Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

As soon as Evander Lancaster had just started speaking, the Lancaster Family elders began chattering all at once, and of course, it was all the women who joined in.

"Exactly, our Lancaster Family is not some ordinary household. Our son got married and we didn’t even hold a single wedding ceremony. Who knows what people outside are saying about us now!"

Victoria Thornton was the first to speak, using the tone of the Lancaster Family’s eldest daughter-in-law.

Gabriel Lancaster’s wife, Valeria Howard, also snorted in agreement through the same nostril. Once Victoria finished, she quickly chimed in.

"Eldest Sister-in-law is right!" After saying that, she turned to Violet Zimmerman. "Sister-in-law, it’s not that your little sister-in-law is blaming you, but all these years you’ve spoiled Evander too much. It’s one thing that you don’t live in the old house, but even when it comes to something as major as marriage you let him make all the decisions, acting first and reporting later.

Sister-in-law, our Lancaster Family is a big household, not one of those little families out there."

There was an obvious note of discrimination in Valeria Howard’s words—discrimination against Sophia Hamilton’s ordinary family background, implying she didn’t deserve to marry into the Lancaster Family.

Sophia let out a cold snort and was just about to snap back when Evander’s aunt, Aurora Lancaster, chuckled beside her and replied calmly without being servile or arrogant.

"Second Sister-in-law, you can’t put it like that. Times are different now; sons and daughters have freedom in marriage. Even if Big Brother were still here, he would agree with what Evander did!"

When Daxton Lancaster was still alive, even if these people in the Lancaster Family were full of dissatisfaction, they never dared to air their opinions so recklessly.

Back then in the Lancaster Family, Daxton was like the heavens—his word was law. Right or wrong, once he made a decision, no one else had a chance to speak.

What Aurora said was also a reminder to those with ulterior motives: even though today’s Lancaster Family no longer enforces the old house rules so strictly, Violet Zimmerman was still the matriarchal grandmother in charge. She had the authority to abolish the family rules, which meant she also had the authority to reinstate them and act according to those rules again!

As soon as Aurora finished, Sophia smiled and picked up the thread.

"Even though I never met my father-in-law, I agree with Auntie."

Victoria and Valeria both sneered in unison. Sophia pretended not to notice, swept her gaze over the elders at the table, and continued.

"Evander and I were just a flower falling for a pair of eyes. My family background might be ordinary, but Evander happened to fall for me, and there’s nothing I can do about that. When it comes to feelings, maybe there really is no logic to be found.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; maybe in Evander’s eyes I’m that stunning beauty, the very image of Xi Shi."

At this point, ignoring the disdainful or contemptuous looks from across the table, Sophia wrapped her arm around Evander’s and, looking up at him with a smile, went on.

"In the eyes of outsiders I might look like some unruly shrew, and maybe there are people who think that after giving birth I’ve let myself go and turned into a twin of that fat Second Senior Brother. But what can I do?"

Sophia smiled at Evander.

"When a turtle looks at a green bean, the more it looks, the more pleasing it finds it!"

By the time Sophia got halfway through, Victoria and Valeria’s faces had already darkened.

The two women—one a notorious tigress—had just been directly labeled a "shrew" by Sophia, and the other, broad and heavyset, had been compared to that rotund Second Senior Brother.

What infuriated them most was that she actually used a turtle as a metaphor. The way she said it, didn’t that make Daemon Lancaster and his brother both turtles?

While the few of them were stewing in their displeasure, Evander also spoke up, giving everyone in the Lancaster Family elders a live demonstration of what it meant for husband and wife to act in perfect concert.

"Naughty!" Evander affectionately tapped Sophia on the nose, then lifted his glass and apologized to the elders of the Lancaster Family.

"Dear elders, Xiaoru’s literary cultivation is limited, so her words can be a bit crude,"

"Hmph, at least someone knows their own limitations!"

Gabriel let out a displeased snort, and Daemon’s expression didn’t look much better, though he didn’t speak.

Evander took in their reactions, chuckled inwardly, and went on. "So please, elders, don’t take it personally!"

Daemon Lancaster and his wife...

Gabriel Lancaster and his wife...

A moment ago, their faces had just looked a bit sour, but after Evander finished speaking, they immediately turned completely black.

Joseph Lancaster smiled faintly without giving anything away. He had long known that this daughter-in-law of his was no easy character—otherwise she wouldn’t be a match for a wild horse like Evander.

Mina Drake had also furrowed her brows imperceptibly when Sophia delivered that last line, but after seeing the reactions of the Daemon brothers, she suddenly realized that some people really didn’t deserve respect.

"Evander, enough with this pointless talk. The dishes will get cold in a moment," Robert Lancaster reminded him, feigning displeasure.

"Right, right, Big Brother, look at me, what a memory I’ve got." Evander laughed, trying to smooth things over, then once again raised his glass.