The Perfect Replacement Groom

The woman in the portrait gazed at me with gentle eyes, like a silent comfort. My nose stung, and I nearly burst into tears.

My mother had died young, leaving behind only this painting—one she'd commissioned before her passing. She said she wanted to watch over me through those painted eyes, hoping I'd find a good man and live a happy life.

This was my most precious possession, and Cole knew it well.

He hesitated for a moment, then pointed toward the hallway. "Set that painting aside for now."

Olivia's eyes flickered. She darted forward and snatched the portrait from the worker. "Cole's right—such a valuable item deserves careful handling."

She spoke of care, yet as she passed by, she deliberately dropped a lit lighter.

Flames leaped hungrily at the delicate paper. My mother's image crumbled into ash before my eyes.

I lunged forward, vision blurring with rage, but my hands closed on nothing but cinders.

"Oh, Avery, I'm so sorry! The frame was too heavy—I couldn't hold on."

At Olivia's saccharine apology, something inside me snapped. I slapped her.

She shrieked. I struck her again. And again.

Then, searing pain tore through my scalp.

Cole yanked me back by my hair, his face dark with fury. "Have you lost your mind, Avery? Attacking Liv over some worthless old painting?"

Worthless? Old painting?

I stared at him, disbelief carving a hollow in my chest. He knew. He knew this was my mother's portrait.

Something flickered across his face. His lips parted—

But Olivia clutched her cheek, sobbing. "Cole, my face! What if I'm scarred? I'd rather die!"

He folded her in his arms, murmuring soft reassurances.

She wouldn't be placated. "Cole, why won't you defend me? Don't you care about me at all? My parents are gone—if you abandon me too, I might as well end it all!" She made a show of climbing toward the window, sending everyone scrambling to restrain her.

Watching the chaos unfold, Cole clenched his jaw. His voice went cold. "Cut her face. Avery doesn't get her wound treated until every one of Liv's bruises has healed."

A staff member dared to protest, warning of consequences.

Cole's laugh was brittle. "So what if the Monroe family objects? I'm the Harrington heir. You think Grandpa would punish me for an outsider?"

When no one moved to obey, he seized the knife himself.

He gripped my chin but couldn't meet my eyes. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't hurt Liv first."

I looked at Olivia's face—the faintest red marks, barely visible. I swallowed the metallic taste of blood and laughed through my tears. "Cole, the biggest mistake of my life was ever loving you."

Something in my voice made him flinch. His hand trembled, the blade catching my brow. A thin line of blood welled up, warm against his fingers.

He froze.

Olivia's voice cut through. "Cole! Are you feeling sorry for her? Are you leaving me?"

His jaw tightened. His grip on the knife steadied. "Forgive me, Avery."

The blade glinted again—

The door slammed open.

The blade stopped a hair's breadth from my eye.

Julian's hand locked around Cole's wrist. Cole's face twisted. "You?"

Disdain dripped from his voice. "An illegitimate bastard dares to challenge me?"

Julian smiled softly. In one motion, he swept me into his arms. Cole was too stunned to react.

"If you harm my wife again," Julian said, "I'll have no choice but to kill you."