Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

Lancaster Enterprises, the first time Evander Lancaster has stepped in here in years.

In the office, the three men sat separately on the guest sofas. The usually gentle face of Joseph Lancaster, the second master of the Lancaster Family, rarely displayed seriousness.

Robert Lancaster did the same.

Joseph Lancaster lowered his eyes and poured a cup of tea. He was just about to hand it to his eldest son, Robert, but the latter had already reached out to take it.

Evander Lancaster sat on the single sofa, looking at the father and son across, whose expressions mirrored each other, and suddenly burst into laughter.

The father and son both raised their eyes simultaneously, looking at Evander with a tacit understanding of confusion. Evander lounged on the sofa lazily, glancing at Joseph, a playful glimmer in his phoenix eyes.

"Uncle, I didn’t realize you still have such stamina and energy. You must have been taking a lot of supplements over the years!"

"You little rascal! Still joking at a time like this!" Although it was a reprimand, there was a hint of amusement in Joseph’s phoenix eyes.

Robert disapprovingly furrowed his brows, thinking it inappropriate for a son to joke with his father this way.

Evander nonchalantly curled his lips, grabbing the cup of tea Joseph had just poured, and said before taking a sip.

"I’m just stating the facts, not joking. At your age, to have such a big reaction, isn’t it because you usually take care of yourself?"

Robert frowned discontentedly again and sighed, just about to speak when Joseph, sitting beside him, picked up the teapot to pour himself more tea, idly saying.

"Hmph! If I weren’t strong and vigorous, would I have a brat like you?"

"Pu..." Evander spewed the tea he had just sipped out of his mouth.

If Joseph and Robert weren’t sitting diagonally across from him, they might have gotten a shower.

Joseph didn’t say anything; a man in his fifties has always taken pride in having two sons.

However, Robert frowned in displeasure.

"Evander, you’re a father now too, can’t you be more proper?"

"Big brother, which eye of yours sees me as improper?" Evander retorted defiantly, pointing a finger at Second Uncle by his side, "The real improper one’s right beside you! Compared to him, I’m nothing!"

"The more you say, the more outrageous it gets!" Robert scolded, shooting a disapproving glance at his brother before taking a large gulp of tea.

This brother of his was nothing like him, rebellious at over thirty years old, not even having the decorum to hold back jokes about elders.

"Alright, you two stop arguing, let’s get to business." Joseph gestured with a raise of his hand, as disputes between his sons were something he loathed to see. A family should live in harmony, even arguments that don’t cross the line can harm relationships.

"Dad’s right," Robert naturally chimed in.

Evander...

Raised his brows in surprise, wondering if Robert frequently called him dad behind his back for such a fluent address.

Not wanting to affect the discussion of serious matters, Evander didn’t voice this thought.

Robert set down his cup, looking at his brother earnestly.

"Evander, what do you think we should do about this situation? Obviously, Uncle is suspicious of Dad, and Sister Xu seems to have been bribed by him."

"What to do? Isn’t it simple?" Evander said indifferently, fiddling with the empty tea cup in his hand, as Robert frowned at his nonchalant demeanor.

"Fight fire with fire, let him experience the situation firsthand!"

Robert was just about to criticize his brother for spouting nonsense, but Joseph nodded in agreement from the side.

"Hmm, that’s a good idea."

Said with a leisurely sip of tea.

"Dad, do you think Evander’s idea is feasible? Isn’t this a joke? Even if Uncle is drugged, isn’t Aunt still there?"

"And why not?"

Joseph lifted his phoenix eyes, retorting, "If Daemon Lancaster can frame me, does that mean Joseph Lancaster is a pushover? If he can be unjust, why can’t I?"

"Bravo!" Before Robert could say anything, Evander pointed teasingly at Joseph, chiming in mischievously.

"An eye for an eye is the best retaliation. Let Uncle find himself at a loss with his own schemes!"

"Easy to say, what if it doesn’t end the way you think?"

Robert snorted in disapproval; he had been in sync with Joseph for years. Now suddenly Joseph and his brother had a rare alignment, making him a bit jealous.

"You wouldn’t dare doubt me, right?" Evander cocked his chin, gesturing animatedly at Joseph.

"You little rascal, can’t even address people properly, can you?" Joseph reprimanded sternly, though the hint of a smile in his eyes betrayed his mood.

His son finally not only cooperated but also came up with ideas. As a father, this feeling was both novel and satisfying.

"What do you want me to call you?" Evander glanced over indifferently.

"Call me what you’re supposed to call!" Joseph said sternly, with a hint of righteousness. Evander’s lips twisted into a sly smile, clearing his throat before addressing him.

"Ahem,"

Joseph raised his brows with satisfaction, taking a sip of tea as he awaited the long-awaited title.

"Uncle!" Evander enunciated clearly and loudly.

"Pu... Cough, cough..." Joseph sputtered the tea he had just sipped.

Robert sighed helplessly, disapprovingly glaring at the instigator.

Evander quickly got up and went to Joseph’s side, kindly patting his back.

"Oh, Uncle, why are you so excited? I’ve been calling you this way all my life. It’s not like you haven’t heard it before, see, seriously!"

"You little rascal, had I known you’d be this naughty, I wouldn’t have let your mom have you!" Joseph angrily pushed his "nephew" aside.

Robert by his side thoughtfully offered him a tissue.

"Sigh, in these times, really can’t be the good guy. No good deed goes unpunished," Evander said as he sat back down with his arms draped over the sofa’s armrests, bouncing his leg with glee.

"Get lost, you rascal, I don’t want to see you!"

Joseph wiped himself off, feigning annoyance to chase him away.

Evander obediently stood up.

"You told me to leave, don’t go complaining to mom later that I’m not helping with family matters."

"Get lost! I’m not as hopeless as you!" Joseph shouted again.

"Sigh, these days, really, no good deed goes unpunished!" Evander shook his head, swaggering towards the office door.

Behind him, big brother Robert frowned disapprovingly.

"Dad, we haven’t finished discussing. Why let him go?"

"Discuss?" Joseph looked at his son, questioning back, phoenix eyes giving away a hint of humor, "Didn’t that little rascal just offer a suggestion?"