Chapter 2 Substitute Bride And Groom

• Calliope's mind went blank.
• The scorching heat of his chest pressed against her back, and his heartbeat thudded in her ears. His powerfully masculine scent had overwhelmed her completely. She took a deep breath but found her limbs unable to move.
• The man suddenly came to a stop.
• “Do you know who I am?”
• His question came as a surprise to Calliope.
• He wanted her to understand that he was her husband. It was only right that they should consummate their marriage on their wedding night.
• However, Calliope didn't think too much about his question and replied carefully, “Yes. You are Dominic Garfield.”
• The man narrowed his gaze as his lips curled.
• Dominic Garfield, huh? So she knows who she's marrying. A pity that I'm not Dominic, and she's not Penelope.
• Once she walked through the door, it was clear to him that she was merely a substitute. He was unaware of the exact cause, but he knew that the eldest daughter of the Gingrich family would not consent to marry someone of lower social standing than her own.
• However, that didn't matter. His bride was a substitute, and so was he. They were even now.
• “Dominic...”
• Dominic was jolted out of his reverie. He lowered his head to be met with her captivating eyes. She looked both shy and soft. Something inside him stirred as he felt the tenderness of her gaze tugging at his heart.
• Calliope nervously bit her lip as she spoke. “I'm sorry,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck tentatively. “I'm just so anxious. I know that you are my husband, so you can do whatever you'd like with me. Let's do this.”
• A line of sweat trickled down her rosy button nose as she clumsily inched nearer to him. However, it didn't escape his notice that she was trembling profusely.
• Something glinted in Dominic's eyes as he looked at Calliope, who appeared flustered and nervous. She was about to kiss him when he grabbed her hands and pushed her away before their lips could meet.
• Calliope was stunned by his sudden rejection. Her cheeks were still pink as she stared at him in confusion.
• “Forget it.” Her husband gazed at her. “It's been a long day, so you must be tired. Get some rest.”
• “Dominic, I—”
• “Look, I understand that this is a lot to take in. Before you adjust to the fact that we are now married, I'm not going to pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do,” Dominic explained.
• With that, he shifted his body so that his back was to her.
• Calliope's gaze was transfixed on the man's bare back, and she felt herself slipping into a daze. A while later, the man's faint snores filled the room.
• She took the chance to observe him.
• The man looked undeniably handsome when he was asleep. His strong jawline, dark eyebrows, and full lips made Calliope's heart flutter. The strong arm he had tucked beneath the pillow made her cheeks flush.
• Calliope's heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned away from him.
• In her sleep, she dreamed how her stepmother, Yasmin Moss, and Penelope openly mocked her before her wedding. According to them, even though the Garfield family had once been close friends with them and had agreed to the marriage agreement, their fortunes later took a turn for the worse, resulting in them moving to a remote village to live in poverty. Their son failed to live up to their expectations and was notorious for being a delinquent, often having to visit the police station.
• “Why would I marry a ruffian?” Penelope demanded arrogantly. “I think you are the perfect match for him. Your mother has had many romantic partners over the years, and your brother is the result of one of those liaisons. Someone like you deserves to end up with a ruffian!”
• “Cally, think about it.” Her father, Maximilian Gingrich, was indifferent when he made his request. “As long as you agree to marry Dominic in Penny's place, I'll give you money so you can cover your mom's medical bills.”
• Yasmin pointed at her and chided, “You should thank your lucky stars that you're going to marry him as the second daughter of the Gingrich family. B*tch, don't be ungrateful!”
• Calliope jolted awake and realized that it was already morning. The man who had been lying next to her had vanished.