The CEO's Replacement Bride

“Mr. De Luca, the results are in. Miss Hale’s gynecological examination shows that she is still a virgin and meets all the standards. She’s clean.” The bodyguard respectfully informed the man on the other end of the phone at the entrance of the hospital’s examination room.

Aria Hale lowered her head and stood in the crowded corridor, trying to ignore the strange gazes of passersby.

She was weighed down by the burden of her sick mother and father’s gambling debts. Hence, she had resorted to using her body as a bargaining chip and agreed to get into bed with Xavier De Luca.

A moment later, Xavier’s deep and magnetic voice came through the phone. “Send her to Villa Azure.”

Back at Villa Azure, in the dim light, Aria huddled nervously under the blanket.

The man standing by the bed looked incomparably handsome as he stared down at her with his stone-cold eyes.

Aria knew that he was Xavier De Luca—a man so influential in Florence, one could even call him the king.

As Xavier lifted the silk blanket that covered her body, Aria’s naked form was revealed and reflected in his dark eyes. He leaned in for a fiery-hot kiss and plunged deep into her. A sudden jolt of pain shot through her body, prompting a stifled moan to escape her lips.

As he bit her lips, he whispered into her ear, “Don’t cry. You did this willingly. Remember, not everyone is qualified to get into my bed…”

Aria abruptly awakened and Xavier’s last words before she blacked out still echoed in her ears. Slowly turning her head, she found Xavier sleeping next to her, and for a moment, she was lost in a daze.

Time flew past, and in the blink of an eye, she had known Xavier for three years, working as his private secretary and becoming his lover. Unexpectedly, she dreamed of the first time they met last night.

Aria rubbed her throbbing head and was about to sit up when Xavier’s phone rang.

Xavier abruptly woke up and grabbed the phone. “Speak!” he answered, pressing it to his ear.

Even so, Aria could still hear the voice coming from the other end. “Mr. De Luca, I have verified it. The woman you are searching for is not her.”

In an instant, Xavier’s eyes darkened even more.

Aria looked at his gloomy expression and felt a twinge of sadness. After being Xavier’s lover for three years, she knew that he had been searching for a girl who had once saved his life when he was young. Although her whereabouts were unknown, Xavier still missed her to this day.

Feeling Aria’s gaze, Xavier turned to her and growled, “Get out!”

Aria remained silent and rose from the bed, moving like a lifeless doll. She picked up her clothes from the floor and walked barefoot to the guest room.

Aria entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the water wash over her face. The man’s callous behavior made her feel sad, but she knew that she had no right to feel that way.

She was only able to stay by his side because of a red mole on her right earlobe, similar to the one on the long-lost girl Xavier had been searching for. In Xavier’s eyes, she was just a substitute for his unrequited love and a toy that could be easily dismissed with money.

Just as Aria emerged from the shower, Xavier came out of the bedroom, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. He looked regal and detached, his handsome features making it hard for anyone to look away.

As they met, Aria said her usual words, “I’ll make breakfast.”

Xavier cast a cold glance her way before turning and walking down the stairs.

Just as Aria was bringing out the coffee and breakfast, Xavier’s assistant, Daniel Murphy, arrived with a black medicine bag.

He said to Aria, “Ms. Hale, here’s your medicine.”

Aria paused for a moment, placed the food on the table, and replied calmly, “Got it.”

She took out the white pill and swallowed it without any expression. After watching Aria take the medicine, Daniel left the villa and waited outside.

Aria then approached Xavier, who was sitting indifferently on the sofa, and informed him that breakfast was ready.

Xavier put down his newspaper and sat at the dining table, sipping his coffee and glancing lazily at Aria.

“You chose to stay with me. Do you remember me telling you back then, that you need to know your place and control your emotions? They are showing,” he remarked.

No matter how good Aria was at hiding her emotions, she was not able to completely hide them in Xavier’s presence.

Aria sat down opposite him and picked up her coffee, pretending as if nothing was wrong. “You worry too much, Mr. De Luca. I was just thinking about today’s schedule and got a little distracted.”

So what if he found out? She would simply come up with an excuse to hide them. She refused to admit it and let him strip away the last shreds of her pride.

Xavier remained silent, while an air of solemnity settled over the dining table, casting a weighty ambiance that permeated the room.

At eight o’clock, Daniel Murphy drove them to Xavier’s company building, which stood proudly at the center of Florence, exuding an aura that matched its owner’s reputation as a top businessman.

As Aria was about to get out of the car, Xavier abruptly tossed a document her way.

“There’s a cocktail party tonight, attend it on my behalf. If you can get Victor Laurent to sign the contract, you’ll receive a 70,000 dollar commission,” he instructed.

Aria was stunned by the offer. She stared at the contract in her hand in shock, as if it were a ticking time bomb. She knew this was a really tough job.

