Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband

Chapter 1358: The First Princess Consort!

Hayden Crawford and Serena Sterling’s expressions darkened, neither of them had expected Prince Rosen to send the bridal gifts to Alani even before Willow Crawford turned 18. If she didn’t marry, rumors would spread, and Alani would bear the stain of "dishonor."

Rosen’s tactic of "striking while the iron is hot" during their journey to their daughter was truly clever.

Actually, more crucially, as Rosen said, what they must face now is the rampant retaliation from The Merfolk Clan.

After all, it was Willow who personally handed over the poisoned drink, conspiring with Rosen to kill Morgan Ashworth.

Rosen had set up a deadlock, a single move triggering a chain reaction.

Hayden and Serena remained silent as Prince Rosen slowly walked to Willow’s bedside. At that moment, he was no longer Prince Rosen but an ordinary man looking at the girl he loved, his eyes filled with deep guilt, affection, and reluctance.

"Willow, I’m sorry."

He had to do this.

His short life had been shackled with heavy chains, and only at the final moment of his life could he be himself for once.

He had never had control over his own life.

"Willow, goodbye."

Prince Rosen closed his eyes by Willow’s bedside.

...

Outside, the drizzle continued as Willow returned to Alani. She stood silently by the window in thin clothes, a persistent sorrow and frail beauty surrounding her.

"Willow, it’s getting cold. Don’t catch a cold." Serena walked over and draped a coat over Willow’s shoulders.

Willow’s face was pale, her pure black hair cascading down, making her eyes appear hollow. She had grown much thinner in the recent days. "Mommy, I’m fine, don’t worry about me."

The daughter was a part of Serena herself; ever since Willow awoke, she would stand dazed by the window. How could Serena not worry?

At this moment, a maid entered, "Princess, your bird’s nest porridge is ready."

The maid handed over the bird’s nest porridge.

Serena reached out to take it, "Willow, have something to eat..."

The next second, Serena’s actions froze, because the bird’s nest porridge was poisoned.

"Who are you?" Serena coldly looked at the maid.

The maid knew she had been exposed and immediately drew a knife, stabbing forcefully at Willow, "Willow Crawford, your life is mine!"

Slam.

Serena quickly threw the bird’s nest porridge at the assassin maid and called out, "Someone, there’s an assassin!"

The door was pushed open, and Hayden’s tall figure leaped into view. He swiftly advanced and captured the assassin maid, "Who are you?"

The maid fiercely glared at Willow, "I’m from The Merfolk Kingdom!"

The Merfolk again.

Since Willow returned to Alani, The Merfolk Kingdom had sent several waves of assassins to kill her.

Willow’s face was as pale as paper, just the words "Merfolk" were enough to awaken her most painful memories, "Daddy, show mercy, don’t kill her."

However, blood was already trickling down the assassin maid’s lips. They were all death warriors, choosing death over failure. "Willow, you killed our young master. The Merfolk Kingdom is irreconcilable with you. We demand your life for his, a blood debt repaid in blood hahaha."

The assassin maid fell to the ground, dead.

Willow’s hands and feet were icy cold, as if soaked in ice, devoid of any warmth.

The maid’s body was quickly disposed of, and incense was burned in the room to dispel the scent of blood. Hayden and Serena stepped out for a moment, seemingly discussing something.

Soon, Serena returned, "Willow, mommy wants to talk to you."

Willow, "Mommy, go ahead."

"I discussed it with your daddy. In a few days, we’ll announce to the world that you’ve died of illness. We’ll fake your death and send you away, freeing you from the title of Alani Princess, allowing you to fly freely."

This was the greatest love Hayden and Serena could offer, letting her break free from the chains of fate to soar freely.

Willow felt no emotional stir, she looked at her mother, "Mommy, what about you?"

"Even if you say nothing, I already know. Rosen is dead, still kept in ice, while The Merfolk Kingdom loathes me to the core, continually sending death warriors to kill. If I leave, everything crumbles. I know daddy, mommy, and my brothers are all incredibly capable, capable of cleaning up the mess after me, but preserving the country over personal matters, I, Willow, cannot bear this burden. Nor can I bear the mountains and kingdom forged by the blood of our ancestors."

Serena’s eyes turned red. She knew her daughter understood everything.

Serena held Willow’s cold little hand, "Willow, we only wish for your happiness."

Happiness...

Willow kept mulling over this word in her heart, happiness, happiness...

Ha.

Haha.

Willow suddenly laughed out loud.

As she laughed, she began to cry, covering her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably, "No more, I’ll never be happy again... I once yearned for freedom too, but I broke the wings of freedom with my own hands. I can’t fly anymore... I destroyed the happiness that was mine with my own hands. He... is no longer here..."

...

Serena returned to the room and called her eldest son, Caden Crawford.

"Hold on, I’m transferring you to the president’s private line now." Came the sweet voice of a secretary.

Soon, the private line was connected, and a deep, magnetic voice flowed over, "Mom."

"Caden, your sister..."

"Has she made her decision?"

"Yes."

"Willow is going to marry Rosen and become the First Princess Consort." Caden spoke without a hint of emotion, not as a question but a simple statement, already anticipating this result.

Willow was to marry Rosen.

From the moment Willow and Morgan Ashworth crossed paths, the wheel of destiny shifted slightly, but nothing changed, and Willow chose her predetermined fate.

Becoming the First Princess Consort, known throughout the world.

"Caden, you anticipated this?"

"Yes, mom, it’s Willow’s choice. She has grown up and knows what path she’s chosen. Let go, from now on, let her walk her own path."

...

A year later, Willow and Rosen held their wedding, the union of prince and princess becoming a celebrated tale.

On the wedding day, all the people lined the streets, surrounded by flowers and red carpets, as Willow’s princess carriage slowly arrived at the royal palace, crowds watched reverently and cheered.

"Look, that’s Princess of Alani, our First Princess Consort Willow!"

Willow entered the princess consort’s chamber and received a wedding gift from her mother, a vial of Forget-Me-Not potion.

Serena left a message for Willow: Forget-Me-Not potion is here, you decide whether to drink it or not.

A year later, Willow successfully gave birth to a little prince.