Substitute For The Devil's Bride: One-night Stand

♥♥♥“Let’s get a divorce,” Layla said flatly, sliding the papers across the table without a hint of remorse. Lucian’s jaw tightened. “Why did you hide it from me?!” he roared, his eyes burning with fury, and something she couldn’t name. The sudden emotion in his voice caught her off guard. “What are you talking about?” she scoffed, though her pulse raced. “You’ve been hiding my daughter from me,” he spat, voice cracking with pain. “My daughter, Layla! And we’ve been living under the same roof all this time!” Layla froze. So he’d finally found out. “Your daughter?” she echoed with a bitter laugh. “You abandoned me after that night like the heartless man you are! I had no one, Lucian…no one! I didn’t even know your name back then. Do you have any idea what I went through?” “I... I—she’s still my daughter,” Lucian said hoarsely, guilt flickering in his eyes. Layla’s lips trembled, but she held her ground. “She’s mine to protect. And if you try to take her from me, Lucian Hilton, I

♥♥♥♥ The morning sun seeped into the bedroom, casting soft rays across the sheets and landing directly on her face. “Why does my head hurt?” a lady grunted lazily, rubbing her temples as she opened her eyes. “Where… is this?” she muttered, her voice groggy. Her body ached all over, sore, heavy, unfamiliar. She blinked, trying to focus. The room wasn’t hers. Her eyes widened when she realized the truth. “Why am I here? How did I get here?” she whispered to herself, panic setting in. She looked down, and froze. Her heart skipped a beat. She was naked. Layla’s breath hitched. She scanned the room quickly and spotted her dress and underwear scattered across the floor. Her trembling fingers clutched the sheets tighter. “How did this happen?” she mumbled, shaking her head as she fought back the rising dread. She tried to stand, but her legs betrayed her, weak, trembling, too sore to hold her. She stumbled back onto the bed, panting softly. But she refused to stay there. Her h

♥♥♥♥ Layla froze when she saw the thugs who had been chasing her. They stood right in front of her as she stepped out of the room she’d been hiding in. Her heart pounded painfully. She knew it was over. One of the thugs reached out to grab her, but a deep baritone voice cut through the tension like a blade. “If you have a death wish, touch her,” the man said, stepping out of the same room she’d hidden in. The thugs barely paid him any mind, until he revealed his face. His cold aura was enough to make their bodies stiffen. They staggered backward instantly, letting go of Layla. “We’d appreciate it if you let us do our job,” one of them muttered. The man shot him a glare that made the thug lower his eyes immediately. None of them dared to meet his gaze. Layla looked between them, confused and curious. Who was this man? She didn’t recognize him, but his presence demanded respect. “A step closer to her might cost your life. She’s my guest for tonight,” he said coldly. He re

♥♥♥♥ Lucian was the illegitimate son of the Hilton family… a man who made countless enemies on his path to becoming who he was. “It’s nice having you here,” her stepmother said, directing her words to Lucian. Layla was still shocked. She couldn’t fake a smile anymore. She wanted to be sure if the man really recognized her now that she wasn’t wearing her mask, but he didn’t seem to notice. That alone made her feel relieved. Her eyes widened immediately when reality hit her. What! This man… my husband? I’m getting married to him? she thought in disbelief. Layla was still in shock; she could barely breathe. The man who helped her that night was actually her husband-to-be, not just any man, but the almighty Lucian Hilton, who had left his household to build his own empire under his mother’s last name, the President of Reyer’s Corporation! She blamed herself bitterly for not watching television or reading the news more often. How could I not recognize him? she thought. “It’s a

♥♥♥♥ “Watch where you’re going, girl.” Lucian’s voice cut through the noise, low and sharp. The woman stumbled, her small frame barely balanced in his grasp before he let her go. “I—I’m sorry,” she whispered, bowing quickly, her tone breathless yet soft. Lucian turned to leave, but something about her made him pause. The tilt of her chin. The faint scent clinging to her….. warm, familiar, maddening. His gaze sharpened. “The mask girl?” he asked, eyes narrowing slightly. She shook her head immediately. “You’ve got the wrong person.” “You’re wearing a mask again,” Lucian murmured, his tone dipping somewhere between curiosity and challenge. “Who are you hiding from this time?” But she turned away before he could take another step. Her movements were hurried, almost desperate. Lucian’s jaw flexed as he watched her retreat. Suspicion burned quietly behind his eyes. He was about to follow when a familiar voice broke his focus. “Hey, buddy!” Lucian sighed. “Steve.” Ste