Chapter 2: The Unfavored Second Daughter of the Everett family

Clara glanced at her crying sister and remained silent.

That was business between her sister and Ethan; she had no place to intervene.

In truth, she was a bit dazed. That morning, she had been her sister's bridesmaid, waiting at home with her sister for the groom, Ethan, to come and fetch the bride. But an unexpected event occurred—Ethan received some photos of her sister embracing and kissing another man.

Her sister had cheated, two-timing Ethan and making a fool of him.

Ethan couldn't tolerate it. In fact, no man could tolerate such a thing.

Ethan, furious, decided to leave, refusing to fetch the bride or get married.

Her sister begged him in tears, and their parents and grandparents also apologized to him. But Ethan wouldn't accept it and wanted to leave. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Clara rushed out to stop Ethan. Then, somehow, Ethan decided to marry her instead.

Her parents and grandparents agreed almost without hesitation.

To them, whether Ethan married Iris or Clara made little difference; both were daughters of the Everett family.

Thus, in a daze like a puppet, she transformed from bridesmaid to bride, replacing her sister and marrying Ethan.

"Ethan, what are your plans?" Julian, Ethan's grandfather, asked.

Iris looked at Ethan with hopeful eyes.

"We've had a long day. You all must be tired too. Please leave; we need to rest," Ethan said calmly.

"We?" Julian's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, my new wife and I," Ethan said, glancing at Clara, who had been standing silently.

Hearing this, Clara looked up in surprise at Ethan. Their eyes met briefly before she blushed and looked away, not daring to meet his gaze again.

"As for other matters..." Ethan gave Iris a deep look. "We'll settle them slowly in the future."

Iris's body stiffened, her face turning pale.

The Everetts' expressions were equally grim.

Julian thought for a moment and nodded, feeling that Ethan's current choice was the best. Today was Ethan's wedding day, attended by Riverton's political and business elites. In front of so many guests, he married Clara, solidifying the alliance between the Everett family and the Logan family—an unchangeable fact.

Ethan swallowing his pride today to marry Clara was for the greater good. Otherwise, who knew how things might have escalated?

"Grandfather, Mom, Dad, I'll see you downstairs," Ethan said.

The Logan family members exchanged glances with the Everett family before following Ethan out.

Soon, only the Everetts remained in the bridal room.

"Clara..." Iris looked at Clara with tearful eyes.

What use was crying to her? She wasn't Ethan.

Iris continued to cry silently, not saying a word.

Sophia Pena, Clara's mother, sighed and said to Clara, "Clara, you need to keep Ethan calm."

Clara nodded.

For now, keeping Ethan calm was the priority.

"You... Ethan is still your brother-in-law. You must restrain yourself from falling in love with him or having any intimate relations. Find an opportunity to reconcile your sister with Ethan," Sophia said.

Clara looked at Sophia in astonishment.

Seeing Clara's surprised expression, Sophia continued, "Ethan still has feelings for your sister. Marrying you in a fit of anger is clearly an act of revenge against her. Once he calms down, he'll realize he still loves Iris. You mustn't develop feelings for him. If you do, you'll be the one who gets hurt in the end."

Her words were both a reminder and a warning.

Her mother's logic left Clara speechless.

How could a man like Ethan tolerate any betrayal?

Her sister had betrayed him; he would never give her another chance.

He was Ethan who had his unblemished pride.

Seeing Clara remain silent, Iris's eyes flickered as she tearfully asked, "Clara... have you always loved Ethan?"

Her expression and tone were filled with anxiety and nervousness, cautiously seeking reassurance.

With a hint of grievance that tugged at one's heartstrings.

Clara frowned and wanted to explain but was interrupted by Sophia. "Clara, how could you fall in love with Ethan? He's your brother-in-law! This is improper; how could you be so shameless?"

Her tone was severe and filled with disgust.

Clara blinked away her tears and swallowed her grievances.

Compared to her sister, their parents had always favored Iris more.

She understood why.

Iris was their first child. The first child is always cherished because they bring parents their first experience of parenthood.

The first daughter is a precious gem.

The second daughter might not even be worth much in comparison.

Especially in her case.

When her mother was pregnant with her, they had already known it was a girl. But since the Everett family could afford it, they decided to have her and try for a son later.

However, during her birth, her mother had complications. Her grandparents forbade a C-section because they wanted her mother to try for a son next time. A C-section would mean waiting three or four years before trying again—a wait they couldn't endure. Her mother barely survived childbirth but damaged her uterus and could never conceive again.