Substitute Bride to the Dying CEO
Ivy, the overlooked and unloved daughter, never expected to marry into the Hale family—especially not as a stand-in for her perfect sister. Forced into a contract marriage with Rowan Hale, a once-proud heir now confined to a wheelchair, Ivy faces a man whose charm has been replaced by bitterness and whose trust has been shattered by betrayal.
Rowan sees Ivy as nothing more than a pawn, another person scheming against him in a world that turned its back on him after his accident. But Ivy sees something different—a man whose wounds run deeper than his legs, a man worth saving.
Armed with her secret knowledge of medicine and her unshakable determination, Ivy makes a bold promise: Your legs can be healed. Despite his doubt, Rowan reluctantly lets her in, unaware that her care will not only bring him back to his feet but also restore his will to fight for his place in the world.
As Ivy helps Rowan reclaim his life and his legacy, their bond grows stronger, but the shadows of betrayal, family secrets, and a cunning rival threaten to tear them apart. In a battle of hearts and power, can Ivy prove she is more than just a substitute bride? And can Rowan realize that in saving him, Ivy might be the one person who can save herself too?
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Chapter: Chapter 5: Gold DiggerChapter 5: Gold DiggerIvy felt the sting of Rowan’s rejection, her heart tightening painfully, but she refused to let it show. She simply turned and walked away, the weight of the moment pressing down on her as she left the room. His coldness didn’t surprise her, but it still hurt. After all, they were strangers bound by a marriage neither of them had chosen.In the quiet of the hallway, Ivy wondered what it would be like if their roles were reversed. If she had woken up in a hospital bed, told she was married to someone she didn’t remember, would she feel the same confusion and resentment? It was hard to imagine, but it made her understand why he pushed her away.Shaking the thought from her mind, Ivy focused on the present. She took a seat on the sofa in the living room, the silence around her almost suffocating. Her mind already raced ahead, planning the three days she had left. This marriage wasn’t permanent. She wasn’t going to let it last any longer than necessary.Though Rowan
Last Updated: 2025-03-25
Chapter: Chapter 4: Dearest wife, get lostChapter 4: Dearest wife, get lost. Ivy’s polite smile faltered, the weight of the old man’s words pressing down on her shoulders like a heavy stone. For a fleeting moment, she felt the crushing burden of his expectations, the weight of a promise she hadn't made yet was bearing down on her. But she steadied herself, pushing aside the discomfort, and lowered her head with respect. “Thank you, Grandpa. I'll keep that in mind,” she murmured, though the words felt hollow in her mouth.The old man’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. “We’re family, child. No need for formalities,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Now, go check on Rowan.”Ivy nodded, her breath shaky as she turned toward the door. She couldn’t help but feel his eyes on her retreating figure, the sharp intensity of his gaze following her every movement. For a moment, the space between them felt like an abyss she had no choice but to cross.After a few beats of silence, the old man spoke again, his voice low
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 3: GrandchildChapter 3: Grandchild"Ivy, let’s put the past behind us," Justin said, his voice oily with insincerity. He tried to appear genuine, but there was something too calculating about the way he spoke. "I still care about you. Look, Rowan’s a lost cause. He’s practically fucking dead. The doctors have said he’s beyond saving. If you stay by his side, you’ll be a widow before long. Let’s keep things between us quiet. Once he’s gone, everything he owns will be ours."Ivy felt her stomach churn. She hadn’t realized just how vile Justin was until this moment. The audacity, the shamelessness—it was suffocating."What if your brother doesn’t die?" she asked, her voice cold, cutting through the air like a knife.Justin hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the question. "That’s impossible!" His words came out too quickly, as if he was trying to convince himself more than her. "The doctors have said there’s no hope. His coffin’s already prepared."Ivy’s lips curled into a mocking smile, her
