Dear Substitute Wife, You Are Mine

It felt like there was only a minute between yesterday and today, Serena wished the time would be slower. She was about to do something against her will and there was no going back. Although he asked her if there was something wrong yesterday, she lied to him. With an intimidating look on her mother's face, she couldn't dare speak the truth. As their cars drew closer to the church, a deep-seated anxiety threatened to consume Serena. She alighted from the car and was walked in by her stepdad. Each step down the aisle felt like a colossal weight pressing down on her shoulders, her legs feeling as if they were encased in heavy bands of lead. Emotions surged within her like a tempest, igniting her skin with feverish heat. What was she doing here? Panic whispered that she should have run—she tried, which made Cynthia confiscate her phones. Silently, she prayed for a chance to dart into the restroom, to switch places with her sister. It was insufferable to think about playing t

“How long do we have before we reach the mansion, Kyle?” Henley asked the chauffeur, his eyes glued to his phone.“Less than ten minutes, sir.” “All right.” After that, he fell silent, his complete attention focused on his phone while sitting opposite his bride in the limousine. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air between them, thick with unresolved questions and unbridled determination. Serena moistened her lower lip, staring intently at the man in front of her. She felt uneasy, on the verge of losing her mind unless she confirmed something she had overheard earlier.“Henley,” she called out softly.His gaze lifted slightly to her alluring face as an unexpected grin touched his lips, providing her with the solace she needed at that moment. “Yes, sweetheart. What's wrong? Do you need something?” The name he had called her earlier echoed ominously in her mind, leaving her to wonder if it was a mistake or if she had misheard. She swallowed anxiously. “No, I don't. You calle

The unfamiliar voices resonated in her ears as she kept her eyes tightly shut, trying to piece together her surroundings. Thoughts raced through her mind, her brain processing the situation with urgency. The bed was impossibly soft, and the duvet felt like fur against her skin—far different from what she was used to. A sweet, unfamiliar scent filled the room, captivating yet confusing. She couldn't recall changing her perfume recently, but the aroma was so strong, it left her questioning where she might be. “Is she going to be okay?” Henley asked the doctor, his tone edged with curiosity.“Yes, Mr. MacDonald. Your wife will be all right. Just ensure she eats and takes her medicine when she wakes. She needs plenty of rest.” The doctor replied gently.Henley's irritation was palpable. “That’s none of my concern right now. I just need her to be awake—eating or not, I’m not her babysitter.” He settled into a stool close to the bed where Serena lay.The doctor gulped, sweat beading on his

“Good work today, Doctor,” Eric said, tossing the latex surgical gloves into the trash.After washing her hands, she dried them while glancing at her reflection in the mirror. “My team couldn't have completed a flawless operation without you. I'm happy we were able to save the patient.”His eyes scrutinized the washroom. There was another doctor present, and it seemed he had something important to share with her. She noticed how Eric's eyes constantly darted in the other doctor's direction. After washing up, the young doctor exited the general washroom.“Are you free tonight, Serena?” She narrowed her eyes at him, her curiosity piqued. “I’ve made plans with Claire. Why?”His expression fell with disappointment. He ran his fingers through his dark, silky hair, staring intently at her. “There’s a party I need to attend tonight, and I want you to be my date.”“Am I your last option?” She stepped aside.“You’re my only option. As my woman, I can't think of anyone else. What do you say?

She knew exactly which hand to take, yet she held her ground, arms at her sides, unwavering as she locked eyes with the man before her, a ruthless businessman who had just declared her his wife moments ago and was ready to destroy her if she dared to defy him again, alongside the man she had loved with all her heart.Serena felt the weight of the universe on her shoulders, tears threatening to fall—not from nerves, but from the rage boiling within her. However, she refused to let it consume her.Every gaze in the room was fixated on her, and she could almost hear the unspoken thoughts behind each piercing stare.“Don’t overthink it, Serena. He's not going to do anything,” Eric assured her, extending a hand toward her.His words felt cruel. Nobody needed to remind her of the lengths a man like Henley MacDonald might go. As she lifted her hand, her eyes remained locked onto his face, studying the devious smile that adorned it. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in Henley’s right ha