Chapter 2 The Substitute

• Hyacinth stood before her father's study’s door before hesitantly knocking twice. The house had been too quiet since they returned from the Savelli Mansion yesterday. It fueled Hyacinth 's anxiety more because, till now, there's been no sign of her sister.
• "Come in." She heard her father's voice before pushing the door open and stepping inside. Hyacinth glanced at her mother, who was sitting on the couch with a dark and gloomy expression.
• "You called me, Papa." Hyacinth cleared her throat before shifting her eyes to her father who was sitting behind his mahogany desk, reading some documents. Her small voice grabbed his attention as he glanced at her.
• "Come here, Hyacinth ." Robert ordered, his eyes fixed on her sharply. Hyacinth took a long breath, trying to hide her nervousness and anxiety before walking a few steps.
• "Is everything alright? Did you find any updates on Hazel ?" She asked, genuinely concerned. No matter how her relationship was with her, Hazel was still her sister. She didn't want anything bad happening to her.
• "No. I don't want anyone taking her name again in this house." Robert ordered while his face darkened as soon as he heard Hazel's name. Both Hyacinth and Dahlia were completely taken aback by Robert's sudden words.
• "How could you say something like that? She's our daughter." Dahlia shouted, looking devastated by Robert’s unexpected command. She couldn't believe her husband, who called Hazel his pride, would say something like that.
• "A daughter who decided to disgrace us by running away four days before her wedding." Robert gritted out in anger. His piercing glare totally shut down Dahlia. The atmosphere surrounding them immediately becomes tense. It was the first time Hyacinth was witnessing her mother argue with her father because usually she was a totally obedient wife to her father.
• "Hyacinth ." Robert called after shifting his eyes towards her. Hyacinth felt a shiver pass down her spine when Robert looked at her with those serious apathetic eyes. She gulped before nodding at her father.
• "Yes, Papa." She responded anxiously. The moment the maid informed her about her father calling her here, she had a very bad feeling. Something terrible was going to happen, she was sure.
• "You are getting married to Ares in your sister's place." Robert informed without any warmth while getting up from his chair.
• "What?" Hyacinth let out a loud gasp, her turquoise eyes widening in pure shock. Did she just hear him right?
• "You heard me, Hyacinth . You are getting married to Ares in three days." Robert repeated his words nonchalantly while walking towards Hyacinth who was completely frozen in her place, unable to believe the bomb her father just dropped on her. She was getting married to Ares in Hazel’s place? Did she hear it right?
• "But- " Hyacinth tried to open her mouth to speak, however Robert cut her off with a glare. Hyacinth couldn't help but take a step back, seeing the coldness flashing in her father’s eyes. He hated explaining things.
• "We have no choice, Hyacinth . We signed a deal, and it must go on." Robert informed her before pressing his lips together. Hyacinth felt her heart thumping inside her chest when her father stopped right in front of her. There was nothing she could do if her father had already made a decision. However she still needed to know about Ares. Did he agree?
• "Will Ares-" Hyacinth tried to ask after mustering all of her courage but Robert's piercing glare shut her off. He was losing his patience and it scared Hyacinth .
• "Are you also going to disappoint us like your sister, Hyacinth ?" Robert crossed his arms over his chest, while his eyebrows furrowed together coldly. Hyacinth ’s heart sank as she noticed the evident worry in his eyes. Her proud father suddenly looked like he had aged a lot within two days. It was all because of Hazel .
• "No, I didn't mean that." Hyacinth instantly shook her head. She just wanted to ask if Ares would agree to marry her. However, seeing how furious her father was, she didn't dare to utter another word. Since her childhood, Hyacinth was terrified of her father’s rage.
• "Then it's decided. You are getting married to Ares. He and his family already agreed to the marriage." He informed her firmly, causing Hyacinth to look at him in astonishment.
• "He did?" She asked, unable to believe Ares would agree to marry her. The man who never spared in a single glance in the past 10 years they had known each other had actually agreed to marry her? Hyacinth ’s heart skipped a beat at the unexpected news.
• "Do you think I'm lying, Hyacinth ?" Robert asked, narrowing his eyes at her coldly. Hyacinth immediately forced her gaze down before shaking her head.
• "No Papa. I'm sorry." She quickly apologised, trying her best not to piss her father. Her heart was already beating quickly against her chest at the thought of marrying Ares. How did she suddenly become so lucky?
• "Get ready. He's coming to meet you." Robert ordered before proceeding to walk away. Hyacinth ’s eyes once again widened in surprise at her father’s words. Ares was coming to meet her? How was she going to face him? She felt her skin tingle in excitement at the thought of meeting Ares, the man she loved for the past six years.
• "Robert, think carefully. You can't just do this to Hazel ." Dahlia suddenly stood up from her seat before rushing towards her husband. She just couldn't keep watching the disaster silently. What would she say to Hazel after she returned?
• "What if she comes back? She would be devastated if she found out you did this to her." She said, trying her best to convince Robert however he seemed quite adamant with his decision.
• "Then she should have thought before running away." Robert snapped, his blue eyes shooting her a glare. Dahlia’s face fell.
• "Do you really think someone like Hyacinth would match Ares? I'm telling you you are making a big mistake. She's not suitable for him. You know how much of a troublemaker she is. She will ruin everything." She still continued to argue in frustration while narrowing her gaze at Hyacinth .
• Hyacinth felt her insides shatter at her mother's harsh words. How could she disregard her own daughter like this? She always brought her down in front of people whenever they went to parties or any public gatherings while trying to show how perfect Hazel was. Her reputation as the youngest Kingsley daughter was already stained because of them.Now she was doing this in front of her own father.
• "Then who do you think is suitable for him? Your runaway daughter?" Robert scoffed, looking fed up with her persuasion. Dahlia didn't mind the mockery behind his words as she proceeded to reason more with him.
• "Of course, only Hazel is a perfect match for a man like Ares. Let's wait for her to come back. I'm sure she will come back." She explained while doing her best to once again persuade her husband. She had been begging him to drop the ridiculous idea of marrying Hyacinth to Ares since yesterday. She couldn't let that happen no matter what. Hyacinth felt her heart breaking into pieces with her mother’s partiality. She couldn't understand why her mother hated her so much while favoured Hazel . They were both her children.
• "Enough. It's already decided that Hyacinth will marry Ares. I don't want to hear another word about this." Robert snapped, losing his patience with her. His voice was loud and clear for both Hyacinth and Dahlia, leaving no room for arguments. Robert stole a glance at Hyacinth , who was trying her best to control her tears, before walking away.
• "Are you happy now? You snatched your sister's fiancé." Dahlia gritted out while glaring at Hyacinth hatefully.