THE DAWSON FAMILY
The mansion was brightly lit, filled with guests, and buzzing with lively chatter.Everyone was enthusiastically celebrating Emily Dawson, the Dawsin Family's beloved daughter, on her eighteenth birthday.While the hall was bustling with excitement, the garden nearby remained as serene as ever.In a shadowed corner where the lights couldn't reach, Fiona Dawson sat on a stone bench, lost in thoughts.
Just a few days ago,She was the admired eldest daughter of the Dawson Family.
But now!! She had become an object of pity, receiving sympathetic glances from everyone.The reason was simple.The real daughter of the Dawson Family, Emily Dawson, had returned.
Three years ago, Emily had gone missing unexpectedly.In their grief, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson adopted Fiona, who was born on the same day and month as Emily, as a form of solace.
For the past three years, under her father's insistence, Fiona had been mimicking Emily in every way. Emily liked wearing white dresses, so Fiona could only wear white dresses. Emily had a frail constitution and often needed herbal medicine to maintain her health. Thus, Fiona had to pretend to be delicate and always be seen with medicine.
For the past three years, she had been stripped of her identity, living as a stand-in for Emily. The Dawson Parents had been kind to her, and to repay their kindness, she had suppressed her own spirit and earnestly learned to become someone else. But three days ago...the real daughter returned. Thinking about the quick changes in her parents' attitudes over the past few days, Fiona felt a headache coming on. Now, she probably wouldn't need to be Emily anymore.
But after three years of living as a substitute, could she return to being the proud and carefree Fiona she once was? As she pondered this, a sudden cry echoed from the garden. Startled, she instinctively moved to a darker corner to hide. A delicate and beautiful woman ran in front of Fiona, crying. Then, a man hurriedly chased after her. It was Emily..... and her supposed fiance, Abel Mikkelsen. Seeing the two of them gave Fiona a headache. She didn't want to listen to their conversation and tried to sneak away. But as soon as she stood up, she bumped into a firm chest. Looking up, she saw an incredibly handsome man with a cold, night-like expression.Layla's pupils contracted. Lucian Mikkelsen! What was he doing here? This Lucian was, by blood, Abel's uncle.But the two of them were in completely different leagues! Lucian was the head of the Mikkelsen Family in Heavenly Capital City, standing at the pinnacle of power in all of Summerland! Abel, on the other hand, though Lucian's nephew, was far removed from the core of the Mikkelsen Family's power and had been exiled to Riverside City early on.The only reason Fiona knew about Lucian was because Abel had personally taken her to meet him before Emily returned. Rumor had it that the Mikkelsen Family was interested in expanding their business into Riverside City.
Lucian had come in person, partly for the family business and partly to see his nephew, Abel. What was someone like him doing at Emily's birthday party and in such a dark corner at that? Lucian squinted his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly. He never liked parties, and when Abel had begged him to come, he initially refused. But after some thought, he decided to show some respect. The main hall was too noisy, so he just wanted to find a quiet place to wait until it was time to make an appearance and give the Dawson Family their due respect. He hadn't expected to run into someone in the garden.
"You..."Lucian began to speak slowly.
Fiona jumped in surprise, quickly covering his mouth with her hand and desperately pulling him down. It was a bit chilly outside.
Yet, her hand was warm like spring. Lucian was momentarily stunned, forgetting to break free immediately. The next moment, he heard a familiar voice from ahead.Lucian's expression froze instantly!
"Emily, please don't cry. It breaks my heart to see you like this," Abel said, his face full of pain.
"Brother Abel, just let me cry, let me cry until I die," Emily sobbed."I didn't know you already had an engagement with my sister. If that's the case, why did you come to mess with me?"
Abel anxiously grabbed Emily's hand."What sister?She doesn't deserve to be called your sister! Emily, she's just a stand-in for you."
"A stand-in?"Emily's eyes were still red, though she seemed a bit calmer. "Am I that easily replaceable?"
"Of course not!" Abel responded without hesitation."You are a precious germ, and she is nothing but debris. Comparing you to her is an insult! Emily, from the beginning to the end, my heart has only belonged to you."
Abel poured his heart out to Emily, the scene similar to a dramatic soap opera. Meanwhile, his fiancee, Fiona, stood quietly not far away, listening to everything. Lucian, who had been listening, furrowed his brows deeply. Though they were related by blood, he had only recently met his nephew, Abel.
In their previous meetings, he had thought Abel was different from his unreliable mother and had even considered taking him back to Heavenly Capital City. But now, seeing this… What a complete jerk!Lucian couldn't help but glance at Fiona. Noticing his gaze, Fiona looked up and perfectly displayed a pleading expression.In a whisper, she said, "Mr. Mikkelsen, please don't make a sound, okay?"
Lucian gave her a long, deep look and nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the drama continued.
Emily, with tears streaming down her face, looked at Abel. "And yet you got engaged to her.Do you have any idea how hard these past three years have been for me? If it weren't for thinking about you all the time, I wouldn't have made it back.But you... you betrayed all the years we spent together."
Abel's heart ached as he tightly embraced her."Emily!How could I ever betray our love?
The engagement with Fiona was something Uncle Dawson begged me to agree to, he's your father; how could I refuse him?"
Emily was stunned for a moment."Dad?Why?"
Abel fell silent for a moment before slowly
saying, "Nothing is stronger than a family bond through marriage."
Emily had gone missing.But the Dawson Family couldn't bear to lose the chance to marry into the Mikkelsen Family. After all, even though the Mikkelsen Family in Riverside City was just a branch of the one in Heavenly Capital City, it
still overshadowed the Dawson Family.So, they found a substitute Fiona, to take her place.This whole situation was full of calculations and schemes.Both he and the Dawson Family were well aware of these schemes.Yet, they all chose to turn a blind eye. Given the circumstances at the time, it was indeed the best arrangement.
As Abel explained this, Emily's expression softened a bit, but she still looked somewhat sad."But now I'm back."
With a determined face, Abel said, "All along, the person I've loved is you.Now that you're back, my wife can only be you! Emily, trust me, I will explain everything to Fiona and end the engagement as soon as possible."
Emily looked up at him."But you're so kind.
What if she doesn't agree?"
Abel let out a cold laugh, his expression turning slightly menacing."She doesn't get a say in this!"
Emily, satisfied but faking a delicate demeanor, lightly pounded Abel's chest."You're so fierce, you scared me."
Abel caught her hand, his face full of tenderness."I'm only gentle with you."
Dominant yet tender.
Emily couldn't help but collapse into his embrace.Then, strange sounds began to reach Fiona's ears.
Fiona: "..."