The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not? novel Chapter 1

Hamish Garland arrived back at his family mansion one day to find his wife, Yara Fandel, and their daughter, Kylie Garland, both in tears with their arms around each other.

“I don't want to marry Xavier anymore, Mom. He's a vegetable! I'm not going to marry someone who's in a coma! My life will be ruined! I'm begging you, get Dad to annul the engagement with the Fairchild family. I'd rather die if you force me to go through with this. I'll jump off a building, hang myself, or slit my wrists! Anything's better than being married to a dead man!”

As Kylie wailed, she made to grab the fruit knife from the coffee table.

“Stop!” Hamish strode over to stay his daughter's hand. “What's the meaning of considering suicide for every little thing?”

“Dad!” Kylie sniffled. “You're back just in time. I'm going to show you my determination today. I would rather die than marry Xavier.”

“That doesn't mean you should hurt yourself!” Yara held on to Kylie and turned her pleading gaze up at her husband. “Is your heart made of stone, Hamish? Kylie is our daughter. How could you bear to watch her die?”

Hamish was at his wit's end. “You know the standing of our family as well as I do, Yara. Marrying Kylie off to them shows we are worthy of them. Us Garlands will be finished if we call off the wedding the moment something happened to Xavier.”

He collapsed helplessly onto the couch as he continued, “I, too, can't bear to watch our daughter suffer, but I have no other way. I hope the two of you will be able to understand me.”

“What do you mean no other way?” Yara took the reins as soon as Hamish showed signs of swaying. “Xavier is betrothed to Ms. Garland. They're not going to care what the bride's first name is, be it Kylie or whatever else, in light of Xavier's condition!”

“What do you mean?” Hamish did not quite understand.

“Hamish...” Yara sat next to him and clung to his arm. “Have you forgotten that you have another daughter? She's two years older than Kylie and the eldest daughter of the Garlands. Kylie is actually the second child.”

“Are you referring to Winnie? No way!” Hamish protested at once when his wife mentioned his other daughter.

“Why not? Kylie would be spared if Winnie married Xavier.”

Hamish glared at his wife. “Are you out of your mind? Winnie is mentally challenged. Marrying a simpleton to them is as good as calling the Fairchilds fools!”

“That simpleton has been raised in the countryside for years, Hamish. The world is not aware of her existence, much less knows she's a simpleton. Let's marry her off first, then find an excuse. We'll tell them she bumped her head and lost her wits, and no one would ever know.”

Yara continued, “Xavier is comatose, Hamish. He's pretty much blind at this point and wouldn't know who he will marry. Besides, you'll still be responsible for the simpleton if she isn't married off. However, you wouldn't have to bother with her once she becomes one of the Fairchilds. We can kill two birds with one stone by doing this!”

Hamish thought his wife had a point. He gazed at his beloved, suicidal daughter and nodded at last.

“All right. I'll have somebody bring Winnie back from the village.”

Soon, Hamish's secretary, Wendy Wilkerson, retrieved Winnie from a secluded mountainous village in Avenport.

Winnie Garland was Hamish's daughter with his ex-wife.

Years ago, Hamish was a broke, illegitimate child banished by his family. His ex-wife was a gentle and kind woman.

Aside from bearing him a child at a young age, she helped him reestablish himself. However, the unfaithful Hamish began an affair once he became rich. After being welcomed back into his family, he cast aside his ex-wife and daughter.

Winnie, on the other hand, suffered from brain damage due to an untended fever in her youth.

She promptly abandoned her grandmother, who had cared for her for decades, at the prospect of following Wendy to the big city for candy.

At the moment, Winnie was leaning against the car window with a silly grin on her face. Her clear eyes were like those of a child's.

Wendy felt sorry for her young charge, so she handed her phone to the latter.