The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not?

Rufus was likewise stunned for a moment.

Never had he expected Xavier to turn him down so bluntly, and right in front of Winnie at that.

His expression promptly turned as black as thunder. He slammed the fork in his hand onto the table and kicked Xavier under the table surreptitiously.

Gritting his teeth, he hissed in a lowered voice, "What on earth are you doing? Didn't you promise to take good care of Winnie as though she's your sister? If you're afraid that you'll be embarrassed or the like, all sorts of rumors have long since spread like wildfire out there. Just bring her to attend the charity gala openly. It'll shut them up and stop them from simply speculating nonstop."

Xavier's brows furrowed. With a thud, he slammed his cutlery onto the table as well. "As I've said, she's unsuited to attend. I don't mind going without a female companion, but I'll never bring her along. I've finished eating. Enjoy the meal."

After saying that, he got to his feet and left the dining room.

Throughout it all, he didn't spare Winnie a single glance.

Meanwhile, Winnie was a tad chagrined.

There was still some basic courtesy between us previously, but he suddenly started ignoring me for no apparent reason. Never mind that, but he even has blatant contempt written on his face now. Mr. Cadigan has his wires crossed, he said? That's more applicable to him instead!

She bit her fork. Only after Xavier had left did she repress the wrath within her.

"What's wrong with Handsome, Grandpa Rufus? Is he unhappy?"

"Here, eat more, Winnie. There's no need to bother about him. Perhaps he forgot his brains at home when he left the house today. Don't you love eating chicken wings? Here, hurry up and eat!" "Okay! Thank you, Grandpa Rufus! You're so nice!"

What a scumbag! How dare he show contempt for me so blatantly? I've got to have a good chat with him during our drive home later.

The car sped along the road, for Xavier didn't plan on staying the night at Lagune Mansion.

Instead, he planned to send Winnie back before returning to his condominium in the city center right away.

Winnie surmised his intentions as he used the word "first" with the driver when he got into the car.

Since he said to return to Lagune Mansion first, it means that he still wants to go someplace else later. In that case, I've got to resolve everything in the car.

The car Xavier had the driver use that day was a Rolls-Royce sedan. The front and back seats were apart, and there were also individual seats in the back.

Right then, he and Winnie were sitting on two different sides.

Winnie stared at him for a long while and discovered that he had been resting with his eyes closed.

Thus, she inched over to him. Crouching right down, she hugged his leg.

With shimmering eyes, she asked softly, "What's wrong, Handsome? Are you mad at me? Why aren't you talking to me? Please don't be angry, won't you? I miss you, Handsome." Xavier sensed it the moment she hugged his leg, but still, he screwed his eyes tightly shut to the point that his brows knitted together deeply.

In truth, he had already made arrangements from yesterday to meet Yulissa.

He had always known that she wasn't dead, and it was merely a ruse created by Rufus.

She asked him to give her five years to prove that she could realize her dreams without depending on a man or a wealthy family background.

That aside, he was also aware that she once attempted to contact him and wanted to come back to see him when he was pretending to be in a coma.

Yulissa was the only woman he had ever loved. Even then, his heart still skipped a beat at the thought of her.

From yesterday, he had been making plans to go to Yartran for a business trip.

He knew that she was in Yartran presently, so he was planning to go and see her because he had to quash his desire and possessiveness toward Winnie personally. Then, he could take good care of her like a sister, as Rufus demanded.

At that moment, however, she was hugging his leg pitifully like an abandoned puppy.

Her voice was weak, so he presumed that her eyes were definitely teary. As such, he didn't even dare look at her.

Alas, such behavior only fanned Winnie's competitiveness.

He's feigning sleep, huh? I don't believe I can't make a living man move!

"Handsome! P-Please don't ignore me. I'm not a bad girl!" As she spoke, she got up and climbed onto Xavier.

She sat down face to face with him. This time, she no longer hugged his leg but his head.

Winnie then sobbed out, "Are you dead, Handsome? Why are you not talking? Please don't die. I'm so scared. I'll give you CPR!"

Cradling his head, she aimed for his lips and blew.

Xavier, on the other hand, was on the brink of insanity.

Could it be that God sent Dumbo to torment me? Or did I owe her a monumental debt in my previous lifetime? Did she ever consider my feelings before sitting on me, hugging me, and being all touchy-feely? She's slow-witted and doesn't know anything, but I'm a normal man! Never mind if she's really a child, but her body is that of a grown woman's!Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Dumbo!" He abruptly opened his eyes and seized hold of Winnie's neck.

He spoke through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "Don't come any closer, Dumbo! I'm not your brother, and I've never been your brother!"

His grip wasn't all that forceful, but it was enough to restrain her yet not hurt her.

However, Winnie hated the feeling of a hand around her throat.

What on earth is wrong with this scoundrel today?

In the next instant, Xavier picked her up. In the blink of an eye, she had switched places with the man.

Right then, she was pinned onto the seat while Xavier lay on top of her.

"You want to know why I'm ignoring you, yes?"

At his question, Winnie nodded.

"Because I'm afraid that someone else would be upset."

Winnie blinked her eyes. "Why would someone else be upset?"

"Because she's my woman. She'd get jealous if I were close with another woman."

His answer had words eluding Winnie. When did he have another woman? Hadn't he been pretending to be in a coma previously? Don't tell me he flirted with the woman through telepathy? "Commit her face to memory first. I'll bring her back to the Fairchild residence for dinner in the future. Don't come close to me if you see her."

Xavier took out his phone and searched for Yulissa's photo.

Besides wanting to show it to Winnie, it was also for him to see.

I must get myself to understand that I like normal women, and my woman regards me as a normal man, not a d*mn brother.

"See? Her name is Yulissa White. I made her acquaintance before you appeared in my life, and she'll be my female companion for the charity gala this time."

Winnie was again dumbfounded.

I read about her in the information about the Fairchild family, and she's indeed his ex-girlfriend. But isn't she dead? What is he going on about? Does he still love her in death? Or is she actually still alive? After Xavier dropped her back at the mansion, Winnie immediately contacted Nathaniel.

"You invited me to be your female companion this afternoon for the charity gala, didn't you? Okay, I'll go with you."

It's just a charity gala. Does he think I really can't go if he doesn't bring me along?