I Got Married

I was getting married today!

However, my newly wedded husband was dead.

Yep, you didn't hear me wrong. I would become a widow right after the wedding. 

I knew, this sounded incredible. 

But, it was true. 

My biological father asked me to marry a dead man to protect his other daughter. 

To understand how I got here, we need to go back a few years...

I had no parents, and was raised by my uncle since I could remember things.

A few months ago, the Smith family, wealthy in the city, suddenly found me.

They said that I was a Smith by blood. They also said that I had fallen into the wrong hand because of the fire in the hospital where I was born. 

Like Cinderella, I became Miss Kelly Smith overnight. 

However, this fact didn't change my life.

They told me my mother had died in that fire in the hospital.

My father soon got married with his current wife.

The girl, who had taken my place for years, was their beloved daughter.

I was a tool for the Smith family to play up to the Brown family. 

So even on the day of the wedding, they didn't show up.

They sent a housekeeper over. The housekeeper gave me a golden velvet jewelry box and said, "Miss Kelly, this is a wedding gift from Mrs. Smith. Please take it!"

A necklace, which seemed to be of great value, was in the jewelry box. The pendant was an orchid gem with countless small diamonds around it. I didn't know much about jewelry, but this necklace looked expensive.

"Thank you."

I took the necklace and put it on my neck.

Perhaps, my father and stepmother loved me.

They just didn't know how to get along with me.

I was still in a daze when the car stopped at the gate of the Brown family. 

The magnificent building was like a castle described in books. The driver led me into the house. I saw a large coffin in the living room. The coffin, made of obsidian, looked horrible against the light.

A white-haired old man greeted me.

He wore a black suit with a white flower pinned on his left lapel. I couldn't tell whether the expression on his face was happy or sad.

"Nice to meet you," I said hesitantly.

"Madam, you may call me Joey, the butler here. Please keep Master company tonight. Let him feel the joy of wedding."

After that, Joey raised his wrinkled hand and pressed hard on the corners of his eyes to wipe those, invisible tears.

I stood by the coffin and felt the situation ironic. 

The butler couldn't shed a drop of tear for Carroll Brown. 

However, he asked me, who had never met Carroll before today, to company him. 

Did the Brown family really think that an outsider like me cared about Carroll more than them?

Many people looked at me when I walked into the house. 

They heard Joey and then began a heated discussion. 

"Is she the wife of the dead Mr. Carroll?"

"Watch your mouth. This is a posthumous marriage, but it doesn't mean she has to die with Mr. Carroll. She'll be Mrs. Brown anyway."

"The Brown family is so ridiculous. Mr. Carroll is dead, so what's the point of his getting married? I feel sorry for this girl!"

The discussion gradually turned in another direction, and the crowd began to speak evil of Carroll and felt sorry for me. 

It seemed that Mr. Carroll was not popular.

None of these mourners were sad for his death.

Therefore, I thought that Mr. Carroll and I were of the same kind.

I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat for this glance. 

The man in the portrait was the most handsome one I had ever seen. He was more gorgeous than the superstars in Hollywood. 

He had beautiful eyebrows, bright eyes, fair skin, and a deeply lined face. 

However, his expression was a bit cold.

Nobody dared to get close to him for his intimidating aura. 

"Ahem." Joey coughed softly.

Only then did the crowd shut up. They said the usual pleasantries and then left with some excuses.

Joey said to me with fake grief on his face, "Madam, I'll have to leave you now."

I looked at Joey in shock. "Will I be alone here?"

"Yes, you will have to stay alone here. Mr. Carroll owns this house, so the others can't come here at will. You will have to pray for Mr. Carroll here tonight."

Before I retorted, Joey had left.

I could change nothing. 

Therefore, I sat near the coffin.

I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel.

After one glance at the pitch-black coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. 

"Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?"

"I do."

A low male voice suddenly came from behind, so I quickly turned my head.

I saw a tall man in white shirt leaning against the door.

The man was undeniably handsome, with a roguish charm that seemed effortless. He had casually tucked the hem of his shirt into his pants, leaving three buttons undone, a style that added to his allure.

Then...

His face!

I looked at the man and then at the portrait.

The two faces were exactly the same!

"Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!"

Ugh.

My mouth was fully stuffed by the pastry in the male hand, and then I was picked up like a chick.

"If you alert the bodyguards, I'll kill you."

The man gripped my neck and didn't let go of it until I nodded.

