Pustaka
Cari
Beranda / Romance / The Replacement Bride / Chapter 23: The Aftermath

Share

Chapter 23: The Aftermath

Penulis: Tiana Alie
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-28 20:24:04

Hilary Windsor

The second I stepped into the penthouse, the adrenaline drained from my body like someone had pulled a plug. I dropped my heels at the door, tossed my bag onto the couch, and didn’t even bother changing out of my press conference outfit before collapsing face-first onto the bed.

I didn’t remember closing my eyes.

When I woke again, the world outside had shifted. The apartment was darker now, the soft golden glow of hallway lights spilling into the room like a warm blanket.

Evening already?

My neck ached. My back was stiff. And when I sat up, my blazer clung to my skin like it had been glued on. I rubbed at my eyes, feeling the dry weight of makeup smudged across my face.

And then I smelled something.

Something incredible.

Not just pleasant and mouthwatering. Warm and savory, laced with herbs and the rich sweetness of something caramelizing to perfection.

My stomach growled as I followed the scent barefoot into the kitchen and paused in the doorway.

Bennett stood at the
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Bab Terkunci
Bab sebelumnya Bab selanjutnya

Bab terbaru

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 25: The Landon Gala Event

    Hilary WindsorIt was Friday night. The night of the Landon gala.The car slowed outside the private venue in Mayfair, a grand glass-front building lit up with gold. Soft music floated out from the open doors, and waiters in crisp white gloves moved in between guests, trays of champagne balanced like art.I stepped out of the car, pulling my coat tighter around me as cameras flashed. Not only press cameras, phones from curious onlookers, influencers, and guests already inside. I wasn’t famous, not really, but people recognized me now. The wedding scandal, the press conference… my name was out there.I tugged gently at the fabric of my dress.I’d made it myself.A burgundy dress that hugged my waist and draped low in the back. Silky, elegant, and a little daring. I’d wanted to feel powerful tonight and maybe, just a little dangerous. The kind of woman who no one could dismiss.Bennett stepped out beside me in a classic black tux, looking annoyingly perfect. Clean-cut jawline, that stea

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 24: Unexpected Kiss

    Bennett LandonThe buzz of my office was distant. Muted by the weight of everything that had been running through my head lately.Nicholas Windsor.He hadn’t contacted me since the day he took my money and vanished. Nate had promised to dig deeper, but his last message hadn’t been promising: “Still off the radar. No new movement.”It didn’t sit right. Nothing about Nicholas ever did.Still, there was work to be done, and pretending everything was normal was part of the job. Especially today.I straightened my tie, stepped into the boardroom, and did what I was best at, taking control.The quarterly shareholders' meeting was full of the usual suspects: men too old to adapt and too proud to admit it. I gave them what they needed. Numbers, projections, controlled confidence. And as always, they nodded, agreed, praised.But as I left the boardroom, I couldn’t fully exhale. My head wasn’t here.Then I saw Asher Vance.Standing near the executive elevators like he had all the time in the wo

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 23: The Aftermath

    Hilary WindsorThe second I stepped into the penthouse, the adrenaline drained from my body like someone had pulled a plug. I dropped my heels at the door, tossed my bag onto the couch, and didn’t even bother changing out of my press conference outfit before collapsing face-first onto the bed.I didn’t remember closing my eyes.When I woke again, the world outside had shifted. The apartment was darker now, the soft golden glow of hallway lights spilling into the room like a warm blanket.Evening already?My neck ached. My back was stiff. And when I sat up, my blazer clung to my skin like it had been glued on. I rubbed at my eyes, feeling the dry weight of makeup smudged across my face.And then I smelled something.Something incredible.Not just pleasant and mouthwatering. Warm and savory, laced with herbs and the rich sweetness of something caramelizing to perfection.My stomach growled as I followed the scent barefoot into the kitchen and paused in the doorway.Bennett stood at the

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 22: The Unveiling

    Hilary Windsor “I need a favour” I said, my voice calm. “And you're the only one who can give it to me”There was a pause on the line, then Lana Hart’s cautious voice came through.“Okay… that’s was quite dramatic.”I smiled faintly. “How bad is it over there?”There was a long exhale on her end.“It’s chaos,” she whispered. “Vivian’s having closed-door meetings with PR teams every hour, Emily’s panicking and the production department is losing their minds.”I leaned against the counter, gripping my sketchpad tighter. “They didn’t expect things to go left this fast.”“They didn’t expect things to go left at all,” she replied. “They thought they’d ride the wave, keep selling your designs, and squeeze out every cent before the public caught on.”“And now?”“They’re desperate,” Lana said. “They’ve been trying to replicate the sold-out looks. They’ve hired freelance designers, even brought in someone from Paris last night. But…”“But?”“They can’t replicate it. Not really. They don’t und

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 21: Designs and Daylight

    Hilary WindsorWarm morning light spilled through the curtains, hitting the edge of the table like a spotlight on last night’s chaos. A sketchpad, two forgotten mugs, and a throw blanket half-draped over Bennett’s legsBenett was still asleep.I sat beside him, legs curled beneath me, just watching.Bennett Landon the man who barely blinked in boardrooms and never let his suit wrinkle was fully out. Not just dozing. Deep, slow, peaceful sleep. His chest rose in steady rhythm, lips slightly parted, brow smooth.I would’ve smiled, if I wasn’t so confused.I’d never seen him like this. Not this still. Not this calm.The sound of his soft inhale broke the silence again. Then, as if on cue, his fingers twitched, and his eyes blinked open.He stared up at the ceiling for a second, disoriented. Then he turned to me.“You’re awake,” he said, voice rough with sleep. “What time is it?”I bit back a grin. “Past ten.”His brows furrowed and he sat up fast, pushing a hand through his hair. “Ten?”

  • The Replacement Bride    Chapter 20: The Morning After

    Hilary WindsorThe hallway lights flickered as I stepped out of the elevator, the weight of the workday still clinging to my shoulders. My heels clicked softly against the marble floor as I neared home.Just as I reached the door, I spotted a delivery guy coming down the hall, arms full of medium-sized brown boxes.“Miss Windsor?” he asked.“That’s me,” I replied.“These just came in from Eastfield,” he said, scanning a tablet. “Studio return, right?”I nodded, signing. “Thanks for bringing them up.”“No problem.” He gave me a friendly smile, tipped his cap, and disappeared down the hallway.I dragged the boxes inside, setting them down near the edge of the living room. My old fabric samples. A few design tools. Some unfinished sketches from a lifetime ago. I’d asked them to send everything over last week. I didn’t expect it to make me feel like I was reopening a wound and stitching it shut all at once.I knelt beside the boxes, pulling out my sketchpad.This… this was how it would st

Bab Lainnya

Anda juga akan menyukai

Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status