The Substitute Bride

"Yes..." Cindy nodded her head seriously and asked, "Big sister, where is my mom?"

Cindy finally got back to the place where she last saw her mother, but she was unable to find her. Disappointed, she pouted and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Cindy, you are a good girl. Don't cry. I promise to help you find your mother, okay?" It was gradually getting dark. Autumn had waited for a long time and never moved from that spot with Cindy, but her mother didn't show up. Now Autumn had gotten a little anxious as people at the beach started leaving one after another. However, as time passed it seemed that this little girl had forgotten that she had lost her mom. She looked at Autumn and said with a sad little voice, "Sister, I am so hungry."

Autumn took a glance at her watch. This beach was not far from the hotel where she was staying. Autumn hesitated for a little while then decided to take Cindy back to the hotel with her.

"Well, let's get something to eat then, okay?" Autumn carried her back to the hotel and there, Cindy freely ordered whatever she wanted. Cindy could speak English fluently as she ordered, through which Autumn could tell that she may come from a wealthy family.

Cindy's parents may be frantic now, but she was still enjoying her meal here.

"Cindy, take your time with your food." Though she had elegant table manners, she ate in a hurry perhaps out of hunger. She even choked a little so Autumn quickly handed her a lemonade.

They were dining in the hall of the hotel. Autumn had just registered at the reception desk. She hoped that Cindy's parents could find them there as soon as possible, so they sat where it would be easy to see them.

Looking at this adorable girl in front of her, Autumn wondered if she should call the police if her parents still didn't show up that night, but she hesitated.

"Sister, what are you thinking of? Why don't you eat?" Cindy continued eating and asked Autumn who was deep in thought.

Autumn wiped her mouth and grinned. "I am not hungry. You can have some more."

"I am full now, " said Cindy. She gazed at Autumn with her big, clear

black suits and sunglasses behind the woman readily stepped forward. Autumn glared at them. 'Well, now I am really in trouble.' She thought.

Luckily, the man was reasonable. He stepped towards Autumn and said, "Miss, though I don't know what happened, I have to take my daughter to the hospital and have her physically examined. Are you staying at this hotel?"

"Yes." Autumn nodded slightly and took out her room card. "I don't know what you are going to do, but it was the desk clerk of this hotel who told me that you were looking for a girl. Well, you can confirm with the clerk over there."

"No. There is no need to do that, " said the man. The man waved his hands at the men behind them and said, "Escort this lady upstairs."

Though the man was very polite, it seemed that he put Autumn under house arrest.

Autumn watched the man get in the car with his family, then went back to her room.

The men in black suits did not leave and just stood by the door. Though they did not disturb Autumn, she still felt uneasy having them guard her like that.

Upset about what happened, she just lay on the king-size hotel bed. Then the phone that she had forgotten to bring with her rang. Good timing. Her heart almost burst when she found that it was Charles who was calling her.

She had just arrived in Z City, but she was already in trouble. She felt really wronged. What happened to her was unfair.