Serena Sterling had been hoping Aunt Jacqueline would wake up, eager to uncover the truth from years ago. But now, hearing one shocking revelation after another, Serena found it all quite unimaginable. Grandpa is... Mom’s steward? Then Mom married the steward’s son... "Aunt Jacqueline, I can understand every word you say, but when you put them together, I don’t understand a thing. I have so many questions in my heart, I wish you could explain them all to me." Aunt Jacqueline looked at Serena affectionately, "Little Miss, as long as you retrieve the box Miss left for you, all of this will become clear." After speaking, Aunt Jacqueline wearily closed her eyes, falling back into a slumber. The doctor came to check Aunt Jacqueline’s health and remarked curiously, "Miss Sterling, the patient’s health has never been good, but it seems she has taken some kind of pill before, which has kept her heart from failing." Earlier, Serena had checked Aunt Jacqueline’s pulse, and as the doctor said, there was a life-preserving pill inside Aunt Jacqueline. Half a month ago, when she checked Aunt Jacqueline’s pulse, she didn’t notice it. Whoever has been quietly maintaining Aunt Jacqueline’s life all these years possesses impressive medical skills. Serena knew it was her own mother. Ten years ago, before her mother passed away, she must have given Aunt Jacqueline this life-preserving pill. Serena felt that now things were becoming more and more mysterious, as if a vast net were enveloping her. Just then, a string of melodious phone music played. A call was coming in. It was Gregory Sterling calling. Serena wasn’t surprised at all; Gregory was bound to call her about her situation with Hayden Crawford. Serena pressed the button to answer the call, "Hello, Dad." "Serena, come home quickly, I have some questions to ask you!" Gregory said hurriedly. Serena curled her lips slightly, "Alright, I happen to have something to discuss with you too." Serena first went to Mr. Sterling’s room. Mr. Sterling was still unconscious, but after her last acupuncture treatment, his energy and blood were slowly recovering. Serena administered the second round of acupuncture; the old man was elderly, having been a vegetative state for ten years, he needed time to wake up. After storing the needles, Serena quietly watched Mr. Sterling. Aunt Jacqueline said that Grandpa was Mom’s steward. What does this mean? Aunt Jacqueline also said that Mom came to this Forty-Nine City... Does this mean Mom wasn’t originally from Bayside, but came from somewhere else? Who is the "he" that made Aunt Jacqueline so terrified and trembling? Just then, Gregory arrived, "Serena, come to my study!" Serena went to the study, noticing Gregory’s face was quite displeased, he immediately bombarded her with questions, "Serena, do you know The Crawford Group’s CEO Hayden Crawford? What’s your relationship with him?" "Dad, did Yasmine tell you something? Did Yasmine say that I swiped Hayden Crawford’s Black Gold Card, and now she’s asking you to confront me?" Gregory didn’t deny it. "Yes, it was Yasmine who told me. Yasmine said you have Hayden Crawford’s card. I remember that time Vanessa was celebrating her birthday at the Imperial Six-Star Hotel, and the hotel manager sent a Rolls-Royce to take you back. Have you been involved with Hayden Crawford for a long time?" "Involved?" A trace of cold laughter spilled from Serena’s bright eyes, "Dad, do you say the same about Yasmine, that she wants to get involved with Hayden Crawford?" "You two are different; Yasmine is unmarried, but you are already married!" "A marriage can end in divorce; why isn’t Dad’s first reaction for me to divorce? Both I and Yasmine are your daughters. Whoever ends up with Hayden Crawford, you are the father-in-law; what’s the difference?" Gregory was speechless. Of course, there was a difference, a world of difference: Serena wasn’t his biological daughter! Lately, the twelve billion had made his life smooth sailing; everywhere he went, people surrounded him. He was counting on his daughter Yasmine to soon marry Hayden Crawford, making him the royal father-in-law. Read full story at Nove1Fire.net Now that he knew Serena was also entangled with Hayden Crawford, Gregory was enraged, fearing Serena would mess things up. "In short, Hayden Crawford is Yasmine’s, Yasmine is going to marry into the Crawford family as the young Mrs. Crawford. Serena Sterling, you better break things off with Hayden Crawford and stop considering what you shouldn’t!" Facing Gregory’s stern reprimand, the actual Mrs. Crawford, Serena Sterling, just calmly said, "Dad, if I were you, I’d choose my side wisely. Who can marry into the Crawford family depends on Hayden Crawford’s preference. Despite just returning from studying abroad at The St. Lyra Academy in Ferelden, he ignored Yasmine but is instead head over heels for me, a married woman. If you weren’t foolish, you’d know where to place your bets." Gregory was about to explode with anger when the study door was pushed open, and Yasmine walked in. Yasmine comforted Gregory with a gentle and obedient demeanor, "Dad, I know Serena has misunderstandings about me, so she wants everything that belongs to me. You don’t need to worry about Hayden Crawford; I know what to do." Gregory was very satisfied with Yasmine. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Serena again, "Serena, your actions reflect my negligence in disciplining you. Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll find a college for you to attend. Look at Yasmine, she’s just returned from further studies at The St. Lyra Academy, and now she’s been admitted to The Concordiat Research Institute!" Serena looked at Yasmine, "You got into The Concordiat Research Institute?" "Yes, Serena, I haven’t had the chance to tell you this good news yet. You know The Concordiat Research Institute, right? I doubt anyone doesn’t know this shining star in the field of Chinese medicine. I successfully got accepted." Pride illuminated Yasmine’s eyes. Serena thought it was wonderful; things were about to get interesting. She spoke up, "Dad, I also want to join The Concordiat Research Institute." "What are you saying?" Gregory suspected he misheard and ruthlessly belittled Serena, "You want to join The Concordiat Research Institute, are you dreaming? Do you have the educational background? You’re only 19 years old this year; at this age, people are still in college, but you haven’t even attended university. You aren’t a college student. How could The Concordiat Research Institute ever admit you?" Serena was very young, only 19, so she only had a high school diploma. Her wanting to join The Concordiat Research Institute was wishful thinking. Yasmine’s eyes revealed a hint of disdain, but she softly persuaded, "Serena, we don’t mean to belittle you, but you definitely won’t get into The Concordiat." Serena didn’t want to waste any more words with the two of them, "I have my ways to enter The Concordiat. Yasmine, I’ll see you at The Concordiat!" With that said, Serena left. Gregory said, "Yasmine, don’t mind Serena. I think she’s gone mad. If she can get into The Concordiat, I’ll write my name backward!" When Yasmine returned to her room, she took out her phone to call Erica Hawthorne, speaking softly, "Erica, I have a great joke to share with you. Just now, Serena said she wants to join The Concordiat Research Institute. If you post this joke on Weibo, wouldn’t it be hilarious?"
Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband - Chapter 69
Updated: Oct 28, 2025 8:12 AM