"You're warm."

I murmured because of the lingering warmth on my neck left by the man, "You... Are you a human?"

"Nonsense." Carroll shot a contemptuous glance at me and then crooked his finger at the man behind me. " Jason, open the coffin."

Jason came over and quickly pried open the coffin.

There was nothing inside the coffin. 

I became slack jawed. Why was the coffin empty? 

"How impatient they are!"

Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"

He fixed his eyes on the coffin. His big hand returned to my neck since there was no response from me. 

"Do you like to join my show?"

I felt oppression and couldn't think at all. 

Show?

With the pastry in my mouth, I couldn't say anything. I sped up my chewing and then said, "Yes."

The sweetness melted in my mouth. The delicious pastry energized me, so I added, "Then your pastries will be mine."

Carroll loosened the grip on my neck, let go of me, and then asked in a cold voice, "Are you a gluttonous rat?"

"No, I'm human. A starving human."

I was thin and petite but didn't look like a rat, did I?

Carroll lifted my chin with his hand, which was bigger than my face. He looked at me carefully and then said, "Well, your face is pale. You look more like a ghost than me."

"I've been a bit underfed," I retorted, rolling my eyes at his teasing tone before stepping away and grabbing another pastry.

Then, I said with a sweet smile, "May I have another piece, Mr. Carroll? Your pastries are simply divine."

My Husband Rose from Death

Silence pervaded in the room, and Jason held his breath as tension thickened the air.

I blinked my big eyes and looked at Carroll pleadingly. "Just one piece?"

He didn't die, so I thought that he didn't care about these offerings, did he?

After a while, Carroll shifted his sharp gaze away from me. "Do you know who I am?"

I nodded in a daze. "Carroll Brown."

After a second thought, I realized that it was inappropriate to call Carroll by name. Therefore, I added, "Mr. Carroll."

"Aren't you scared of me?" Carroll furrowed his eyebrows slightly, seeming intrigued by my lack of fear.

"No. You're not a ghost, so why should I?" I replied, feeling emboldened.

Instantly, a faint smile appeared on Carroll's face. 

Carroll pointed to the offerings on the table and said, "Take these and come with me."

"Where are we going?" I asked, puzzled but unable to resist the lure of the delicious food.

I picked up two trays of offerings and slowly followed behind Carroll.

This villa was spacious. 

The living room was bigger than the playground in my primary school in the countryside. 

The decoration seemed simple, but every detail showed the taste of its owner.

I lived in the countryside, and this was the first time seeing such a luxurious house. Therefore, I couldn't help looking around. 

After a muffled sound, I bumped into Carroll's back with an "Ah!"

"Like the house?"

Carroll helped steady the trays, which almost fell for the collision, in my hand and pulled me into the elevator.

I smiled awkwardly. "This is the kind of house I've only seen in books."

"Is this how the Smith family treats their own daughter?" Carroll asked, sounding more sarcastic toward the Smith family than toward me.

"Well..." I didn't know what to say for a while.

The elevator stopped on the third floor right then, so our conversation ended. 

There was only one large bedroom on the third floor. Carroll pointed to a sofa beside the bed and said, "This is the bedroom. You can sleep here."

What a good surprise for me! I had slept in my uncle's warehouse, so a bedroom was something beyond my reach. 

This would be the first time I spent my night in a bedroom.

Soon, I remembered what Joey had said.

Mr. Carroll was the owner of this villa.

Was this Carroll's bedroom?

Did Carroll want to sleep with me tonight? 

I clutched my collar instinctively. "Well, you..."

Carroll shot one glance at my chest and then teased, "I'm not interested in a child."

"A child? Am I?"

I followed Carroll's gaze and looked down.

The loose T-shirt made me look like a child who had snuck into their parent's clothes. 

Well, I did look like a child now. 

"Mr. Carroll."

There came a knock on the door, and Jason's voice called out. Jason stood at the door with a food tray.

After a signal from Carroll, Jason placed the tray on a small table next to the sofa and then said respectfully, "The things you asked for, Mr. Carroll."

"Great." Carroll nodded and said to me, "You may eat now."

Carroll sounded cold, but I felt moved. 

All the time, my aunt and grandma called me an illegitimate child.

In their opinion, it would be a waste of food to feed me. 

According to their plan, I would marry the fool next door in the end. 

What Carroll had said were the warmest words I had ever heard over the past nineteen years.

