Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

In the Lancaster Family, Emily Zimmerman was busy packing her luggage. She had already called home to tell her parents that she would return to City F tomorrow.

In the past, she thought that maybe one day Joseph Lancaster would see her worth, but now it seems... no matter how hard she tries, she can’t win over his heart.

Emily could see the importance of Violet Zimmerman in Joseph’s mind. Hearing that she gave birth prematurely, his level of anxiety was equal to that of his elder brother Daxton Lancaster.

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Sister Emily, you’re classmates with my second brother. You should get along well, so why don’t your personalities match?"

Aurora Lancaster really liked Emily Zimmerman, an educated woman, enthusiastic, confident, and generous, unlike Violet Zimmerman, whose personality was too gentle and shy, always needing others to take the initiative.

Emily managed a weak smile, "We have different values, even if we’re together, we’d argue."

Joseph Lancaster understood Emily’s character, so he didn’t hide anything from her. If it were any other woman, he wouldn’t have dared to admit to it.

The situation with the uncle falling for the sister-in-law, if spread, would not only upset the family, but also invite ridicule on the streets.

"Ah, I really can’t understand you adults," Aurora Lancaster complained, lying on the bed watching Emily pack away her clothes piece by piece, "All this talk about values, personality discord—if you ask me, those are just excuses."

Emily forced another smile but said nothing.

...

The baby arrived half a month earlier than expected. The family had prepared everything except the infant formula.

Under normal circumstances, the mother’s milk doesn’t come in until three days after birth. It was after seven o’clock already; cooperative stores and shops were closed. Lorelei Howard realized this important detail upon returning home.

She went to Daemon Lancaster’s room, the only household with children, hoping to try her luck, but Victoria Thornton’s place didn’t have any infant formula either.

In desperation, Lorelei Howard instructed the kitchen to make more millet porridge, intending to use the rice soup as a temporary substitute for formula to feed the baby.

Not long after his parents left the hospital, Joseph Lancaster remembered this issue. His driver’s license hadn’t come through yet, and this was not something he could ask his eldest brother Daxton Lancaster to do. So he waited for the driver to come by with dinner so he could tag along back to retrieve the infant formula and body-nourishing malt extract he had bought during a business trip, also instructing him to deliver it to the hospital.

Joseph Lancaster was more considerate than his mother. Carrying a whole two net bags with hot water bottles, basins, and insulated cups.

Seeing his brother bring so many daily items, Daxton Lancaster asked in confusion, "Joseph, why are you bringing so much? The doctor said they could be discharged tomorrow."

"Big brother, since we have a car at home, I brought extra so if our sister-in-law gets hungry at night, she can use hot water to warm up some boiled eggs."

Daxton Lancaster always knew Joseph cared for his wife; he just didn’t expect him to be thoughtful to this degree—the ’uncle’ to the child being more meticulous than the father, even preparing formula and bottles.

After placing the items well, Joseph Lancaster followed the instructions to mix the formula, scooping a spoonful into the bottle, adding a little sugar. Though he was a rough-handed man, he was especially meticulous in handling this task.

Standing beside him, Daxton Lancaster squinted slightly, asking, "When did you buy the formula?"

Joseph Lancaster poured some hot water into the bottle—not too much—shook it gently to dissolve the powder inside, "During the business trip, I went to a department store to buy something for my nephew; saw the formula and picked up a bag."

Joseph Lancaster screwed the bottle tight, "Big brother, when our nephew gets hungry at night, mix some hot water to this level." Joseph gestured, "The temperature will be just right."

"What’s this?" Daxton Lancaster picked up the bag of malt extract, feigning ignorance.

"Oh, this is malt extract; I’ve heard it’s very nutritious." Joseph Lancaster replied naturally.

With a ’bang’, Daxton Lancaster tossed the bag of malt extract onto the table, his hands tucked into his pants pockets.

"Joseph, I noticed you’re quite concerned about your sister-in-law!"

Joseph Lancaster placed the bottle aside and, before speaking, subconsciously glanced at the bed. Violet Zimmerman, weakened from childbirth, was already fast asleep.

"Big brother, we’re real brothers. Just as the eldest brother is like a father, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. As the younger brother, it’s only right to care for you both."

He spoke naturally, though carefully avoiding eye contact with his elder brother Daxton Lancaster.

Daxton Lancaster looked at him indifferently, opting to stay silent.

...

The next day, Emily Zimmerman left, and Violet Zimmerman was brought back home.

With the eldest grandchild of the family, Lorelei Howard couldn’t bear to part, holding the baby day and night, never letting him go while he was awake.

Violet Zimmerman, on the other hand, took things easy, only needed to feed the baby; everything else was handled for her.

However, she had to do things herself at night.

The baby shared the bedroom with them, with a special crib placed by the footstool. The little one woke three to four times a night, needing to be fed and have diapers changed.

Daxton Lancaster, having a cleanliness obsession, didn’t allow servants in his room. He didn’t trust leaving the little one in a separate room, so Violet Zimmerman had to do these tasks herself.

Having recently given birth, a woman naturally craves sleep. Half a month has passed, and feeding, changing diapers at night, Violet Zimmerman always felt she hadn’t slept enough.

The baby was just twenty days old when Daxton Lancaster went on a business trip. With her mother and servants taking care, there was no room for concern.

Lorelei Howard spent days in Violet’s room but didn’t return after dinner.

While Daxton Lancaster was home, he occasionally helped Violet with diaper duty; now it was all up to her.

At nine o’clock in the evening, movement between rooms almost ceased. Joseph Lancaster came out of his quarters carrying a net bag.

By this time, the household staff had retired to their rooms for rest; to avoid disturbances, Joseph Lancaster wandered the halls without turning on the lights.

He strode towards Violet Zimmerman’s dwelling, initially intending to knock but hesitated and opted for elsewhere.

The Lancaster residence’s design was quite human-friendly; a scenic platform spanned the entire second floor. Though Violet Zimmerman never enjoyed the view, its structure suited a certain someone quite well.

Joseph Lancaster hugged the scenic platform’s columns, easily climbing up, arriving at Violet Zimmerman’s window. He saw shadows cast by the curtains; she sat on the bed nursing the child. Tapping gently, he lowered his voice.

"Sister-in-law, it’s me, Joseph. Open the window..."

Initially, Violet Zimmerman thought she was hearing things, until Joseph Lancaster tapped once more.

She laid the baby in bed, pulled the curtains aside, "Joseph, what are you doing here?" The question was why climb to the window instead of using the door?

Through the glass, Joseph Lancaster pointed to the latch area.

"Open the window first, let me in."