Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

"That’s right, Second Brother, hurry up and read it. What’s written there!"

Gabriel urged impatiently, while Michael glanced at him, a complex emotion he couldn’t understand displayed in Michael’s serious eyes.

Daemon and his wife, Victoria, also looked at Michael. Victoria clutched her collar tightly, though she hadn’t seen the former Family Head’s will, she had a bad premonition that it concerned her husband.

Taking a deep breath, Michael stood up, looked down at the will in his hand, and solemnly read it.

"Daemon Lancaster, the eldest son of a branch Lancaster family, was actually an orphan adopted by Uncle Atlas from outside, not a genuine descendant of the Lancaster Family. If someday he disrespects Family Head Grandmother, he shall be expelled from the Lancaster old house, along with his descendants, never to return!"

The signature at the end was [Daxton Lancaster], stamped with a seal, and also bore the signatures and seals of witnesses.

After Michael finished reading the will, he showed the front of the will to everyone.

"Dear brothers and sisters of the Lancaster Family, this is the will left by the Family Head, with his handwritten signature and notarization seal."

Everyone was aware of what a notarization seal meant, they weren’t ignorant of the law.

The Lancaster old house was inherited from ancestors, though everyone lived there, all the land use rights belonged to Family Head Grandmother Violet Zimmerman.

Which meant the properties they lived in were Violet’s alone, and if she wished to expel someone, they would have to leave.

After Michael finished reading the will, the unbelieving Gabriel sat silently on the sofa, his brows furrowed, apparently still processing the shocking reality.

His wife, Valeria, distinctly let out a sigh of relief, as it didn’t concern their family, they could remain at the old house.

Daemon mumbled to himself repeatedly, appearing somewhat neurotic.

"Impossible, I am Dad’s biological son, it must be a mistake, you must have made a mistake..."

After murmuring to himself, he suddenly looked up, widened his eyes, and stared at Joseph. "You say I am not a descendant of the Lancaster Family, what proof do you have?"

Michael sat back down on the chair, folding the will neatly.

Catherine showed no emotion externally, since her conflict with Michael over their divorce, the two sisters-in-law hardly interacted with her.

Such realistic relatives were better not to interact with.

Willow leaned against her parents’ chair back, her expression innocent.

As for Aurora’s family of four, Daemon had always sowed discord, for such "relatives," the sooner they were expelled from the Lancaster Family, the sooner peace would return.

Joseph smiled and took another sheet of paper, stood up and displayed its front to everyone, before reading it aloud.

The paper recorded Atlas’s last words, stating roughly:

Years ago, in a bid for the Family Head position, he adopted an orphan from outside, deceiving the elder by claiming it was his illegitimate child from his indiscretions.

Considering the Lancaster Family’s reputation, the elder ordered it not be publicized, and only a handful of people knew.

Among them were the Lancaster Family Elder, Atlas himself, and his brother Bodhi.

To veil the family shame, the elder hastily arranged a marriage for Atlas, and the fact that the eldest daughter-in-law of the secondary household married into the Lancaster Family with a child was known to the elder generation.

Hence, Daemon became the Lancaster Family’s eldest grandson, and those years, Atlas often subtly hinted to the elder that family heads were always passed on to the eldest grandsons.

The elder, wise as ever, showed no outward response, but secretly sent confidants to investigate.

The investigation revealed Atlas’s secret payout to purchase someone else’s son, and not wanting to spread the shame, the elder pretended ignorance, until his final hours, when he summoned both sons and elder grandson Daxton to his bedside.

Aware the elder knew his actions, Atlas was shocked, kneeling before the elder, tearfully admitting his fault, and promising not to contest the Family Head position with his nephew again.

"No, it can’t be..."

After Joseph finished reading Atlas’s testament, Daemon still refused to believe it, slumped on the sofa, shaking his head repeatedly, muttering to himself.

"You have no proof, you just don’t want me living in the old house, so you teamed up to deceive me. No, I am Dad’s son, Dad treated me so well..."

In the end, Daemon couldn’t help but cry.

Since childhood, his father meticulously nurtured him, educated him to study hard, saying grandpa would pass the Lancaster Family Head position to him...

How could a father who valued him so highly not be his biological parent?

"Here is a hospital certificate from back then. If you still have doubts, you can do a paternity test with Michael and Gabriel."

Joseph pulled out another evidence, in the packed room, only Willow stood, her legs losing sensation after standing for so long, upon realizing Joseph produced another evidence, she walked from behind her parents to hand the certificate to Daemon.

It was a lab report, the paper’s color already aged.

The report listed several simple data sets, concluding with [Not a Direct Relative].

Upon seeing the conclusion at the bottom, Daemon felt his vision dim, fainting on the spot.

Initially planning to confront Violet and Uncle Joseph, the unexpected turn of events left him confronting himself, the dramatic shift was immense. Daemon had always taken pride in being the Lancaster Family’s eldest grandson, and felt aggrieved for not inheriting the Family Head position.

From a young age, his father expected of him as a future Family Head, year after year, instilling this belief deeply. Yet, suddenly one day, someone told him he wasn’t a Lancaster Family descendant, just a joke in family power struggles...

Such contrast was a lethal blow for Daemon, shattering his ambitions and leaving him powerless to resist.

By the time the Lancaster Family dispersed, it was already past noon.

The kindest Second Uncle among the Lancasters spoke up, giving Daemon’s family a week to move out, or they’d have to rely on legal means.

Avery also left with her belongings, before departing, she bowed deeply to Violet.

Violet was a gentle person, kind to subordinates, yet the deluded Avery still chose to betray from within.

While the maid prepared lunch, Sophia and Evander returned to their residence, cuddling their child.

"Evander Lancaster, I really didn’t realize, your family is full of drama, this could be turned into a script for a modern palace intrigue drama."

Evander absentmindedly caressed his son’s cheek, "What can I say? With many people, there are many disputes, in a family as big and influential as the Lancasters, conflict arises wherever interests clash."

"So arrogant, you really compare your Lancaster Family to ancient imperial harems."

Sophia puffed her lips and teased, Evander raised his sharp gaze, fiercely pinching her chin and shaking it.

"Little rascal, when you were drunk last night, you weren’t this sharp-tongued!"