CHAPTER 9

"Madelyn, call grandma." Andrew Davis urged.

"Grandma." Madelyn said with a coy look on her face.

"Good girl, come on, come to me."

The old lady pulled Madelyn into the seat next to her, her face beaming with love.

"Madelyn, I'd like you to meet Alexander's good friend Joseph Flower. He has just returned from abroad." The Old Mrs. Byron took Madelyn by the hand.

Joseph Flower stood up gracefully with a faint smile on his face. He held out his long hand. "Hello, Miss Davis, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Mr. Flower, nice to meet you." Madelyn politely extended her hand to greet him.

Joseph Flower nodded to Madelyn, then turned to The Old Mrs. Byron and said, "Mrs. Byron, I have to go."

"Ok. Drop in more often when you're free." The Old Mrs. Byron smiled lovingly and said slowly.

"Okay!" Joseph Flower nodded to Andrew Davis and Madelyn, then turned and walked out the door.

The Old Mrs. Byron pulled Madelyn to sit down.

Seeing that she was nervous, she said slowly, "Madelyn, you don't have to be so nervous. From now on, we'll be a family. You don't have to be too formal. Just do what you always do." The more she looked at her, the more she liked her.

Madelyn smiled at the old lady. She felt a little better for the titular grandmother, making her want to treat her better in the future.

"Okay, I got it, grandma." Madelyn replied sweetly.

"Owen, bring me my stuff." Said the old lady, smiling.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Owen, the butler, turned away happily.

Looking at everyone talking and laughing, Madelyn felt more bitter. She could not hurt the kind old lady she was looking at, so she tried to make people think she was happy.

Even though Madelyn tried to hide it well, Andrew Davis could see through it. He was heartbroken, but he had no choice.

He stood up suddenly and nodded to The Old Mrs. Byron. "I'll go out first. Please keep talking with Madelyn."

Madelyn looked up at Andrew Davis and smiled.

"Okay." The Old Mrs. Byron didn't seem to find anything wrong with Andrew Davis.

"Here is what you asked for." Owen took a box handed to The Old Mrs. Byron in front.

The Old Mrs. Byron took The box and took Madelyn by the hand. Her voice was more serious than before. "Madelyn, today is your wedding day to Alexander, and I know it's a bit hard to ask you to marry into our family this way. But rest assured, you will not be ill-treated by our family."

"This box was given to me by my mother when I was married to The Byron family. I'm giving it to you now, as my wedding gift to you and Alexander. But you have to remember that you can't tell anyone about this, not even Alexander or his parents."

Hearing the contents of the box were so valuable, Madelyn said: ", Grandma, this gift is so valuable and I can't take it. Besides, I married into The Byron family voluntarily, so you don't have to feel sorry for me."

The Old Mrs. Byron put The box into Madelyn's hand and said, "If you don't take it, you're looking down on me."

"The Young Mrs. Byron, you can take it!" Owen urged.

Madelyn didn't know what to do. She looked up at Owen and saw that he was nodding. She could only take it helplessly, "Grandma, I'll take it, please don't get angry."

Seeing her take it, The Old Mrs. Byron smiled, touched Madelyn's face and said lovingly, "Good girl."

Madelyn didn't say anything when she saw that, and it seemed a little pretentious to say anything more.

"Thank you, Grandma."

"Mrs. Byron, it's almost time. Let The Young Mrs. Byron go back and have a rest." The butler reminded The Old Mrs. Byron.

"I almost forgot that! Madelyn, I want you to go to your room and rest, and put on your makeup, because you're the most beautiful bride today."

"Okay, then I'm going." Madelyn turned and walked toward the door.

…

Madelyn had just returned to her dressing room when Alexander Byron's parents came up to her with an attractive man. As Madelyn looked puzzled, Darren Byron, Alexander Byron's father, said seriously, "Madelyn, I'd like you to meet Alexander's brother Chad."

Chad Byron walked up to Madelyn in style. Handsome features, a straight nose, a bright smile, he was the type that people would like at first sight.

"Dear Sister-in-law, hello, from now on we are a family, nice to meet you." Chad Byron greeted Madelyn politely.

Madelyn nodded and said politely and distantly, "Nice to meet you."

Darren Byron then said, "Madelyn, we have something we'd like to discuss with you. We want your opinion."

Hearing Darren Byron wanted to talk to her, Madelyn said hurriedly, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Darren Byron looked at Madelyn, then looked at his wife, but said nothing in the end.

Seeing Darren Byron in a bit of a bind, Alexander Byron's mother Marian said slowly, "Madelyn, we want to tell you that since Alexander can't come to the wedding, we want Chad to hold the wedding with you instead of Alexander. Is that ok with you?"

Madelyn was shocked. Having her husband's brother marry her instead of her future husband?

Marian saw Madelyn's surprised look in her eyes and held her hand softly saying, "We're looking out for you, too. We're afraid you would be embarrassed."

"Mom, Dad, thank you for looking out for us. But since I agreed to marry Alexander, I'm not afraid of gossip." Madelyn said with a determined look in her eyes.

Darren Byron didn't say anything when he saw Madelyn insist on going through the wedding alone. He turned to Marian and said, "Let's do what Madelyn wants."

"Thank you!"

Darren Byron looked over at Madelyn and said, "Get your act together. It's almost time." With that, he turned and walked out the corridor.

"Don't be nervous. Take it easy." Marian said so and followed her husband out.

Chad Byron smiled at her and went out, too.

…

"Miss Davis, it's time." Said the sweet voice of the bridesmaid.

Madelyn walked slowly to Andrew Davis with the help of her bridesmaids. Her steps were heavy, and she felt heavy at every step.

The bridesmaid walked Madelyn to Andrew Davis. Andrew Davis asked her to put her arm around his and gave Madelyn a smile that was worse than crying.

Beautiful rose petals were floating in the air. Accompanied by a melodious wedding march, Madelyn slowly walked to the priest with the help of Andrew Davis, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Please exchange the rings." When the words came out of the pastor's mouth, there was a murmur from the audience.