Carroll had led Jason to the door. I summoned up my courage and said, "Thank you."

Hearing this, Carroll paused, turned around, and asked me, "What did you say?"

"I said, thank you."

I raised my voice and said, "Thank you for your pastries and bedroom."

Carroll walked back to me and then asked with a frown, "Did the Smith family abuse you?"

"No. A mistake happened in the hospital after I was born. Therefore, I didn't grow up in the Smith family. If the Smith family didn't get me out of my village with 200 thousand dollars, I would marry the fool next door. A dead man is a better choice than a fool..."

I spoke my mind accidentally. When I came to my senses, I found that Carroll looked sullen.

Instantly, I shut up.

Carroll took a blanket from the bed and draped it over me. With a long look, he left the bedroom.

Looking at the empty room, I took one piece of cake and put it into my mouth.

It was so delicious.

I didn't know why Carroll got angry, but he was good to me anyway. 

He had given me cakes and draped a blanket over me. 

He even gave me a home!

With this thought in mind, I ate slowly. 

Did I have a home?

It had nothing to do with the countryside or the Smith family.

I had a home where Carroll was. 

I clutched the blanket around me and felt the warmth the blanket brought me.

It seemed not a bad idea to marry Carroll.

It was a long day for me, so I wrapped myself in the blanket and fell asleep on the sofa.

I found myself on the bed when I woke up. 

Did Carroll carry me onto the bed?

Looking at the quilt above me, I was a bit touched.

I saw a few words in my palm when I put on my shoes. "Put on a good show."

I didn't feel touched anymore. That feeling disappeared in a second.

Only then did I remember the deal with Carroll about the pastry. 

I don't know what to do next. 

Alas, I would improvise. 

There was a lot of noise downstairs. 

What happened?

I didn't spend much time on this question. I found the elevator and quickly went downstairs.

The living room was in a mess.

The offerings and broken trays were scattered on the ground. 

Well...

Did Mr. Carroll rise from death?

My mind was in a whirl. 

Was this plot part of Carroll's show?

What was I supposed to do now?

Before I had an answer, Joey appeared with the well-dressed Old Madame Brown. "Madam, where have you been? What happened here? Did a robber break in?"

Joey reproached me. 

"I..."

Before I finished my speech, Joey continued, "This is Old Madame Brown, Mr. Carroll's grandmother."

Old Madame Brown raised her chin slightly and squinted at me aloofly.

I greeted with a sweet smile. "Good morning, Old Madame Brown."

"Didn't you hear Joey?"

The shrill female voice reminded me of my grandmother, who was mean, in the countryside.

I quickly lowered my head and said nervously, "I... I don't know what happened. I fell asleep last night. Suddenly, I saw a man sitting up in the coffin, and he said he was my husband..."

The Best Actress

I lied for the first time in my life. 

I felt that my heart was at my throat. 

I wasn't good at lying. 

Moreover, this lie couldn't convince myself, so would these people buy my story?

As expected, Old Madame Brown, who held a walking stick, said in a cold voice, "Nonsense! He's dead. How could he sit up in the coffin? Come, send some people to find out the truth."

Right then, a man in an inky blue suit came over.

"Grandma, why is it messy?"

The man shared similar eyes and eyebrows with Carroll, but his aura wasn't so strong as Carroll's. 

The aloof Old Madame Brown instantly turned benign. "It's all about Carroll. He even caused trouble at his funeral."

Nathan Brown was attentive to his grandmother. He helped her sit in a chair not far away and poured her a cup of tea.

Nathan seemed like a good grandson. 

I restored the offerings scattered on the ground to their old places and then stood by the coffin as I had yesterday. 

I just needed to play my role, no matter what would happen next. 

"So, you're the girl from the Smith family?" Nathan said in a frivolous tone as he swaggered toward me.

I nodded. I hid half of my face behind my long hair to dodge the scrutiny from Nathan.

"Girl, you said that my brother sat up in the coffin. However, never have you seen my brother. Why did you say so?"

My mouth twitched at this question, but I soon calmed down.

"Apart from him, who would be in this coffin? Besides, there is a big photo of him, and I'm not blind."

Then, I pointed to the photo on the desk.

The photo was amazing because Carroll in it stared at me wherever I stood. 

I thought that Nathan must feel so too. 

Nathan looked in the direction I pointed to and then shivered with fear. 

