Chapter 3 Substitute Bride
What the actual hell?!
She was seated in the front seat of a car, driving down a highway in the city.
The sky overhead was clear and bright blue, and the sun shone down on the car as they drove on.
Elara jerked, turning in her seat to look around her.
Yes, she was in the city.
She could feel the wind on her face, recognize the familiar surroundings and buildings, and also hear the sound of cars and the hustle and bustle of the citizens of Crestmont.
What the hell was happening?
Had she not just been in that dreary, old warehouse? Had she not just watched her parents killed before her very eyes, and then she had met with the same fate?
At this thought, her hands clenched into fists and her jaw hardened with anger.
Rage and a thirst for vengeance surged through her with an intensity so great, it was enough to make her tremble.
“Kurt Eugene and Vera Hale, I will make you pay dearly for what you did to my parents!”
“Have you perhaps gone deaf, you stupid country bumpkin?!” A high pitched voice uttered from her side, and Elara turned, blinking in surprise.
She found herself staring into the face of a young woman. The woman was beautiful, but her face was twisted with a huge scowl as she glared at Elara with disgust.
“What the fuck is going on? Who the hell is this?” Elara thought in wonder.
She was surprised the woman was looking at her with such animosity when they’ve only just met.
Wait, she knew this face.
Elara thought hard and then her eyes widened slightly, as she recognized the woman in front of her.
Selena Beaumont.
The second daughter of the Beaumont family, a small Empire in Crestmont.
The Beaumont Family were not nearly as powerful as the Vaughn family and Selena was always seen in social circles and gatherings in the city, trying to get into her good graces as well as that of the other respectable families in the city.
However, it seemed that Selena had lost her respect for her, for her to be glaring at her with such a huge scowl.
Elara scoffed in distaste, her eyebrow arching coldly, “Selena Beaumont, what do you think you’re doing?”
Selena let out a high pitched laugh of derision, making Elara all the more surprised.
“Wow, you’re not deaf after all,” Selena said, after laughing to her fill, “Then why the hell were you keeping me quiet?! You stupid country bumpkin, you think because you’re getting married into the Graves family, you’re suddenly above me?!”
Getting married? The Graves family?
Elara was confused, and she blinked several times in a daze, “What are you talking about…”
Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror and her hands flew to cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
She did not recognize the face looking back at her!
“Wh…who…the hell is that?!” She asked in a trembling voice, pointing at the rearview mirror with shaky hands, “Is…is that…me?!”
The girl in the mirror had long, black hair tied in a ponytail, with striking green eyes, high cheekbones and a well defined jaw.
A sharp contrast to her previous golden looks, which she knew and loved.
Who the hell was this woman?!
Selena watched the act she thought her step sister was putting on, and could not help but roll her eyes impatiently in anger.
“Aria Beaumont, I’ve had enough of your stupid antics this afternoon!” She uttered harshly, “Listen to me, if you go to the Graves family and embarrass us, I will make sure I have mother teach you a good lesson!”
Elara turned slowly to face her, her eyes as wide as saucers, “I’m…Aria Beaumont?!”
Elara’s mind went blank for a second, then came back into overdrive.
Aria Beaumont.
She had heard the name spoken of before by Selena. Apparently, Aria is the eldest daughter of the Beaumont family. She had not been seen in the city for years, and this was because her family had her shipped to the country side at her mother’s death.
Selena Beaumont, who is seen as the only daughter worthy of the Beaumont family name, was borne to the second wife of Aria’s father.
In a nut shell, Aria and Selena were step-sisters but Aria Beaumont is the true heiress of the Beaumont family.
“Oh heavens, why the hell am I Aria Beaumont?!” Elara thought in a panic, “I am Elara Vaughn of the Vaughn Empire! What kind of stupid joke is this?!”
She held her head which was throbbing now, but her movements seemed to anger Selena.
“Stop with the theatrics!” She ordered with a hiss, “And don’t ever try to elevate your status above mine. Even if you get married into the Graves family, you’re just a substitute. My scape goat! Hahaha!”
Selena was delighted now as she spoke, glancing at Elara from time to time with malice.
Elara still had her head in her hands trying to ease down the headache and confusion she was feeling.
Selena thought she was hurting because of her words and went on with malicious delight, “You know the eldest son of the Graves family that you were once betrothed to?” She continued coquettishly, “Mom made me his bride when you went to the country. You were not fit for a family as powerful as the Graves Empire. I am the only one good enough to be their daughter-in-law.”
Her tone then turned cold and her fingers gripped the steering wheel in anger, “But he had to go and have that accident three years ago, and now he’s paralyzed and comatose! Pathetic!” She sighed dramatically, “So yes, you’re fit for him now! Hahaha! I would never marry a disabled man, even if his family is the highest in the city! You will marry Lucian Graves, instead!”
Elara, who had not been listening, suddenly came to attention at those words.
She was marrying … Lucian Graves?!