© WebNovel
"You're already married, why are you here to register again!"
"Don't you know the crime of bigamy?"
...
Keira Olsen walked out of the courthouse in shock, holding the marriage certificate that the staff had just printed for her.
The man who had accompanied her to register looked at the stunning girl before him and said with pity, "Miss Olsen, you're already married, why pay me to have a sham marriage with you?"
Leaving behind the words "no refund on the deposit," he hurried away.
Keira Olsen pursed her lips, still unable to process what had happened.
She had never even been in a relationship, how could she possibly be already married?!
She looked down and gazed at the printout in her hands again.
On the certificate photo, the girl looked somewhat constrained, smiling reluctantly with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye; it was indeed her. As for the man...
His features were distinctive, nose high and bridge prominent, thin lips curled in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His deep gaze was fixed on the camera, piercing as if to penetrate the paper.
Even in a black and white print, his mysterious and commanding presence could not be hidden.
She looked again at the name: Lewis Horton.
... She was sure she didn't know this man at all!
What on earth was going on?!
Keira Olsen took out her phone to snap a photo of the printout and opened WhatsApp, sent it to a contact with a black profile picture: [Help me find out who he is.]
The reply came instantly: [Received.]
Only then did Keira Olsen push aside the confusion in her heart, hopped on an old electric bike, and leisurely entered a luxurious villa complex, heading to the Olsen Family home.
Today was her sister Isla Olsen's big day, as her fiancé was coming for the betrothal.
The house was decorated with lights and festive ornaments, the servants bustled about orderly, and there were a few temporary workers hired as well.
Keira Olsen parked her bike in a corner, as the voices of the temp workers and servants reached her from behind:
"Who is she? She's so pretty!"
"Shh, she is the illegitimate daughter who isn't acknowledged by the father."
"Her mother was the other woman, who brazenly showed up heavily pregnant demanding justice while the lady of the house was about to give birth, resulting in both women delivering on the same day. That old woman has such thick skin, she's found various reasons to stay in the house for years without leaving."
"Miss Keira knows her place though. She moved out ever since junior high and hasn't come back in years. I wonder what brings her here today..."
Keira Olsen lowered her eyes, pretending not to hear the conversation, and entered the living room.
Her mother, Poppy Hill, was waiting at the entrance, the still-charming woman anxiously pulled her upstairs the moment she stepped through the door, "First, let's go find your sister. Oh, did you get your marriage certificate?"
Keira Olsen's voice was soft and indifferent, betraying no emotion, "I got it."
Even though the groom had changed, it still counted, didn't it?
"That's good. Remember your place, Jake Horton is your sister's fiancé, part of a top-tier wealthy family, and not something an illegitimate daughter like you could aspire to! Only your sister is worthy of him!"
Hearing this, a touch of irony flashed in Keira Olsen's eyes.
Jake Horton was the legitimate grandson of the first branch of the Horton Family, Oceanion's most prestigious family. He'd chased her for four years in college but proposed to Isla Olsen on the day of graduation...
Upon learning this, Poppy Hill had demanded that Keira Olsen immediately find someone to marry her off and completely sever any potential ties with Jake Horton.
It had always been this way since she was a child...
Whenever there was even the slightest conflict of interest between her and Isla, Poppy Hill would insist on her unconditional retreat.
Because she was an illegitimate daughter, her existence was seen as the original sin.
As a child, she had been brainwashed to believe enduring all this was only natural.
But now she had long since woken up to reality.
Keira Olsen's face was solemn as she said with pause between words, "We agreed this is the last time."
The fault was Poppy Hill's, she was the one who stayed at the Olsen house just to see her father every day, she was the one who wanted to please Isla Olsen, Keira wouldn't pay for her life with her own.
This time, it was an opportunity to repay her for the grace of giving birth, to make a clean break.
Poppy Hill was impatient, "I know that."
As they talked, the two arrived at Isla Olsen's room.
The pretty girl sat on the sofa in a gorgeous dress like a princess, selecting jewelry with the whole room shimmering with glitz and glamour.
Keira Olsen, dressed in shabby clothes, had her spine straight as an arrow.
Isla Olsen saw her and greeted, "Keira, why are you here?"
Before Keira could speak, Poppy Hill interjected, "Isla, Keira got married today."
Isla Olsen was surprised, "So soon? Who is the man, is he even better than Jake?"
Poppy Hill said with sarcasm, "How is that possible! There's no one in the whole of Oceanion with a status higher than young Mr. Horton! Isla, what kind of decent family could she possibly find? Nothing but a fallen household, she didn't dare bring him here, afraid his poverty-stricken appearance would dirty your eyes!"
