Chapter 5: Substitute bride.

"I don't want to," Ula firmly replied, immediately receiving a hostile look from her mother.

"Ula..." her mother scolded. "Listen to me."

"Why do I have to marry someone I know nothing about?" Ula asked angrily. "This is Mila's wedding. Why don't we postpone it and go look for her? If Mila is taken away, isn't Mila's life in danger?"

"This..." Unable to answer Ula's question, her mother looked at Liam as if expecting him to explain.

"The wedding cannot be postponed. It must proceed today, no matter what," Liam asserted in a loud voice. "Besides, we can't let anyone know about Mila's disappearance. If you want to find Mila, you have to wait until this wedding is over."

"Why?" Ula stared at Liam, demanding a plausible explanation: "Is Mila's disappearance more important than the wedding?"

The reason Ula asked that was because she did not know about the deal between Mila and Ethan. According to Ula, finding Mila is more important; even though she doesn't like Mila, she doesn't want Mila to be in danger.

"You don't need to know, and I'm under no obligation to explain it to you either." Instead of answering, Liam acted coldly, emphasizing, "In short, it's your family's business. You guys can handle it yourself. Ten minutes later, if the bride isn't present at the wedding, don't blame me for not warning first."

After saying that, Liam walked out. He needed to go back to reassure Ethan and control the situation outside.

Once Liam left, Mila's mother immediately changed her attitude.

"Ula, listen carefully. You must replace Mila and marry that man."

"Why? I don't want to!" Ula protested indignantly.

"Whether you want it or not, you have to accept it," Mila's mother snapped. "For so many years, you have lived, eaten, and dressed warmly at my house. Now it's time for you to repay the favor."

"I've worked hard and earned money for you," Ula retorted. "Isn't that still not enough for your greed?"

"Shut your mouth. You have no right to talk back," the woman retorted sharply. "You should be grateful that if I hadn't taken you in to raise you, you would have been abandoned on the streets."

"I won't do what you want," Ula firmly stated, and Mila's mother immediately slapped Ula's face with force.

"You insolent brat! You want to rebel? Dream on. If you dare to defy me today, you'll face consequences worse than death."

"Don't threaten Ula." Grandma shows up and intervenes: "What right do you have to force Ula to replace Mila?"

"Shut up, old hag!" Mila's mother scolded her mother-in-law, even shoving her violently when she tried to help Ula. "There's no place here for a useless person like you to speak."

The old woman lay motionless on the floor, her lung disease flaring up again, causing her to cough and gasp.

"Are you alright, grandma?" Ula sat down to support her paternal grandmother. Seeing her grandmother cough up blood, Ula felt heartbroken.

"Enough with the nonsense," Mila's mother scolded. "If you don't cooperate, I'll kill both you and that old woman."

"You're not allowed to touch my grandmother," Ula snapped back sternly.

"Let's see. I can not only kill both of you but also do even more dreadful things," Mila's mother declared, then walked towards Ula and her grandmother sitting on the floor.

Faced with the mother's serious threat, Ula was forced to make a difficult decision.

"Alright, I agree to do as you say, but with one condition," Ula courageously stated. "Either you agree, or I will go out there and tell everyone about this whole drama."

"You dare to make a condition with me, you wretch," Mila's mother shouted angrily. But Ula showed no fear and challenged her with a stern look.

"I will gouge your eyes out," Mila's mother growled, moving towards Ula but being stopped by her husband.

"That's enough. Ula, state your condition," he said.

"You have to take my grandmother to the hospital for treatment and take good care of her while I'm gone," Ula demanded.

"Ula, you don't have to do this for me. Think about your future and your life ahead," her grandmother advised, but Ula remained resolute.

"Fine, I agree," Mila's father quickly replied. He just wanted to end everything as soon as possible, so he agreed to compromise with Ula.

"Let's see. I can not only kill both of you but also do even more dreadful things," Mila's mother declared, then walked towards Ula and her grandmother sitting on the floor.

Faced with the mother's serious threat, Ula was forced to make a difficult decision.

"Alright, I agree to do as you say, but with one condition," Ula courageously stated. "Either you agree, or I will go out there and tell everyone about this whole drama."

"You dare to make a condition with me, you wretch," Mila's mother shouted angrily. But Ula showed no fear and challenged her with a stern look.

"I will gouge your eyes out," Mila's mother growled, moving towards Ula but being stopped by her husband.

"That's enough. Ula, state your condition," he said.

"You have to take my grandmother to the hospital for treatment and take good care of her while I'm gone," Ula demanded.

"Ula, you don't have to do this for me. Think about your future and your life ahead," her grandmother advised, but Ula remained resolute.

"Fine, I agree," Mila's father quickly replied. He just wanted to end everything as soon as possible, so he agreed to compromise with Ula. As for whether Mila's father will fulfill Ula's request or not, it is unknown.

"I don't believe your baseless words; write a commitment letter," Ula insisted firmly.

Following Ula's request, both sides signed the commitment letter, each keeping a copy. Ula put on the bride's dress, did her makeup, and proceeded into the church to continue the wedding ceremony in place of Mila.

"The bride is here." The announcement silenced the murmuring crowd.

Ethan also turned to look at the approaching bride, his mind filled with confusion. A strange feeling washed over him—an infinite regret about the life decision he had made.

As the bride got closer, the confrontation with reality made Ethan even more despondent. He couldn't define what was happening in his heart or what he would do with the girl who was about to become his contract wife after this wedding ceremony ended, leaving him seemingly unfocused and lost.

After the sacred vows were spoken, the officiant spoke solemnly, "I pronounce you husband and wife. The groom may now kiss the bride."

Applause echoed from below, celebrating the couple. To meet the expectations of the guests and to convince the respectable judge who was sitting below and observing reluctantly, Ethan had to lift the veil covering the bride's face. At that moment, Ula's face appeared before Ethan's eyes, and time seemed to stand still.