He looked back at me and asked, "You said that Carroll appeared in your dream. Did he say anything?"

Nathan picked up an apple from the offerings and put it into his mouth.

"Yes." I smiled sweetly and looked at the black-and-white photo on the wall with admiration. "He told me to lead a good life here. He said that this was my home. By the way, he carried me back to his bedroom to sleep yesterday."

This speech dumbfounded the crowd in the living room. 

The dead silence lasted for about two seconds.

Old Madame Brown tapped on the floor hard with her walking stick twice. "Nonsense!"

Was it?

Carroll did say that this was my home.

With a sneer, Nathan picked up another apple to eat.

The offerings were mine!

I quickly snatched the apple from Nathan and put it back in its place. "Please show some respect to the dead, or Mr. Carroll may lecture you in the evening."

"How dare you curse me? Are you tired of living?"

Nathan was furious. He raised his hand to slap me.

A slap was nothing to me.

I got whipped by the rattan during my growing up. 

However, I couldn't help but close my eyes.

"Mr. Nathan, she is your sister-in-law. Please show some respect!"

It was Jason's voice!

I opened my eyes and saw Nathan's hand in the air.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you tell me what to do?" Nathan looked down on Jason. "You are nobody in the Brown family."

Jason was calm. He raised his voice and said, "Mr. Nathan, I would like to remind you that I am the only witness in the world to prove that Mr. Carroll is dead."

"You..." Nathan was so angry that his face turned livid, looking ugly. 

Jason didn't panic at all. He added with a smile, "No strangers appeared around the villa yesterday, so what Mrs. Carroll said is credible. Moreover, Mr. Carroll appeared in my dream and told me to take good care of his wife!"

"That's right! Last night was my wedding night with Mr. Carroll. I think he didn't want me to stay here alone. Therefore, he appeared in my dream and told me to take a good rest in his room." I echoed.

I let out a sigh. My husband wasn't that bad since he sent Jason to help me.

Otherwise, Old Madame Brown and Nathan would swallowed me alive. 

Perhaps I exaggerated too much. Jason's smile froze. 

After one glance at me, Jason wore his polite but distant smile and said, "Mr. Carroll loves his wife so much."

"He does. Mr. Carroll said yesterday that he needed more offerings. He preferred wine to the beverage. Moreover, he didn't want to be disturbed. It will be great if fewer mourners come."

The complaint seemed ridiculous, but I could seek benefits for myself, couldn't I?

With an awkward smile, Jason echoed. "Madam is right. Mr. Carroll did not like social interactions when he was alive."

Old Madame Brown looked sullen, so I quickly added, "Ma'am, don't you miss Mr. Carroll? If he appears in my dream tonight, I will tell him to visit you."

Hearing this, Old Madame Brown turned livid. Jason smoothed things over in time. "Old Madame Brown, you must be tired after a busy morning. Please leave this place to me."

A dozen strong men in black suits appeared before Old Madame Brown and Nathan opened their mouths. 

Obviously, Jason tried to drive them out. 

"Grandma, this place is terrible. Let's go home!"

Nathan pulled Old Madame Brown, who pulled a long face, away, and I didn't know whether they were scared.

Nathan gave me a threatening look before his departure. 

I let out a long sigh and then relaxed. "Jason, please thank Mr. Carroll for me." I didn't stand upright anymore.

Jason said with a faint smile, "You'd better express your gratitude yourself. Mr. Carroll is waiting for you in the secret room."

The secret room? There was a secret room in this villa?

Carroll was still in this house . No wonder he appeared out of blue yesterday.

The Brown family didn't find Carroll during their preparation for such a grand funeral. 

Were they fools? Or, it must be that Carroll hid well. 

Without hesitation, I picked up two apples and followed Jason.

Jason led me past the mourning hall and stopped in a storeroom. The stuff inside the storeroom had one thing in common. 

All of them had their trademarks on.

No family would use a new scrubber every day no matter how rich they were.

Therefore, the disguise here seemed careless.

"Madam, this way please." Jason pushed, and there came the light.

What a spacious study!

Carroll casually leaned against his swivel chair and looked at me with interest. "It seems you aren't satisfied with our wedding night. You want more passion, don't you?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the mourning hall on the computer screen. In other words, Carroll watched me in the mourning hall through the surveillance cameras all the time.

"Mr. Carroll, well, are you satisfied with my acting? May I take two apples as my reward?" I put the two apples beside my cheeks and looked at Carroll eagerly.

