Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Past that can’t be recalled

"Dad, what’s the matter?" Stella sat in the corner of the sofa with her hands on her knees as she raised her head to meet David’s gaze.

Something was wrong that day. It was very strange. Not only David, but Isabella dared not look her straight in the eyes either. It was not something pleasant to have Isabella not have the courage to meet her eyes.

"You know that Sophia had a car accident, and her face was disfigured. She is wretched and in a miserable situation." David hesitated, failing to get to the main point.

Hearing David’s words, Stella was irritated.

"Also, you know about her wedding with RK. The invention was distributed. If we withdraw the invention cards right now, it won’t be doing our families any good."

"So, what Aunt Isabella and I were thinking that... You...can you... can you..."

David, too, might find that idea so ridiculous, but there was no other way out. He discussed it with Isabella and Sophia throughout the entire night, and it was the only solution they could come up with. Since RK didn’t object to the idea, the only thing he had to do right then was to get Stella to agree.

Stella had a grip on the underlying meaning of his words. Wasn’t it that she would replace Sophia as the bride? Wasn’t it that he was planning to sacrifice her to make sure the wedding proceeded smoothly?

"Do you mean that you want me to pretend to be the bride on the day of the wedding?"

"More than that... You have to live in the Kingston family in the future, in the name of Mrs. RK..." David heaves a sigh of relief after blurting it all out.

"What?" Stella was stunned. Her heart felt as if it had been struck by lightning.

What did he mean? Did he want to marry her into the Kingston family just like that? Wasn’t he selling her out? She had always felt that although the family was distant from her, they were related by blood no matter how one denied it, so she didn’t give the family the cold shoulder. Yet, little did she expect the family sells her out for the sake of marriage.

It seemed that she had shown mercy to the Richard family in the past. In the face of such a family, there was no need for her to come up with excuses.

"Do you want me to ruin the rest of my life in exchange for this marriage alliance?"

If she got married just like that, wouldn’t she be doomed for the rest of her life?

"Since Sophia, your sister, has ended up in such a manner, you should help her, shouldn’t you?" David’s tone was dignified upon noticing Stella’s tough attitude.

Stella said nothing. All she did was remain to lock her penetrating stare on David coldly, to the point where David felt so guilty that he dared not raise his head.

"Stella, the Richard family has raised you for years. Is it too much to ask for you to lend a helping hand? Do you have a conscience? Did our family raise you for years in vain?" Isabella sarcastically chimed in.

"I am tired. I will head back to my room for rest." Stella said nothing in response to her questioning. Instead, she got onto her feet and went straight back to her room.

"Stella, think about it. I hope you can think for the sake of the family."

David’s threatening voice came from outside the door. Stella collapsed on the ground, drained of all energy left.

For years, she had never considered the Richard family as her home. Ever since she attended high school, she had hoped that time would fly in the blink of an eye so that she could leave as soon as possible and break from the grasp of the filthy family.

Little did she expect that right before she was about to gain freedom, they would demand she marries a man in the place of her sister!!! It was simply unforgivable.

Why? Why did she do so? Even if she took a step back and compromised by deciding to marry the Kingston family, how could she be at peace in referring to RK as her brother-in-law by the time Sophia recovered? RK wouldn’t able to do the same either. Coupled with Isabella and David’s encouragement, she might end up in a more miserable state by then.

Rather than being abandoned, she might as well stay away from them. Regardless of whether it was an alliance marriage or a wedding, she might as well run away from them and never appear in front of them again.

If it was six years later, Stella might have left in a flush. Unfortunately, Stella from six years ago was gentle and had no temper. She did not know how to refuse others and was constantly bullied, so she was destined to be the replacement.

Stella didn’t sleep the whole night. The next day, she got up for the breakfast and found David waiting for her at the table.

As they enjoyed their breakfast, neither of them spoke. After some time, David began speaking with difficulty.

"Stella, we know that this is a huge blow to you. We were so anxious that we failed to take your thoughts and feelings into consideration. Let me apologize to you. If you don’t want to, we won’t force you into it. I am your biological father. We won’t hurt you."

David pondered on it for the whole night. In the end, he decided that he didn’t have the heart to compel her into the marriage.

"Dad, let me ask you something. What will you do when Sophia recovers?" Stella placed her spoon before she solemnly voiced the question.

"This..." David fell silent.

Stella sneered deep down. Why did he say about doing it for her sake and that he would not harm her? In reality, it was all lie. It was a scheme. It was a lie in putting on an act of a kind father. To be honest, it was all fake. She hated David for his hypocrisy.

Only then did David realize that he had been hesitating for too long. All at once, he corrected himself to say, "No, your sister won’t ruin your marriage. You have to trust her."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read