Isla Olsen's voice carried a hint of jealousy, "How can that be? Keira is so beautiful, otherwise, Jake wouldn't have pursued her for four years."
"What's the use of being pretty? A worn shoe fits a tattered sock, with her status she could only marry some lowlife who'd be willing to take her. Young Mr. Horton just saw her as a toy, to play with casually, only someone with Isla's status is worthy of young Mr. Horton..."
Keira Olsen frowned.
The man in the photo, in terms of looks and temperament, how could he be linked to a fallen house or a lowlife?
But she was too lazy to argue against these superficial remarks.
At this moment, Isla Olsen had chosen her jewelry and intended to put on her high heels but found the dress too tight to bend over in.
Isla Olsen smiled slightly, looking towards Keira Olsen.
Poppy Hill immediately nudged Keira Olsen, "You useless thing, can't you see what's needed? Your sister can't do it herself, aren't you going to help her with the shoes?"
Keira Olsen: "..."
It was like this again.
Did Poppy Hill really think she was still the naive and ignorant little girl who didn't know how to fight back when bullied?
Her eyes cold, her voice laced with impatience, "You can put them on for her."
"Keira Olsen, what kind of attitude is that? Do you think you can be arrogant just because you're married now? Your husband is just living off a woman; in the future, he will still need to rely on the Olsen family!"
Poppy Hill's voice rose, "If you don't establish a good relationship with your sister now, there will come a day when you and your husband will have to beg in front of her! Besides, the Olsen family has raised you, so you should be a servant to the Olsen family!"
At that moment, a towering figure appeared at the door, it was her father Taylor Olsen.
The man frowned, "We're expecting an important guest soon, what are you quarreling about here?"
Isla Olsen didn't speak and acted innocent.
While Poppy Hill complained, "It's all because of this cursed girl, she got so high and mighty just because she got married today that she doesn't respect her own mother..."
Taylor Olsen's gaze fell on Keira Olsen and he frowned, "Married? Why didn't you let the family find someone for you? Let me see the marriage certificate..."
Facing her estranged father's concern, Keira Olsen hesitated before taking out the printout from her bag.
The next second, it was snatched away by Poppy Hill, "Let me see, what's the name of your useless husband!"
Meanwhile, Isla Olsen curiously asked, "Dad, who's coming that's got you so worked up?"
Remembering the visitor, Taylor Olsen felt invigorated, as he excitingly mentioned a name:
"Lewis Horton."
Keira Olsen was instantly stunned.
...Who?
Isla Olsen was confused and puzzled, "Who is Lewis Horton? Is he formidable?"
Keira Olsen was also curious and listened attentively.
She had some connections in Oceanion but had never heard of the name Lewis Horton.
Taylor Olsen explained, "It's normal that you don't recognize him; he is quite secretive, and even I haven't met him. He is Jake Horton's younger uncle, only 28 years old and has now become the real power holder of the Horton Family!"
Poppy Hill instinctively exclaimed, "Then wouldn't he be a better match for Isla than Jake?"
Being a power holder is much more powerful than any legitimate grandson of the first branch!
Taylor Olsen was annoyed, "Nonsense, Mr. Horton is already married!"
Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes.
Married...
If the person on the marriage certificate is really him, then it seems Lewis Horton would know what's going on.
Poppy Hill was slightly disappointed, "Who is his wife? To be even more fortunate than Isla."
Keira Olsen's gaze immediately turned straight to Taylor Olsen, but she heard him say, "I don't know, they say both he and his wife don't enjoy socializing."
Taylor Olsen frowned and pondered, "I don't know why he would come over on short notice today..."
The Horton Family was the top wealthy family in Oceanion, and the power holder had an exceedingly prestigious status.
The Olsen Family's standing was only moderately above average; this marriage itself was Isla reaching high above her station for Jake Horton. It would be enough if the power holder just attended the wedding, so why would he personally visit on a betrothal day?
However, Poppy Hill decisively said, "It must be because Isla is so outstanding that she caught the attention of the Hortons! Isla, this diamond necklace won't stand out enough. With such an important elder visiting today, you should choose something more elegant to wear!"
She stuffed the printout she hadn't finished looking at back into Keira Olsen's hands and anxiously took Isla to re-select jewelry.
She was even more invested than Mrs. Olsen, Isla's birth mother.
Keira Olsen sneered sarcastically.
"Sir, the Hortons are almost here."
The butler's reminder caused Taylor Olsen to turn and go downstairs, passing by Keira Olsen and casually saying, "It's been a long time since you've been home, have a cup of joyous wine before you go."
Keira Olsen took the chance to nod.
She was going to stay and see who Lewis Horton really was!
In the room, Poppy Hill had chosen the jewelry for Isla and was helping her put it on herself.