Victor Laurent, the CEO of Florence RT Foreign Enterprise, was bisexual and infamous for his abusive sexual predatory behavior toward both men and women. Anyone who fell prey to him would never escape unscathed. Going alone to meet him would be like walking into a lion’s den.

However, Aria was tempted by the offer. The 70,000 dollar commission would be enough to settle her mother’s medical bills and her father’s debts.

Xavier’s cold and indifferent gaze bore down on her. “If you’re not willing, you can say no.”

After a moment of silence, Aria tightened her grip on the contract. “I’ll do it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xavier’s lips curled into a sneer.

Although he didn’t say anything, Aria could feel the disdain in his eyes.

Indeed, in Xavier’s eyes, Aria was a woman who valued money above all else.

In the evening, Aria arrived at the Azure Grand Hotel with the contract, dressed in a conservative yet elegant outfit. During the half-hour journey, she mentally prepared herself for the task ahead. However, the moment she stepped into the hotel elevator, panic set in.

This was because Victor had chosen to meet her in the presidential suite, and not the private room downstairs, as they had discussed earlier. Aria knew exactly what this meant.

Victor desired her company for the entire night.

Soon, the door opened. Victor appeared in the doorway, wearing a loose bathrobe. His piercing green eyes locked onto her with a predatory gaze. Aria’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced a smile for the sake of the 70,000 dollars commission.

“Monsieur Laurent, sorry to disturb you,” she said, stepping into the presidential suite.

Victor shrugged and flashed her a smile. “Ms. Hale, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Aria’s heart was racing, but she maintained her composure and placed the prepared contract on the coffee table.

She subtly scanned the presidential suite from the corner of her eye, taking note of every detail.

Once Victor took a seat on the sofa, Aria retracted her gaze and sat down as well, keeping a slight distance from him.

Victor handed her a glass of wine, and Aria clinked her glass against his. “Thank you for your hospitality, Monsieur Laurent.”

Victor’s eyes lit up. “Ms. Hale, you’re very smart, and you’re not shy. I like it!”

Aria forced a smile, aware of the need to impress Victor for the contract. With a slight tilt of her head, she downed the red wine in her hand.

Yet, Victor’s face expressed a hint of pity. “Impressive, but you wouldn’t expect one glass to seal the deal now, would you?”

Aria anticipated that Victor wouldn’t make things easy for her. Putting down her wine glass, she responded, “Monsieur Laurent, I understand that you’ve expressed interest in working with De Luca Group for some time now. Surely you are familiar with its prowess in the Etes continent.

“Rather than you having to travel to meet Mr. De Luca, why don’t I take the initiative to sign the contract on his behalf, as a gesture of our respect for you? I believe it’s a brilliant idea, don’t you agree, Monsieur Laurent?”

At Aria’s proposal, the smile on Victor’s face faltered and his gaze grew sharper as he stared at her.

Despite her nervousness, Aria managed to maintain her composure.

Using Xavier as leverage to compel Victor to sign the contract was her only option.

The room’s atmosphere momentarily turned somber, but Victor soon broke the silence with a laugh.

“Ms. Hale, I appreciate your proposal. De Luca Group has shown me respect, so it’s only fitting that I sign this contract.”

With that, Victor reached for the contract and pen on the table and signed it after a casual look.

Aria was taken aback. She had not anticipated Victor’s swift compliance.

However, under such circumstances, Aria dared not let her guard down.

After signing, Victor handed the contract to Aria. “Well, I’ve given you what you came for. Shouldn’t you keep me company now?”

Aria’s expression shifted, and she feigned ignorance. “Monsieur Laurent, I’m afraid my alcohol tolerance can’t match yours.”

“Who said I wanted you to drink with me?” Victor leaned forward and grabbed Aria’s wrist. “Ms. Hale, I’m only going to receive a three-percent profit margin from De Luca Group. Since I’ve made a concession, I believe you should provide me with some additional benefits.”

Aria’s mind went blank. Had the contract been altered? Did Xavier do it? After all, only the two of them had been involved in preparing the contract.

Her heart sank, but her body suddenly felt hot. Aria’s eyes widened as she stared at the wine glass on the coffee table. If her suspicions were correct, Victor must have drugged the wine!

Aria clenched her teeth and struggled with all her might to push Victor away from her. She could see the impatience in his green eyes and realized that he had also ingested the drugged wine that he had prepared.

Despite her efforts, Victor was too strong for her to resist. She could feel his lips closing in on hers and knew that she had to act quickly. Aria lowered her head and bit down hard on the back of his hand, causing him to cry out in pain.

Enraged by Aria’s action, Victor struck her across the face with great force. The blow was so powerful that Aria’s vision began to fade, and a metallic taste filled her mouth.