Chapter 3 An Ill-Fitting Wedding Dress

"Josephine, hurry! Go to the hall first."

"The notary."

"Go first, and I swear I will find the notary," Odette pleaded with strained patience.

"I don't believe you." Josephine crossed her arms, her expression disdainful.

Odette's patience evaporated instantly. She instinctively reached out to pinch Josephine's arm. "You stubborn little It's already so late, get out there this instant"

Josephine sidestepped smoothly, evading the grasping hand, and fixed Odette with a pair of dark, lifeless eyes. "I've told you, both conditions are non-negotiable. Otherwise, I will walk out and tell the Veyron people I'm a fake."

"You dare!"

Odette was so furious her head felt ready to burst. She didn't dare offend Lord Veyron, and now it seemed she didn't dare offend Josephine either. In a rage, she once again extended her sharp-nailed fingers to pinch her. "Josephine, don't be so shameless! Do you think...."

Josephine stepped back once more, avoiding the attack with chilling composure. "I dare. Do you want to test me?"

Odette's hand froze in mid-air.

"Josephine Titan!"

Glaring with gritted teeth, Odette dejectedly withdrew her hand and shouted for Corbin to hurry, faster.

Finally the notary arrived, and the agreements were notarized. Josephine didn't even bother changing clothes; she simply picked up the documents and started walking.

Odette blocked her path. "Put on the wedding dress!"

"Does putting on a wedding dress turn me into Seraphina?" The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.

Ignoring the jab, Odette persisted. "Josephine, being a substitute bride was our agreement. You must wear the wedding dress. Otherwise, you can forget about taking those papers with you."

Odette was no fool. Even a substitute bride had to look the part. If the bride didn't even wear a wedding dress, Lord Veyron would grow suspicious immediately.

Seeing her insistence, Josephine nodded thoughtfully. "Fine. I'll wear it."

The wedding dress had been rented by Odette from a photography studio. It looked opulent on the surface, but who knew how many brides had worn it before? Moreover, to accommodate all sizes, the studio dresses were generally cut generously.

Josephine put it on, then deliberately loosened the waist by a centimeter. After checking her reflection to confirm the dress was conspicuously ill-fitting, she opened the door and walked out.

She entered the hall and immediately saw the elegant, noble man. Though seated in a wheelchair, his presence loomed at least two meters and eight centimeters tall. Almost simultaneously, his cold gaze swept over her.

A single glance made Josephine's heart clench sharply. It felt as though that stare had pierced straight into the depths of her soul. The dangerous alertness jolted every nerve to full focus.

In the next heartbeat, she heard his emotionless voice. "Are you the bride?"

Josephine said neither yes nor no. Instead, she simply shifted her body slightly, letting the loose, empty wedding dress sway.

A slight raise of his eyebrows, a subtle motion of his fingers and someone beside him dropped to their knees with a loud thump. It was Reginald Titan, forced to kneel by one of Karl Veyron's men. Josephine was mildly surprised. She hadn't expected that one ill-fitting wedding dress would immediately alert him to the abnormality.

The next second, Karl Veyron's voice cut through, cold and impatient. "Where is the real bride?"

Reginald panicked and instinctively decided to push Seraphina forward. "Lord Veyron, please don't misunderstand. This is merely my eldest daughter, Josephine Titan. The real bride is actually our Seraphina"

The moment Reginald tried to offer Seraphina up, Odette rushed over and threw herself to her knees beside him with a thump. "Lord Veyron, our Seraphina has a severe heart condition and is in fragile health. She's utterly unsuitable for you. Please look at our Josephine instead. She is also a fine young woman healthy, well-mannered, gentle and fair."

Karl Veyron's gaze shifted to Josephine. He couldn't discern her beauty, nor did he care. But it was glaringly obvious that the two people kneeling on the floor begging for mercy had nothing to do with her.

Sensing his gaze, Josephine swiftly hid the cold smile tugging at the corner of her mouth and stood even straighter in silence.

Karl Veyron withdrew his scrutiny and guided his wheelchair forward two paces, stopping directly beside Reginald and Odette. "The Titan family... there is no longer any need for your existence. Silas!"

"Here," a black-clad figure behind him responded.

"I'll leave it to you."

"Yes, my lord." Silas nodded.

An involuntary shudder ran through everyone in the hall. Odette and Reginald collapsed to the ground, their faces pale with defeat. It was over. The Titan family was finished.

As the Veyron wheelchair rolled toward the door, Josephine, who had been watching like a detached spectator, suddenly spoke. "Lord Veyron, if you need a wife... I believe I could be that person."

Karl Veyron raised his hand. The attendant pushing him halted, turning the wheelchair around.

He regarded her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Josephine drew a deep breath, her nerves thrumming. She was gambling betting everything on her own judgment.

In her previous life, Karl Veyron had died less than a month after marrying Seraphina. Josephine didn't believe that a dynasty as powerful as the Veyrons would be unable to diagnose a man nearing the end of his life, with paralyzed legs and the knowledge that he might not survive much longer. A man like that suddenly wanting to marry could only have one obvious reason he needed a wife. And that need was her opportunity.

"One minute," he said.

Josephine exhaled in relief. She understood he was granting her sixty seconds to convince him.

"Josephine Titan. Female, twenty years old. No particular hobbies. A blank emotional history. Though I had a fiancé, it was in name only and twenty minutes ago, I terminated that engagement. Here is the annulment agreement."

"Independent and strong-willed. I haven't caused trouble for anyone in the first twenty years of my life, and I won't cause any trouble for you, Lord Veyron, in the future. I can endure hardship and fatigue. I also know acupuncture and therapeutic massage."

"After our marriage, I will cooperate wholeheartedly with whatever you require, and I will never hinder you. At the same time, I hope you will respect me and not interfere with my freedom. And when I need it... please do not stand by and do nothing."

Although Josephine spoke rapidly, her thoughts were clear and organized. A flicker of interest suddenly gleamed in Karl Veyron's eyes.

An obviously ill-fitting wedding dress hung loosely on her thin frame, as if a gust of wind might blow her away. Her uncombed black hair lay in a tangled mess over her shoulders. Her thick bangs blanketed half her brows and eyes like a dark carpet.

How could such a gaunt, unremarkable girl have the audacity to demand his respect? And from her expression, she didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with her request.

Josephine's heart pounded as she stared nervously at Karl Veyron.

Would he agree?