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 2: A life for a LifeChapter 2: A Life for a LifeThat night, a sleek black sedan pulled up to Ivy’s apartment. The driver, silent and efficient, navigated the winding streets of the city before coming to a stop in front of a mansion that looked out of place—ancient yet grand, like something from another time. Its towering gates opened with a soft click, revealing an estate that radiated a serene elegance, the kind of place where time seemed to stand still.Ivy stepped out, her heels clicking sharply against the stone driveway. A man, middle-aged with a neatly trimmed mustache and impeccable posture, greeted her. His presence was formal, yet warm.“Madam, welcome,” he said with a slight bow, his smile pleasant. “I’m Finch, the butler.”Ivy nodded politely, offering a small smile. “Thank you, Mr. Finch.”Without another word, Finch led her into the mansion. The interior was equally striking—luxurious, yet steeped in tradition. As they ascended the grand staircase, he gestured to the second floor.“This way
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 1: The dealChapter 1: The Deal“If you ever want to see your grandmother again,” Clara began, her voice smooth yet tinged with menace, “you have two choices. Marry Rowan Hale in your sister’s place, or pay 10 million to free yourself from this responsibility.”The grand hall of the Calloway estate felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in on Ivy. Clara’s voice cut through the silence, cold and calculating.Ivy’s laugh was bitter, jagged. “You want to climb the social ladder so badly, but you won’t let your precious daughter marry a dying man? So, you come to me instead? You’re beyond pathetic, Clara.” She sneered, eyes sharp. “But go ahead, keep dreaming. You can’t threaten me.”Clara’s eyes hardened. A slow, cruel smile spread across her face as she leaned in. “Then I’ll send that old hag you call your grandmother straight to the crematorium. I’ll scatter her ashes so she’ll never find peace. That’s a promise.”Ivy’s breath hitched. Her heart dropped, but her gaze remained un
Last Updated: 2025-01-16
The billionaire's secret babies
Mila Carson thought her life couldn’t spiral further out of control. One night shattered her future—a drugged betrayal, a fiancé she barely knows, and a crime she didn’t commit. Framed for the hit-and-run death of her fiancé’s mother, Mila faces betrayal from her own family and a death sentence for a murder she didn’t commit.
But when she discovers she’s pregnant with her fiancé Lowe Sterling’s child, Mila refuses to give in to despair. As the truth unravels, secrets and lies threaten to ignite a war between love, revenge, and survival.
Mila has one shot to clear her name, protect her unborn child, and expose the real culprits behind the conspiracy. In a world of manipulation and deadly alliances, can she find justice before time runs out?
For fans of Betrayal, second chances, secret babies, arranged marriage, high-stakes betrayal, and unexpected twists, this book is your next obsession.
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Chapter: Chapter 5: Get the hell out of my HouseChapter 5: Get the hell out of my HouseMadison’s face turned pale, and she asked, her voice laced with urgency, "The fuck you mean Mila?""Madam Sally, Miss Madison, have you prepared everything I asked for?" At that moment, a voice interrupted, light and brisk, with a tone that carried undeniable authority. Myla stepped into the room, her presence commanding attention as she raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze unwavering."Mila!!" Madison gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as she jumped to her feet."How could this be possible... weren't you..." Sally stammered, her face drained of color. She blinked several times, trying to make sense of the sight before her. It was as if the world had tilted on its axis—how could this woman be here? Wasn't Myla dead?Madison stood frozen, her breath coming in shallow bursts as she stared at the woman before her. The years had clearly been kind to her, and yet, there was an eerie chill in the air that made it hard to believe what her eyes were
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 4: She's back.Chapter 4: She's back.The pen glided over paper in smooth, deliberate strokes, its faint scratch the only sound in the still room. Fingers tightened briefly around it before resuming their steady rhythm. Lowe’s gaze flicked to the window, where the city lights blinked against the dark. A muscle in his jaw shifted, then stilled, as he returned to the paper, his movements precise yet heavy with unspoken weight.The door creaked open, and Mark, his assistant, stepped in with measured caution. His every movement was calculated, as though he feared one wrong step might trigger an unseen mine.“Sir, you asked to see me?” Mark’s voice was carefully modulated, pitched just right—respectful but not intrusive.Lowe’s hand paused mid-signature, the pen stalling against the paper. The sound of it being placed back on the glass desktop was soft, almost muted, but in the silence, it resonated like a gunshot. Slowly, he raised his head, revealing the face that had become synonymous with power and f
