The Wrong Bride to Mess With novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A month after our unpleasant argument, my mother called me again.

“Willow,” she said, her voice unusually soft. I’m sorry, dear. I was inconsiderate before, and I apologize. Are you free this

weekend? I’ll make a few dishes at home. Come back for a meal.”

This was the first time in the two years since I married Julius that my mother had invited me home for dinner. Before I

could even respond, she started to cry.

“Willow, I’m getting old. Your father and I aren’t in good health. Every time we see you, it’s one less chance we’ll have.”

I was softened by the guilt trip. “Alright, I’ll come back this weekend.”

When I arrived on the weekend, my mother was overwhelmingly warm. She pulled me into the house. The dining table

was already set with all my favorite dishes.

I had just sat down at the table when someone emerged from the bedroom.

“Nina? Why are you back?”

Seeing Nina’s face sent my heart racing. Logically, Nina shouldn’t be returning for another eight years.

*Long time no see, little sister.” She sat down next to me, sizing me up.

“That whole outfit must be worth hundreds of thousands,” she commented, her eyes fixed on the bracelet on my wrist.

“This must be over ten thousand. Julius really spoils you.”

She sighed again. “You’re living a good life now. You have no idea how much your sister has suffered these past two years

abroad‘

‘Nina, didn’t you say back then that as long as you could be with your husband, you’d be happy even if you had to eat

rags and weeds?”

‘Husband? You don’t have a brother–in–law!” she snapped.

‘I’ll be direct with you,” she continued. “I came back this time to reclaim my identity. Starting now, you go back to being yourself. You are Willow Johnson, and I am Nina Johnson.”

‘After dinner, you’ll take off these clothes and all this jewelry and give them to me. I’ll go back to the Howard family in your place, We’re switching back.”

Nina’s sheer audacity made me laugh. “Nina, you’re the master of getting something for nothing.”

“What makes you think I would simply hand over everything, after two years of desperately working to please Julius and establish myself in that family?”

Chapter 3

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Nina slammed her hand down on the table. Julius was supposed to marry me! You’ve been squatting in my spot for years. Do you really intend to hog my position forever?”

“You were the one who refused to marry him back then and almost caused the whole family to pay for it. I sacrificed

myself to take your place; you should be grateful to me!”

I said, fury surged in my chest.

And my ability to gain Julius’s affection and become the mistress of the Howard household? That was my effort! Do you

really think you can just come back now and seamlessly replace me?”

Nina jumped to her feet and shouted at me, “How dare you turn on me! I’ve been kind enough to let you enjoy two years of privilege in the Howard family under my name!”

“If you don’t switch places with me, I’ll go straight to Julius and expose your identity!”

*T’ll tell him that you were the one who, out of jealousy, pushed me into the river and caused me to lose my memory!”

“When that happens, you won’t just have to give me back my identity, you’ll also have to face the consequences of

deceiving Julius! Let’s see how you survive that!”

I stood up calmly. “Go ahead and tell him. It’ll just be mutually assured destruction.”

*I recorded the conversation where you all demanded I take your place that day. I can play it for Julius. If we’re going to

die, we’ll die together. The whole family, nice and neat.”

My mother suddenly rushed over and slapped me hard across the face. “You have to switch back with your sister today.

or I’ll kill myself right here and now!”

I clutched my stinging cheek, tears uncontrollably streaming down.

“Mom, before I saw Nina, I truly thought you and Dad cared about me. But it looks like you only ever saw Nina as your daughter. I am not switching back with her. Give up this delusion!”

I turned to leave, desperate to escape that wretched place. But the moment I took a step, a crushing blow landed on the back of my head.