The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A girl suddenly appeared in the upper-class circles of Los Angeles.

She was petite and delicate, came from a poor family, yet carried an unmistakable pride deep in her bones.

Like a wild kitten that had accidentally wandered into a glittering jungle, she possessed an untamed stubbornness and nervousness that stirred a powerful urge among the wealthy young heirs, who were accustomed to obedient girls, to tease and provoke her.

Among them was Elise White’s fiancé, Landon Carter.

At a nightclub, the girl was being harassed by several rich young men and looked utterly miserable.

It was Landon who pushed through the crowd and took her away.

When Elise first heard about it, she did not think much of it. She even generously defended her fiancé:

“He did the right thing… He couldn’t just stand by and do

nothing That’s evectly what makes him

umi.

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She never expected it would become the beginning of Landon’s endless concern and attention toward that girl.

Elise knew Landon was currently at a private club with his friends.

So she brought the sample wedding photos and went to find him so they could choose a style together.

She passed through decorative screens and elegant pavilions shrouded in soft lighting and mist.

At the corner of the bar, she unexpectedly heard Landon’s

voice first.

“Why are you working another part-time job again?”

Elise stopped walking.

Only then did she notice two people standing beneath a landscaped pine tree not far away.

The man was tall, wearing a white T-shirt, with a dress shirt hanging from one hand.

His eyes were lowered as he looked at the girl.

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The irritation hidden in the corners of his eyes was restrained yet sharp.

The girl was about five foot three, dressed in a fitted black. employee uniform.

Her limbs were slender and fair.

Her lips were pale, her eyes moist as though she were holding back tears, yet she lifted her chin and met his

gaze.

“What’s wrong with earning my own money and

supporting myself? Who are you to me, Mr. Carter? Don’t you think you’re overstepping?”

The girl turned to leave, but Landon grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

“Who am I to you? If you want to make money, come work at my company tomorrow. I’ll pay you a hundred thousand a month.”

“I don’t need your pity.”

“Don’t forget you already have a fiancée. She’s the perfect example of a refined voung lady in Los Angeles. She loves

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“Joan Reed!”

Very few people dared to challenge Landon.

He was not a broad-minded, calm, or reserved man.

His emotions were written plainly across his face.

Anyone who irritated him could expect a brutal verbal. lashing without warning.

Even Elise was no exception.

But at this moment, Elise clearly saw Landon looking at the girl, his expression softening.

For a moment, her thoughts came to a halt.

The calm mask on her face instantly cracked.

Joan?

Wasn’t she the college student Landon had taken away from the nightclub last month?

They were still in contact?

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“I don’t. And I can’t compare to her. She comes from a prestigious family, speaks four languages, handles your social engagements and business negotiations effortlessly, and she’s so beautiful…”

Landon suddenly smiled and lightly flicked Joan’s forehead.

“You silly girl. So you’re feeling insecure?”

He paused before continuing.

“She’s not that amazing. She’s rational to the point of being boring. But when you’re unreasonable, you’re unbelievably adorable.”

It felt as though the sky had collapsed over Elise’s head.

She stared at the two of them in shock, a crushing sense of betrayal rising within her.

Just last month, while writing their wedding invitations, Landon had looked at her affectionately and said:

“Baby, you’re so adorable I want to lock you away and have you smile only for me every day…”

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For the first time, Elise’s faith in Landon’s love was shaken to its core.

She tightened her grip on the wedding photo samples and walked toward them.

The moment Landon saw Elise, he froze.

Almost instinctively, he released Joan’s wrist and frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see you,” Elise replied.

When Joan saw Elise, the smile vanished from her face.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her server’s uniform.

She didn’t recognize the brand of clothing Elise was wearing, but its understated elegance and luxurious texture spoke for themselves.

Elise’s features were flawless.

There was a cool calmness on her beautiful face, 6/13

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embarrassment.

Standing before Elise’s effortless grace and dignity, Joan

felt like a clown in a circus.

Unable to bear the silent humiliation, Joan bit her lip.

After glancing at Landon, she turned and ran away.

Landon instinctively moved to chase after her, but Elise stopped him.

“Landon, can we talk somewhere?”

Landon turned back.

Dark clouds gathered across his handsome face.

“Couldn’t you have called before coming?”

“Why didn’t you walk away when you saw me talking to

someone?”

“And then you deliberately walked over to Joan. Were you trying to embarrass her and show off your superiority

the daughter of the White family?”

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She stared blankly at Landon, as if trying to determine whether those words had really come from him.

So in his eyes, she wasn’t just boring.

She was that awful.

Elise found herself unable to ask another question.

Slowly, she turned around and walked out of the private

club.

Two of Landon’s friends had witnessed everything from

the entrance.

They immediately tried to persuade him.

“Go after Elise. In this world, she loves you even more than your mother does.”

Landon knew Elise loved him.

Everyone in their circle knew it.

Ever since Elise had been brought back by her biological parents at the age of ten, she had been raised according to the standards of his future wife.

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And he had loved her too.

He had fallen in love with the passionate and resilient

Elise when she risked her life to travel alone to find him

in Iceland.

Later, they became engaged.

Elise grew even more obedient, rational, and perfect.

So perfect that she seemed lifeless.

And his love gradually became dull and stagnant.

Then Joan appeared.

She made his heart race again.

He knew what he was doing was wrong.

Yet hopelessly, he had fallen in love with Joan.

But he still intended to marry Elise.

To him, those two things did not conflict.

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“Landon, Joan is just a temporary fascination. Elise is

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“Exactly. The wedding invitations have already been sent out. Are you planning to replace the bride at the wedding?”

“Go bring Elise back. If you lose her, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Landon stared in the direction Elise had left and said

irritably,

“I’m not going after her.”

“Everyone knows her parents raised her specifically to be my wife.”

“She’s something that belongs only to me.”

“Why would I need to chase her?”

That night, Elise asked her best friend overseas over the phone,

“Do you think I’m boring?”

Chloe Bennett immediately denied it.