The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not?

Yulissa felt aggrieved because he was the one who had been calling Winnie a dumbass. "But Xavier-"

"No buts!" Xavier sounded even more stern.

Yulissa suddenly realized something when she saw how protective Xavier was toward Winnie.

She teared up and looked at Xavier in disbelief. "Xavier, are you bewitched by her looks? But she's really just a—"

"Shut up!" Xavier cut her off with a frown. "She has never bewitched me. Don't throw your unfounded accusation at her."

Instead, he had willingly let himself fall for her.

Even so, Yulissa was still baffled.

Xavier is such a prideful person. How is he not mad after having wine poured all over him? He doesn't even care about my swollen face and is telling me not to call that woman a dumbass. Five years ago, he would never have let anyone bully his girlfriend. In fact, there was no way he would have let someone humiliate him like that. Has this man gone crazy? Why would he fall for a dumbass?

"What about those things that you said to me before this, Xavier? Do those words mean anything?"

"I meant what I said," Xavier said expressionlessly. "Yulissa, as I said, as long as you behave, we could perhaps go back to how things once were."

"Really?"

Xavier chuckled. "I don't have a reason to lie to you."

"Okay. I'll behave. No matter what happens, I'm not going to leave you this time."

Yulissa wanted to hug Xavier as she spoke.

But Xavier shoved her aside. "Get the housekeeper to get an ice pack for your face."

With that, he left.

Yulissa clenched her fists, stood there, and watched him leave.

I'm still in love with you, Xavier. If you have a change of heart soon, I believe things will go back to how they used to be. However, if you hurt me and make me sad, I'm going to help Zyon in bringing you down. By then, don't blame me for being heartless!

Meanwhile, Winnie was entirely crestfallen when she went into the playroom.

Right after she switched on her computer, she received a call from Jacinta.

"Hey, Winnie." Judging by how soft Jacinta's voice was, Winnie knew she had called her secretively. "Some people came today and said they're from the Fairchild family. They said they're bringing me to Avenport. Is there such a thing?"

"They got there so soon?" Winnie frowned. "Xavier only told me about it last night, and I thought he didn't mean it. I didn't expect them to arrive there so quickly."

"Oh, I see. So it's true. I thought they were a bunch of conmen at first. Have you agreed to it, though? Do you want me to follow them? Will I cause you trouble if I do so?"

"You won't. In fact, it's good that you're coming. I can't really go out on my own. With you here, it's easier for me to get things done. Besides, Old Mr. Fairchild is celebrating his birthday soon. All the younger members of the Fairchild family will be here. Who knows? We might bump into my cousin. You can have a good look at him yourself. Even if we don't see him, you can treat it as a trip for you to relax." "Really? That's great! I'll pack up and follow them, then. Winnie, I'm so looking forward to it."

"Yes. I hope we can successfully locate my cousin." In truth, Winnie was eager to find her cousin as well.

No matter how things turn out this time, I'm surely leaving the Fairchild family. I'm just waiting for the right time. Prior to this, I was still planning to be around Xavier for a while. But things have changed. I'm not going to waste time trying to win over a man who has someone else in his heart. He's a filthy man!

Ever since Winnie poured wine over Xavier's head in Lagune Mansion, Xavier had never returned.

Besides, Yulissa had brought away his clothes that day itself.

Winnie didn't know where they moved to, and she wasn't interested in finding out.

She had thought about exposing Yulissa, but she ultimately changed her mind.

I don't have to trouble myself. I should just let Xavier make a fool out of himself. Furthermore, I've been busy. Not only do I have to communicate with Nathaniel, but I also have to keep acting dumb.

Since Rufus' seventy-eighth birthday was coming up, Winnie had to arrive earlier at the Fairchild residence to get ready so that she could see the younger members of the Fairchild family and look for the birthmark Jacinta was looking for.

That day, she urgently needed to purchase a batch of military-grade listening devices. However, those kinds of things couldn't be found in the legal market in Chanaea, and she had to look for the goods on the black market.

While using Jacinta as a distraction, Winnie left Lagune Mansion.

After settling Jacinta down, Winnie dressed up in a unisex outfit and headed toward the black market.

The location of the black market was always changing, and it was held in the basement of a bar that day. Things such as firearms, drugs, and confidential information were traded there.

Upon entering the basement of the bar, Winnie went to look for a redheaded Eastern Epean man.

That man specialized in reselling all kinds of advanced military equipment.

According to the rules, they would not make deals with strangers no matter how much money was offered. Winnie, however, went there prepared. After a failed negotiation, she immediately whipped out a black badge.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

It wasn't an ordinary black badge. It was made of black gold, with a rose and a scepter engraved on the front and back.

Anyone who knew of its existence would know what that badge meant.

The redheaded man knew of the badge, so he quickly gave Winnie what she wanted.

After the transaction was completed, Winnie was about to leave the place when the face of a woman caught her attention.

That woman was taking drugs. She had a face mask on, but she took it off when she ingested some pills.

Winnie caught a glimpse of her face when she took off her mask. That woman looks like Yulissa.

However, it was rather dark, so Winnie wasn't sure.

She wanted to take a closer look at that woman, but she was soon surrounded by men.

Not wanting to be nosy, Winnie left.

The moment she left the bar, the redheaded man told a group of men about the badge she had. "Ha! I didn't know someone from that family is in Chanaea. Since they came on their own, I'm going to take full advantage of the opportunity. The three of you should go and grab that person. Keep that person alive. I'm going to have some fun."

Winnie started her car, having no idea that danger was creeping up on her.