When Will the Funeral End?

I couldn't see through Carroll, who had a faint smile on his face. I noticed the bangle, made of rosewood, shone on his wrist and concluded that he must have worn that bangle for a long time.

I could smell the unique scent of rosewood when I walked close to Carroll.

Carroll was at ease.

A few seconds later, he asked casually, "Don't you think that two apples aren't enough?"

"Enough. I will be full." I would be content with my lot if Carroll didn't blame me for seeking benefits in his name.

My grandma in the countryside often said, "A beggar isn't qualified to be a picky eater."

I was that beggar. Moreover, I had never seen apples like these in the countryside. They were bright red and tempting.

Rumble.

How shameful!

My stomach rumbled at this critical moment.

The Brown family didn't prepare breakfast for me this morning.

I smiled awkwardly and sat on a small sofa with the apples in my arms.

"Time for lunch."

Carroll tapped on the table in front of him twice. Jason nodded and left wordlessly.

Soon, the delicate dishes appeared on the table.

There were four dishes and one soup.

"Madam, steak, pork, lobsters, and salad." Jason briefly introduced the dishes one by one. "I told the cook that you liked sweet food."

With my eyes fixed on the dishes, I instantly picked up my fork and knife. "What a feast! These dishes are good enough to celebrate the festivals in the countryside. No. I didn't have these good dishes there at all."

"I didn't know the lobster till a few years ago, and it was reserved for Christmas Eve only. Moreover, this fancy food was reserved for my cousin because I wasn't qualified to eat it."

Thinking of my miserable past, I couldn't help but felt sad.

Seafood was rare for an inland village. Once in a while, my aunt, who worked in another city, brought a lobster home. I once tried to eat the lobster, but my grandmother ridiculed me.

My grandmother would tease me about the lobster whenever she was ill in humor. This situation lasted for half a year. Then, I knew that I could eat nothing but the food from our land.

The reason was that I had that qualification and that only.

"You may have lunch now." Confused, Carroll picked up one piece of pork and left it on my plate. "You didn't try this before, did you?"

"No." I took a bite of the pork. Then, I lowered my head, chewed carefully, and hid my red eyes behind my ruffled hair.

I had lived for almost 20 years, and Carroll might be the only man, who was good to me.

"Are you really Miss Odette?" Carroll took his bangle off his wrist and played with it. He looked at me with great interest.

I nodded, thought for a moment, and then shook my head. "I'm a Smith by blood, but I am not Miss Odette. Odette is Miss Odette."

" Odette Smith." Carroll snorted coldly. "She is like your grandmother in the countryside."

"What?" I became confused.

Jason responded, "Odette claimed to be Mr. Carroll's fiancee and gained a lot of benefits both openly and secretly.

After the bad news about Mr. Carroll was spread out, the Smith family immediately took you here. As for Odette, she didn't come here at all."

Well, Odette did sound as snobbish as my grandma in the countryside.

I forced a smile. "People seek profit to avoid harm. It is understandable."

"Don't you blame her?" Carroll asked and didn't forget to send food to my plate.

I stopped eating, tilted my head, and looked at Carroll.

I concluded from my scrutiny that Carroll was a stunner.

My comparison might be inappropriate, but Carroll was not inferior to any beautiful woman appearing on TV. Compared with those women, Carroll looked cold and had a heroic spirit.

"You are good to me. Moreover, you are so handsome. Why should I blame her? I feel grateful to her."

I spoke my mind with sincerity.

My candor amused Carroll. "Eat on."

"Okay." I nodded obediently and continued to enjoy the delicious food.

By the way, I felt that the way Mr. Carroll looked at me was a bit weird like I did to the small animals.

To be exact, it was the way I looked at my pet.

Soon, I rubbed my bulging belly and yawned.

When I had lunch, Carroll was busy with his work. Jason handed Carroll all kinds of documents. Carroll listened intently, frowned from time to time, and then told Jason his decision.

It seemed that Carroll was quite busy.

I watched the servants clean up the table. Then, I took a nap at the table.

How great!

When I was in a dream, Jason patted me on the shoulder and said, "Madam, Madam, the worship in the afternoon will soon begin. Some honored guests invited by Old Madame Brown will come, so you..."

"I will play my part well." I rubbed my sleepy eyes and got up reluctantly. "Don't worry. I know what I should do."

