The Subtitute Bride

Chapter 3: The Other Woman

"Rhys! How could you marry her? You said you loved me!"

The woman in red was gorgeous. Long legs, perfect hair, designer everything. She looked like she belonged in Rhys's world.

Kaela looked nothing like her.

Rhys stood up so fast his chair almost fell. "Vanessa! What are you doing here? Security should not have let you up!"

Vanessa ignored him. Her teary eyes landed on Kaela.

"So this is her? The substitute? The maid's niece? Rhys, you can't be serious! You chose HER over me?"

Kaela felt her cheeks burn. Maid's niece. So that's what they called her.

She wanted to run back to her room. But she remembered - she was Mrs. Anderson now. Even if it was fake.

Kaela slowly stood up. She wiped her mouth with the napkin, calm.

"Hi," Kaela said with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm Kaela. The substitute. The maid's niece. And as of this morning, his wife. And you are?"

Vanessa was shocked. She expected Kaela to cry.

"I'm Vanessa, his girlfriend! For three years!"

Rhys rubbed his temple. "Ex-girlfriend. We broke up six months ago, Vanessa. Stop this."

"No! You broke up with me because your grandmother forced you to marry! And now you married... her? To spite me?"

Kaela laughed. A short, cold laugh.

"Oh, honey. Don't flatter yourself. He didn't marry me to spite you. He married me because his grandmother paid for me. There's a difference. I'm a business deal. You're just... history."

Rhys looked at Kaela, surprised. His new wife was not weak at all.

Vanessa walked closer to Kaela, pointing a finger. "You think you won? He will never love you. Rhys doesn't know how to love. He only knows how to own things. And you, you're just a thing he bought."

Kaela didn't back down. She stepped forward too, until they were face to face.

"Then I guess it's good I'm expensive," Kaela whispered. "Now, get out of my house."

"Your house?"

"Yes. My house. Because last time I checked, the marriage certificate says Anderson. And it's Kaela Anderson, not Vanessa."

Silence.

Even Rhys was silent. He was staring at Kaela like he was seeing her for the first time.

Vanessa looked at Rhys, expecting him to defend her. "Rhys? Are you going to let her talk to me like that?"

Rhys finally moved. He walked between them, but he stood closer to Kaela.

"She's right. This is her house now. You need to leave, Vanessa."

Vanessa's face crumbled. "You will regret this, Rhys Anderson."

She grabbed her bag and stormed to the elevator, crying loudly.

The elevator doors closed. The penthouse was quiet again.

Kaela's hands were shaking. That was the bravest thing she ever did. She sat down, her legs weak.

"You didn't have to do that," Rhys said quietly.

"Do what? Embarrass your ex?"

"Defend me. Us."

"I'm not defending you," Kaela said honestly. "I'm defending myself. If I let her walk all over me on day one, what will happen for the rest of the year? I may be a substitute, Rhys, but I'm not a pushover."

Rhys sat down opposite her. He was looking at her differently now. Not annoyed. Curious.

"You are full of surprises, Kaela."

"You have no idea."

He leaned forward. "Rule number five."

"We only have four rules!"

"I'm adding one. Don't ever fight my battles for me again... unless I ask you to. Because if you keep looking like that, I might forget that this is fake."

Kaela's breath caught.

What did he mean by "looking like that"?

Before she could ask, Rhys stood up.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Anderson. Don't wait up."

He walked to his room, leaving Kaela alone in the dining room with a cold dinner and a very warm heart.

What was happening? This was supposed to be a contract. Nothing more.

So why did it feel like something dangerous was starting?