I'm an orphan. I grew up in the countryside on the edge of the pack territory. When I turned eighteen, my wealthy biological parents found me. They said there had been a mix-up at the hospital when I was born, which was why I'd been lost to them for so long. They brought me home, only to force me to marry a fool. My mother looked at me with scrutinizing eyes. "Leo may be a bit different from others, but his family is wealthy, and his father is a Beta in the pack. They won't treat you poorly." I looked at Leo, who was still drooling and grinning like an idiot, and refused outright. "Isn't he Vivian's fated mate? Her fiancé? And from what I know, he only became brain-damaged because he got seriously injured by Rogues while saving Vivian. Why isn't she marrying him?" Vivian, my parents' adopted daughter, instantly turned pale, tears streaming down her face. My mother grew anxious. "How can Vivian marry a fool?" My father also said coldly, "Alpha Declan has already set his sights on Vivian. How could a fool like that be worthy of her?" So that was it. They brought me home just to be a substitute bride. I laughed coldly. They had no idea—I was already married, and my husband was Declan. I called Declan directly. "Hey, I heard you're getting married? How come you didn't tell me?"
"Declan? The Alpha of Hailmark pack?" My mother Jenny Smith looked at me with a guarded expression. "How dare you call Alpha Declan by his name? And don't you dare get any ideas you shouldn't have." "Someone like him isn't for a country-raised wolf like you to dream about. Only someone like Vivian, a high-society lady we've cultivated since childhood, is worthy of him." "As for you, marrying Leo is already the greatest fortune you could have. He's a Beta's son. If he weren't brain-damaged, you wouldn't even have this chance. You need to know your place." She didn't need to tell me. At this moment, I already understood clearly that these people didn't bring me home for a family reunion—they just wanted me as a substitute bride. Fortunately, before I came back, I'd already prepared myself for the possibility that they might not love me. Now that I'd heard their schemes, I didn't feel too disappointed or hurt. "You don't want Vivian, the daughter you raised, to marry a fool, so you're making me, your biological daughter, take her place." "Even if you're playing favorites, this is too much." "If Vivian doesn't want to marry him, just break off the engagement and give them more compensation. Why do you have to force me to marry a fool?" My father Tom Smith blurted out, "We have an agreement with them. Besides, Leo's family has already given us gifts worth twenty million for this marriage arrangement. We can't just call it off." Realizing he'd said too much, he quickly corrected himself. "Anyway, matters between elite families aren't as simple as you think. You must marry him. It's a matter of integrity." I'd heard that Vivian and Leo were fated mates and had been dating for a while. Now it seemed that once Leo became brain-damaged, Vivian started despising him. After hearing Jenny and Tom's words, I completely understood. They'd already accepted expensive gifts from Leo's family and couldn't break the engagement. But they didn't want their precious Vivian to marry him, so they set their sights on me. What a brilliant scheme. Too bad they were going to be disappointed. A smile curved my lips. "I understand. But unfortunately, I still can't marry Leo, because I..." Already have a husband. But before I could finish, Jenny slapped me across the face. "I knew you were trouble. Don't tell me you're fantasizing about marrying Alpha Declan yourself?" "He's the Alpha of our Hailmark pack. A country girl like you isn't even worthy of shining his shoes. Stop dreaming." I covered my face, looking at Jenny in disbelief, wanting to kindly remind her again. "What I meant to say is, Declan could never marry Vivian."