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 3: MylaChapter 3: MylaFive Years LaterIn a bustling restaurant, a woman sat alone in the corner, her presence commanding attention. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, swept the room, and her beauty was undeniable. Despite the soft elegance she exuded, there was something fiercely determined about her—something that made her seem unapproachable, untouchable.This was Mila, though she went by Myla now.Beside her sat a little girl, her legs swinging beneath the table, her eyes wide and bright as she gazed at her mother. The girl’s expression mirrored Mila’s own—sharp, observant, unyielding.The television overhead buzzed with the latest news: “Carson Corp faces a financial crisis. Rumors suggest that Madison Carson, the now heir, may soon marry Lowe Sterling, potentially securing a partnership with Sterling Inc. No official confirmation has been made.”Mila tightened her grip on the chopsticks, her eyes betraying the coldness she felt inside. Five years had passed, and though the mall around h
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: Chpater 2: Time of DeathChpater 2: Time of DeathHer hands clenched into fists as tears slid down her cheeks. She had lost everything—but she wasn’t going down without a fight.She stood frozen, her hand trembling as it rested over her stomach. The weight of the truth slowly sank in, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief. A child… Her child.Her mind drifted back to that night—the warmth, the tenderness that Lowe had shown her, even if just for a fleeting moment. But it felt like a distant memory now, like something that belonged to another time, another life. Since then, she hadn't seen him. He must hate her now. The thought twisted in her gut. How could he not? To him, she was nothing more than the woman who had killed his mother, the woman who had betrayed him, who drugged him and climbed into his bed for her own selfish reasons. And now, standing on the brink of despair, sentenced to death for a crime she didn't commit, the child she carried felt like a cruel twist of fate.But despite the bitterness tha
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 1: This wasn't the EndChapter 1: This wasn't the End"Kiss me." It was an order.In the dimly lit room, the air was thick and oppressive, the kind that could suffocate you. A deep, gravelly voice whispered near her ear, low and intimate.Mila’s body tensed, and her mind struggled to focus. Everything felt foggy, like she was trying to stay afloat in a dream that wouldn’t end. She wanted to pull away, to resist, but her limbs were sluggish, her strength draining with every second that passed."Don't..." she murmured weakly, her voice barely a whisper. “Please.”The man didn’t answer. Instead, she felt his lips brush her forehead, then her cheek, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. Before she could react, his mouth descended, claiming hers with a kiss that was firm and unrelenting.It wasn’t just a kiss—it was an invasion. He deepened it slowly, savoring her resistance. She gasped for breath, her mind spinning, desperate to escape. But as she tried to push him away, his large hand seized hers, pinning the
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 35 – You're not prince Theron Chapter 35 – You're not prince Theron Selene’s POV“You’re deceiving me!” The Alpha’s voice erupted with a harsh snarl that vibrated deep in his chest, twisting into a guttural growl that made my skin crawl. His enormous hands, along with the silent, looming presence of his Beta, yanked me roughly across the cold, unforgiving stone floor. My legs scraped uselessly, burning with a sharp sting as they dragged behind me, each jolt sending an unbearable pulse of pain spiraling up my spine.I barely had time to brace myself before my back slammed hard against the damp, unyielding wall of the cellar. The cold seeped through my clothes, crawling beneath my skin and stealing the warmth from my bones. I curled inward, shrinking beneath their towering forms, powerless beneath the weight of their fury. The Alpha’s eyes were wild fires blazing with contempt. “You privileged vipers... all the same!” he spat venomously. “Feasting on everything while caring nothing for the rest of us but your own g
Last Updated: 2025-06-15
Chapter: Chapter 34 — Come Chapter 34 — Come Selene’s PovThe dim corridor seemed to stretch endlessly before me, but my gaze was fixed on the two dark silhouettes blocking the doorway ahead. My breath caught in my throat, and for a long moment, I was frozen, unable to look away. The weight of what this confrontation meant pressed down on me like a stone.“Grab my hand, Selene! Now!” Seris’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and urgent, snapping me out of my trance. Her hand was stretched toward me, fingers trembling but steady, beckoning me to move. Panic surged in her tone, but also something else — fierce protectiveness.Yet, even as her desperation filled the air, I found my limbs heavy, unmoving. A stillness, colder than fear, settled over me. In that brief heartbeat, a chilling clarity crystallized inside: I understood what was at stake. I knew exactly what I had to do. If we were to survive this night, it wouldn’t be together. Not this time.“Go without me,” I said, my voice steady despite the poundi
