Chapter 52

Ryder looked at his friend trying to process the information that he had heard. So Raymond got married to some woman because of his grandfather? In fact, he is going to break up with her after six months? Just what is this?
"Wait so you are telling me that you found some random woman that your grandfather picked to get married to so that he could get better?" Ryder asked. He had always known that even though Raymond is a cold person without emotions, he treated his grandfather really well. But, isn't this a bit too much?
Raymond nodded his head. Even though he did not like that Joanna and hee schemes at all, as long as it was for his grandfather, he was ready to sacrifice anything. He was ready to go to any lengths to make sure that he was okay. After all, his grandfather was the only family that he had left. And his grandfather had done so much for him. He can't just sit back and watch him die knowing that he could do something to help him.
"Yes. It's for my grandfather. I'm ready to do anything" Raymond told Ryder. He was ready to put up living with that woman.
"Do you think that this makes any sense? Did this woman just agree to play along with you for six months? Why will a woman agree to do that for you?" Ryder asked.
Raymond scoffed when he thought of Joanna. That woman, as long as it's to get close to him, he was sure that she would be ready to do just about anything. Too bad whatever plans that she has won't be working. He can only love one person in this life and that person can only be April.
"You don't need to worry about her. She agreed to do it. Don't worry. Everything is going to go as planned" Raymond said. Now he just needs to work harder on finding April..
Ryder sighed. Since Raymond has already done something like this, he knew that whatever he said won't be of any use at all. There was just one more thing that he was worried about.
"What are you going to do about April?" Ryder asked. He knew that Raymond still believed that she was still alive... but how can she still be alive after what happened? And besides, it's already been eleven years. Too much time has passed already.
"About that. I'm really going to need your help Ryder. I have to find her before six months are over. Please help me" Raymond said.
Ryder was shocked. It was the first time that he had seen his friend beg like his. But how can she still be alive? Raymond really needs to let go of her now.
"Raymond, it's already been eleven years. You could not find her in the last eleven years and you think that you can find her in the next six months? It's already been so long, I know that she saved you but can't you just let of of her now?" Ryder asked.
Raymond knew what he was hinting at. He was telling him to give up, that she probably already died, but he did not believe that! She is still alive! She has to be alive!
"You still think that she's dead right? You don't have to help me if you don't want to. I'll find a way to deal with it myself" Raymond said.
Ryder sighed. He knew that his friend won't stop until he finds out for himself that she is gone. Since they had already come to this, Ryder did not have any choice but to do what Raymond said. We most he would find proof that she is already dead. Then maybe Raymond will be able to move on.
"Fine, I'll help you" Ryder said..
Allen was sitting in the dressing room as the makeup artist put on the makeup for her. She and Lena had to struggle earlier before they could get part the reporters earlier. Allen was starting to think that the life of a celebrity must be really hard. She just got married, why do so many people have to be concerned about it.
But she had to admit, that there were some good sides to it, like how right now she had a whole dressing room to herself. This dressing room was even bigger than her bedroom back home. To be able to live this kind of life, Joanna must be really lucky.
Lena had left her saying that she had to talk with the director about something. Since Joanna has not been here for two days, she had a lot of scenes to film after all. The makeup artist was almost done anyway.
The door opened and two people walked into the dressing room. Allen could see thier faces from the mirror in front of her. They did not look like they were happy to see her. In fact, there was a sneer on of the women's face. Does Joanna not get along well with these people?
The second woman tapped the makeup artist and told her to go out. Allen was still looking at them, trying to figure out what was going on.
Immediately the makeup artist was gone, Jenna locked the door behind them. She and Sonia had something that there wanted to talk about with Joanna. Since she already got married to Raymond, they were sure that she won't leave Sonia alone. What if she tries something like what she did five years ago?
"It must feel really good right? You got married to Raymond, you must feel like you've gotten everything" Sonia was the one who said this. She was so angry. Joanna has done so many bad things but she just keeps getting away with it. Doesn't karma exist anymore? How can she still live a good life after the bad things that she has done to other people? How can she be so happy after the things that she has done?
