A SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

Vincent saw William leave. His expression was dark, as if he were a monster from hell.

He had investigated the incident five years ago and found that Florence Blanc was involved, but Florence had already passed away by then.

Could it be that the person who saved his life was really Florence Blanc?

He had seen pictures of Florence. She was a thin, weak girl.

Vincent was sitting on the couch. When he thought about how this small, weak girl had suffered through her only pregnancy, only to die of despair during childbirth, he found himself unable to breathe.

She was dead.

When he thought about it, Vincent’s breathing became heavier and heavier, and his eyes turned red. His heart felt empty. It was as if he had fallen into the depths of the sea. He found himself enveloped in suffocation and pain, no longer able to see the light of the ocean’s surface.

Perhaps he was the one who should have died.

With this thought, Vincent gave up struggling and obediently sank into the sea.

When Lyana entered, she saw Vincent lying on the couch, his face unnaturally pale. She asked worriedly,

– Vincent, what’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?

The bottom of the sea was so calm.

Vincent watched himself approach Florence on the operating table. She was lying there, so thin that she was all skin and bones. Her eyes, big as round bells, were fixed stubbornly on the surgical light above her head.

Her child was crying her lungs out in a pool of blood.

He picked up the child and looked at Florence’s pitiful state. Her body began to shake uncontrollably.

Vincent came to his senses. He was now lying at the bottom of the sea with Florence beside him. Right now, she looked like she did when she was dying on the operating table.

In that moment, a soft voice came from the surface of the ocean, calling to him.

– Vincent Sanchez.

– Vincent Sanchez.

…

The voice got louder. He was about to answer when he saw a hand reach down from above and grab his hand.

– I am here. Everything is going to be okay.

The soft female voice rang out, soothing Vincent’s tumultuous and worried heart.

He followed the hand up and down until it resurfaced.

The light shone on him, almost blinding in its brightness.

His chest heaved once.

Vincent’s eyes opened.

The first thing that entered his vision was Lyana’s pretty face. She didn’t look as calm as she usually did. Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead and her hair was stuck to her face.

Instinctively, Vincent let go of Lyana’s hand, forcibly suppressing his anger.

– Get out!

Lyana stood up calmly. Walking to the side, she said,

– I told you, as long as I’m still your wife, I won’t leave you. I won’t be a widow either.

Vincent’s mind was filled with images of Florence’s desperate expression. His eyes grew redder and redder. He sat down and said angrily,

– Don’t make me repeat myself.

– Good boy, listen to me. You need to rest!

Lyana smiled at Vincent.

Good boy?

Vincent’s expression darkened. Breathing heavily, he tried to say something, but he felt a cold, painful sensation at the back of his head. His eyelids became heavy.

He was lying on the beach, basking in the sun. The sun was so warm and comfortable.

Lyana carefully placed Vincent on the couch. She retracted the silver needle she had inserted in the back of his head. After putting it away, her gaze fell on Vincent’s hands.

There were many marks on his hands, some new, some old.

When he flew into that panic attack, he would clench his fists, almost as if his life depended on it.

Was his dream so terrifying?

As Lyana was about to leave, Vincent’s indistinct voice came from the couch behind her.

– I’m sorry…

Surprised, Lyana turned to him. He was frowning, as if he was in a nightmare. His eyelashes were trembling.

She sat down next to him again to see if he was awake. Suddenly, his hand grasped hers.

– I’m sorry…

Vincent murmured softly.

Lyana carefully inspected Vincent. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was talking in his sleep

Was he apologizing?

Apologize to whom?

Perhaps that’s why his illness often broke out.

She wanted to retract her hand and leave, but her grip was too tight. She gave up.

After an indeterminate period of time, Lyana fell asleep on her side.

The servants in the house were also afraid to wake them up, so they didn’t dare approach.

Slowly, night fell.

In a daze, Vincent opened his eyes. All he could see was darkness.

He had just moved his hand when he felt a faint softness in his palm. Under the moonlight, he saw that he was holding Lyana’s hand. His expression changed and he let go hurriedly.

Lyana nonchalantly took his hand aside. In a daze, she fell asleep again.

Vincent’s expression darkened. Had he really fallen asleep on the couch with Lyana?

How could this be?

How could he let his guard down around a stranger?

At this moment, footsteps could be heard from outside. After that, the living room lights were turned on.

Vincent instinctively squinted. When he got used to the brightness, he saw Laura enter, supporting Grandma.

On the way here, Matriarch Sanchez had heard from someone that Vincent and Lyana were sleeping side by side. She was so happy that her smile had almost split her face. Now, in a low voice, she said with emotion,

– Ah Vincent, take Lyana back to her room quickly to sleep. Don’t let her catch a cold.

Carry Lyana?

Laura frowned slightly and said quickly:

– Grandmother, second brother …

She was about to say that Vincent was afraid of women when she saw Vincent pick up Lyana in his arms and walk to the second floor with an indifferent expression.

The light in Laura’s petal-shaped eyes gradually faded until her eyes went completely dark.

Oh, that’s right.

When Second Brother was with Lyana, he had completely lost his fear.

Matriarch Sanchez looked at Laura in confusion. Seeing that her mind was elsewhere, she asked,

– What is wrong? What did you mean earlier?

– I’m fine,

Laura said insincerely.

How was that fair?

How is it that the second brother no longer fears women only when he is with Lyana?

It was not fair.

She had clearly known Vincent longer than Lyana. Why wouldn’t he touch her?

Matriarch Sanchez had no idea what Laura was thinking. She walked over to the couch and sat down. When she thought about how Vincent had carried Lyana, her eyes filled with joy.

This child, Vincent.

Since he was a child, he had never liked to talk. He also didn’t like to interact much with the opposite sex. After this incident five years ago, he immediately developed a phobia of women.

The only woman he had not been afraid of was her, his grandmother.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

As a grandmother, she was really worried about his wedding, the biggest event in his life. She was really afraid that Vincent would be alone for the rest of his life.

Laura sat down next to Matriarch Sanchez and looked at the bandages on the coffee table. Her eyes darted to the side, and she said:

– Grandmother, the hands of the second brother seem to be …

When Matriarch Sanchez heard Laura’s words, she pursed her lips with annoyance and said:

– His hands must have suffered a small injury, nothing more. What is there to be afraid of? Would he be unable to carry his wife just because of a few cuts? Surely that would be too melodramatic of him!

Laura was speechless.

She looked at Matriarch Know with disbelief. In the past, whenever Vincent did something, Grandma was always worried about him.

– Grandma, should we still tell Second Brother what happened today?

Laura asked hesitantly. She had only glanced at Second Brother today.

– There was no need to.

At the thought of Vincent picking up Lyana, Matriarch Sanchez couldn’t help but smile. It seemed that the Sanchez family would gain a grandchild very soon.

– Nothing is more important to him than that. Okay, take me back to my room!

Matriarch Sanchez returned to her room. Seeing that Laura was about to leave, she hastily called her and said,

– Laura, come take a look at this.

Laura looked at Matriarch Sanchez in confusion and took the picture from her. There were many young and handsome men in the picture.

– Grandma, I do not know any of these people.