I shot one glance at Carroll out of the corner of my eye. He was looking at the colorful data on the computer screen.

It seemed my conversation with Jason had nothing to do with him.

I felt indignant because none of the Brown family liked me...I felt ill at ease in the mourning hall.

"There will be more offerings with fresh fruit juice included," Carroll said casually.

My eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yes."

The positive answer energized me. "Mr. Carroll, don't worry. I will mourn with sadness and ease to make you feel the family's love."

"It is easy to provide for you." Carroll sneered. " Jason will be there for you."

My indignance disappeared in an instant. With Jason around, I thought nobody dared to mess with me.

More importantly, I could enjoy the offerings without scruple.

"Okay." When I was ready to leave, Carroll said, "You may leave the trouble to Jason."

"Jason is my second savior for sure." I cast a grateful glance at Jason beside me.

What had happened today would recur as long as the memorial activity continued.

I remembered that some people had held the memorial activity for 21 days.

Would Carroll do the same?

I felt panicked at the thought that I would have to confront Old Madame Brown and Nathan for so many days. Therefore, I looked back abruptly and said to Carroll, "Mr. Carroll, when do you think is the right time to bury the coffin?"

"What?" Carroll looked shocked.

"I mean, when will the funeral end?"

Jason stood between me and Carroll in a panic. "Madam, it's getting late. Let's go."

"Well, coming."

I got the hint and quickly followed Jason out. I left through the back door and walked back into the mourning hall via the gate.

The mourning hall had changed a lot after the noon.

In addition to the new offerings, there was beside the coffin a small table with delicate snacks, fruits, and a large pot of fresh fruit juice on it.

Are You My Sister?

Before the guests came, the mourning hall seemed a little empty. I quickly walked to my place and stood there professionally.

Jason followed over and poured me a glass of juice. "Madam, Mr. Carroll deliberately told me to prepare this for you. The orange came here by air from the southwest."

"Isn't it troublesome to make juice?"

I hadn't seen the world yet. I took a sip and found the juice delicious. The pulp of the orange just melted in my mouth. This was new in my life.

Then, I greedily took a gulp of the juice.

"Madam, the fruit from all over the world will be delivered to you by air in the future." Jason quickly filled my glass when I drank up my juice. "This is an order from Mr. Carroll."

"Mr. Carroll is so nice." I couldn't help sighing. Carroll remembered the trifle I mentioned casually and prepared this small table for me.

I got a good husband.

Jason took out his mobile phone and played with it with his head down. "This is preferential treatment for you and you only. Madam, may I befriend you on Line? It will be convenient for me to transfer some documents to you."

"Documents..." This word was new to me. I thought this was a necessary skill to be Carroll's wife.

However...

I took out my outdated phone with embarrassment and said, "I'm afraid that you can't."

"Oh, well..."

Jason looked more embarrassed than me. He stared at my old phone for a long time before he continued, "To be honest, I didn't foresee this."

Now, the pupils had their smartphones while the kids in the kindergarten had their smartwatches.

Therefore, my old machine might be qualified to be displayed in the museum as an antique.

A sob came from the door when Jason and I looked at each other awkwardly.

"Sister? Are you my little sister?"

Hearing the voice, I turned around, saw a girl in tears, and then looked around with confusion.

Oh, I was the only soul, who could be called a sister in this hall, so I pointed to my nose. "Did you call me?"

The girl strode toward me, held me by the hand, and sized me up. "Kelly, I'm Odette, your elder sister."

I didn't know those this well-dressed girl till now.

She was supposed to be a country girl but took my place in the Smith family because of a fire in the hospital. Now, she was Odette Smith.

What a lady!

I looked Odette up and down. She wore a pure white dress, and her slender waist became the highlight. Her curly hair around her shoulder was orderly though it seemed ruffled. Obviously, Odette had her hair well taken care of.

How exquisite!

That was how Miss Odette family was supposed to look like.

I said nothing, so Odette knitted her delicate brows together. "Kelly, what's wrong? Tell me if you need anything."

The enthusiasm Odette showed in our first meeting discomforted me. I pulled my hands out of hers and took one step back. "Nothing. The Brown family is good to me. Miss Odette, did you come to express your condolences?"

Speaking, I shot one glance at Jason. Jason got the hint and handed the white chrysanthemum, prepared by the Brown family, to Odette. "Miss Odette, here you are."

