CEO's Substitute Bride

Chapter 52

Seeing that Xavier had already gone inside the dining room, Arthur quickly followed close behind. After all, this was an opportunity he wouldn't let go of so easily, not even if Emmett didn't appreciate his appearance. A polite smile grazed his lips as he bowed his head in agreement. "Me too."

Arthur didn't even wait for the others to say anything more as he took his seat at the dining table. The two men quickly sat together, eyeing the dishes being plated in front of them. Although they may look 'simple', they were way better than those being served at the restaurants they had always eaten every day of the week!

Now, only Emmett was left standing by the doorway. A dark expression appeared on his looks, and he still made no move to come inside.

Alyssa blinked.

What was wrong with him?

Seeing that the two men still made no plans of leaving, he didn't have any other choice on this matter. After a minute, Emmett finally walked into the dining room and sat at the table. His expression remained impassive as he stared at the blank space ahead of him.

She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. "I'll get two more bowls for the both of you."

Just as she was about to leave, Emmett suddenly kicked the two men opposite him. He gritted his teeth and looked coldly at the two men. "Don't you know how to get your own bowls? You guys have a pair of legs, don't you?"

She was already giving them food. There wasn't any need to tire his wife out by asking her to fetch them some bowls and utensils! If they really wanted someone to cook and serve them during their free time, then perhaps they should get their own wives rather than hound around his woman.

Seeing his dark features, Xavier and Arthur immediately went to the kitchen to get their bowls.

Alyssa was stunned at how the two men had obediently followed. Even if they weren't as rich as the Lawrence family, they were certainly prestigious when it came to their professions. She couldn't really tell why they'd follow “Justin” around, especially since they weren't talking with the Young Master of the Lawrence family.

She eyed the man wearily, unsure of what to say.

Since the two had already gone up to get their bowls, she had no choice but to sit back down and wait for them.

They have already seated all around her. But just as she was about to eat herself, she heard the crisp sound of chopsticks hitting against each other.

When she looked up, she saw that the three men were fighting over the dishes. Justin's actions were more excessive than usual. Every time Xavier went to pick up a piece, he'd poke him with his chopsticks, taking whatever he was taking. The same was done to Arthur.

Alyssa quietly ate, staring at the utensil battle that was happening right before her. Although they were three of the richest men in the city, she didn't regard them that way. All she could see were three kids trying to get a bite of the pork in front of them.

It was Arthur who first felt her gaze. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I haven't been home for three years. It's been a long time since I've eaten any home-cooked food."

Xavier soon followed, "The Company has been busy, so I've only eaten takeout everyday."

"Don't listen to any of their nonsense." Emmett intercepted, shooting them a glare.

Upon seeing his dark expression, Xavier and Arthur lowered their heads and concentrated on their meals. None of them bothered to look at them.

Alyssa frowned as he was bullying his two friends.

She nudged Justin lightly with her elbow. When she saw him turn around to look at her, she stated, "Since you're the one who wants them to stay for dinner, then you shouldn't be like this."

Her gaze softened as she turned to the other two men. "Have a good meal."

When did he say that he wanted to keep them for dinner?

A cold smile appeared on his lips as he looked at his two 'friends'. His voice was so icy that it could freeze almost anyone in the room. “Why don't you eat more?"

Alyssa’s hands trembled slightly. There was just something about the atmosphere around them that seemed to be filled with tension. Although Xavier and Arthur seemed to be good-natured, Justin didn't seem to be in the best of moods.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, she quickly finished her meal and headed to the living room.

They're just too impossible to understand.

The moment Alyssa had left, the atmosphere in the dining room turned harmonious.

"So, what's going on with Alyssa?" Xavier finally breathed out, grabbing the opportunity to get all the information he needed to know. Although he was aware that Emmett needed a lawyer, he still wasn't informed as to why.

Emmett stayed silent.

Seeing this, Xavier made a zipper movement before keeping quiet. RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

Arthur was actually a steady person. After working with Xavier for a long time, he was occasionally quite lively when he needed to be. However, when it came to cases and business, he returned to his more serious self.

Although he stayed for the dinner, he also had other things that he needed to do.

"There was a problem with the share transfer contract Jason had given Alyssa in the first transaction. It's a very low-level loophole. I bet he didn't think that Alyssa would bring her own lawyer." Arthur said while shaking his head in disgust.