"So Rhea wants to marry Alpha Declan. In that case, I'll marry the fool instead. Mom, please don't make things difficult for my sister." Vivian immediately acted as if I'd stolen her beloved, throwing herself into Jenny's arms, tears streaming down her face. I was dumbfounded. I wanted to ask—you're so deeply in love with Declan, does he even know who you are? I couldn't help rolling my eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. What I meant is..." "Enough." Jenny held Vivian tightly and coldly interrupted me. "Rhea, how can you be so shameless? You just got here and you're already trying to steal Vivian's man." "What do you mean? Alpha Declan won't look at Vivian, but he'll look at a good-for-nothing country girl like you?" "Let me tell you, the Smith family has received an invitation to a banquet hosted by Alpha Declan. Don't you understand what that means?" I shook my head cluelessly. "No, I don't." Tom snorted coldly, opening his mouth with a smug expression. "Alpha Declan just returned from the pack border and immediately invited the Smith family to a banquet. Isn't it obvious he's taken a liking to our Vivian and wants to get close to her?" "Vivian is a carefully cultivated lady, the most beautiful socialite in Hailmark pack. Alpha Declan must have heard of Vivian's reputation, which is why he can't wait to approach her under this pretense." Tom looked at me with disdain. "You wouldn't understand the complex rules of these circles." "Don't think that just because you're the Smith family's biological daughter, you can rise to the top. Vivian is a high-society lady we've invested heavily in cultivating since childhood. You can't compare." I shook my head. Not a single person in this family was normal. They didn't stop to think—with Declan's status, why would he send them an invitation? Just because of their publicly traded company whose funding chain was about to break? It was all because of me, Declan's wife. Declan is my fated mate. A few months ago, he went to the pack border to fight off Rogues and met me. We fell in love at first sight and got married quickly. When the Smith family wanted to bring me home, Declan wanted to come with me. I refused and told him to go back and handle pack affairs first. As a compromise, he planned to host a banquet and sent the Smith family an invitation. He only invited them out of consideration for me, but they actually thought it was because of Vivian's beauty. No wonder their company was going bankrupt. I couldn't help but laugh mockingly. "So you've been carefully cultivating her since childhood, planning to sell her for a good price when she grows up?" "Besides, Declan doesn't like girls like her at all." Declan hated weak, delicate types the most. In his eyes, they were useless idiots. Vivian's face paled. Jenny pointed at me furiously and scolded. "As expected of someone raised in the countryside—no manners at all. How can you say such vulgar things?" "And how would you know Alpha Declan doesn't like someone like Vivian? I think you're just jealous." "With Vivian's beauty, I'm telling you, there's no man who wouldn't be attracted." Tom also looked at me with disdain. "Even if you're jealous, it won't help. Vivian will marry Alpha Declan sooner or later." "With your crude behavior, don't even dream of catching Alpha Declan's eye." "As long as you obediently do as you're told and marry Leo, we won't treat you poorly in the future. But if you harbor inappropriate thoughts, don't blame us for being ruthless." This was a threat, but they'd threatened the wrong person. I really wanted to see their expressions when they learned the truth. I decided not to reveal the truth just yet. I smiled enigmatically. "What if Alpha Declan likes someone exactly like me?" "Want to make a bet? If Alpha Declan doesn't like someone like me, I'll agree to obediently marry that fool. If he does like someone like me, then you'll..." Before I could finish, Jenny's mocking laughter interrupted me. "You think you could win Alpha Declan's favor? How ridiculous." "You don't need to finish. Whatever it is, we agree." Vivian also looked at me smugly. "Then I'll thank you in advance for agreeing to marry Leo." I raised an eyebrow, looking at the message from Declan that popped up on my phone. The show was about to begin. "I hope you get your wish."
The Smith family arranged a storage room for me—dark, damp, and smelling of mold. As soon as I entered the room, I opened my phone messages. Declan's messages came pouring in. "Baby, how did it go? Were they excited to see you? Did they frantically try to make it up to you?" "Did they love you? Did they cry and hug you?" "I said I'd come with you, but you refused. I really want to see you reunite with your family. It must have been so emotional and moving, with everyone in tears." "Is it too late to come now? I miss you already after being apart for just a little while. Do you miss me?" I shook my head at the messages. Others probably couldn't imagine that the usually cold and decisive Declan had such a clingy side. Unfortunately, he'd guessed wrong. I told him what happened. He immediately called, his voice angry. "Baby, how can they treat you like this? They're so blind." "I'm coming to get you right now and show them how wrong they are." I refused directly. "No need. I have a better idea." "Let them be happy for now." I explained my plan. Declan nodded. "Okay, whatever you say, baby. I just don't want you to suffer. How can you stay in a storage room?" "It's fine. It's only three days." "But can