depending on duping men for survival? Will that even make any sense? So it was better to just shut it since I wasn’t living a proud life anyway.

“Oh… Ok. Well, I’m looking forward to getting to know you more. Who knows, we could get acquainted with each other, and see what the future has in store for us. You are a pretty young lady, and I think I like you,” His gut and straightforwardness were daring and also nice. I mean, I like straightforward people. Still, I almost choked on my food. Is this like him confessing his feelings to me? That’s crazy. I mean, we were meeting for the first time, right? Well, it would be a jackpot for me if he really likes me. I mean, being with a real wealthy man has always been my dream, anyway.

Regardless, I just smiled at him weirdly.

“Oh, son… You’re home?” The woman suddenly said, and I trailed her gaze to see the shock of my life. The man standing over there was the same man I met at the penthouse, Connor Hughes. Yes, the one I drugged and stole money from. My heart sank into my stomach and I swallowed nothing as I turned my face away. I could feel my heart beating rapidly against my chest, my body suddenly got so hot that I could literally feel it burning.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked myself, trying to get the pieces together, and now, everything was making sense to me although it was already too late. I could still recall the woman introducing herself to me earlier as Mrs. Hughes, but I was so clueless that I didn’t think about it. Damn! I think I’m doomed.

“Are you not coming to join us?” I heard Mrs. Hughes ask him, and I prayed he said no and leave.

“No, Mom. I’m a bit tired, so I need to rest…”

“At least, meet the lady I was telling you about. The one that saved my life,” At this point, I felt like disappearing into the air.

“Oh, hi!” I heard him say simply, and I sighed briefly, thinking he would leave afterward.

“Come on, Connor. Come and say hi to her. She is lovely,” I almost jumped out of my skin when his mom said that.

“Mom…”

“Don’t be rude, Connor,” His dad chipped in, and oh hell! I knew that I’m done for.

“Janice dear, say hi to Connor, our first son,” She finally introduced us, and silence assumed the atmosphere for seconds.

“Janice? That name… Janice… Hey, can I see your face?” I heard him say, and I shut my eyes tightly as the realization dawned on me that I was caught already.

Left with no choice now, I stood up and took a deep breath, turning to face him afterward, and the expression on his face as soon as he saw my face showed that he already caught me.

“You?” His eyes narrowed as he pointed his index finger at me, and I raised my eyebrows.

“What a small world. I finally caught you,” He scoffed as he pointed his finger at me.

“Do you two know each other?” They all asked at the same time, and I cleared my throat. Getting caught has never been in my dictionary, so I needed to come up with something to save myself from this humiliation.

“Of course, we…”

“Excuse me? Have we met before?” I asked him, and he raised his eyebrows as he stared at me in shock.

“Wh… what do you mean by that? You are not just a thief but a liar too?” He scoffed as he walked over to the dining room now.

“Excuse you? Me? Thief? Liar? What are you talking about?” I pulled a puzzled look. My heart was hammering against my chest, and my body was slightly shaking, but still, I needed to defend myself. Looking like a bad person in front of these people was the last thing I wanted.

“You really are a crazy bitch, you know? You dare to deny knowing me after you stole my jewelries and money?” He snapped at me this time, and I flinched because he was looking all scary now.

“What are you saying, Connor?” His Mom snapped at him.

“Stay out of this, Mom! Everyone, stay out of this! She knows what I’m talking about…”

“This is crazy and embarrassing…” I scoffed as a drop of tears slid down my cheek.

“Just because you are wealthy doesn’t give you the right to talk to me in that manner and accuse me of what I know nothing about when we’ve not even met each other before!” I yelled at him this time as more tears streamed down my cheeks.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Are you crying?” He scoffed as he blinked his eyes unbelievably.

“You know what? I’m out of here,” I wiped my tears then grabbed my purse from the table before I stormed out of the dining room, ignoring them as they kept calling me.

“That was close,” I released a deep breath once I was out of the gate…