Looking at the radiant girl in front of her, Poppy Hill's eyes were filled with uncontrollable joy and satisfaction.
Over twenty years ago, if it weren't for the appearance of Mrs. Olsen, Jodie South, she would have been the one to marry Taylor Olsen!
She despised Jodie South, and so, on purpose, caused trouble to have their babies on the same day and switched the two children at the hospital.
Now, her daughter was finally going to marry off in glory, and Jodie South will even prepare a generous dowry for her!
While Keira Olsen could only marry off as an illegitimate daughter, penniless, to a little punk!!
How the tables have turned, this is what Mrs. Olsen owes her!
Downstairs.
Keira Olsen leaned lazily in the dim corner next to the staircase, staring in the direction of the door, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Hortons.
After some time, Mrs. Olsen appeared, coming down from upstairs with the help of a servant. She wore a purple cheongsam; her figure slightly thin, emanating the profound air of a scholar, and a cool aura.
The servant said softly, "Madam, you're not in good health, better not to come down."
Mrs. Olsen shook her head, "No... cough cough... Isla's big day... cough cough... I cannot miss it..."
They didn't notice Keira Olsen as they moved toward the door.
Keira Olsen watched Mrs. Olsen's retreating figure, her eyes filled with longing.
It's ironic, Mrs. Olsen, who should have had every right to hate her, was the only warmth she knew in the Olsen family.
Poppy Hill was nothing like a mother, often forgetting to feed her when she was a child.
Young and emaciated, she had barely learned to walk when she started rummaging through the trash can for food.
After being discovered by Mrs. Olsen one day, she began to leave food for her in the garden at a set time every day.
It went on like this for twelve years.
If it weren't for Mrs. Olsen's kindness, she would have starved to death long ago.
Watching Mrs. Olsen's receding figure, hearing her occasional coughs, Keira Olsen's brow furrowed with worry.
Just then, there was a stir at the entrance—the Hortons had arrived!
Taylor Olsen and Mrs. Olsen greeted them at the doorway, exchanging pleasantries before stepping aside to let a group of people march in.
Kiera spotted Lewis Horton at first glance.
He was wearing a tailored black designer suit, leading the way like the moon surrounded by stars. His face was even more sculpted than in photos, the contours sharp, with a clearly defined jawline.
The man's deep eyes seemed unfathomable, his thin lips exuded a coolness, and his every move carried an air of nobility.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, the man suddenly looked over.
For a moment, their eyes met.
His piercing look made Keira's heart tremble, and just as she tried to discern his emotions, he averted his eyes to somewhere else.
This left Keira somewhat confused.
Was he behaving like this because he recognized her, or because he didn't?
Mr. Olsen said with a smile, "Mr. Horton, where is your wife? Didn't she come with you?"
At these words, Kiera felt as though Lewis Horton had glanced at her again before he replied indifferently, "She's indisposed."
The group chatted as they made their way to the parlor.
Jake Horton, who had pursued her for four years, followed behind their elders. Dressed in a suit, he had gained a mature steadiness since college. He didn't notice Keira and was chatting absentmindedly with Isla Olsen.
Everyone gathered around Lewis Horton on the main seat, starting to discuss the marriage arrangements.
It was then that Keira stepped out of the shadows.
She stood quietly, watching the bustle in the parlor.
Suddenly, her arm was yanked. Poppy Hill hissed, "Keira Olsen, what are you still doing here? Have you not given up on Jake Horton yet? Let me tell you, he's your brother-in-law now!"
Keira shook off her grip, scoffing, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in being a homewrecker. It's Mr. Olsen who told me to stay for a celebration drink."
From the time she understood the concept, she had always referred to Taylor Olsen as "Mr. Olsen."
Poppy Hill was so angry that she clenched her teeth, "That was just his being polite, and you took it seriously? Do you really not know your place? Even I can't afford to disgrace the Olsens at such an event, let alone you, an illegitimate daughter. Do you think you deserve to be at the table? Get out of here right now."
... Endless nagging, so annoying!
Keira frowned impatiently, about to retort, when she caught a glimpse of Lewis Horton rising to his feet out of the corner of her eye. He gestured at his phone and then headed towards the balcony, presumably to take a call.
Keira's eyes lit up, "Fine, I'm going."
She brushed Poppy Hill off casually and walked out the parlor door but didn't leave. Instead, she turned in the direction of the balcony.
The first-floor balcony led to the small garden outside.
No sooner had Keira approached than the man on the phone hung up, his expression stern as he fixed her with a sharp gaze.
Keira stopped in her tracks.
Facing his dangerous look, she suddenly curved her lips and called out tentatively, "Honey?"