Contract Marriage: The Replacement Groom

Vera woke up to the ray of sunlight slapping her window. She yawned and stretched. Today marks a new beginning for her and everyone else in the mansion. Especially Maverick and Jeslyn’s relationship.

"Bid farewell to your marriage. Hahahaha..." She soliloquized more before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

A while later, she left her room and headed to the sitting room. Seeing the sitting room she redecorated was back to how it used to be, Vera grew angry and was about to lash out at the servants when she spotted Jeslyn and the chefs taking plates to the dining room.

"The wench is back, then the redecoration was her doing." she murmured before walking down.

"Good morning, Rossa. When did you arrive?" She asked when she got to the kitchen.

"Good morning. We arrived last night." Jeslyn responded while setting the table.

"Oh, it’s great to have you back... thank you so much for saving my baby. If not for you, Valen would have died."

Jeslyn’s fingers paused on what she was doing and slowly looked up at Vera. "Even without the baby, Valen will live."

Jeslyn knew that Vera didn’t say anything bad but she was pissed. How could a mother talk about her son dying like she was talking about the taste of food?

"You are right. I shouldn’t have said that." She smiled. "Thank you for caring so much about my child."

Jeslyn just looked at her and continued her activity. Jeslyn felt she was reminding her that Valen is her son.

Seeing that Jeslyn didn’t want to continue, Vera felt bored and changed the subject.

"Did Mav change the decoration I made?"

"I did."

"Oh, I’m Very sorry, I thought I could change–"

"As what? This is my house, Vera. Whatever changes needs to be done, it has to be done by me. Understand?"

"I understand. I’m sorry."

Jeslyn ignored her and started to set Maverick’s cutlery.

"My waist hurts, get the chair!" She hissed.

Vera had made it a habit of hers over the time Jeslyn and Maverick left the house to order the maid around and made them do things for her in a ’polite’ manner. She didn’t know that the maids she was seeing weren’t the same maids that used to curry favor with her.

Vera looked around but none of the maids paid her mind. She was already looking for ways to cause drama, so why not start with this?

She knew Maverick would be here soon, so she needed to start a drama before he arrived.

The nearest maid to her jolted when she heard the unexpected cry. She turned to look at Vera but before her face could be fully turned, a loud ’paah’ was heard.

The maids were stunned. Jeslyn also got a shock. What was that for?

"Vera, what’s going on?" Jeslyn is against manhandling workers. They are humans with emotions, why should they be made to tolerate grievances? They work for their pay!

"It was a mistak–" Vera smiled warmly.

"That’s not the answer to my question, I believe." Jeslyn frowned.

Vera looked remorseful and said in her pitiful voice. "I’m so sorry, Jeslyn. It’s the pregnancy hormone. I–"

"If pregnancy hormones would start to make you treat other living humans with disrespect, better go get rid of the baby." Jeslyn said with annoyance.

"Jeslyn, you–" Vera suddenly hugged her stomach with her eyes widened as she stared at Jeslyn. It appeared like she couldn’t believe Jeslyn just said that.

Jeslyn pretended to not know anything and looked up at her with a serving spoon in hand. "Ah? Aren’t you going to sit down anymore? Will your hormones be able to take it?" She asked while pouring water into Maverick’s cup.

From the corner of her eyes, Vera saw Maverick walking over and she started to cry. "Jeslyn, I never thought you could say this to me. Do you hate me and Valen so much? My unborn child’s bone marrow will be used on Valen, yet you said I should abort the baby?" She wiped her tears. "I understand that I was wrong for intruding into your marriage, but please, can you allow me to stay and give birth so Valen can be healed? I beg you, please Jeslyn..."

Jeslyn was stunned. She didn’t understand what Vera was driving at until she saw Maverick behind her. ’Oh, so it’s a white lotus thingy. Let’s have a little bit of fun in this house then. It’s boring without Valen anyway.’ Jeslyn thought.

"Wh– what are you saying? When did I? I’m so sorry if you feel offended. It was just a suggestion. Since you said you were afraid that your pregnancy hormones might drive you to kill Valen and I, that was why I advised you to abort the baby." Jeslyn looked way more aggrieved than Vera right now and any passerby who saw this would think Vera was bullying Jeslyn.

Vera’s lips parted in shock. She couldn’t believe what was happening. She thought Maverick would say something but he just walked past her and sat on his seat.

No servant pulled out chairs for anybody. Vera knew that servants don’t pull out chairs for anyone in Maverick’s house, yet she made it a big deal. It was also good because she just found out Jeslyn was a greater white lotus than her, so her plans of turning Maverick against her has to be reshaped into a more advanced one.

She sat down and started to eat in silence. From the corner of her eyes, she saw how Jeslyn put food on Maverick’s plate and how she smiled like an idiot.

"Vera, you don’t like the food? I can have the kitchen prepare veggies for you. I heard it’s good for pregnancy." Jeslyn smiled innocently.

Vera almost puked when she heard Veggies. Ever since Maverick force fed her tasteless veggies that time, she became allergic to that food. Was Jeslyn mocking her?

"I like it," Vera smiled with her lips sealed.