The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride

Scarlet’s POV. I walk into the house, roaming my stare around. The last time I was home was five months ago. Mum has indeed done it again. Whenever she stumbles upon new furniture, interior decor, or anything that seems pleasing, she ends up changing everything in the house. Mum had called me last night and ordered my presence, something I least expected. Receiving a call from her was oddly new and right then I knew something wasn’t right, my instincts were never wrong. I moved out of the house when I had clock twenty. I decided I could no longer survive my parents' unruly behavior. Having parents who barely ever notice you is another kind of misfortune that one has to live with for the rest of his or her life. Mum was nonchalant about it, but Dad had second thoughts, let me say, it was not like they cared. Unlike Alice and Mum's special bond, I was a different case study. My relationship with Mum is strictly professional. She cares less than I do. I had grown to her attitude that it no longer bothers me even though deep down I wish for a life where I had two loving parents, but who was I kidding? If only wishes were horses. It has always been that way. Alice this, Alice that never Scarlet. I grew up with both Mum and Dad's lack of apprehension. Anything I do is never enough. "Scarlet, it's good that you finally decided to come. Take a seat" She spoke in one breath. She looked on the edge, as though something was bothering her. What must have got her all worked up? She walked to me, getting a hold of my hands as she sat me down. My brows arched up as I anticipated what she had in mind. I licked my dry lips waiting for what she had to say before she dropped the bombshell. "Your sister called off the wedding" She blurts. My breath hitched at her statement, and I struggled to digest the new information. She was kidding about this, isn't she? But Mum is never the one to joke around so it must be true. "What?" It slipped as a mumble, still unbelievable to me. What has gotten into Alice? It's two weeks to the wedding then all of a sudden she calls it off? Is she insane? Her shoulder slumped brushing away a tear that threatened to spill. "Your sister is going through a lot right now, I hope you understand that" she reasons. But what did I have to do with all this? Why would she call me here just to tell me this? She's definitely up to something. "But Mum---" She cuts me off. "It's not her fault. Try to put yourself in her shoes, Alice has a lot on her plate, and getting married now is not convenient." "So?" She sighs rubbing circles on my hand. "You are going to fill in for her... You're going to stand in for her, till she's ready" I bolt up, "What! No, no, Mum... This is not happening." She gets up getting a hold of me yet again but I take a step back. My heart hammered at its ribcage as though it'd pull out any second. Was Mum insane or Alice? Can she even hear herself? "Don't be selfish" She evinces. I laugh humorously, finding her words unbelievable. "Selfish? Me? Come on Mum, listen to yourself" By now tears were starting to spill. "Mind the way you speak to me Young lady, I'm your mother" "Mother my foot!" I roared as the waterfalls dripped. "You call yourself a mother yet you don't act like one... It has always been Alice and not me. I've spent my twenty-six years of life cleaning off Alice's print and I am sick and tired." I stop to take a breath. "No Mum, I am---" I am silenced by a stinging pain on my left cheek. My lips quivered as I held on the spot. She slapped me. A new set of tears cascaded. "You have always been a heedless child Scarlet. That's what makes Alice atop of you... Now you listen to me scarlet, you are going to stand on that altar with Aiden and recite the vows---" "--No" "It is not a request, but an order." "Please Mum, don't do this. I have a life too," I try to reason yet to no avail. She spared me a last glance, "You may leave" With that, she walked up to the stairs designating my essence. I crumble to the ground crying myself out. Why me? I hate my life, I want out of this. All I ever wanted was a simple life filled with tranquility and love, is that too much to ask? "Scarl" his voice urged me to lift my head meeting his questioning gaze. Noah. He's the last born of the family. He clocked twenty last three months. He's my favorite, especially because we've always been there for each other. He's the one family member that makes me feel I belong. He leveled to the ground placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I burst into another set of tears falling into his embrace. "s**t! You're burning up. What happened?" His question only urged me to cry harder. I cannot say for how long I cried cause every time the teacameome to a halt, yet another aching memory urges for more. It hurt so much. Feeling worthless and undeserving is another kind of pain. Alice. I needed to speak with her, at least talk some sense into her, maybe she may reconsider. I screw up, missing the heat of his coziness. "Scarl, where are you going?" I searched for my belongings ignoring his calls as I paced out. Alice got me into this and she is the only one that could get me out. I don’t care what the consequences may be but I needed to get myself out of this mess. There is no way on earth am I marrying Aiden Russell.