Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

Violet Zimmerman gave a perfunctory reply and hurried out of Joseph Lancaster’s place, clutching the palm-sized tape recorder, stumbling all the way back.

Seeing his wife in such a panic, Daxton Lancaster frowned slightly.

"Why are you back so soon?"

He had specifically told them to add more liquor to the Alcohol Fermented Meatballs. His younger brother Joseph had a low tolerance; once he was tipsy his willpower would weaken, and then, if his wife put in a bit of effort, she would definitely be able to achieve their goal.

"Daxton, I... I can’t do it." Violet stood at the bedroom door, her hand that was holding the recorder rubbing it over and over—that was her nervousness.

Daxton rose from the sofa and went over, grasping Violet’s wrist and pulling her to the sofa.

Violet followed him and sat down mechanically, her hand that held the recorder still anxiously fumbling with it.

Daxton took the tape recorder from her hand and set it down on the coffee table in front of them, then turned back and took both of Violet’s hands in his.

Knowing exactly what he was about to say, Violet instinctively wanted to avoid it; she turned her face to the side, her eyes wandering restlessly everywhere—anywhere but Daxton’s phoenix eyes.

"Violet." Daxton called her name, the two syllables heavy, and at the same time his grip on her wrists tightened.

"I can’t be the one to do this; it has to be you. Joseph is my younger brother, and I don’t want him to know the truth!

You’re the only one who can go to him, make him like you, and then... I’ll pretend I don’t know anything."

"I’m your wife!" Violet protested, her voice choked with tears.

"Daxton, I know you want a child, but have you ever thought about how I feel?"

He wanted her to go seduce her own brother‑in‑law; he might as well have told her to die!

With a sigh, Daxton released Violet’s wrist, turned around, and slowly stood up, his voice heavy as he spoke.

"Fine, I won’t force you."

With that, Daxton walked over to the bed, his lean back looking desolate and defeated.

Seeing him like this made Violet’s heart ache, but—

She really couldn’t do it!

Not having rested well, the next morning Violet woke up a bit late. The space beside her was empty; Daxton had gotten up long ago.

A few days ago he had still been trying to make an effort; last night, he left her only his back.

He lay tight against the edge of the bed, with a whole person’s width of distance between them.

After getting up and washing, Violet changed her clothes and went downstairs. Daxton was slouched on the sofa, not reading the paper, just holding a cigarette and staring blankly at some spot.

He didn’t even notice Violet coming down.

"Daxton, why are you up so early?" Violet hesitated, then fished for something to say.

Daxton came back to himself and glanced over. "Couldn’t sleep."

Then he went to take a drag from the cigarette between his fingers.

Violet pressed her lips together and reminded him.

"The cigarette’s out."

Daxton lowered his eyes to the dead stub between his fingers, then tossed it into the ashtray.

He stood up from the sofa. "Come on, let’s go eat."

Although Daxton seemed normal enough, Violet clearly heard that sigh of his.

By the time the two of them went over, breakfast time had already passed. All the Lancaster Family members were sitting at the dining table, waiting for the couple.

The old master wouldn’t pick up his chopsticks, and the others didn’t dare start before him, so they could only wait for the two to come over and eat together.

Seeing Violet, Joseph Lancaster immediately launched into a resentful complaint.

"Sis‑in‑law, why did you put so much liquor in last night’s Alcohol Fermented Meatballs? My head still hurts a bit."

After eating the late‑night snack Violet had brought over, Joseph had felt a bit woozy. With his poor tolerance, he’d gotten drunk just from the meatballs.

"Oh, it was my first time making them. I don’t have much experience." Violet forced a smile, not daring to lift her head to look at Joseph at all.

"Make some again tonight, just go easy on the liquor and give me a bigger portion. I didn’t get enough last night."

"Ah, okay," Violet answered perfunctorily, then called out "Grandpa" and sat down with Daxton.

Across from them, Eva Hayes curled her lip in displeasure.

"Well now, I was wondering why you two came so late. Turns out you had a midnight snack and weren’t even hungry."

Violet glanced at Eva but said nothing.

When Violet didn’t respond, Eva assumed she was feeling guilty. With a derisive snort she continued her sarcasm: "You two not being hungry is one thing, but the rest of us are! You’ve kept the whole Lancaster Family sitting here waiting for you. Victoria’s pregnant again—if my grandson goes hungry, who’s going to take responsibility?"

"Auntie Eva, how does us having a midnight snack affect you?" Daxton questioned coldly, obvious chill in his phoenix eyes.

"If you don’t feel like waiting, then eat in your own place. No one invited you over!"

"Grandpa, did you hear that? Your grandson’s talking back to us!" Eva turned to the old master to complain. The old master shot her an impatient look; not only did he refuse to support her, he actually rebuked her, displeased.

"Eat."

Chastised by the old master, Eva finally quieted down, sullenly picking up her bowl and chopsticks.

But the family’s cook had already been tormented enough by her. Halfway through breakfast, Victoria Thornton dropped her chopsticks and ran outside to throw up.

That really sent Eva into a panic. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and hurried into the kitchen, ordering the cook to make several more dishes. Watching how concerned she was about her pregnant daughter‑in‑law, Violet actually felt envious.

Instinctively she glanced at her mother‑in‑law, Lorelei Howard; what she got in return was a cold, displeased face.

Her father‑in‑law, Bodhi Lancaster, was the same, his face pulled long as though she owed him money.

After saying he wouldn’t force her anymore, Daxton really did stop pushing Violet, and he no longer had her bring late‑night snacks to his younger brother Joseph.

Having smashed Joseph’s tape recorder, Violet felt very guilty. She’d originally planned to have Daxton buy a new one for her brother‑in‑law.

But seeing how upset Daxton was, she didn’t dare bring it up.

That morning Joseph had proactively asked her for a late‑night snack. Thinking of how she’d broken his recorder, Violet made some Alcohol Fermented Meatballs and took them over.

Daxton stood at the bedroom window, watching his wife walk out of the courtyard holding the enamel basin. His phoenix eyes were misty, making it impossible to tell what he was feeling.

By the time it was the hour she’d come by yesterday, Violet still hadn’t shown up. Joseph was getting anxious. He grabbed the landline, wanting to call his big brother’s place; after hesitating, he put it down again. Then he picked it up, and set it down once more, repeating the cycle over and over.

Every time he picked up the phone, Joseph would think, maybe Sis‑in‑law has already come over; but then he’d worry that she’d forgotten all about the late‑night snack.

Just as the young man was tangled up in indecision, Violet had already walked in, carrying the enamel basin.

"Sis‑in‑law, I’ve been waiting for you like for the stars and moon—you finally came!"

Joseph sprang to his feet and eagerly went to meet her. Before Violet had even had time to react, he’d already taken the enamel basin from her hands.

Cradling the basin, Joseph hurried over to the sofa and set it on the coffee table. He lifted the lid, bent down to sniff it, and let out a satisfied sigh.