Chapter 2

Maria POV: If you don’t want to see your father dead, obey my orders!

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He found out!

He did not fall asleep. While I was asleep, he unlocked my phone and discovered my secret!

I broke out in a cold sweat. I don't know what to do. I could only panic and fearfully look at him.

Charles chuckled and continued to play with My phone.

“Twins, huh… I never expected that the Miller family would give me such a big gift. I’m surprised and curious to know how you two sisters negotiate it. Do you switch places daily?”

“No!”

I clenched my fists tightly, almost biting my lip until it bled.

“Charles…”

“Not long ago, you called me darling, didn’t you?”

I felt an urge to kill. He already knew the truth. Why did he have to embarrass me like this?

The truth has been revealed.

When I thought about my father, I wanted to cry. I felt overwhelmed with grievances. If Mia had not threatened my father’s life, I would not have been in this situation.

Charles ignored my reddened eyes and asked coldly, “Who was the one who had a wedding ceremony with me?”

I bit my lip, my voice weak. “It was me.” There is no point in lying again.

“In these two years, has Mia ever stayed here?”

I hurriedly explained on behalf of my sister, “She’s a pianist, you know. She’s very busy, and you are not here, so…”

Charles angrily interrupted me, “So, it’s always been you?”

Yes, in these two years, Mia had been traveling all over the country, and I had to coordinate with Mia’s schedule.

When Mia was busy, I would leave. And when Mia finished her performance, I would return to the Smith family mansion.

I was like Mia’s shadow, helping her fulfill her duties as Mrs Smith.

Charles suddenly stood up, took the phone, and walked to the bedside, looking down at me.

“Call her.”

Things have come to this point, and the only solution is to call Mia back.

I sniffed. I took the phone with trembling hands from Charles. I found Mia’s number and called her.

The first time, no one answered.

The second time, no one answered.

A man’s cold voice came from above my head, “Continue!”

My fingers trembled as I pressed the dial number again.

The third time.

The fourth time.

It wasn’t until the tenth time that someone finally answered the phone.

Before I could say anything, Mia’s impatient and angry voice rang out sharply. “Maria! Are you out of your mind? How can you call me so late? You keep calling like you want to kill me! Are you hoping your dad dies sooner?”

When I was younger, my parents divorced.

My mother took my sister and remarried a wealthy businessman. I was left with my poor father to rely on each other.

Four years ago, a car accident left my father in a vegetative state.

Before I graduated, I had to go to school and work to support my father. Although life was hard, I never complained.

Until two years ago, when my vegetative father suddenly disappeared from the hospital, waiting for me in the ward was my mother and my sister whom I hadn’t seen for many years.

My mother and sister ‘kidnapped’ my father to make me marry Charles.

For my father’s safety, I had no other choice but to agree.

Charles' deep green eyes narrowed slightly.

I quickly said, “Mia, please come back tomorrow, your husband…”

“What are you panicking for? I know he went back to California. Is he going to sleep with you or what? Maria, even if he wants to sleep with you, you are the one who takes advantage! It’s not important at all. You should not have called me so many times. I’m fed up with you!”

My heart immediately sank. All the good things I had said for Mia just now were destroyed at this moment.

“Mia…”

She cut me short…

“Enough! Maria, I’m not afraid to tell you that Charles doesn’t like women at all. He married me just to pass on the family line. You can be at ease being Mrs Smith for me. I will take good care of your father. Otherwise, you will only see his dead body!”

With a ‘pop’, the phone was rudely hung up.

But my heart was in my throat!

Charles doesn’t like women?

Could he be gay?

Oh my gosh, I heard Charles' secret.

Would I be killed to keep it a secret?

Sure enough, as soon as I looked up, I saw Charles' face show obvious fury.

I was so frightened that I threw my phone away. I quickly moved to the other side of the bed with my hands. I did not doubt that if I was a little slower, he would strangle me.

However, Charles just looked at me with his eyes devoid of emotions, as if he was considering something, I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

Under his cold gaze, I clutched the bedsheet tightly with both hands, feeling extremely uneasy.

“Tomorrow, you will go with me to get our marriage certificate.”

A few seconds later, Charles opened his mouth.

I was shocked and opened my eyes wide. “But I don’t have my sister’s ID card…”

“I’m talking about you. Don’t you understand?” Charles' voice was deep and full of chilling intent.

“Me?”

I almost fainted. Why did Charles want to get a marriage certificate with me?

What did he want to do?

“But I’m not Mia…”

Charles gave me a cold glance, turned around, and walked to the sofa. After sitting down, he took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag before placing it on his lips again.

He blew out smoke, “If you don’t want to see your father dead, obey my orders.”

I was speechless.

Only my mother and my sister had ever threatened me with my father before, but Charles learned to use the same trick.

These people knew how to exploit my weaknesses!

However, I was not stupid. I understood what Charles meant.

As long as I cooperated with him, he wouldn’t have to expose me as a substitute bride. In that case, my mother and my sister wouldn’t know that the plan had failed. My father would be safe too.

“Okay, I promise you.”

I didn’t dare ask any more questions because Charles looked upset. I did not want to provoke him any further and get myself into more trouble.

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At 10 a.m. the next morning, Charles and I walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, each of them holding a piece of stamped paper.

I looked down at the marriage certificate in my hand, feeling uneasy.

I was married…

Not only did I have to face Mia and her mother’s threats, but now I also had to deal with Charles' threats. My life was very miserable.

“Mia.”

A breath suddenly blew in my ear. I instinctively wanted to dodge but was pulled into his arms by a big hand.

I looked up in surprise and met Charles' sudden gentle eyes, “What kind of car do you like?”

“Huh?”

I was stunned, staring at him.

Charles laughed softly, “consider it a wedding gift for you.”

I immediately understood it. I was very happy about it, but the word ‘Mia’ felt like a needle piercing my heart.

I knew that I had stolen everything from Mia. Even though I was the one who got married to Charles and held the marriage certificate, Charles had no intention of revealing my true identity.

This was the only way to protect my father for now.

But I felt sad.

My heart hurt so much that my eyes turned red. I looked at him fiercely and said ‘Maserati’.

As soon as I finished speaking, I added two more words, ‘sports car!’

Since everyone threatened me with my father, why couldn’t I, the substitute, ask for more?

Charles looked at me quietly without doing anything.

I panicked and wondered if I had asked for too much. But before I could explain myself, his slender fingers lightly brushed against my beautiful nose.

His deep voice carried a hint of indulgence, “You have good taste.”

‘Boom!’ I felt like a thunderbolt had struck my head and exploded. It was like being struck by lightning!

His tenderness at this point was even scarier than when he was angry!

But I knew that everything was fake.

Looking at my reddened eyes, Charles picked up my little hand and kissed it gently, “I’ll order for the car. Now let me take you to get dressed up nicely. Mia, tonight we’ll meet my friends. Make sure you have a dazzling debut as a pianist.”

I rounded my eyes in shock. Her body stiffened instantly! I was dumbfounded!