My distance displeased Odette. She took the flowers with a long face and perfunctorily completed her condolences.

"Thank you, Miss Odette, for coming here. Mr. Carroll in heaven will bless you for sure." I stood up and bowed to Odette.

I was familiar with the etiquette now.

"Kelly..." Odette once again held my hand. "Are you blaming me for stealing your life? Is that the reason for your coldness to me?"

What was she talking about?

I was shocked. "Miss Odette, we met for the first time. What blame? What are you talking about?"

When I thought that this topic was over, Odette's tears fell to my hand. "Kelly, don't blame me. You are Miss Odette forever. I just can't bear to part with my parents and brothers.

"I won't take anything that belongs to you. I swear."

Aghast and confused, I withdrew my hand from Odette's. "What are you crying for? Did I say anything wrong?"

"Odette!" A cold male voice came from behind me, and it sounded angry. I looked back and saw a thin man in a black suit coming quickly. The man held the crying Odette in his arms. "Nonsense! You, and you only, are Miss Odette. As for her, hehe..."

After that, the man adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and looked at me with contempt.

"Please don't." Odette wiped away her tears. "Kelly is our sister. I believe that she will forgive me."

I had never blamed Odette, so how could I forgive her?

I had never dreamt of being Miss Odette, who could lead a luxurious life, after the truth came out.

The fact that I left the hell, that home in the countryside, and became Mrs. Brown was satisfactory enough to me.

I was confused when the man, wearing the golden-rimmed glasses, continued, "Whoever sells himself for money isn't qualified to be a Smith."

"Opal Smith, please don't forget yourself." Jason took a step forward.

Opal Smith!

I knew him. He was my brother and a upstart in the medical field.

However, he looked at me with no affection, but contempt, in his eyes.

Alas.

I sighed and bowed according to the etiquette. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Smith. Mr. Carroll in heaven will bless you."

"What did you call me?" Opal raised his voice with displeasure.

I stepped back subconsciously. "Mr. Smith."

"Did you learn nothing in the countryside? Don't you know how to address your family?"

Opal was very unhappy with the title I addressed him.

"Is there a problem?" I asked.

Did he want me to call his name in an intimate way as Odette did?

I couldn't. There was no family love between us, and they seemed hostile to me.

Till now, I figured out why Odette had said those ridiculous things.

Well, Odette had said so because of Opal, and her tears were part of the show.

What a angelic bit*h! She knew what was good for her.

Opal looked at Odette in his arms with sympath while scolding me, "You are Mrs. Brown now, but your behaviors will affect the reputation of the Smith family anyway. Therefore, behave well and don't blacken our name."

"What are you talking about?" I burst out laughing. "I lived in the countryside for nineteen years. Did the Smith family ever teach me one thing? Mr. Smith, this is a mourning hall. If you two have nothing else to say, then goodbye."

Why didn't you continue your show at your place? If the mourners saw this, they might mistake this farce for my bullying Odette.

"Do you think we like to be here? We're here to bring you back to the Smith family."

I Won't

"Why should I go to the Smith family? I won't."

Carroll was good to me, so why did I go to the Smith family to ask for trouble myself?

I didn't care about the relationship between the Smith family and me, but I wasn't a saint.

Odette held my hand again. "Kelly, calm down. You need a new ID card, so we will take you to finish the paperworks this afternoon."

I need to be there for the paperworks. After I became a Smith with the new ID card, the Smith family could do whatever they wanted on me. 

That was the art of speaking.

Odette said nothing harsh, but every sentence of hers was a critisizm to me. 

She did so as I had done to her not long ago. 

Instantly, I felt distressed. I rubbed my temples. " Jason, do I have to go to the Smith family for the paperworks?"

I didn't have an ID card for 19 years, and people kept calling me an illegitimate child. Therefore, I wanted an official identity more than anyone else. 

The Brown family must be able to do what the Smith family could.

Jason came over and said with respect, "Madam, you don't need to go to the Smith family for an identity card. Moreover, your name should appear on the official documents with the name of Mr. Caroll."

I heaved a long sigh of relief and spread out my hands. "Look, I don't need to trouble you guys."

Opal and Odette exchanged one glance with each other, and there was shock in their eyes.

There were two reasons. The first one was Jason's attitude toward me.

The second one was that the tool from the countryside in their eyes took advantage of Carroll to revolt. 

The mourning hall was dead silent. 

