The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not?

Soon, the day of the charity gala arrived.

In the afternoon, Winnie retired early with the excuse that she wasn't feeling well.

However, she secretly changed into a maid uniform and furtively left the mansion.

After leaving Lagune Mansion, she got into the car she had long since reserved online and headed straight to her condominium in the heart of Avenport.

It was a residence she had prepared several years ago because she knew she would come to Avenport one day to avenge her mother.

Aqua Moana was the most elite residential area in the whole of Avenport. It was in an exceedingly luxurious location where every inch of land cost an arm and a leg.

Even when the unit owners used the elevator, their fingerprints were required to press the call button. As such, ordinary people had no way of sneaking in.

For that reason, Winnie instantly snagged the attention of the security personnel at the reception area when she appeared in the lobby in the mansion's maid uniform and a black mask.

But when they saw that she managed to call the elevator, they retreated silently.

Winnie was aware that she was attracting attention, but it was inevitable that she came dressed thus. Hence, she could only enter the elevator swiftly.

Perhaps she was walking too quickly that she didn't notice the man stepping out of the adjacent elevator.

The second the elevator doors closed, however, the man suddenly swung his gaze in the direction of the elevator with a frown.

Upon seeing Xavier stopping in his tracks, Louis couldn't help stepping forward and inquiring, "What's the matter, Mr. Xavier? Did you leave something in the house?"

"No." Despite his answer, Xavier's brows creased slightly. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the outfit of the woman, who entered the elevator earlier, seemed to be Lagune Mansion's maid uniform. Well, there's a possibility that my eyes were playing tricks on me. "Let's go. By the way, is Yulissa not found yet?"

Louis shook his head. "According to the investigative results last year, she should be in Yartran. But when I sent someone to go and search for her a few days ago, she had long since moved. Nonetheless, I've ordered them to continue investigating, so I believe there'll be news soon."

Xavier grunted in acknowledgment. "Continue investigating, then."

Frowning, Louis ventured, "Then... do you really not need a female companion tonight? Ms. Yandell from Yandell Corporation—"

Xavier cut him off directly, "No. Can I not attend the charity gala without a female companion?"

"No, that was not what I meant, Mr. Xavier. It's just that Old Mr. Fairchild called to ask about your female companion earlier. From his tone, it seems that he still wishes you to attend with Mrs. Fairchild." Lifting his hand, Xavier glanced at his watch. "It's already this hour, so it's too late even if I change my mind."

After saying that, he took out his phone. His hands acted faster than his brain and made the call to Winnie. However, he immediately hung up no sooner had the phone rang twice. Then, he even turned off his phone.

Ugh! I really can't understand myself! What's the significance of making the call? I've already given voice to everything that ought to be said to myself in the car that night.

Massaging his temples, he went silent for a long moment before asking Louis out of the blue, "What did you discover about Yulissa? Tell me everything."

In the elevator, Winnie stared at her phone that only rang twice before cutting off. She promptly called the man back.

Never had she expected him to have turned off his phone when she returned his call.

Great, just great! So, he phoned me just for fun, huh? How inexplicably infuriating! Is this scoundrel trying to tell me that he has already gone to attend the charity gala and reconciled with his first love? Her mood abruptly took a downturn. When she entered her house, she took off her clothes and shoes.

After taking a shower, she started applying makeup.

She once studied under a top-notch international special effects makeup artist for two years. Although she didn't manage to master all the skills, her ability to use makeup to transform her features had already reached the expert level.

It only took two hours for her to transform her countenance completely. Finishing it off with a wig, she became a blond-haired and blue-eyed beauty from Adrune.

If one didn't stare at her face intently, one would never notice a thin layer of latex plastered on her face.

At half past seven in the evening, Winnie appeared at the venue entrance right on the dot.

There were foreign guests attending the charity gala that day, and she deliberately masked her facial features while doing her makeup, so she wasn't all that eye-catching that night.

However, the rose in her hand was pretty striking.

It was a little trick concocted by Nathaniel.

As it was the first time they were meeting in the many years they had been working together, he was afraid that he couldn't recognize his beloved Gator and suggested that they both bring a stalk of red rose to facilitate the recognition process.

Despite finding that idea incredibly childish, Winnie couldn't convince him otherwise and relented in the end.

Nevertheless, she had seen Nathaniel's picture before.

Therefore, upon spotting a blue-eyed man of mixed blood with a red rose in his breast pocket walking toward her, she chucked the flower in her hand without any hesitation and went up to him straight away. "Wow, you must be Gator! You exude confidence! Good evening, my beloved lady. I'm glad to meet you." Nathaniel was no different from his picture, tall and handsome, with an easygoing smile. The two of them used Ustranasion as they conversed.

Winnie was very fluent, and there was no trace of an Aplothian accent in her speech. That was a fact Nathaniel had known ages ago.

Still, a hint of disappointment showed in his eyes after he laid eyes on her.

Clocking it, Winnie found it amusing. "Why, you find my looks ordinary?"

"No, of course not. You're stunningly beautiful, my beloved Gator. But for some inexplicable reason, there was a time when I was convinced that you had Aplothian blood. As you know, a quarter of Chanaean blood flows in my veins. Consequently, I'm very much interested in Aplothian women."

Winnie merely shrugged. "Really? It's a pity then, for I'm a pure-blooded Adrunian."

"No, you misunderstood. I don't find it a pity. I'm still honored that you agreed to be my female companion. After you, my beloved Ms. Gator."

Winnie smilingly exchanged some pleasantries with Nathaniel before heading into the venue on his arm.

After they had walked the red carpet, the receptionist asked Nathaniel to sign his name.

As his female companion, Winnie didn't have to do the same.

Nonetheless, she had to wait at the side when he conversed with people.

It was also then that Xavier arrived.

At the sight of him heading her way, Winnie couldn't help taking a second look at him.

To her surprise, the person he brought with him that night was his assistant, Louis, and not a female companion.