All Chapters of The Perfect Replacement Groom: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Seeing I wasn't joking, everyone froze in shock.After all, this wasn't the first time Cole Harrington had fled from our wedding. Back when "Monroe Heiress Abandoned" trended across social media and my family endured six months of ridicule, I'd never once mentioned calling off the engagement.Henry Harrington rushed to soothe me. "Cole's just confused for the moment. Give him a little more time..."He called Cole again, but barely got a few words out before being cut off."Stop trying to fool me. No matter how angry Avery gets, she'd never say she won't marry me. Besides, it's not like I'm breaking up with her. I'm just keeping Liv company while she clears her head. I'll be back."In the background, Olivia Davenport's coy voice drifted through. "Cole, I'm helping you test her! If she still wants to marry you after being abandoned this many times, that proves her feelings are real!"Listening to their brazen flirtation, I felt my lips twist into a bitter smile. "You're that confid

Chapter 2

Olivia laughed triumphantly and urged Cole to hang up.Henry's face clouded with shame. He couldn't bring himself to ask me to keep waiting for Cole to come around."You're sure about Julian? His background—"I cut him off, my gaze locked on the turbulent depths of Julian Harrington's eyes. I drew a deep breath. "I choose him."My mother had once mentioned seeing Julian at an exclusive private auction. This illegitimate son was far more complicated than Henry imagined.Love or money—I had to secure one of them.The groom's attire would need remaking, so Julian and I set our wedding for a week later. Henry's eyes held a complex expression as he sighed heavily. "The day you marry, I'll announce the change in Harrington family inheritance."With the groom changed, everything else had to follow suit. When I visited the jewelry store to select new wedding bands, I unexpectedly ran into Cole and Olivia, just returned to the country.Our eyes met, and the warmth drained from Cole's fa

Chapter 3

Cole's brow furrowed deeply, his gaze fixed irritably on my empty hand. "Can you stop with the games? I told you I'd marry you, and I meant it. There's no need for these little manipulative tricks."Olivia tugged at his sleeve, pouting. "Cole, this is the latest limited edition! I've been trying to get my hands on it forever!"His frown softened as he handed her the ring box. "Want to try it on?"Her eyes lit up, and she reached for the box.I caught her wrist, my voice turning cold. "Did no one ever teach you not to touch things that don't belong to you?"Before I'd even applied any pressure, Olivia's eyes welled up, and she cried out in pain.Cole panicked and shoved me aside. My lower back slammed into a sharp table corner, and the agony made my vision go white.Olivia blinked back tears, her voice accusatory. "I just wanted to look. Why did you have to be so rough?"Cole's face twisted with concern for her as he shouted at me. "She's crying from the pain, Avery! Don't you t

Chapter 4

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

Chapter 5

Cole blinked, confusion flickering across his face before comprehension dawned. "Your wife?" His voice climbed. "Have you lost your mind, Julian? You dare touch my woman?"He wheeled on the Harrington family guards flooding through the doorway, his expression hardening to iron. "Break this bastard's legs. I'll handle Grandpa."The guards didn't move.Rage darkened his features. "Are you all deaf? So Grandpa froze my cards—I'm still his only legitimate heir. You answer to me!"Julian didn't spare him a glance. He carried me toward the door. "I've called a doctor. Let's get you bandaged."Cole's hand shot out, gripping my arm. His jaw tightened as he glared at Julian. "Stop right there." His voice dropped, lethal and low. "Avery. If you walk out with him, we're through."I tasted blood on my lips. "Fine."I wrapped my arms around Julian's neck, pressing close. "Let's go," I murmured.Cole's roar faded behind us, his words dissolving into meaningless noise.In the adjacent room,

Chapter 6

Before my words faded, Julian appeared at my side. He extended his hand. "Let's go. The elders are waiting."As I naturally placed my hand in his, fire blazed in Cole's eyes. "Avery, have you no shame? Flirting with someone else right in front of me?"He lunged to pull me away, but strong hands restrained him.Before Cole could unleash another outburst, Olivia burst in from nowhere, her face plastered with comically oversized bandages, tears streaming. "Cole, those men were terrifying! They said I'd offended Avery and needed to be taught a lesson. I barely escaped!"I watched her performance with cold detachment. Those men worked for the Harrington family—they'd never utter such words. This was simply Olivia's latest fabrication.But Cole had always fallen for her act. His gaze bore into me. "Avery, you've got some nerve, harassing Liv right under my nose. Do you really want to provoke a rift between our families?"Before his aggression could land, Julian smoothly positioned hims

Chapter 7

Cole stood frozen, the words not quite registering.Olivia's eyes darted around before landing on Julian's attire like a hawk spotting prey. "Cole, look—why is Julian wearing a groom's suit?"Cole's gaze crawled slowly over the formalwear. "Avery, you'd actually marry him?" Rage made him reckless, his words tumbling out unchecked. "A bastard. Some mistress's by-blow. Are you that desperate?"His eyes bored holes into Julian while sparing a sliver of venom for me. "How long have you two been sneaking around? When I was abroad on business? Or when you were staying at the Harrington estate?"He spoke like a cuckold hunting proof of betrayal. He conveniently forgot his "business trip" abroad had been an aurora-viewing expedition with Olivia. That during my recovery at the Harrington estate after my car accident, he'd been touring viral restaurants with her, never once visiting.The more he raged, the more unhinged he became. He lunged at Julian.His fist never landed. Julian flipped

Chapter 8

Henry's face cycled through a range of emotions before he tugged me into a side room. "Avery, I know this wasn't our arrangement. But Cole—he's my grandson, raised under my eye for years. Handing the reins to an illegitimate child? I couldn't live with myself." He paused, searching for justification. "Besides, Julian gets half the shares. That's hardly nothing."Half the shares versus full control—I knew the difference. "You're breaking our agreement."His expression wavered between shame and resolve. "Fifty percent is generous."I read his evasive eyes clearly. Age made people sentimental. Weak.The door crashed open. Cole stormed in, spotted me, and unleashed. "So this is your game? I postpone the wedding, and you poison my grandfather against me, hand my inheritance to a bastard? Vicious. That's what you are."He railed at me, then at his grandfather for supposed favoritism.If only he knew this was favoritism—for him.I stared at the thin sheaf of papers in my hand—the t

Chapter 9

I turned. Cole approached, Olivia on his arm. They wore ill-fitting wedding attire—store-bought, clearly last-minute. Olivia's expression mingled triumph and something darker. Marrying Cole had always been her ultimate goal. But the wedding she'd imagined wasn't trailing behind mine like an afterthought.As she passed, she pressed closer to Cole, staking her claim. "We're family now. You can call me sister-in-law."I smiled smoothly. "Sister-in-law. Brother. May you live happily ever after."Olivia preened. Cole's hands clenched at "brother."I didn't care what churned in his head. I turned, took Julian's hand, and exchanged rings as the officiant blessed us. Beneath that burning stare, I spoke my "I do" with conviction.After the reception, Julian lingered outside our bridal chamber. Minutes passed. Finally, my patience thinning, he entered—arms full of documents.He gathered himself, then confessed. "I built my own portfolio before joining Harrington Group. Small at first—I k

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