CEO's Substitute Bride

No matter how blue and swollen Skylar's face became, Emmett still didn't ask them to stop. Instead, he simply leaned against his seat and observed the show happening before him. At this point, it was almost impossible to see what she looked like.

Alyssa, on the other hand, couldn't bear to see it. She gently kicked his leg under the table and whispered. "Justin!"

Although she had wanted to pay Skylar back for everything she had done, this wasn't it!

Emmett turned around. Upon seeing her wide eyes, he knew she wanted him to stop. He sighed and knocked on the table and said lazily. "All right. I've never seen such a cruel man such as yourself, Mr. Moore. You're actually willing to beat your beautiful daughter up like this. But as they say, the apple doesn't really fall that far from the tree."

His voice didn't sound like he was the culprit at all. Instead, he sounded sad and wistful as if he was just an innocent bystander. With a shake of his head, he pushed back his plate and gazed at the man in front of him.

Jason felt his heart lurch in his chest, but he didn't say another word. After all, who could offend such a powerful man like Justin? His eyes lowered, turning his gaze away from his once beautiful daughter.

He couldn’t see her face anymore.

Skylar's face was as swollen as a pig's head. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her cheeks were already black and blue. Other people wouldn't be able to recognize her at this point.

While the father and daughter pair looked sullen, Emmett couldn't be bothered. He said mockingly. "Well, as a father, it is your duty to teach your daughter a thing or two, but you shouldn't be so cruel. Hopefully, no misunderstandings were created. Am I right, Mr. Moore?”

The old man didn't respond and lowered his head.

Seeing as he had already achieved his goal, Emmett wasn't going to extend his stay any longer. He turned his head to the woman beside him, and his face softened dramatically. "Are you full?"

Alyssa placed the unfinished pumpkin cake in her hand back on the plate before nodding her head. "I...Yes, I'm full." Even she was surprised by his sudden change of expression.

"Let's go." Without another word, he stood up and walked away.

Alyssa grabbed her bag and quickly followed behind him.

“Justin” was tall, and he had really long legs. One step from him was like a sprint from Alyssa, and she had to automatically quicken her pace just to be able to keep up with him.

Just as she was about to reach him, he suddenly stopped where he was going and looked over at her. Then, he didn't move after that. It was as if he was waiting for her.

So many things had happened today, but there was one woman that had automatically driven her to tears. That was her mother, Aurora. Her fingernails dug into her skin at the thought of her.

Back when she was younger, Aurora had once taken her to the amusement park (after plenty of insistence from her end). However, to her bitterness, Skylar had also gone with them that time.

Her mother had been so busy doting on her stepdaughter that she was left forsaken and ignored right on the streets. At that time, Alyssa had always been a curious child and had unknowingly drifted from their watch. Yet as she turned, panicked and anxious, all she could see was Aurora's figure disappearing into the crowd. She didn't even notice.

That time, she had hoped and prayed that her mother would turn back to look at her, to check on her...but she didn't. And now, Alyssa couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever will.

When Emmett saw that she wasn't moving, he frowned and walked over. "What's wrong with you?"

When he suddenly moved closer, she ducked her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. She blinked rapidly, only to feel her vision blurring from the tears.

"The wind's really strong. Something must've gone in my eye."

She thought that “Justin” wouldn't buy her clumsy lie. After all, the winds weren't as strong as the other night, and it wasn't even that cold. What she didn't expect was for him to bend over and look at her in the eye. He said softly. "Don't move. Let me see."

Immersed by the towering wall of protection, she could feel herself relaxing under his hold. She obediently gazed up at him as she displayed her bright eyes.

However, she had completely forgotten that “Justin” was nowhere near a perfect gentleman.

Alyssa could feel his face growing closer and closer. As his nose grazed upon hers, a bad feeling clutched the insides of her chest and she suddenly had the biting urge to retreat.

However, Emmett was quick to react. He reached out his hand and held the back of her head as if he was caressing a piece of treasure. Lowering his head, he caught her by the lips, before quickly moving away.

The kiss lasted for about two seconds.

It was only when he drew away did she realize what they had done.

She clenched her fists.

"You really have some nerve!" Alyssa gritted her teeth, wanting the curse him out of the mountains, only to realize that she wasn't that very good with words.

She had called him shameless time and time again...

Yet he still didn't know when to stop!

"You should feel touched that I am still willing to kiss you, even with such a hideous mark on your face." As he spoke, he reached out and let his fingers trail down the swollen side of her face.

Alyssa slapped his hand away and looked at him coldly. "Don't touch me!"

Not wanting to give in, “Justin” reached out once again to touch the other side of her face, and Alyssa readied her hands.

However, this time, he had already grabbed her by the wrist.

Her hands were quite soft, he realized. With skin as soft as feathers and silk, it was a wonder why he hadn't noticed this earlier.

Interest flashed across his eyes as he rubbed his fingers down her skin, feeling the way it writhed under his touch. Before she could react against him, he immediately pulled her up against his chest.

"Let me go!" That didn't stop Alyssa from struggling.

The man really was shameless! Not only had he kissed her out in public, but he also had the nerve to hold her hand. Didn't he know where they were?

The place they were in wasn't that far from the Moore Group, so it was likely that they could run into a few employees. What if some had already seen them? What the hell was she going to do then?

If this was continued, she'd be driven crazy!

Alyssa couldn't get away from his grip, and she also couldn't make too much noise. Afraid of attracting too much attention, she quietly allowed herself to be led into the car.

What they didn't know was that Skylar was standing behind the pillars by the entrance of the restaurant. Her face was still swollen, but that wasn't enough to hide the gloominess in her eyes. She gazed at the picture she had taken.

Alyssa was Young Madame Lawrence, the wife of Emmett Lawrence and she still had the nerve to entangle herself with the husband's cousin. "Let's see how the two of you will end up when you're caught."