The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not?

When Winnie heard Xavier ask her what she was doing, she shrank back immediately, looking terrified.

"W-Winnie wasn't playing in your car, Mr. Xavier. Winnie didn't drop anything in your car," she stammered, giving herself away with her denial.

Mr. Xavier?

Xavier thought he had misheard her, and an unfathomable emotion suddenly welled within his heart. "What did you just call me?"

I can't believe Dumbo is now addressing me as Mr. Xavier instead! That sounds like we don't know each other well! I can't accept that at all. Even calling me an idiot or stupid like she did before would be better than this!

He could not help walking forward and asking, "Winnie, who taught you to call me that?"

With every small step he took toward her, she took a big step backward.

It was as though if she did not move away, she would get devoured by the person before her.

Has she really become that scared of me now? Is it because of how I acted the other day? But I didn't mean to scare her at all.

"Winnie..."

Just as he started speaking, the driver, who had not gone too far away, jogged over.

He stepped forward and apologized at once. "I'm sorry, Mr. Xavier. Mrs. Fairchild came over with her toys earlier and said she wanted to play inside the car. That's why I let her in. She's afraid of strangers, so I stepped away. I haven't caused you any trouble, have I?"

Everyone at the mansion knows that Mr. Xavier brought his first love back with him. He even spoke harshly to Mrs. Fairchild the other day, saying he loathed that she was a dumbass and told her never to appear before his eyes again.

Fearful that his soft-heartedness in allowing Winnie into the car would anger Xavier, the driver quickly apologized.

As for Winnie, she looked as though she had seen her savior when she saw the driver.

She hid behind the driver immediately. Then, mimicking his actions, she started apologizing as well.

"Stop that!" It annoyed Xavier to see her distancing herself from him and being submissive like the others.

She shouldn't do that, nor does she need to behave like that. I can't bear to see her view me as a danger and hide behind other men when I approach.

Ignoring the driver's presence, Xavier fixed his gaze directly on Winnie's face. "Come here."Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

She looked down and shook her head vehemently.

"No. Winnie doesn't want to. You hate Winnie. You'll scold Winnie and hit-"

Before she could finish her sentence, he growled, "I won't. Come over here right this instant."

Nonetheless, Winnie continued shaking her head.

This scoundrel clearly doesn't have any patience. I feel as though he's going to storm over and drag me away any minute now.

But right at that moment, Yulissa strode over.

She went straight to Xavier and took his arm anxiously.

"What's the matter, Xavier? Why are you scaring Winnie like that? Didn't you say you're tired? Hurry up and go back to your room to rest for a while. I'll give you a massage." Xavier frowned. It seemed that those words did nothing to dissuade him, as he still looked as though he was about to explode with rage.

Seeing that, Yulissa stood on tiptoes and whispered something in his ear.

Her voice was so soft that it was only audible to both of them.

"Xavier, you said you'd make an effort so we could go back to how we were before. If that's the case, come with me now, okay?"

Xavier lowered his gaze and glanced at Yulissa. That's right. I brought her to Lagune Mansion so that I could tear my heart away from Dumbo. "Okay. Let's go."

However, just as the pair turned to leave, Winnie's voice rang out. "Mr. Xavier?"

Xavier halted his footsteps almost the very second he heard her call out to him.

When Yulissa saw his reaction, her blood boiled, and her disgust toward Winnie intensified.

"Winnie won't get into your car again, Mr. Xavier. But one of Winnie's toys is missing. If you find Winnie's toy later, are you going to throw it away as if it's garbage?"

She had been pretty sure that Xavier was the one who found her badge. And with his IQ, he would probably be able to figure out who left it behind.

Moreover, from its material to its craftsmanship, the badge was priceless. Even if an average person picked it up from the pavement, they probably would not discard it just like that. However, after seeing how close he and Yulissa were, she couldn't help doubting his judgment. If he could be in a relationship with her, then he might really toss it away, thinking it was trash. Hence, she finally decided to ask him that question to be on the safe side.

"I won't."

"Really? But Winnie's toy is old and broken. Would you think it was garbage if Winnie accidentally left it inside your car?"

"I said I wouldn't. Not just anyone is allowed into my car. Even if it were garbage, I wouldn't throw it away just like that."

Winnie turned to the driver and asked, "How about you? Are you going to throw it away if you find it?"

"Of course not. As Mr. Xavier said, not just anyone is allowed into his car. I'd ask first even if it was trash."

"That's enough, Winnie. If you can't find it today, the driver will definitely find it when he washes the car the next time and return it to you then," Yulissa piped up. She did not want Xavier to stay anywhere near Winnie for even a second longer.

This dumbass looks like such a damsel in distress that without any self-control, any average man wouldn't be able to resist it. I mean, look at that useless driver. He's already feeling sorry for her. "Actually, I think it's better this way, Xavier. She's afraid of you now and doesn't dare to get close to you. She won't be able to cause you any more trouble. I also heard from Josiah that this could be a side effect of your coma that has caused certain psychological repercussions," said Yulissa.

"Maybe..."

Xavier frowned, unable to refrain from thinking of the past.

Before this, she used to greet me cheerfully whenever I returned home. She'd embrace me, holding me tight, then insist that we sleep together at night. I loved it when she'd call me "Handsome." Whenever she went to the washroom or shower, she'd also ask for hugs. She always wanted me to feed her. Of course, she did the same for me too. Even if it were a small tangerine, she'd peel it carefully, getting all the pith off before feeding it to me. She looked at things with unclouded eyes, and her thoughts were pure and innocent. When she woke up in my arms in the mornings, she always looked like a kitten. She'd even give me little licks and kisses. All of that...

Here, Xavier dared not think of those memories anymore.

He stopped walking abruptly. "You should go and stay in the other guest room."

"Xavier!" Yulissa protested.

"I'm tired."

With that, he opened the door of the guest room he was staying in and went inside, having no intention of letting her into the room at all.

Yulissa clenched her jaw in anger.

I was the one who took his change of clothes and toiletries from this room previously. I also moved into his condominium in Aqua Moana. But from the day I moved in, he has been away on a business trip and only returned yesterday. He hasn't touched me at all!