CEO's Substitute Bride

In the morning, inside the Smiths' living room, Mrs Smith was trying to pursue her elder daughter to poach the only heir of Walkers.

Smiths were known as the ancient and most prestigious family but were not as rich and famous as the Walkers. Most of their business deals were made because of their century-old friendship with the Walkers.

"Mom, tell grandpa, I will never agree with his arrangements," Bellamy yelled at her mother angrily.

"Don't be stupid, Bellamy. Alaric is far better than your boyfriend. He has money, power, status, and fame. What that lowly boyfriend of yours has?" Mrs Smith tried to add some sense to her daughter.

"You can ask Belle to marry him." Bellamy holds her mother's hand.

"For God's sake Bellamy! First, you stole her boyfriend and now you want her to marry as a substitute and that to a man who is seven years older than her. Did you ever think, what will happen to her when she will know the truth?" Mrs Smith was fuming in anger when she heard Bellamy.

"She is a nerd, and can't even satisfy her boyfriend. This is all her fault, not mine." Bellamy retorted back.

"Enough, Bellamy. You will marry Alaric and this is final. I am not letting my innocent Belle marry an older man." Mrs Smith said in her authoritative voice and left from there.

"I will see, how you and grandpa are going to force me to marry that impotent Alaric Walker." Bellamy clenched her fist and stormed out of the house.

Belle was listening to all their conversation from upstairs. Her eyes warmly gazed at her mother, who was ready to protect her from the cruel world. She walked back to her room and picked up her phone, after contemplating, she rejected the idea to call Tord - her cheater boyfriend and decided to give him a surprise visit.

In less than twenty minutes, Belle was standing outside Tod's apartment. The front door was locked from the inside, so she had to use spare keys which he always hides under the doormat.

The door opened with a creak and weird sounds were coming out of Tod's bedroom. The living room was in a mess, clothes of Tod and a woman were scattered all over the place, which she recognized instantly. those were the clothes of her sister Bellamy.

There was no expression on her face until she opened the door to the bedroom. Tod and Bellamy, who were busy in their intense make-out session, failed to notice the dark face of Belle in the room.

"Bellamy Smith and Tod Maskal, what a thrilling show?" Belle's cold voice boomed in the heated room, forcing the couple to separate from each other's embrace.

"Belle!" Tod jumped off the bed naked and tried to hold her hands but she pushed him away. 

"Sis, why?" Belle choked on her words. She looked vulnerable. Her petite face was all covered with fresh tears.

"Look, Belle, I and Tod are in love with each other since the day you left for Italy. Dad has already approved of my relation. You can marry that Alaric, please don't make a fuss." Bellamy covered her naked body with a quilt and sneered with disdain. She never liked her so-called younger sister. 

"Tod, you said you love me. Then why are you doing this to me?" Belle looked broken.

"I never loved you, Belle. It was your innocence and beauty that attracted me but now I am clear in my head. The person I love is Bellamy, not you." Tod said without the slightest hint of remorse.

Belle did not say anything, instead, she watched them - shamelessly accusing her. All she wanted, was to leave that toxic place.

"Goodbye, Tod! We are done for good." Belle wiped her tears and walked out. 

She was aware of their secret affair from day one but was silent up till now just because of her mother.

"Shameless father and daughter." Belle sneered and wore her helmet before riding at a speed of 250. 

When she returned home, her grandfather - John - was taking a walk in the garden.

"Grandpa," Belle called him in her sweet voice and hugged the old man.

"Darling, your mother told me about what Bella has done." John sighed.

"It's ok, grandpa. Tod is a jerk and I was searching for a way to get rid of him. Thanks to Bella who helped me." Belle laughed lightly. 

"Are you sure, you are not hurt?" John asked his granddaughter with concern.

"Yes, I am sure, grandpa," Belle assured the old man. John's mood instantly lit up and he smiled with satisfaction.

"Grandpa, what if Bellamy refuses to marry Alaric?" Belle asked in concern.

"She has to marry him. I won't accept that Maskal boy." John was firm in his decision. He had already promised his old friend.

Belle nodded her head in agreement. After talking to her grandfather, Belle walked to her room and plopped down on her bed. She stretched her tired muscles. She wasn't the least bit affected after seeing the shameless couple. It was as if she was expecting this outcome.

"Alaric Walker," Belle murmured his name and a weird smile formed on her strawberry-shaped lips. She picked up her phone and browsed at him. There were few, blurred photos of Alaric. Most of the netizens had commented on him as rude, arrogant, cold, and aloof. Some even doubted his sexuality.

A sudden knock on the door forced her to roll her eyes. The expression on her face changed to a sweet little girl.

"Young miss, lunch is ready." The housekeeper bowed in respect.

"I will be there in a minute." She said sweetly and closed the door.

"Lunch is ready, Dad must be here and Bellamy too. Seeing their faces made me lose my appetite." Belle groaned and tied her hair into a loose bun.

She wore her big round glasses and made her way towards the dining table with a sad face. She politely greeted everyone and sat beside her mother.

"Why do you have to make things difficult for your sister, Annabelle?" Mr Smith calmly said but there was a hint of anger in his voice.

"Mom, I have already eaten outside. I am going back to my room." Belle ignored her father and left from there. She could hear the curses her father was throwing at her.

"Your daughter can only bring shame to our family." Mr Smith pushed away his plate and walked upstairs.

Mrs Smith holds back her tears and looked in the direction where her daughter had left. She was feeling sorry and guilty for her. It was all her mistake.