LOGINShare
Chapter 17: The First Lie
publish date:
2026-09-10 02:38:50
Latest chapter
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Chapter 38: The Price Of Trust
Chapter 38 — The Price of TrustThe timer began at ten minutes.Lena stared at the red numbers on the wall.09:59.“What’s going to happen when it reaches zero?” she asked.Evelyn didn’t answer.Adrian turned toward her.“Mother.”“I don’t know.”Thomas’s voice came through the speaker.“You should have stayed out of this, Adrian.”Adrian stepped toward the wall.“Open the door.”“Why would I?”“Because whatever you’re planning won’t end the way you think.”A short laugh.“You sound like Richard.”Adrian’s jaw tightened.“Don’t compare me to him.”“Then prove you’re different.”The speaker went silent.Lena looked at Evelyn.“You said Maria made a deal with you.”“Yes.”“What was it?”Evelyn’s eyes lowered.“She agreed to hide you.”“From Victor?”“From everyone.”“Why?”“Because Victor believed you had seen Daniel hide the evidence.”Lena shook her head.“But I don’t remember hiding anything.”“You didn’t.”“Then what did I see?”Evelyn hesitated.“You saw Daniel hand the evidence to
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Chapter 37: A Dangerous Alliance
Chapter 37 — A Dangerous AllianceLena stared at the name on the photograph.Evelyn Blackwood.Her fingers tightened around the edges.“No.”Adrian took the photograph from her.His eyes moved over the image again.His mother sat beside Daniel in the hidden room, exactly as the note claimed.But there was something else.Daniel wasn’t afraid.He looked calm.Almost relieved.Adrian turned the photograph over.“Ask her what she did.”His voice was low.Lena looked at him.“Do you believe it?”“I don’t know what I believe.”That answer frightened her more than anger would have.A soft clicking sound came from the old tape recorder.They both turned.The machine had switched on by itself.Static filled the room.Then a man’s voice came through.Daniel.“If you’re hearing this, the original agreement has already been found.”Lena’s breath caught.Adrian stepped closer.Daniel continued.“I’m recording this because I no longer know who I can trust. Richard believes the problem is financial
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Chapter 36: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Chapter 36 — The Woman Who Knew Too MuchThe laugh echoed through the foyer.Lena felt Adrian’s hand close firmly around hers.“Stay behind me.”She did not argue.The emergency lights flickered once, then twice.A figure appeared near the entrance.Tall.Still.His face remained hidden beneath the darkness.Evelyn stepped backward.“Victor.”The man laughed again.“You still remember my name.”Adrian moved forward.“You’re supposed to be dead.”“So was your mother.”Adrian’s jaw tightened.“Show your face.”“I’ve spent twelve years making sure people don’t see it.”Robert stepped beside Lena.“Victor, this has gone too far.”The figure turned toward him.“Too far?”His voice carried a quiet bitterness.“You should have said that twelve years ago.”Maria grabbed Robert’s arm.“Don’t.”Victor’s attention shifted to her.“Maria.”She froze.“You remember what you promised.”“I remember.”“Then you know why I’m here.”Adrian looked between them.“What promise?”Victor didn’t answer.Inst
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Chapter 35: Adrian’s Mother
Adrian’s MotherThe room marked 19.04.Those words followed Lena long after the call ended.Adrian stood by the window, phone still in his hand, his attention fixed on the dark grounds outside Blackwood Manor.Robert had refused to say where the room was.Maria wouldn’t say either.And that frightened Lena more than the anonymous caller.“Dad,” she said quietly, “you said that’s where the night everything changed began.”Robert looked at her.“Yes.”“Then we need to go there.”“No.”The answer came immediately.Adrian turned.“Why?”Robert shook his head.“Because some things should stay buried.”Adrian’s expression hardened.“That’s exactly what got us here.”Robert looked at him.“You sound like your father.”The words changed the atmosphere.Adrian went still.“My father?”Robert nodded.“Richard believed he could control every secret. He thought if he buried the truth deeply enough, it would disappear.”“And did it?”“No.”Robert looked at Lena.“It waited.”A sound came from the
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Chapter 34: The Night Everything Changed
Chapter 34 — The Night Everything ChangedLena couldn’t take her eyes off the photograph.Victor Hale.Alive.Standing behind her as a child.The picture trembled between her fingers.“That’s impossible.”Robert said nothing.Adrian took the photograph from her and studied it carefully.“Where was this taken?”Robert finally answered.“The hospital.”Lena looked at him.“You said I was there because Mom brought me.”“I told you part of the truth.”Her chest tightened.“Then tell me the rest.”Robert stared at the photograph.“That picture was taken shortly before everything fell apart.”Thomas was gone. The alarms had stopped, but the manor suddenly felt more dangerous than before.Adrian locked the doors and contacted security.“No one leaves this house until we know where Thomas went.”Lena barely heard him.Her attention remained on her father.“What happened that night?”Robert took a slow breath.“Daniel discovered that money was being moved through companies connected to all thr
The CEO’s Substitute Bride Lena’s Father Confesses
Lena’s Father Confesses “Eleanor.” The name left Maria’s lips so quietly that Lena almost thought she had imagined it. But Adrian heard it too. His entire posture changed. “What do you mean you handed Lena to Eleanor?” he demanded. Maria looked at him, then at Lena. “I didn’t have a choice.” Thomas gave a quiet laugh from across the room. “That is what everyone says when they finally run out of lies.” Adrian stepped forward. “Get out.” Thomas didn’t move. “You still don’t understand, Adrian. You keep looking for one villain, one person responsible for everything. There isn’t one.” “Then tell us who is.” Thomas’s eyes shifted toward Maria. “She knows.” Maria’s face tightened. Lena felt the metal key in her palm. 19.04. Her father’s handwriting. Her mother’s silence. Eleanor. Everything seemed to be circling the same night. “Dad,” Lena whispered. Robert Carter stood near the doorway. He had been silent since arriving, but Lena noticed the way his hands trembled
You May Also Like
Your Uncle’s My Husband Now—Back Off, Ex!
June2.2M viewsWet Desires: {A Steamy Collection}
The Book Magician574.0K viewsRude Awakenings
Turquoise Grace1.1M viewsThe Heiress' Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call
Night Eleven590.9K viewsI Married My Mother's Secret Lover
Connie Clarke 13 viewsWho Knew My Baby Daddy Was This Powerful?
Jenna-Mia117 viewsThe Stand-In Wife Strikes Back
Watermelon Summer114 viewsSurrogate for the Alpha, Bound by Desire
orion page22 views