Last Updated: 2025-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 33 – WorstChapter 33 – Worst Selene’s POVIt wasn’t the cold that woke me. Not really.The chill was there, yes ... sharp and biting, lashing against my skin like invisible whips, curling beneath the thin fabric of my torn dress ... but it was the pain that truly pulled me from the black fog of unconsciousness. A dull, throbbing ache settled in every joint and bone, a chorus of bruises that sang with each breath. My wrists screamed beneath the tight coil of rough rope, and the pressure around my ankles felt like a vice grip. Even before I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong.Terribly wrong.The concrete floor beneath me was unforgiving, and it stank of mildew, rust, and something fouler I didn’t want to name. My cheek was pressed against it, the chill seeping into my bones. With a groan, I blinked against the darkness. The room was dim, lit only by a flickering bulb that swung lazily from the low ceiling. The walls were bare cement, cracked and damp, with mold blooming in the corners li
Last Updated: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 32 – TakenChapter 32 – TakenSelene’s POVLucian’s rescue should have made me feel safe.It should have made me feel protected, maybe even cherished. He had appeared in that alley like a storm, all fire and fury, tearing through the darkness to get to me. I should have crumbled into him, into that unwavering strength, and let myself believe... just for a moment... that everything would be alright.But it wasn’t.Not really.Because safety doesn’t always mean peace. And love... if it had ever existed between us... felt more like a shadow now, something I couldn’t grasp even when I was surrounded by it.When he wrapped his arms around me that night, I felt warmth. But not healing. Not clarity. Not absolution. Just warmth... fleeting and fragile.That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling long after Lucian had fallen asleep. His even breaths should have comforted me, but instead, I felt more alone than I ever had before. The ceiling became my canvas of torment, my thoughts drawing cruel pictu
Last Updated: 2025-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 31 – Who's that? Chapter 31 – Who's that? Selene’s POVThe walls are closing in.Not metaphorically. Not poetically. No... this time it feels literal. Like the high ceilings are lowering inch by inch, the chandeliers swaying closer to my head, and the thick, suffocating air of the palace pressing against my skin like a heavy woolen cloak. The sharp scent of orchids, candles, and polished wood turns my stomach. My throat constricts.I can’t breathe in here.I won’t stay in this building another second.The moment I saw it... them... it was like time stopped.Just one glance. That was all it took.Lucian.Leaning in too close to Isolde.I didn’t wait to see their lips meet. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe they did. I wouldn’t know. I didn’t give myself the grace... or the torture... of staying to witness it. I saw enough in the way he looked at her. The subtle softening in his eyes. The fondness. The kind of quiet tenderness people don’t fake.That was what undid me.The kind of look he never gives me.I turn
Last Updated: 2025-06-09
Chapter: Chapter 30 – He still loves herChapter 30 – He still loves herSelene’s POVThe afternoon air is crisp, golden rays slipping through the high palace arches like ribbons of light as I make my way home. In my hands, I cradle the folded parchment like a precious relic... my sealed application. My fingers tremble slightly as I press it close to my chest.This... this could change everything.I glance up at the sky, whispering thanks to the moon above. I should feel scared, but for the first time in a long while, I don’t.Lady Nrya belief in me has transformed something inside. What started as fear and distrust has slowly softened into something I can’t quite name... trust, perhaps. Or hope. Or maybe the ache of what it must feel like to be truly seen.She isn’t just Isolde’s mother anymore. She’s something I never had. A mentor. A maternal presence. Someone who listens without judgment and guides without condescension.The thought draws a smile from me, unguarded and wide. A rare thing these days.I take the long way h
Last Updated: 2025-06-08
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