The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 26

CH26 Morgan

I shook my head. "You're delusional."

"You knew that Mizuki was a spendthrift and that her father was an idiot, and yet you stepped down anyway. You abandoned your duty as ahead of this family. Your father will be ashamed of you."

I glared at her. "How interesting you think that you can talk to me like that after bowing your head to this man, knowing that he was an idiot and his daughter was a spendthrift."

She flushed and sputtered before slamming her hand on the desk. "Don't try to turn this back on me. You were supposed to take over, so you need to step up and do what needs to be done! We can't keep running this place on our own! You need to use your newfound... power...and shower us with money! Hire some people to run the shop so none of us have to work another day!" She glanced at the guard beside me. "He's a good start.

I stared at her. This wasn't the family reunion I'd envisioned, but I wasn't surprised, really. Anger bubbled within me, threatening to boil over. She didn't care that I could have died. She didn't even care what trauma I might have had from the experience. All she cared about was her own continued survival. But before I could say a thing, Adele stepped forward.

"That's enough," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "Let's give Morgan a chance to explain."

"Explain? What's there to explain? If I hadn't stepped down, Mizuki would be dead, Goro would have killed me, and you'd still be poor. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but give it another five years with the way Goro spends money."

I took a deep breath. "And don't misunderstand. I'm not here to save you by bailing you out. I'm here to make you work for it. The Ryuyama Silks and Tailoring shop has been operational and self-sustaining for generations, and it will return to that state."

She sputtered, "How selfish of you! You show up here in your fancy new clothes with your bodyguard and tell us to work. Why do we have to work when you don't? You're just going to go off and live as a fairy tale dragon queen and leave us here? That's not what your father would

have done?"

"My father also let himself be killed by his brother. Should I follow in those footsteps, too?" Goro and Adele paled. My aunt flushed.

"Why are you bringing up something like that?"

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CH26

I narrowed my eyes. "So you knew the plan. What did Goro promise you?"

I scoffed. "Nothing he can pay

aunt's face

stepped forward.

still stands, even more so now that I

scoffed. "The whole neighborhood's buzzing about your new title and what it will mean. The shop's been empty for weeks! Chen's

How'd that happen? You all stopped sewing?" Adjust your to the bolts of fabric on the walls. "All of this merchandise could have been moved. What happened? It's been more than at few weeks since Dad's death. Bereavement time is over,

and grabbed a sheet of paper. In a flurry of movement, I sketched out a design - a comfortable undergarment that offered support and structure without

restrictive bras or binding. It was a version of the structured slip I was wearing now with

across the table to the aunt. She sneered at it. "We'll call it a structured slip. Comfortable, supportive, and set to replace most women's underwear. Expand the style into something more seductive if you want." Goro leaned closer, squinting at the page. "This design... it looks familiar," he

in the family

grin split

heir," my

It was discontinued for reasons, but it wouldn't be hard to recreate

the return of the Dragon King, what better time to bring it

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CH26

filled the room. They all looked

it really

"We use my position to push it as a symbol of tradition and a new era. The Imperial family is

"And you will be

work."

""I don't-"

for his generosity," I said, glaring at them.

whirled on my aunt, whose arms were crossed and lips pursed in a

or out? This is a family business, and we need

moment, I thought she might explode. But then, with a huff'and a muttered curse, she threw her hands up

grumbled. "But don't expect me to

smiled. "Thank you. Get

her on the back a little too hard, eliciting a surprised yelp from

would you prefer Imperial orders?" I leaned close. "You slack off, and I'll have you and your little family packed and shipped