Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

"Sister-in-law, come on in."

Joseph Lancaster was carrying the enamel basin into the bedroom, so happy he actually forgot there was still one earbud plugged into his ear.

Violet Zimmerman hesitated for that moment and just felt something jerk free, then slip from the crook of her arm. By the time she reacted and tried to catch it, the tape recorder Joseph had shoved into her hands had already fallen to the floor.

Along with the earbud stuck in Joseph’s ear.

Staring at the tape recorder with its casing smashed off, both of them froze. It took several seconds before Violet snapped out of it and squatted down to pick the tape recorder up.

"Joseph, this..."

The tape recorder was a new one Joseph Lancaster had just bought, not even a week old, and cost several hundred yuan—basically a worker’s whole year’s wages back then.

The young man felt a twinge of distress, but seeing his sister-in-law’s upset, nervous expression, he smiled and said,

"It’s fine, sis, worst case I’ll have big brother replace it for me. He’s loaded anyway."

Joseph was just joking offhand, but Violet took it seriously and nodded at once. "Okay, when I get back I’ll have Daxton buy you a new one."

"Come on in, sis, I’m teasing you."

Joseph Lancaster carried the enamel basin over to the study desk, set it down, and lifted the lid straight away. Violet was very thoughtful—when she brought the late-night snack, she’d put a soup spoon in there.

"Sister-in-law, find yourself a spot to sit." Right now Joseph’s eyes were only on the Alcohol Fermented Meatballs in front of him. He picked up the spoon and scooped one into his mouth.

Violet Zimmerman cradled the broken tape recorder and looked around. In the room, besides the study desk and chair, there was only the bed.

After hesitating, Violet sat down on the bed with the tape recorder in hand. Whether from guilt or something else, she just felt like the wooden boards under her backside had sprouted thorns; she couldn’t sit easy.

Joseph Lancaster ate the Alcohol Fermented Meatballs as he praised her. "Sis, your cooking is amazing, way better than the cook at home."

Violet smiled. "If you like it, eat more. From now on every night your sister-in-law will bring it over for you."

"That’s great, thanks, sis!"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Violet’s butt was barely perched on the side. Watching the boy with his head down eating so happily, her heart had already run in circles a dozen times.

If...

If she pretended to be sleepy and lay down against the headboard, would her little brother-in-law... do anything to her...

Ugh, ugh, ugh!

The moment that thought surfaced, Violet cursed herself out in her head over and over.

He was her little brother-in-law, only twenty-one and still in school. Even though she was only two years older than him, she was still his sister-in-law.

They always say the elder sister-in-law is like a mother. If she and his brother... if the two of them... wouldn’t that be completely messing up the family order?

Violet suddenly sprang up from the bed, clutching the palm-sized tape recorder. "Um... Joseph, you take your time eating. It’s getting late, I’ll head back now."

"Sis, what’re you rushing for? Sit a bit longer, it’s only a little after eight!" Joseph had a meatball in his mouth as he mumbled the words.

"No, your brother’s still waiting for me." With the younger brother-in-law politely asking her to stay, Violet felt even more guilty. Hugging the tape recorder, she quickened her steps toward the bedroom door.

Seeing the woman’s hurried pace, the young man laughed and teased,

"How could I forget, big brother’s in a hurry to make a baby right now!"

Violet fled out under the boy’s laughter, heart racing, the hands holding the tape recorder icy cold.

By the time she came downstairs, her face was almost bloodless.

The servant waiting below looked at her in puzzlement and asked respectfully, "Madam, are you heading back?"

If Violet hadn’t stayed in Joseph Lancaster’s room for less than ten minutes, the servant would probably have gotten the wrong idea.