er asked, his c

isa to finish high school abroad and st

not enough reason to

s. "They're not calling it off, As

"Have you seen the lady

sighed, her eye

er said, a sly smirk spreading across his face."Mr

rl in question inter

his daughter and she won't watch her

w afternoon to finalize the

g his forehead. "Witho

meetings tomorro

," his mom replied dryly. "He'

Asher asked,

lub in hand. "Having some quality ti

d more time in your mansion and leave me and m

dramatically. "Are you ch

his eyes playfully. "

ry, I'll be out of here soon, lover boy

?" Mr. Blackwood asked, h

soft sigh. "Too calmly, l

d his wine. "Let's wait and see what games our son

THE INT

her introduction, but the house was eerily silent. There were no signs of preparat

t red lipstick at her disposal. "I'll look like a witch with t

ngry face appeared. "You're still not dre

prove yourself useful to me for once. If you mess it up, I'll make sure you marry a beggar and s

sigh, shaking her head. "He always forgets that I'll outlive him," she m

'll probably end up dying on the streets before I can get my reve

"A forced marriage to a billionaire is still better than being marri

bber band on the table, and she smiled wistfully. She gathered her hair into a bun,

picked the least worn-out pair of flat shoes.

lection. Her black dress was plain, and her hair was

ing," Emilia said, frowning at her reflection.

le on her face. She leaned forward and kissed her reflection in

l of the Blackwoods. A maid answered the

here was somber, with no balloons or music to speak of. The maids were dressed in thei

in simple, elegant clothing rather than the el

ith a big, fake smile. "Welcome ba

Emilia. "You have a beautiful daughter!" she e

bowed her head to greet the Blackwoods. H

urves. Her hair was neatly tied back in a bun, and her bright red lipstick made her lips stand out. Her skin looked smooth

the spell. He snapped back to reality,

her ear, "Go on, introduce yourself, f

her eyes meeting Asher's. "H-hello," she stamme

Blackwood cooed, beaming a

ted out, "You can talk?" He immediately regre

as she asked, "Have you met Emilia befor

..I mean, no, Mother." He avoided eye contact

o her seat. "Is madness a popular trait with billionaires?

ay because something unexpected happened. Sophie, Asher's fian

track, Emilia kindly agreed to replace her sister as the b

think?' His father a

Sophie is traveling as you claimed, then who is Stanley; her travel agen

. 'How did you know about that?' Mrs. Gran

with amusement. "I'm Asher, the

on. "Can someone explain what's going on?" sh

n?' his mother asked,

her random classmate under the disguise of 'goodbye

e!' his fath

and also see the excuse you would use to cover your daug

with the Grant famil

Mrs. Blackwood asked, her

s. 'Yes, but Emilia is different, I assur

ication of Mrs. Grant's words

ome kind of lab technician, here to inspect your daughter's virtue? How dare you,

ced, his voice firm as he stood up. 'I won't do business wit

nce!" Mr. and Mrs. G

ul. "Another chance?" she repeated, standing up

s shaking violently. She rose slowly, her eyes cast

milia as my replacement bride,' Asher