From that day when Odette took my place, I had nothing to do with the Smith family. That was my fate. 

"Kelly, you should go home to see our parents, shouldn't you? Look, the necklace on your neck is the latest design by my mother. You are the first soul in the world to wear it. See how much they value you!

"You keep staying in the Brown family after you arrived at this city. You should go home to see your family, shouldn't you?"

Odette persuaded me with her gaze fixed on the necklace around my neck.

I raised my hand and touched that so-called dowry.

It felt cold just like its design.

This necklace was not suitable for me.

I didn't think I was inferior to Odette in appearance. Odette had thin eyebrows, long eyes, and high cheekbones. She seemed shrew no matter how warm she tried to be.

As for me, I had a rough face with thick eyebrows and round eyes. I had two deep dimples when I smiled. Therefore, I looked harmless.

My family in the countryside didn't like my face. 

In their opinion, my smile was so sweet that it would seek sympathy from men. They kept finding fault with my face, so I hid my face with a long bang. 

This necklace seemed to be custom-made for Odette.

Both of them were cold, aloof, and arrogant.

I remembered what Jason had said. Before Carroll faked his death, Odette always claimed herself to be his fiancee.

In other words, this dowry had been prepared for Odette.

I saw light. I took off the necklace, hung it on my index finger, and handed it to Odette. "Enough. I think it will look better on you.

"I like cash to be my dowry, so why don't you give me the equivalent money instead of this necklace?"

"Wh-what?" For a moment, Odette didn't know what to say. She looked at Opal for help. "Opal..."

"Are you insane? How can you measure kindness with money? How can a scum like you be a Smith?"

Opal was furious. Pointing at my nose, he cursed. His outstretched hand happened to brush past the necklace on my finger.

Bang!

The necklace fell to the ground, and the sapphire in the middle of it broke into pieces. 

"Well, I can't exchange money with it now." Looking at the pieces on the ground, I squatted down with regret.

The sapphire was broken, but the tiny diamonds were intact. I could get some money with these diamonds, couldn't I?

I failed to notice the fragments of the gem when picking up the diamonds.

"Ouch, it hurts!"

The sharp fragment left a wound on my fingertip, and blood gushed out and tainted my T-shirt.

"Come, treat her wound." Jason instantly called a servant over.

"Kelly, are you okay?" Odette came to her senses and checked my wound.

I quietly moved in the opposite direction to keep a distance from Odette. "I am fine. I wanted to give back what belonged to you but can't now."

"Because you're clumsy." Opal was not so aggressive after the necklace was broken. However, he still blamed me.

"I say, Opal, it's your fault. Why do you blame me? You had better leave now. Don't disturb my husband here."

"Sorry. I am sorry, Mr. Carroll. I have to count on your influence when I am in trouble," I put my palms together, turned to the surveillance camera, and muttered.

"You!"

"Opal."

Opal was enraged. Odette tried to stop him...

It was so noisy here.

I stretched out my wounded finger and let the maid treat my wound, and my eyes were fixed on the cotton in the first-aid kit. 

"Could you please give me two balls of cotton, so I can stuff my ears with them?"

"Miss Odette, Mr. Smith, how will I say goodbye in your imagination if you are not Madam's family?"

Jason bent one hand. 

"Well, we will leave now. Remember to go home when you have time."

Odette held Opal by the arm. "Opal, let's go."

I didn't know why Odette left in such a hurry. Was she afraid that I would demand her to make compensation for the necklace?

"Goodbye!" I waved my hand.

The unwelcome visitors finally left. 

"Eh?" The maid took out a small fragment of gem from my wound with small tweezers and observed it carefully. "Isn't this glass?"

"Glass?" Jason came over. He took the tweezers from the maid, squatted on the ground, and carefully picked up the large fragments of the gem to the tray.

Jason and the maid began to study the fragments on the tray carefully.

After a while, they came to the conclusion, that was, the fragments were blue glass.

There was nothing like the precious gem. 

With a bitter smile, I felt disappointed from the bottom of my heart. "What about these tiny diamonds?"

"I don't know, but I can send them out for verification." Jason put the necklace on the tray. "We will get the result soon."

"More likely than not, they are fake." Given what had happened, I came to the conclusion that Odette had left in a hurry because she was afraid that the cat would be out of the bag.

How ridiculous!

I felt cheap when I wore the necklace for the first time. It turned out that it wasn't my problem, but the necklace was cheap in fact.