Everyone knew I was the woman Mr. Sterling, the family patriarch, had personally chosen for an arranged marriage. He’d decreed that whoever I married would be the one to inherit the vast Hayes fortune. At the engagement party, I wore my custom-made gown, ready to step onto the stage and announce the union between the Hayes and Peterson families. But my fiancé, Derek Hayes, had Tiffany Peterson, my adopted sister, clasped firmly by the hand. He pulled her into the center of the crowd, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry.” “Scarlett is too headstrong, too unruly—she’s simply not fit to be a Hayes.” My engagement was suddenly switched to my adopted sister, and everyone’s eyes on me were a mix of pity and mockery. What they didn’t know was that Mr. Sterling had chosen me because my mother was the heiress to the formidable Vance family, a discreet yet incredibly powerful lineage. Someday, I would return to the Vance family and inherit its empire. Since Derek had made his choice, the Hayes heir would naturally have to be someone else.
Derek tightly clutched Tiffany Peterson’s hand, pulling her to stand before the gathered crowd. Tiffany gasped, trying to pull her hand back. “Bro-Derek, you can’t do this! Grandpa Sterling himself arranged your marriage to Scarlett.” “You’re the one I love, Tiffany. I won’t marry anyone else.” He held her hand firmly, his fingers intertwined with hers, as he looked up at Mr. Sterling, who sat on a raised platform. “Grandpa, I’ve always loved Tiffany. I will only marry her.” The guests looked on with a mix of sympathy and ridicule. Everyone knew that Derek and I had grown up together, childhood friends, and that I was Mr. Sterling’s chosen future granddaughter-in-law. Yet here, in front of everyone in our social circle, Derek had just publicly humiliated me. Derek’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “While Scarlett and I grew up together, I’ve always seen her as a sister, nothing more.” “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; we’ve been together for a while now. In my heart, she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry. No other woman compares.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’s faces fell as they nervously glanced at the patriarch’s expression. Derek put an arm around Tiffany’s waist and looked at me, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. “Scarlett, you know I don’t have romantic feelings for you. You wouldn’t want to waste your life marrying a man who doesn’t love you, would you?” “Besides, Tiffany and I are already together. You can’t just rely on Grandpa Sterling’s favor and try to muscle in and break us up, can you?” I glanced at the two of them, then bowed to Mr. Sterling. “Grandpa Sterling, since they’re so clearly in love, how could I possibly come between them? Let’s just let them be together.” “Wishing my sister and Mr. Hayes Jr. a lifetime of happiness and everlasting love.” Derek’s face flashed with annoyance at my words, but Tiffany cautiously slipped her arm through his. “Bro-Derek, Grandpa Sterling arranged your marriage to Scarlett. Won’t he be upset about this?” Derek gently patted Tiffany’s hand, soothing her softly. “No, he won’t. Grandpa spoils me rotten. Why would he get mad at me over *her*?” “Besides, you’re the Peterson family’s true daughter, their heiress. This was always meant to be an alliance between our two families. Why would he care about an outsider?” An outsider? Only my father, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Sterling knew my true identity. My mother is the heiress to the formidable Vance family. My father and mother’s marriage was merely a strategic alliance disguised as a union, and I would inherit the Vance family fortune, so I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, he thought Tiffany was my father’s biological daughter? Mr. Sterling frowned at Derek’s words. “Derek, don’t be foolish. Are you certain you want to marry Miss Peterson?” Derek firmly slipped the ring onto Tiffany’s finger, then kissed it with devotion. “Grandpa, I’ve thought it through. I will only marry Tiffany.” Mr. Sterling looked at Derek with disappointment. If it was just a change of fiancée, he wouldn’t have had much of an opinion. But Derek had deliberately chosen today to humiliate me in front of so many people, proving he was unreliable. “Fine, have it your way.”
