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Lingered Touches
publish date:
2026-06-18 20:05:53
Latest chapter
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Missing
The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of their apartment, casting long golden strips across the hardwood floor. Aria stood in the doorway of Adrian’s home office, twisting the strap of her small crossbody bag between her fingers. She had changed into a simple white sundress that skimmed her knees, her dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail that swayed when she shifted her weight.“Adrian?” she called softly.He looked up from his laptop, the sharp lines of his face softening the moment his eyes landed on her. “Hey, beautiful. Done with your emails already?”She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Mostly. I just… I need to run out for a bit. There are a few things I want to pick up from the store. Ingredients for that pasta you like, and maybe some fresh flowers for the table. I won’t be long.”Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her. Something in her posture made him pause. “You sure you’re okay going alone? I can come with you. Or send someone.”Aria
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Lingered Touches
The days blurred into a tense routine that tested every ounce of Aria’s patience. Selena’s “temporary” stay stretched beyond the promised few days, her presence infiltrating every corner of the house like an unwelcome shadow. She moved with the confidence of someone who had never left, dressing in elegant outfits that mirrored the style she once wore as the intended bride. Mornings brought her down to breakfast early, humming softly as she arranged fruit platters or poured coffee with a domestic flair that made Aria’s skin crawl.Adrian, for his part, remained distant, buried in work calls and meetings, but Selena found ways to insert herself. She lingered in the hallway outside his study, “accidentally” brushing against his arm when he emerged. “You look tense, Adrian,” she would say, her voice a silky murmur, her fingers grazing his shoulder under the pretense of adjusting his collar. “Let me help with that.”Aria watched it all from afar at first, biting her tongue. But the touches
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Moving in
The morning light filtered softly through the heavy curtains, casting a golden haze over the bedroom. Aria stirred slowly, nestled against Adrian’s chest, his arm draped possessively around her waist. For the first time since Selena’s return, the knot of anxiety in her stomach had loosened. His words from the night before still echoed in her mind*You’re my wife. You’re the only one I want.* The memory of his body claiming hers, fierce and tender all at once, sent a faint flush creeping up her neck. She shifted closer, breathing in his familiar scent, letting herself believe, just for a moment, that they could face whatever came next together.Adrian’s fingers traced lazy patterns along her bare back. “Morning,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep. He tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply, unhurried, as if reaffirming every promise he’d made in the dark.Aria smiled against his lips. “Morning.”They lingered in bed longer than usual, the outside world forgotten. Breakfast was brough
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Me And You
Aria barely slept that night. Even wrapped in Adrian’s arms, with his steady breathing warm against her hair, the doubts gnawed at the edges of her mind like shadows that refused to fade. Selena’s smile. The casual way she had said “for the meantime.” The history that hung between them like an unspoken claim. By the time the first gray light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Aria had slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him.She wandered into the adjoining sitting room of their suite, the one with the wide windows overlooking the garden. Curling up on the chaise lounge, she pulled a throw blanket around her shoulders and let the tears come. Silent at first, then shaking sobs that she muffled against her knees. Everything she had tried to bury the night before rose up again. The fear that she was just a placeholder. The insecurity that Adrian’s reassurance, no matter how firm, couldn’t fully erase the original arrangement.She didn’t hear the door open.Adrian stood in the door
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Mine
Aria barely remembered the drive back home.The entire time, Selena’s words kept repeating in her head.Thanks for taking my place for the meantime.She stared out the car window silently, her chest tight, her thoughts messy. Beside her, Adrian noticed the difference immediately.She had gone completely quiet.Too quiet.He looked at her a few times during the drive, but she avoided his eyes every single time.Finally, he spoke.“What did Selena say to you?”Aria’s fingers tightened slightly on her lap.“Nothing.”Adrian didn’t believe that for a second.“Aria.”“She just said thank you,” she muttered.“That’s not all.”She stayed silent.The car continued moving through the dark road while tension slowly filled the space between them.Adrian’s patience was already thinning.“What exactly did she say?” he asked again, this time firmer.Aria suddenly snapped.“Why does it matter so much?!”The words came out louder than she intended.The driver’s eyes instantly stayed fixed on the road
The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride Selena
“…Selena.”The name left Aria’s lips in a whisper, but it felt loud in her head.Everything else faded for a second.Selena stood at the top of the stairs, dressed simply but still looking exactly the same as Aria remembered. Calm. Composed. Like nothing had ever gone wrong.Then suddenly, her expression broke.Tears filled her eyes almost instantly.“Aria…” she called softly.Aria didn’t move.Her body felt stiff, like she didn’t know what to do next.Selena started walking down the stairs slowly, one step at a time. Her hand held the railing, her shoulders slightly trembling like she was trying to hold herself together.By the time she reached the bottom, tears were already running down her face.“I…” she started, her voice shaking. “I didn’t mean to run away that day.”The room went quiet.No one spoke.Aria’s heart was beating too fast.Selena took a few more steps forward, stopping a short distance away from them.“I know how it looked,” she continued, wiping her tears quickly. “
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