Emmett sneered. "Jason has a good plan, but he seems to have underestimated his own daughter. If she enters Moore Group, she definitely wouldn't make it easy for them. Sooner or later, they'll bring Old Master Moore back to take charge of the situation."

Not long after he and his mother had been kidnapped and rescued, the Lawrence and Moore family began their engagements with one another. Old Master Moore also retired from his position as chairman and went overseas. It was all too easy for them.

In terms of family background, even if Lawrence was 'rumored' to be disfigured and lost the ability as a man, the Moores still had no right to made a marriage proposal with him.

The engagement was far too coincidental, and the matter was far too abnormal as well. He suspected that these things had something to do with his mother's kidnapping fifteen years ago. That was really the only reason why he had agreed to the proposed engagement.

He had planned to use Skylar as his entry point to investigate the Moore family.

However, he didn't expect that Alyssa to replace his sister. He also didn't expect her to hide such a dark secret and was actually a little smart herself. Although a twist, he could still use it according to his own favor. He leaned back against his seat.

There was a trace of helplessness in his eyes.

Although she was different, there was a sense of familiarity around her. His eyes glazed over the leftover dishes. She had cooked the same food as what his mother had used to prepare for him, and he couldn't help but let his heart soften.

Xavier knocked on the table a few times, attracting his attention. "Why don't you just invite Old Master Moore back directly?"

"That would just alert the enemy." Emmett said as he took a sip from his glass. "Do you remember how suddenly he retired abroad? Something must have happened. Fifteen years had already passed since it happened, so we shouldn't rush things."

And if he comes back? What would you do? Xavier wanted to ask, but he didn't bother.

After all, he knew for a fact that Emmett wouldn't let those perpetrators go too easily.

He suspected that the Lawrence family was behind the kidnapping. Although he couldn't say for certain of their involvement, he had gathered a lot of clues for him to come to this conclusion.

He gripped his glass tightly before placing it back on the table. Things were just getting started.

…

Monday.

Alyssa was going to work at Moore Group. It was her first day today.

She honestly didn't care what position Jason had arranged for her. Besides, she already had the shares, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

A smirked as she glanced at all the baggy clothing she had in her closet. Since she was no longer keeping up with her dense and ugly disguise, she didn't need to play the part with her clothes as well.

How could a girl not love to dress up.

Hazel made sure to buy a lot for her.

In all honesty, Hazel's family background wasn't bad. In fact, her family was even richer than the Moore family in terms of intangible assets.

When Hazel was in high school, she was actually the school bully. While there were plenty of students who followed behind her, there were also many people who had hated her. Most of them were women.

And as they all know, when girls take care of their own gender, they'd usually use more malicious acts.

They had taken advantage of her isolation by capturing her and taking her to an abandoned school building. They bullied her and even strip her clothes up so that they'd take pictures.

Alyssa went to feed the stray cats during this time. When she heard the noise, she picked up a rusty knife from the gardener's toolbox and went over into the building. Half her face was shadowed over, making her look like a ghost. "How about I do the same to you? A fool won’t be imprisoned if he kills a person.”

The girls were so terrified that they ran away.

After that, they became good friends.

Alyssa picked up a red coat from her closet and coupled with a black sweater. She glanced at the mirror as she woke her black flats. The nervous, teeth-chattering woman who had lived a life under the shadows was gone. Now, her true self was finally revealed.

She grabbed her bag and went downstairs. She saw “Justin” reading a newspaper. His other hand was

wrapped around a cup of coffee.

Hearing the unfamiliar footsteps, he looked up to see her. The red coat she had on made her skin look even creamier underneath. It showcased her bright eyes and emphasized her equally red lips. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in waves, similar to a waterfall.

The coat was just an inch above her knees, revealing her slender legs.

She was beautiful.

Emmett stared at her for a few seconds, and his eyes slowly narrowed. "If you plan on flirting and hooking up with another man while cousin isn't around, then I suggest you go drop it."

There was bitterness laced in his tone. It was as if he was stating a fact rather than joking.

However, that wasn't enough to ruin her mood.

Alyssa walked over and glared at him, her eyes filled with contempt. "The only one I will hook up with is Emmett. You shouldn't really think that ill of others. Unlike you, I don't have any ulterior motives."

As soon as the first sentence slipped past her lips, Emmett's hands trembled almost immediately. The coffee from his cup spilled over, drenching the upper fabric of his suit. A certain flush grazed the sides of his face.