Once Mr. Sterling spoke, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This alliance had invited many business magnates to witness the event, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Derek, holding Tiffany’s hand, faced the guests who had come to celebrate and announced, “Thank you all for attending my and Miss Peterson’s engagement ceremony today.” The guests’ faces were a mix of expressions. No one had expected the Hayes and Peterson families to actually swap fiancées on the spot. My father was equally stunned, his face instantly darkening. My own expression wasn’t much better, but I forced myself to stand tall, holding my head high amidst the murmurs, and raised my glass to offer a generous gift. “Mr. Hayes Jr. actually swapped fiancées on the spot? He gave Scarlett no face at all!” “Didn’t Mr. Sterling insist on Scarlett becoming his granddaughter-in-law? How did he agree to the change?” “Changing fiancées on the day of the engagement party—that’s truly embarrassing. Who knows what she did to make Mr. Hayes Jr. do something like that?” The guests’ whispers weren’t quiet. My father glared at Tiffany, showing Derek no deference either. “How much gossip will you cause your sister by doing this?” “And you, you’re not a child anymore. Acting without thinking of the consequences—are you trying to make a fool of me?” Tiffany, scolded by my father, timidly tried to take off the ring to give it to me. Mr. Sterling waved his hand, stopping her. He touched my head apologetically, his voice deep. “Scarlett, don’t worry. Grandpa Sterling will see to it. If you’re willing, the Hayes family has several other excellent young men.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes heard Mr. Sterling’s words and simply assumed he was comforting me, so they didn’t pay much attention. To their shock, I pointed to Julian Hayes, Mr. Hayes’s illegitimate son, who was watching the drama unfold from a corner. “Actually, I’ve always liked Julian. I hope Grandpa can grant us his blessing.” Everyone’s gazes fell on Julian, flickering between him and me. Julian was Mr. Hayes Sr.’s illegitimate son. After Mr. Hayes Sr.’s passing, Julian wasn’t well-regarded in the family and had a difficult life. But since he was still a Hayes, Mr. Sterling didn’t want others saying the Hayes family mistreated its own blood. So he had taken Julian in and raised him personally. My father stared at me in shock, then whispered, trying to persuade me. “Scarlett, Dad knows you’re upset, but he’s an illegitimate son. The Hayes family doesn’t value him.” I casually swirled my glass, raising it to Julian in a silent toast. “He didn’t choose to be an illegitimate son. I think he’s quite good. I’m willing to give it a try with him.” Julian’s eyes met mine, his demeanor relaxed. “Since Miss Vance likes me, then let’s give it a try.” The guests’ gazes on me became even more meaningful. News of the Hayes family changing fiancées on the spot spread like wildfire in our social circle. As soon as the party ended, I received a message from my mother. In a private room, my mother held me close, her eyes glaring at my father. “Mr. Peterson, how dare you let my daughter suffer such humiliation? Are you trying to get yourself disowned?” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to the main issue. “Grandpa Sterling found me a new fiancé. His name is Julian Hayes, and I actually quite like him.” My father wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed again. “He’s just an illegitimate son, a nobody in the Hayes family. Why would you choose him?” I looked at my parents’ confused expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Sterling and my grandfather made this arrangement, so I definitely have to marry into the Hayes family.” “Even though Julian is an illegitimate son, he’s the most capable among the younger Hayes generation. From a business perspective, he’s the most suitable partner.”
“Besides, as an illegitimate son, if I marry him, the Vance family will be his foundation for establishing himself in the Hayes family. He’ll certainly treat me well.” Now, Tiffany was the talk of the town, everyone flattering and trying to curry favor with her. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with her. After all, the Hayes and Peterson families were a powerful union. If anyone could get a chance to collaborate, they would surely rise to the next level in their respective industries. I didn’t have time to bother with such things. I was focused on completing the task my mother had given me abroad. One day, Mr. Sterling was celebrating his birthday. Tiffany specifically sent me an invitation and called me several times, so I had no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Hayes family’s front door, all eyes fell on me. I showed no embarrassment, smiling as I handed my gift to the Hayes butler. “Why is Scarlett here? Didn’t the engagement switch?” “You don’t know? Mr. Hayes Jr. insisted on switching fiancées, so she, in a fit of pique, chose the Hayes family’s illegitimate son to marry.” “To marry an illegitimate son just to get into the Hayes family… Miss Vance really is something else.” Just as everyone was chattering, Tiffany appeared, ostentatiously holding Derek’s arm. Unlike her usual low-key, gentle attire, she was wearing a haute couture gown today, adorned with several sets of intricate and luxurious jewelry, making her look gaudy and somewhat tacky. Seeing me there, she came over intimately, wanting to link arms with me. “Sister, it’s wonderful that both of us sisters can marry into the Hayes family! As a sisterly favor, I’ll make sure Bro-Derek promotes your husband more.” I almost laughed at Tiffany. Even now, she still believed all I cared about was marrying into the Hayes family. Derek thought so too. In his eyes, I was desperate to marry into the Hayes family, using any means necessary. He looked at me as if I were something dirty. Too lazy to bother with the two of them, I turned to leave, but then I noticed the pair of exquisitely crafted heirloom bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist. These were the Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets, always kept by Mr. Sterling. I hadn’t expected them to be on Tiffany’s wrist, and with at least three or four other bracelets on her arm, I hadn’t recognized them at first glance. The Hayes family heir hadn’t even been confirmed yet. How did those bracelets end up on Tiffany? I pointed at the bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist, my gaze filled with a hint of inquiry. “Where did those bracelets come from?” Derek looked momentarily guilty, while Tiffany caressed the bracelets on her wrist, a hint of grievance on her face. “Sister, these bracelets were meant for you before, but now I’m the one marrying Bro-Derek, so of course, they belong to me.” Derek nodded, his expression righteous. In his mind, he was the undisputed heir, so there was no harm in letting his beloved wear the bracelets beforehand. “These are my Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets. I can let anyone I want wear them. What does it have to do with you?” He then scanned me up and down, taking a step back with a disgusted look. “Don’t you dare try to use this method to cling to me. I won’t ever like you. My heart only belongs to Tiffany.” Derek’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us landed on me. “Scarlett usually seems so proud. I can’t believe she’s trying to steal her own sister’s fiancé just to marry into the Hayes family.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is she still trying to cling on?” Tiffany blushed, her face coyly hitting Derek on the arm. “Don’t be so mean to Sister. We’ll be family when she marries in. You’ll have to help them out then.” Derek glanced at me, then dotingly pinched Tiffany’s cheek. “Fine, for Tiffany’s sake, I won’t dwell on it. But if you have any improper thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The two of them were still lost in their tender moment when a voice suddenly chimed in from behind them. “Why would my wife have improper thoughts about you? “Derek, that’s incredibly rude, talking about your future sister-in-law like that.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296715”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply