The Billionaire Substitute Bride

I deserve it

As I got to the dining area, I saw everyone eating and drinking, and chatting. My eyes scanned the room and landed on Chloe sitting down close to Spencer. I saw how beautiful she looked, she hasn't changed a bit after nearly three years, in fact she has become more elegant.

I saw her lean into Spencer to whisper something into his ear. I noticed how attentive Spencer was to her, handling her with care.

He smiled at something she said, as she covered her mouth and laughed softly, the breeze carrying her soft laughter to me.

I watched as Spencer finished peeling off the crab he was working on and passed it to her, and she smiled brightly, her smile so innocent and clear.

I stood there for a while, completely numb, and a dull ache arose in my heart, but I forced it down and pulled my eyes away from them before walking towards the table and trying my best to remain invisible.

But surprisingly, there was no chair available for me to sit on. I decided to just probably leave and go wait outside till they were done.

As I tried to leave, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Are you not going to say hello to your sister you haven't seen in years before leaving, Vivie?” Chloe’s soft voice drifted to me, and I stopped immediately and turned. My hands shook nervously as I looked around the table, and all eyes were on me.

“Or don't you want me back? I can always go back. I thought since you have Spencer now, we can both become sisters,” she said with grievance, her voice breaking, and I noticed Spencer’s face hardening as he looked at me.

I hurriedly tried to explain myself before anyone got the worst idea of me. “Don’t say that, of course I want you back,” I replied to her immediately.

“Then why are you leaving without saying hello? Do you know I came back yesterday? You were the only one who did not come to welcome me back, and now you are also leaving without saying anything to me. Do you hate me that much? Is it because Spencer is sitting close to me? Is that why you don't want to talk to me?” she said pitifully as tears began to swell in her eyes.

“No, it's not that, Chloe,” I said instantly.

“Will you stop? I warned you before leaving not to make Chloe cry or hurt her in any way. Is it so hard for you to follow instructions, or do you just hate to see her happiness?” Spencer’s voice filled the entire hall, and I stood helpless.

How do I explain myself when they all are looking at me with those judgmental eyes? They have already decided that I’m the villain, without even giving me a chance to explain myself.

My eyes went round and settled on my father’s face. All I saw was disgust. Since the past three years, he stopped talking to me and openly insults me and looks at me with contempt and disgust, so as my eyes landed on him again this evening, I just couldn't take it anymore. My heart broke. For three years, I have suffered this humiliation.

My eyes snapped back to Spencer. “What if I told you there was no chair available for me, would you believe me?” I asked Spencer. His eyes softened for a bit before they hardened again.

“I will say it's one of your tricks just to make everything about you. Are you so desperate for attention that you have to steal everything that belongs to your sister all the time? Can't you be at least happy for her for once?” Spencer asked me, disgust laced in his voice. I smiled bitterly. Nothing I say really matters anyway. I stood there motionless with my head down.

“Brother Spencer, I think you should let her go. If she doesn't want me back, I will just travel back abroad,” Chloe’s soft voice rang out in the entire room, fear evident in her voice as she batted her lashes.

“You are not leaving again, Chloe. I’m sure Mr. Grey wants you around. Don’t be afraid of Vivienne, I’m sure she can't do anything to you with Mr. Grey around,” Mother said, and my shoulders slumped.

“Chloe, you don't have to be afraid of Vivienne. She wouldn't dare harm you with me around. And Vivienne, go get yourself a chair and sit down.

Your sister just came back, the least you could do is not stir up trouble and celebrate with her.” With that, Spencer dismissed me and continued serenading Chloe like she was too fragile and needed to be protected.

I laughed internally at myself for even thinking they would believe me. To them and the outside world, I was a liar and a thief, always taking things that weren't mine, so why would they believe me now? I smiled bitterly and went to the living room to get a chair and brought it back. I decided to sit far away from Chloe and Spencer, but that did not work.

“Vivie, you should come and sit here, close to Spencer. He is your husband after all, and I wouldn't want you angry with me for sitting down close to him,” Chloe said and stood abruptly, almost falling down in the process.

Her scream tore through the dinner table. If not for Spencer’s fast reflexes, she would have fallen down. I felt a chill run through my spine.

“Vivienne, when will you stop? Is it when your sister is dead before you let her be?” Mother screamed in panic as she turned and buried her

face on Father’s chest, and I was lost.

“What did I do?” I asked myself silently because I know asking it out will only bring more trouble.

Spencer did not say anything to me, but the glares he was giving me were enough to tell me that it was not over, and he was going to punish me when we got home. I sat silently, trying to appear invisible, as Spencer pacified the already shaken Chloe, who was trembling like a leaf now.

“Don’t worry, she doesn't have any right to ask you to stand up.

Do you forget you should have been my wife if she didn't jump in and steal me from you? So why should you care about what your shameless sister says or thinks after she used those underhanded tactics and methods to steal me away from you?” he said to her, and those blunt words were like swords piercing into my heart, cutting me deep and slowly.

My heart ached as I sat in the midst of people who never really wanted me. My eyes scanned the room and landed on my stepmother, Monique, as she and my father ate quietly without care about what was being said about me, when it all began with her.

I lowered my gaze to the table, my fingers curling tightly around the edge of the chair as I tried to steady myself.

The voices around me faded into a dull hum, their laughter and conversations blending into something distant and unreal. I felt like I was sitting in a place where I did not belong, surrounded by people who had already made up their minds about me.

Every bite of food that touched my lips felt like sand, tasteless and dry, but I forced myself to chew and swallow, not wanting to draw any more attention to myself. I could feel their eyes on me from time to time, filled with judgment, curiosity, and disdain.

I kept my head down, focusing on the plate in front of me, counting the seconds, hoping the dinner would end soon. But time seemed to move slowly, painfully dragging each moment longer than it should.

Across the table, I could hear Chloe’s soft laughter again, light and melodious, and Spencer’s low voice responding to her. The contrast between how he spoke to her and how he spoke to me was like night and day.

It hurt, more than I wanted to admit.

But I swallowed it all down, just like I always did.

Because that was my place. Because I deserved it for what I did.