Allen tried to keep a smile on her face. She really could not understand what this woman was talking about. What has her getting married has to do with her? It's none of her business.
"I don't think that me getting married has anything to do with you" Allen said..
Jenna and Sonia was shocked. They both looked at each other before they looked at Joanna. What is she talking about? It doesn't have anything to do with them? Of course they knew that Joanna won't just leave them alone like this. It won't be Joanna then!
And what is wrong with her tone? She did not even try to gloat about it to them?! What happened to her?
"What? It doesn't have anything to do with her? You may have been able to fool everyone into thinking that you are a good person, but we know more than anyone else the kind of person that you are. You won't be able to fool us! Since you are getting married do you think that we don't know that you are going to try something like five years?" Jenna asked. Even if Joanna is able to good the entire world, she won't fall for it. She still had her arm as the proof of how terrible this woman is.
Allen was surprised. Why will she want to do anything to them because she got married? And what does she mean by five years ago? What happened five years ago?
"Why will I want to do anything to you? You are an actress and I am an actress. As long as we do our own thing, it should be fine. Why should I do anything to you?" Allen asked.
Sonia felt like she was going to choke on her words hearing these things from Joanna herself. These were the exact same words that she said to her five years ago. The two of them did not have to do anything to each other. As long as they worked hard and focused on thier career, it should be fine. But Joanna wouldn't have any of that. She was determined to completely destroy her.
Jenna sneered. What is Joanna trying to do? Pretending to be the good person so that they can let down thier guard like two years ago and then she will be able to do whatever she wants with them? She won't be falling for such a cheap trick again!
"You really are something Joanna. Don't you get tried of pretending? Do you really think that we will fall for something like this again? It's already been five years! Do you really think that we are stupid?" Jenna asked. She found this version of Joanna even more annoying that the one of before. At least, she won't try to hide the fact that she is a horrible woman in front of them. But now, she is actually pretending to be a good person.
Sonia laughed when she heard Jenna's words. Joanna was really treating her like a fool. She thinks that she will just fall for her tricks again like what she did before? If she can't see through what Joanna is doing right now then she will be a complete idoit! "Do you really think that I am idoit and that I won't see through what you are doing right now? I only came here to tell you this Joanna. Don't try any anything. Don't try to do anything to me the way that you did five years ago. I just won't sit back and take it. I don't know how you fooled Raymond into marrying you but do you still think that he will want anything to do with you when he finds out the kind of person that you are?" Sonia asked.
She already said what she wanted to say to this woman so she signaled to Jenna for them to leave. She did not have any reason to continue to stay here any longer.
As soon as Jenna opened the door, she saw Lena standing outside. They did not care about her at all. Whether she heard or not is none of thier business. Sonia and Jenna walked away.
Lena walked into the dressing room to find a dazed Allen on the chair. It was clear that Sonia and Jenna must have said something to her.
Lena walked to Allen. "Sonia and Joanna don't get along well. In this industry, there are bound to be be people that you don't get along with. Don't worry yourself about it" Lena comforted her. She could not hear what Sonia and Jenna had said to her but it must have been really big, seeing that she was in a daze. Well , as long as they don't find out that she is not the real Joanna then everything would be fine then.
Allen nodded her head when Lena told her this. So Sonia and Joanna doesn't get along? Does it have something to do with five years ago? A question popped in Allen's mind. Just what kind of a person is Joanna?
Allen and Lena were done with filming for the day. Thankfully, the reporters were all gone. They did not have to think about bow they were going to avoid them this time around. Lena brought their car from the parking lot.
Allen was about to enter the car when someone held her hand. She turned and saw Raymond staring at her! She had almost forgotten. He said that they had to go see his grandfather today.
"Let's go" hw said. His tone was cold and flat as usual.
Lena got down from the car when she saw what was happening. Allen had already told her what was happening.
"Don't worry Allen. I'll just come pick you up tommorow" Lena said when she saw that Allen was hesitating. She wanted to follow them but then it would look suspicious. She just hoped that Allen would be able to pull this off. She hoped that she won't get found out by Raymond.
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira