Chapter 4 The Replacement Bride

She asked angrily, “What are you yelling at? Isn’t the shameless one here Fern? You just let her do whatever she wants, she runs to sleep with her sister’s fiancé and let’s everyone know about it. Do you not feel any shame regarding this?” Being asked this, Jaxon knew that it would not help to continue asking questions. It was obvious that he would never be spared from worry by his two daughters. For now what is needed is how to solve this matter. “How about this, tomorrow you both should go to Khalid’s house and apologize.” Jaxon glared at Fern, “especially you, even if you die you must make the Marsh family forgive you. Don’t affect your sister’s marriage with Khalid.” Fern sneered and said, “Ok, I’ll do whatever my father says. Even if I die, I still must make the Marsh family forgive my older sister.” She really paid attention to the word forgive and looked at Cleo. The next day, Jaxon himself drove the car to the take his two daughter’s to the Marsh family residence. Before they got out the car he reassured them and said, “Fern, remember what I said to you at home? If Khalid refuses to forgive you then you will kneel down for me, whether you cry, make trouble or hang yourself. No matter what you must resolve this issue.” “Ok.” Fern replied rather meekly. Cleo who was next to her couldn’t help but laugh, a timid girl like this wants to fight with her? Dressed up in their best clothes the two sisters got out of the car, and were let in by one of the servants of the Marsh household. Then they were told to wait inside the living room. Khalid grew up beside Isaac Marsh; this house also belonged to Isaac himself. Khalid would then often come back here to accompany him whenever he felt lonely. Khalid and his Isaac hadn’t appeared yet, however the servants were very thoughtful and brought over some tea and water for them. “When will Khalid meet with us? We have been waiting for almost one hour.” Cleo grabbed the servant who was replacing the tea. They had been waiting for a long time now so she started to get angry. “Please could both you continue to wait.” The servant said this and then left, for a long time the large living room seemed extremely empty. As soon as Fern thought about how this was Khalid’s home, she then thought about how she would deal with Khalid. She dared not to even breath on the sofa and anxiously hoped that they would not turn up and just make them leave soon. “All we have been doing is waiting and waiting and waiting, yet they still haven’t come. What is the meaning of this? Do they not want to see us? Could they not have just said this from the beginning?” Cleo was so frustrated that she started to shout at Fern again, “This is your fault. If you were not around then none of this would have ever happened.” Fern continued to look at her teacup and didn’t listen to what her sister said. Cleo felt bored getting no response from her sister so instead she stood up and began to look around her environment, until she almost broke a very expensive ornament. “Do you not have any manners? Don’t touch other people’s things in their own homes.” Fern felt that Khalid was a very crafty and cunning young man, and felt that he was currently hiding somewhere and watching them. “What do you care? When I get married to Khalid, aren’t these things then all of mine? Can’t I have a look ahead of time?” Cleo couldn’t see Fern’s timid appearance, just like a small country girl who has yet to see the world around her. Guessed correctly by Fern, Khalid who had just sneezed was hiding in the study with his grandfather and they watched everything that the two sisters were doing in the living room. “What are we doing hiding in here? Is that girl who is touching everything the girl you are getting married to? Khalid’s grandfather had grey hair; the outline of his face was similar to Khalid’s however he didn’t have a serious expression, but a face full of kindness. “Yes.” Khalid reluctantly replied. At the start Khalid’s father would always choose a woman for him however he always refused. Khalid personally chose Cleo, however when he saw the way Cleo acted just now, he felt a little ashamed. “I don’t like the feeling about this girl; however the other girl seems very clever. Did you say they were sisters?” Isaac looked at the computer screen as if he was choosing the concubines for his imperial palace. “They have the same father but different mother.” Isaac nodded his head, “Are you still able to break off this engagement? The more I look at this other girl the more I like her. You should marry her and make her be my granddaughter in law.” Khalid’s mouth curled upwards. With a good eye for judging people, he certainly is worthy of being his grandfather. “I can try?” The news of what happened at the hotel, Khalid let the people who should see it see. Isaac didn’t know about it at all, however if he ever did find out then would this would ruin his plan. The two sisters waited in the Marsh household until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Both of them wanted to eat dinner soon, while Cleo had lost all of her patience. After she yelled at the servant who was bringing in the tea and snacks, she then left angrily. Fern felt that what her sister did was wrong; however she could tell that the Marsh family was deliberately punishing them. In addition she accompanied her sister in creating a disturbance, so their unsuccessful apology in the end was exactly what she wanted. Cleo had already left so naturally she also didn’t want to stay. When Cleo arrived home as soon as she opened the door she dropped her bag. Amira stopped what she was doing and asked, “Cleo what’s wrong? Did it not go smoothly?” “This is all Fern’s fault. She disgraced and offended the Marsh family so now they don’t want to see me anymore and will never give me an opportunity to apologize.” Cleo cried while she said this. Jaxon who had been worried all afternoon quickly came downstairs, and when he heard what Cleo just said his expression became very unsightly. At this moment Fern had also just arrived home and went inside. “What on earth is going on? You better explain clearly to me.” Jaxon thought that the reason they returned home so late was because they had resolved the matter. He didn’t expect that in the end they didn’t even get to meet Khalid. Cleo explained that they had been just sitting in the living room of the Marsh’s house for almost the whole day. She really couldn’t bear this kind of behavior from them and so she then ran up the stairs crying, so Amira went to go comfort her daughter. Fern stood up and went to the kitchen and took out some instant noodles from the fridge that she had bought. There is still some time before dinner so she needed to fill up her stomach. After Jaxon noticed that none of what had happened bothered her, Jaxon furiously said, “Fern, you have almost destroyed your sister’s marriage and you still have the nerve to eat?” “Don’t tell me my own father wants to see me starve to death? I’m hungry and Cleo’s marriage is going to be ruined anyways.” Fern added more fuel to the fire. Fern didn’t fear anything anymore, so since there was nothing else Jaxon could do, he went back to his study silently. He had watched the video of Fern and Khalid being blocked by reporters wanting an interview at the hotel many times already, and he had pondered over what Khalid had wanted to say earlier. At this moment the video on his screen played the part of where Khalid spoke, “Because she is my beloved fiancée, Cleo.” He didn’t know how many times he had heard that line however this time, Jaxon was suddenly filled with wisdom and thought of a way to protect the marriage between their family and the Marsh family. Amira who was with the still crying Cleo were called back to the living room and Fern who had only eaten half of her instant noodles was interrupted by Jaxon. “I have an important decision that I wish to announce.” Jaxon’s sad expression had disappeared and instead was replaced by excitement. After Amira saw his expression she smiled and asked, “Have you thought of a way to protect this marriage then?” Jaxon nodded his head, “Yes I have thought of a solution and I’m sure the Marsh family will be unable to refuse.” “What is it?” Cleo and Amira asked at the same time. “I think Fern should replace Cleo in marrying Khalid.” Jaxon said. “What!” After Fern heard this, a mouthful of her noodles sprayed out onto the sofa.