Chapter 2 The Second-Best Sister

Paige looked at Sierra, who was bawling her eyes out. She stayed quiet, trying her best to fade into the background.

It was not her place to interfere in the matter between Sierra and Chris.

Paige was still baffled by the whole situation. Just that morning, she was at Sierra's bridal party, getting ready with Sierra to walk down the aisle.

Then, there was an incident. Chris had received some photos of Sierra hugging and kissing another man.

Sierra cheated on Chris.

It must have been too much for Chris to take. Honestly speaking, no man could accept being cheated on.

Chris stormed out, wanting to call off the wedding.

Sierra had pleaded with him in tears. Her parents and grandparents apologized to Chris, but he was not having it.

He wanted to leave.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Sierra rushed to stop Chris, but he proposed to marry Paige instead.

Her parents and grandparents did not even think twice about accepting the new proposal.

Anyway, it made no difference to the Quirks as Chris would still be marrying one of their own.

Paige stood in a daze as she went from the maid-of-honor to the bride, taking her sister’s place to marry Chris.

“What are your plans, Chris?” Zander asked.

Sierra looked at Chris with anticipation.

“It’s been a long day. You must be tired. You should leave. We’re heading to bed,” Chris replied indifferently.

Sierra had no words, and neither did everyone else.

It was not the outcome they were expecting.

“We?” Zander was surprised.

“Yeah. As in me and my new wife,” Chris said as he glanced at Paige, the wallflower.

Silence ensued.

Paige picked her head up and met Chris’ eyes in shock. His staring made her blush, and she looked away. She did not dare to look at him again.

“As far as everything else goes…” Chris looked Sierra in the eye. “That’s for another day.”

Sierra froze, and her face turned pale.

The Quirks were not taking the news too well either.

Zander gave it a thought and nodded. He believed Chris took the best way out possible. Today was Chris’ wedding, and many of Hevensford’s political and business figures were in attendance. With the wedding witnessed by so many, the marriage between the Quirks and the Jewells was now cemented.

Chris's decision to marry Paige was wise, even though it meant swallowing his humiliation. Otherwise, the situation would have escalated out of control.

“Grandpa, Mom, Dad, I’ll walk you downstairs,” Chris said.

The Jewells glanced at the Quirks before leaving with Chris.

Soon, the Quirks were the only ones left in the bridal suite.

“Paige…” Sierra looked at Paige, all weepy.

Paige was at a loss for words.

What was the point of Sierra crying to her? She was not Chris.

Sierra simply stared at Paige in tears. She said nothing.

Wendy, Paige’s mother, sighed and said, “Paige, you need to get on Chris’ good side.”

Paige gave a nod.

Her best bet was to win Chris over.

“Um… Chris is your brother-in-law. You mustn’t fall in love or take things far with him. Try to bring your sister and Chris back together again,” Wendy uttered.

Paige looked at Wendy in surprise.

Wendy observed Paige’s shock and added, “Chris still has feelings for your sister. He only married you out of spite to hurt Sierra. Once he comes around, he’ll realize his heart is with Sierra. Don’t fall in love with him, or you’ll be the one getting hurt.”

It was both advice and caution.

Paige was speechless.

She could not wrap her head around her mother’s logic.

A man like Chris had zero tolerance for mistakes.

Chris would never give Sierra another chance now that she had betrayed him.

He was Chris Jewell, a man whose pride was not to be challenged.

Sierra’s eyes flickered at Paige’s silence. Her eyes welled up as she looked at Paige. “Paige… have you always… had feelings for Chris?”

She appeared anxious, nervous, and cautious in her speech and behavior.

The hurt in her voice pulled Paige’s heartstrings.

Furrowing her brows, Paige tried to explain when Wendy interrupted her. “Paige, how can you fall in love with Chris? He’s your brother-in-law, for goodness’ sake. That’s just wrong. Have you no shame?”

Wendy grimaced in disgust, her expression and tone harsh.

Paige blinked back the tears.

Her parents had always preferred Sierra over her, and Paige knew why.

Sierra was Wendy’s and Bob’s firstborn. They were always favored, as parents would experience the joys of parenthood for the first time.

The firstborn was the golden child, while the second was the scapegoat.

That was true in Paige’s case.

Wendy knew she was having a girl during her pregnancy with Paige. The Quirks could afford another child, so Wendy decided to keep Paige and try for a son next time.

However, Wendy suffered complications during childbirth.

Her grandparents refused to let Wendy have a C-section because they wanted her to try for a son immediately. A C-section required several years to heal before another pregnancy, and they could not wait.

So, Wendy went through a traumatic and dangerous labor, which damaged her uterus and made it impossible for her to conceive again.