Chapter 5 The replacement bride

Alone in a quiet corner of the restaurant, Brandon stood by the window, gazing out at the falling snow with a heavy heart. The swirling flakes blurred his vision, mirroring the whirlwind of emotions that churned within him. Guilt gnawed at his conscience as he recalled the look of betrayal in Jane's eyes when he had walked away from her.

Isabella, on the other hand, found solace in the chill of the winter air as she stepped outside onto the balcony, her breath forming misty clouds in front of her. Leaning against the railing, she closed her eyes and let the cold seep into her bones, trying to numb the turmoil that raged inside her.

Lost in their own thoughts, neither Brandon nor Isabella noticed each other's presence until a voice broke through the silence. Mr. Normand stood in the doorway, his gaze shifting from one to the other as he spoke.

"Brandon, Isabella," he began, his tone measured,"please, come back inside! We are about to resume the negotiations. It is time to finalize the terms of the contract and proceed with the engagement celebration."

Reluctantly, Brandon and Isabella followed Mr. Normand back into the room, their masks of composure firmly in place despite the storm of emotions raging within them. As they took their seats at the table once more, the weight of their impending union hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to thicken with each passing moment.

The attorneys quickly resumed their positions, ready to iron out the final details of the marriage contract. Mrs. Harrington asked for a copy of the contract while she fixed her son with a stern gaze, silently urging him to stay focused and see this through to the end.

Beside her, Mr. Normand sat with an air of authority, his eyes flickering between Brandon and Isabella as if assessing their every move.

"As we move forward with finalizing the terms of this contract," Mrs. Harrington began, her voice commanding attention from all present," it is imperative that both...".

At that very moment, a waitress who had just started serving the drinks mistakenly poured on Mrs. Harrington a glass of red wine, causing it to spill all over her pristine white blouse and the copy of the marriage contract.

The room fell into a stunned hush as Mrs. Harrington stared down at the spreading stain, her expression a mix of shock and outrage.

Before the waitress could react, Mrs. Harrington retaliated with a mighty slap on her right cheek.

"You little fool, you just ruined the most important document of our lives!" Mrs. Harrington's voice boomed across the room, her anger palpable as she glared at the waitress in disbelief.

The poor waitress stood frozen, her hand over her cheek where she had been struck, tears welling up in her eyes as she stammered an apology.

But before the situation could escalate further, Brandon stood up with a calm authority that demanded attention from all present.

"Enough, Mother. It was an accident," he said firmly, his gaze softening as he turned to the waitress.

"Please, go and clean yourself up. We will deal with this later."

The tension in the room began to dissipate as the waitress hurried off, leaving behind a stunned silence in her wake. Mrs. Harrington visibly struggled to compose herself, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to salvage the now-stained documents.

As the room settled back into an uneasy quiet, Mr. Normand spoke up, his tone measured but firm.

"Perhaps this is a sign," he said, his gaze moving between the two families,"that we should take a moment to reconsider the terms of this contract. Emotions are running high, and it is clear that there are unresolved issues that must be addressed before we proceed any further."

Brandon and Isabella exchanged a glance, a flicker of hope igniting in their hearts at Mr. Normand's words. Perhaps this unexpected turn of events could provide an opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their forced union, to find a way out of the arrangement that threatened to bind them in misery for years to come.

Mrs. Harrington, however, was not so easily swayed. With a steely expression, she turned to Mr. Normand and spoke with icy determination.

"I will not allow a minor mishap to derail this agreement," she declared,"the terms have been set, and they will be upheld. We cannot afford to let sentimentality cloud our judgment."

Mr. Harrington who had been silent for a good while now, seeing his wife having lost her composure, decided to step in.

"Evelyn, perhaps we should consider another short recess to allow everyone to cool down and collect their thoughts. Emotions are running high, and it may be best to revisit the contract with clear minds."

Mrs. Harrington shot her husband a withering glare but eventually relented, realizing that pushing forward in the current heated atmosphere would only lead to further complications.

With a curt nod, she agreed to the recess, and the tense gathering slowly began to disperse. Brandon and Isabella found themselves standing near each other, the weight of their impending union heavy between them.

Isabella turned to Brandon, her eyes searching his for any sign of solidarity.

"I cannot go through with this, Brandon," she whispered urgently,"there must be another way."

Brandon hesitated, torn between duty and his own desires. He knew that Isabella was right - this charade of a marriage would only bring them both misery. But breaking the agreement would yield him disownment by his father. So he kept his mouth shut, letting Isabella's words hang in the air between them, heavy with unspoken truth.

As for Mrs. Harrington, she seized the opportunity to go clean her stained

blouse, leaving the room in a swirl of frustration and indignation. Mr. Normand watched her leave with a heavy sigh, his eyes reflecting a mix of weariness and determination.

He turned to Brandon and Isabella, his voice low but resolute.

"We need to talk," he said, gesturing for them to follow him to a quieter corner of the restaurant.

Brandon and Isabella exchanged a glance before falling into step behind Mr. Normand, curiosity mingled with apprehension in their hearts.Once they were seated at a secluded table, Mr. Normand fixed them with a steady gaze.

"I understand your reluctance to proceed with this marriage," he began, his voice tinged with empathy," and I cannot force either of you into a life that you do not want."

Brandon and Isabella shared a surprised look, their hope kindling once more at Mr. Normand's words.

"However," he continued, his expression grave," breaking this agreement will not come without negative consequences for both our families. But there's a solution, which is for Brandon to marry another woman who is also my ex-girlfriend. That is to say Miss Hart, Miss Jane Hart, the daughter of the billionaire and fashion tycoon Mark Hart."

Unbeknownst to Isabella and Mr. Normand, Brandon's heart raced at the mention of his ex-fiancée Jane Hart. Memories of their passionate relationship flooded his mind, stirring emotions he thought he had buried long ago. The idea of marrying Jane brought a mix of longing and unease, as well as relief at the possibility of avoiding a marriage based on duty rather than love.

Isabella, on the other hand, felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Relief washed over her at the thought of escaping a marriage devoid of affection, yet a twinge of jealousy and insecurity flickered in her heart at the prospect of Brandon marrying another woman. She pushed those feelings aside, focusing on the practicality of the situation and the potential freedom it offered.

Mr. Normand observed their reactions with keen interest, noting the subtle shifts in their expressions. He knew this proposal was unexpected and unconventional, but he also recognized it as a way to salvage a dire situation for all parties involved.