you check something for me? I suspect I'm not actually their daughter." No one would treat their biological daughter this outrageously. I suspected this was all a scam. "Okay." Declan readily agreed. After hanging up, smelling the moldy odor in the room, I really couldn't stand it. I'd spoken too confidently earlier—three days would be really hard to endure. But then Jenny knocked on the door. "Declan's banquet has been moved up to tonight. Don't forget what you promised—to marry Leo." I froze. Declan had moved up the banquet. Seeing that I didn't respond, she thought I was going back on my word and quickly said, "You promised this yourself. You can't go back on it." I looked at her with a half-smile. "Don't leave out half of what I said. I said if Declan doesn't like me, then I'll marry Leo." She snorted coldly. "Is there any way that could change? He'd have to be crazy to like a country girl like you." "Remember, important people will be at the banquet tonight. Don't you dare embarrass the Smith family, or I'll skin you alive." I nodded indifferently. When we were about to leave, Tom frowned at me. "You're going to the banquet dressed like that? Not even wearing a gown? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass the Smith family?" "But you didn't give me..." Vivian immediately spoke up with fake concern, her eyes red. "Dad, don't blame Rhea. She grew up in the countryside, so she doesn't know you need to wear a gown to a banquet." "Rhea, I have a few gowns in my room you can wear. But the banquet is about to start, so..." Jenny waved her hand. "Someone like her wouldn't look like a socialite no matter what gown she wears. Just leave it." A smug smile appeared on Vivian's lips. But when I was about to get in the car, Vivian blocked me. "Rhea, the car is full. Why don't you take a taxi?" The car drove off. This family—this was an upscale neighborhood. Where was I supposed to find a taxi? I called Declan directly. "They left me behind. Send a car to pick me up immediately."
Forty minutes later, I appeared at the banquet hall in a haute couture gown. Declan had wanted to accompany me, but I refused. I didn't want to reveal everything so quickly. When people saw me, they all started looking me over, their eyes full of amazement. "Who is she? Her temperament and looks are absolutely stunning. I've never seen her before." "I haven't either. She's like a fairy descended from heaven. I must go introduce myself." The commotion also caught the Smith family's attention. Vivian's eyes were full of jealousy. Then she spoke with red-rimmed eyes. "Rhea, how could you steal a gown? This gown is a custom piece from Paris Fashion Week. I remember Alpha Declan bought it at auction. You actually stole something from Alpha Declan." Jenny immediately chimed in. "How dare you steal from Alpha Declan? This is a gift Alpha Declan planned to give our Vivian. Take it off right now." "Stealing things at home was bad enough, but now you've stolen from Alpha Declan. You really don't know your limits." I actually laughed at this. This family just spouted lies without a second thought. Everyone's initial amazement turned to disgust. "So she's from the countryside and dared to steal Alpha Declan's gown. She really doesn't know her place." "From what they just said, this gown was meant for Vivian. I heard before that Alpha Declan bought a lot of jewelry abroad to give to his beloved. So it's true." Everyone started crowding around Vivian to flatter her. "Vivian is stunningly beautiful. She and Alpha Declan are truly a match made in heaven." "Once Vivian marries Alpha Declan, the Smith family will rise to another level. Congratulations!" Vivian acted as if she was really about to marry Declan, blushing shyly. "The wedding date hasn't been set yet. I'll definitely invite everyone to our wedding." I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Vivian, does Declan even know he's marrying you?" Vivian's face paled. "Rhea, what do you mean? Do you think that by stealing the gown he meant to give me, you can impersonate me?" I rolled my eyes. I really didn't know how the Smith family raised her to have such a personality. Declan had said he'd never even met Vivian. She received one invitation and already imagined herself marrying him. How absurd. I pointed at the gown I was wearing. "This gown was a gift from my husband. I didn't steal it from you." Everyone burst into laughter. "You say your husband gave it to you? Don't tell me your husband is Alpha Declan?" I smiled coldly. "What do you think?" "But Declan doesn't need to marry me, because..." Before I could finish, Vivian interrupted me. "Rhea, you're degrading yourself by wanting to be Alpha Declan's mistress." "Being the kind of woman who throws herself at someone without wanting any title—even though you just came back from the countryside, you can't disgrace the family like this. You're humiliating the Smith family." Jenny also looked at me coldly. "Rhea, enough. Are you trying to ruin the Smith family's reputation? Get out of here right now and prepare to marry Leo. Stop making a fool of yourself." I just wanted to say that Declan didn't need to marry me because we were already married. We'd just returned to the city from the pack border, and Declan hadn't had time to announce his marriage yet. Seeing that the time was about right, I didn't want to keep playing along with them anymore. I took out my phone. "Declan, I heard you're getting married. Did you forget to tell me?"
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